The Phoenix metropolitan area remains under an Extreme Heat Warning as First Alert Weather Days continue through the week. The watch covers the hottest stretch of the day today and into Thursday, with forecasters urging vigilance and caution for anyone spending time outdoors. Temperatures have been reported near the triple digits and forecasters noted readings close to 112 degrees on Wednesday as the warning took effect.
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Saguaro cacti and desert mountains near Phoenix under cloudy skies as temperatures are forecast to drop following a First Alert Day for extreme heat.
For much of the Valley, the Extreme Heat Warning is scheduled to be in force from 10 a.m. today through 8 p.m. Thursday. The advisory window was put in place to cover the period when temperatures and heat indices are expected to be at their peak, from late morning through the early evening hours. Forecasters designated Thursday as a First Alert Day because of the expected intensity and duration of the heat during that 24-hour period.
Public guidance accompanying the warning centers on basic but critical precautions. Residents are being told to stay hydrated and to limit prolonged outdoor activity during the hottest portion of the day, which is typically from late morning into early evening. Those who must be outside are encouraged to take frequent breaks, seek shade whenever possible and remain aware of signs of heat-related illness.
Multiple meteorologists provided updates throughout the week as conditions evolved. Forecast segments noted significant heat across the region on Wednesday, with temperatures hovering close to 112 degrees in some places. Coverage during earlier briefings emphasized the need for caution and highlighted the timing of the warnings so residents could plan around the most dangerous hours.
Looking beyond the immediate warning period, forecasts indicate a shift in conditions as the workweek progresses. By Friday, models and evening forecasts show an increase in breezes coupled with falling humidity, a combination that is expected to bring some relief from the oppressive conditions experienced during the First Alert Days. That transition was described in recent forecasts as bringing increased wind and lower moisture levels to the Valley by the end of the week.
The messaging from weather teams has been consistent: keep outdoor exertion to a minimum during the height of the heat, especially from late morning through early evening. Emergency and weather briefings reiterated the importance of basic heat-safety measures and timing activities outside either earlier in the morning or after the evening cool-down when conditions are less hazardous.
Throughout the week, short forecast updates and television segments repeated the main elements of the advisory: a strong heat dome producing high temperatures, the issuance of First Alert Days to draw attention to the severity of the heat on Thursday, and a scheduled Extreme Heat Warning covering the Valley from midmorning through the late evening on Thursday. Those updates also flagged the expectation for a change in pattern by Friday, when increased winds and lower humidity were expected to arrive and create somewhat more comfortable conditions.
Residents across the Phoenix area and surrounding communities were reminded to plan accordingly for the current heat advisory window. With the Extreme Heat Warning covering the next two days and the Valley-specific warning set from 10 a.m. through 8 p.m. Thursday, forecasters underscored the need for hydration, limited outdoor exertion during peak heat hours, and attention to changing conditions as breezes and lower humidity are forecast to arrive by the end of the week.
New observations from @NWSPhoenix show that cloud cover kept Wednesday highs 1-5°F above normal and below 110°F across central Arizona, while widespread warm overnight lows in the 80s-90s included a potential record warm minimum of 92°F at Phoenix Sky Harbor.
Maricopa County and regional partners launched the 2026 Heat Relief Network on May 1, a coordinated system that lists more than 200 cooling centers, respite sites, hydration stations and donation locations across the Valley and offers live help via 2-1-1 (operators available 9 a.m.–7 p.m.) with transportation assistance to heat-relief sites when eligible.
The City of Phoenix is operating dedicated cooling resources this summer, including a 24/7 respite center at 20 W. Jackson Street, a public cooling center at the Justa Center (1001 W. Jefferson St.) with daily 3–9 p.m. hours, and extended evening hours at Cholla Library (open until 9 p.m. most days) to provide immediate relief for residents without access to air conditioning.
On days when the National Weather Service issues an Extreme Heat Warning the City of Phoenix closes several popular and higher-risk trails from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., including Camelback Mountain’s Echo and Cholla trails, trails associated with the Piestewa Peak trailhead in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, and specified trails at South Mountain Park and Preserve to reduce heat-related rescues.
Following scrutiny of disconnection practices, the Arizona attorney general announced a settlement with Arizona Public Service on April 15, 2026 that includes adopting a temperature-based policy to limit shutoffs during extreme heat, and utilities such as Salt River Project also maintain moratoriums or pause disconnections during peak summer heat or when extreme-heat alerts are in effect.