Happy Independence Day. The holiday will be warm across the Valley, but showers, widespread dust or extreme weather are not expected to disrupt Fourth of July gatherings or fireworks displays. Temperatures in Phoenix will be a touch below recent records on Saturday, aided by increased cloud cover, before a warming trend pushes highs back into triple digits by the end of the weekend and into next week.
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Saturday’s forecast calls for a high near 105 degrees in Phoenix with mostly cloudy skies. Light winds and low humidity are expected, and nighttime temperatures should fall into the 90s — warm enough that many evening celebrations and neighborhood fireworks will still feel hot, but not subject to the more extreme numbers expected later in the week. Organizers and attendees should plan for dry conditions and continued heat for outdoor events.
Forecast highs map from FOX10 showing triple‑digit temperatures across Arizona, with Phoenix forecast near 108°F for tomorrow ahead of the Independence Day weekend.
A warming trend begins Sunday, with a forecast high around 108 degrees under partly sunny skies. Early next week the heat is expected to intensify, with forecast highs climbing to 110 degrees and above as monsoon moisture makes a return across the region. That influx of moisture will increase instability across eastern Arizona first, where storm activity is forecast to pick up, and those storms may gradually work their way west into the Valley by late next week.
FOX10 10‑day forecast graphic showing sustained extreme heat for the Independence Day weekend — multi‑day highs climbing into the 110s early next week.
Officials have issued Extreme Heat Watches covering broad sections of the state beginning Tuesday. One watch runs from Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. MST through Thursday at 8:00 p.m. MST and includes portions of the Tonopah Desert, northwest Pinal County, central Phoenix, the San Carlos area, Rio Verde and the Salt River corridor, the Sonoran Desert National Monument, north Phoenix and Glendale, as well as the Gila River Valley, Fountain Hills, east Mesa, Parker Valley and much of the West Pinal County area. Additional communities listed within that same watch area include the Aguila Valley, Buckeye and Avondale, the southeast Valley including Queen Creek, South Mountain and Ahwatukee, New River Mesa, Kofa, Deer Valley, Gila Bend, Apache Junction and Gold Canyon, Yuma County, Cave Creek and New River, Globe and Miami, central La Paz County, northwest Valley communities, and Scottsdale and Paradise Valley.
A separate Extreme Heat Watch begins at the same Tuesday 10:00 a.m. MST start time but runs through Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. MST for a set of southern and central counties. That watch covers western Pima County — including Ajo and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument — southeast Pinal County including Kearny, Mammoth and Oracle, and south-central Pinal County including Eloy and Picacho Peak State Park. The Tucson metropolitan area, including Tucson, Green Valley, Marana and Vail, is included, along with the Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys such as Clifton and Safford, and the Tohono O'odham Nation, including Sells.
Heat-related medical emergencies can escalate quickly. Local fire department guidance defines the range of heat illnesses and offers immediate steps to take if someone is affected. Heat cramps commonly present with heavy sweating, fatigue, extreme thirst and muscle cramping. Heat exhaustion may include symptoms such as headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea or vomiting and cool, moist skin. Heat stroke — the most serious condition — is characterized by an elevated body temperature above 103 degrees, confusion or irrational behavior, dry and hot skin, rapid but shallow breathing, a rapid weak pulse that can indicate shock, seizures and the potential for unconsciousness.
If someone shows signs of heat-related illness, move the person into shade or a cooler location and apply cool, wet cloths to pulse points such as the neck, groin and armpits while fanning the body. If the individual is alert, encourage small sips of cool water. For muscle cramps, gently but firmly massage the affected muscles until they relax. Emergency services should be contacted if symptoms worsen or do not improve.
There are several precautions and common-sense measures recommended to reduce the risk of heat illness. Do not give anything by mouth to a person who is vomiting, unable to swallow or unconscious. Never underestimate the severity of heat emergencies; immediate action can be lifesaving. For people planning outdoor exercise or hikes in the heat, preparation matters: begin hydration the day before activity, drink an hour before starting, and continue hydrating during and after exertion. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing, protect the head, choose appropriate footwear, always carry a cellphone, hike with others when possible, and tell someone your route and expected return time.
State health officials list additional precautions aimed at preventing heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Staying in air-conditioned buildings is the primary protective measure; those without home air conditioning are advised to locate nearby cooling centers or hydration stations. Limit outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day, typically mid-day, and check on at-risk friends, family and neighbors at least twice daily. Drink water before, during and after any outdoor work or exercise. Officials also recommend consulting the current UV Index and heat risk maps to plan activity safely.
Roadway and travel resources remain available for drivers during the heat. For road conditions anywhere in Arizona, motorists can call 511 or 1-888-411-ROAD (7623) for updates and advisories. Local weather information and forecasts can be consulted through the usual weather pages and mobile apps maintained by broadcast and weather providers for up-to-the-minute changes.
The weekend will begin with marginally cooler conditions in Phoenix compared with what’s expected later in the week, but the overall trajectory points toward intensifying heat starting Sunday and climbing into early next week. Residents and visitors are advised to follow the safety guidance provided by emergency responders and health officials, pay attention to watch and warning timelines for their communities, and take steps now to reduce exposure and prepare for hotter conditions that are expected to persist through the coming days.
National Weather Service Phoenix confirmed ample cloud coverage on Independence Day kept Phoenix metro highs several degrees below normal, with evening temperatures mostly in the mid-90s to upper 80s. This matched the article's outlook and helped ensure safe holiday conditions without disruptions. @NWSPhoenix
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued Ozone High Pollution Advisories affecting parts of the state this week — including a notice for the Phoenix metro/Maricopa County in effect through Wednesday (with some bulletins showing an extension into Thursday) and a separate advisory for the Flagstaff/western Mogollon Rim area through Thursday due to smoke from the Pocket Fire; officials warn that ozone and smoke can irritate lungs and recommend that children, older adults and people with respiratory conditions limit outdoor exertion.
Maricopa County and regional partners launched the 2026 Heat Relief Network on May 1, providing an interactive Heat Relief Map to find cooling and respite sites and staffing AZ 2‑1‑1 with live operators from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily to help residents locate cooling centers, request transportation or access utility/A/C assistance; the county says it has invested millions in the program and signed agreements with cities to keep at least one heat‑relief site in major cities open into the evening and on weekends.