Phoenix breaks heat record at 115 degrees; cooldown and storm chances expected this weekend

Coverage spread: 2 sources — 2 unrated

Lean ratings via AllSides / Media Bias-Fact-Check. How this works.

Where they agree

Phoenix reached a record 115 degrees on Tuesday, surpassing the previous record of 113 set in 2011.
An Extreme Heat Warning and First Alert weather days remain in effect through Saturday.
A pattern shift over the weekend will bring cooler temperatures (around 106°F Sunday, 103°F Monday) and increased chances of rain and thunderstorms.
Overnight lows have stayed unusually warm, offering little relief from the daytime heat.

Where they differ

AZFamily’s Tuesday report focuses on the record-breaking 115°F reading and looming Thursday record threat, while its Wednesday update shifts emphasis to the incoming storm chances and cooldown timeline.
Only one AZFamily article mentions the high pollution/ozone advisory affecting children, the elderly and those with respiratory issues.
AZFamily gives specific storm probability figures (30-40% over the weekend), while FOX 10’s brief video report only notes the heat record without discussing the upcoming pattern change.
FOX 10’s coverage is much shorter, focused solely on the record heat, whereas AZFamily provides a fuller multi-day forecast and health advisory context.

Phoenix hit a record 115 degrees on Tuesday, breaking the previous daily record of 113 set in 2011, as an Extreme Heat Warning kept much of Arizona under First Alert weather days. Forecasters say the dangerous heat will persist through Saturday before a pattern shift brings cooler air and a chance of monsoon storms by the weekend into early next week.

How hot did it get, and how much hotter will it get?

Sky Harbor Airport recorded 115°F on Tuesday, topping the old record of 113°F set in 2011. Wednesday’s forecast called for another 115°F day, roughly 10 degrees above normal for late August and just two degrees off the daily record for that date. Thursday was expected to reach around 114°F, threatening the 2023 record of 114°F for that calendar day. Friday and Saturday should see a slow decline to 112°F and then 110°F. Overnight lows have offered little relief, staying in the upper 80s to low 90s.

When does the heat break?

Relief starts over the weekend. Sunday’s high is expected to drop to around 106°F, close to normal for August, with a further slide to about 103°F by Monday. The shift happens because high pressure parked over the region is forecast to move east, letting monsoon moisture push in from the south and easing the extreme heat.

Is rain actually coming?

Storm chances rise alongside the cooldown. There’s a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday night, with better odds — around 30 to 40 percent — Saturday and Sunday, mainly in the evenings. One report notes the exact timing of the incoming system is still uncertain and could shift as forecasters refine it in the coming days.

What other health advisories are in place?

Along with the Extreme Heat Warning, which runs through Saturday evening, the Valley has been under a high pollution advisory for ozone. Officials are urging children, older adults and people with respiratory sensitivities to limit outdoor activity while both the heat and ozone levels remain elevated.

Why does this matter for the Phoenix area?

Record-breaking heat this late in August, combined with warm overnight lows and poor air quality, raises health risks for outdoor workers, older residents and anyone without reliable access to cooling. The approaching pattern change also matters because monsoon storms, while a relief from heat, can bring their own hazards like flash flooding, dust storms and lightning. Local outlets are tracking both the heat records and the incoming storm system as ongoing, developing stories through the week.

Sources

Featured photo: Lightandtruth via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)