The Fourth of July weekend traditionally signals the beginning of monsoon season in Arizona, and this year is no exception. Some parts of the state are already experiencing early storm activity.
Thunderstorms appeared over Tucson and Flagstaff around lunchtime Wednesday, with activity in the Phoenix area later that evening. However, this monsoon moisture surge is predicted to last for a short time.
According to Dalton Van Stratton of the National Weather Service in Tucson, the atmosphere is currently favorable for storms, but this will change by the weekend.
“We’ll really start to feel the effects of that drying out, and it’ll start to heat up again, especially on Sunday,” according to him.
High pressure will form over Arizona, he added, blocking off moisture and raising temperatures until early next week. That heat, in turn, contributes to the larger monsoon storms forecast later in July.
Metro Phoenix forecast
Friday: Sunny with a high of around 104. In the afternoon, the wind will shift to the west at a speed of about 5 mph. The evening will be mostly clear, with a low of approximately 84. West wind at 5 mph, becoming calm after midnight.
Saturday: Sunny with a high of around 106. In the afternoon, the wind will shift to the west at a speed of about 5 mph. The evening is mostly clear. With a low of around 86. The west wind is around 5 mph and becoming calm.
Sunday; Sunny and hot, with a high of around 111. In the afternoon, the wind will shift to the west at a speed of about 5 mph. The evening will be mostly clear, with a low of approximately 88. The west wind is around 5 mph and becoming calm.
Monday: Sunny and hot, with a high around 112. In the afternoon, the wind will shift from calm to west southwest at around 5 mph. There’s a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m. The weather is mostly clear, with a low of around 88. West wind around 5 mph, turning south-southeast after midnight.
Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high of around 111. In the afternoon, the wind will shift to the west at a speed of about 5 mph. There’s a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly overcast, with a low of around 90. The west wind is around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high of around 113. West southwest wind at 5 to 10 mph. There’s a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly overcast, with a low of around 90. West southwest wind at 5 to 10 mph.
