A wave of persistent heat is expected to continue across Southern Arizona through the weekend, with meteorologists forecasting widespread triple‑digit afternoon highs before a shift in the pattern brings a return of shower and thunderstorm chances next week. The current forecast calls for mostly dry conditions across the region through Sunday, keeping daytime temperatures elevated. Forecasters say a surge of deeper moisture is projected to arrive early next week, with the first chances for showers and thunderstorms arriving Monday and lingering through much of the week that follows.
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High temperatures for the coming days are forecast to run several degrees above typical values for this time of year. Models and local forecasts indicate highs will be roughly 3 to 8 degrees above normal from Sunday through Thursday, with a gradual cooling trend expected later in the week as the deeper moisture and subsequent cloud cover work to trim the daytime peaks. The hotter‑than‑usual stretch encompasses the Monday start of the storm‑chance window, meaning the transition from dry heat to more unsettled weather may be relatively rapid once the moisture arrives.
Nighttime temperatures will remain warm as well, offering little relief from the daytime heat in many communities. Tucson is forecast to wake Sunday morning to a low around 77 degrees, and a number of towns across Pima County are expected to see overnight lows in the mid to upper 70s. Across Cochise County, Sierra Vista is projected to start the day near 72 degrees, while other communities in that county will be marginally cooler with overnight readings in the upper 60s. Those persistently warm minima are part of the broader pattern keeping average temperatures elevated across Southern Arizona.
Triple‑digit heat is expected to be widespread across all three Southern Arizona counties Sunday afternoon, with forecast highs breaking the 100‑degree mark across the region. Tucson is forecast to reach a high near 105 degrees, making it one of the hottest spots as the heat continues. In Santa Cruz County, Nogales is expected to climb to about 101 degrees, while portions of Cochise County — including communities such as Willcox and Bowie — are forecast to reach at least 100 degrees Sunday afternoon. These afternoon peaks will dominate the weekend weather picture until the next air‑mass change arrives.
KGUN 9 forecast map showing triple‑digit afternoon highs across the Tucson area — including 105°F in Tucson, 106°F in Marana and 104°F in Green Valley.
Forecast graphics and local modeling products show that the heat will persist across a broad area, producing consistent daytime maxima well into the weekend. The combination of daytime heating and the timing of incoming moisture will determine how quickly the forecast transitions from a dry, hot regime to one with scattered showers and storms. Forecasters have highlighted Monday as the day when deeper moisture is expected to begin moving into the region; that influx is expected to elevate the probability of thunderstorm development and introduce greater variability in temperatures and precipitation chances for much of next week.
Through Thursday the overall trend is for above‑normal temperatures, followed by a gradual moderation as the deeper moisture takes hold later in the week. The shift toward more unsettled weather could also alter overnight temperatures and reduce temperature swings between day and night. For now, the weekend remains largely dry with warm nights and hot afternoons, and residents across Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties should plan for several days of persistent heat before the forecasted return of storm chances early next week.
The National Weather Service's Tucson office (@NWSTucson) has issued an Extreme Heat Watch for portions of southern Arizona from Tuesday through Wednesday, with moderate to major heat risk and afternoon highs forecast between 107 and 111 degrees. The agency advises staying hydrated, taking breaks in air conditioning, and watching for signs of heat illness.
Pima County maintains a summer heat‑relief webpage and interactive map of cooling centers across the county; many county cooling sites are stocked with supplies such as cooling towels, cold water bottles and electrolyte packets to help residents during multi‑day heat events.
The Arizona Corporation Commission enforces a seasonal moratorium on utility disconnections from June 1 through October 15, 2026, and regulators remind customers that regulated utilities can also suspend shutoffs if extreme heat is forecast.
In mid‑April 2026 Arizona Public Service reached a settlement that includes a policy not to disconnect customers’ electric service when forecasted high temperatures are 95°F or above, a change aimed at reducing heat‑related health risks.
The City of Tucson and partner organizations have opened designated “chill spaces” and other low‑barrier cooling sites for vulnerable residents this summer (the Ward 6 Chill Space opened late May), offering a free place to cool off during extended heat.
Local public‑health and nonprofit efforts this season include outreach campaigns (such as community “Heatwalks”) and distribution of heat‑relief kits by groups including the Pima County Health Department and the American Red Cross to target high‑risk neighborhoods.