Phoenix's extreme heat warning ends as monsoon storms, cooler air move in

Coverage spread: 2 sources — 2 unrated

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Where they agree

The extreme heat warning ended as monsoon moisture moved into the Phoenix area, bringing storms and dust.
Saturday’s high reached 113 degrees before temperatures dropped sharply into the following week.
A First Alert/storm alert was issued covering the weekend into Monday due to active, hazardous weather.
The cooldown brings highs well below the seasonal average of around 105 degrees.

Where they differ

AZFamily provides specific data points — 40 days above 110 degrees, exact flood watch timing, rainfall totals in Anthem, and day-by-day forecast highs.
FOX 10 Phoenix frames its coverage around immediate hazards like blowing dust, heavy rain and air quality rather than detailed statistics.
AZFamily’s two reports show the story’s progression over two days, from storm chances arriving to the heat warning formally ending.
FOX 10’s pieces are short video-based segments led by meteorologist Erica Horvatin, offering less written detail than AZFamily’s text reports.

Phoenix’s extreme heat warning has ended after the Valley logged 40 days above 110 degrees this summer, with a peak of 113 degrees over the weekend. Monsoon moisture has since brought dust, rain and a sharp temperature drop, with First Alert storm days in effect through Monday and highs falling from 113 degrees to around 98–100 degrees.

What triggered the change in weather?

Rising humidity tied to monsoon moisture pushed into the Phoenix area over the weekend, ending a brutal stretch of heat. An outflow boundary sent blowing dust through the metro area around 9:15 p.m. Saturday, and a Flood Watch was issued from 5 p.m. Saturday until 5 a.m. Sunday. Forecasters said rain would miss some parts of the Valley, but isolated spots — especially in the higher terrain to the east — could pick up between half an inch and a full inch of rain. Anthem, north of the city, reported around a quarter of an inch from earlier passing storms.

How hot did it get before the break?

Saturday’s high hit 113 degrees, capping a summer in which the Valley recorded 40 days above 110 degrees. That extended heat prompted the extreme heat warning that has now been lifted. Average highs for this time of year run around 105 degrees, making the recent stretch well above normal.

What’s the forecast for the next few days?

Temperatures are dropping fast: after Saturday’s 113-degree high, forecasts called for a high of 106 on Sunday and just 100 on Monday, with AZFamily’s later update putting Monday’s expected high at 98 degrees — about 7 degrees below average. Storm chances remain elevated, with a 20% chance during Sunday daytime rising to 40% Sunday night, and that 40% chance holding through Monday evening. A First Alert has been issued for both Sunday and Monday because of the active weather. Tuesday and Wednesday highs are expected in the 102–104 degree range before temperatures climb back toward roughly 105 degrees later in the week. Drier air is expected to move in behind the storms, keeping conditions below average from Monday through Wednesday and below 110 degrees through the following weekend.

How are outlets covering the flood and dust risk?

FOX 10 Phoenix’s coverage, presented by meteorologist Erica Horvatin, focuses on the immediate hazards — heavy rain, blowing dust and air-quality concerns tied to the incoming monsoon moisture — framing the story around flood and dust alerts for the weekend. AZFamily’s reporting leans more on the numbers: specific rainfall totals, the exact timing of the flood watch, and a detailed breakdown of expected highs day by day, including the outflow boundary’s arrival time and Anthem’s rainfall total.

Why this matters for the Valley

Extreme heat warnings in the Phoenix area are tied to serious health risks, and 40 days above 110 degrees represents a significant, sustained burden on residents, infrastructure and cooling systems. The shift to monsoon storms brings its own hazards — flash flooding in low-lying areas and washes, reduced visibility from blowing dust, and lightning — but also delivers meaningful relief, with highs dropping more than 10 degrees from the weekend peak. The pattern reflects the broader monsoon season, when Arizona typically sees a mix of heat, dust storms and heavy rain as moisture moves in from the south, often causing rapid swings between dangerous heat and flash-flood conditions.

Sources

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

Phoenix’s extreme heat warning ends as monsoon storms, cooler air move in