Maricopa County Weather Update: Monsoon surge brings welcome relief from heat across region

Phoenix, Arizona: Maricopa County experienced a significant burst of monsoon activity over the past few days, bringing active weather across the county. However, a noticeable change in the weather pattern is set to occur this weekend.

The main summer ridge of high pressure is weakening and moving south along the Arizona-Mexico border. This shift will result in a drier southwesterly flow over much of Arizona, reducing daily storm activity except in southeastern areas. This change also brings a welcome decrease in temperatures.

For today, expect mostly sunny skies across the region with afternoon temperatures reaching between 107°F and 110°F in the Valley. Winds will be variable, ranging from 5 to 15 mph, with occasional stronger gusts into the evening and overnight. Storm chances will generally be limited to southeastern Arizona later today.

However, with lingering moisture, there is a possibility of isolated storms in the far southern and eastern parts of the county tonight. Additionally, some areas may experience light sprinkles or debris clouds overnight, leading into Sunday morning. Overall, it should be relatively quiet for most areas tonight.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, early morning cloudiness is expected before clearing to mostly sunny skies by late morning or early afternoon. Daytime highs will be slightly cooler, ranging from 105°F to 108°F around the Valley. Winds will again be variable, remaining in the 5 to 15 mph range, with a few localized gusts in the evening.

Similar to Saturday, storm activity will be mostly confined to southeastern Arizona, with minimal impact expected in the county. The milder temperatures and reduced storm chances are expected to continue into the start of next week before normal monsoon activity resumes later in the week.