Another scorcher today, but meteorologists are backing off their predictions of hitting the all-time high of 122 degrees Fahrenheit set back in 1990.
On Monday, we matched last year’s record daily high of 118-degrees, and Meteorologist Chris Kuhlman with the National Weather Service predicts Sky Harbor will hit 119 Tuesday , smashing the daily record of 115.
But, he said last week’s weather models that predicted a threat of temperatures above 120 degrees this week have shifted.
He explained that the jet stream is shifting farther south than originally projected, which means the high pressure system holding the valley hostage under an extreme heatwave will collapse.
And when that happens, Kuhlman explained, “I mean it will still be hot, but it’s not going to be 115, maybe 107 to 111.”
It’s hard to predict, he said, with so many factors brought on four days into the monsoon cycle.
“Part of it is the wildcard of moisture and the thunderstorms just off to the east may have some influence and keep us a little bit cooler than we original had thought.”
Kuhlman said it could bring a very small chance of rain mixed with mostly dust storms.
Those clouds will act as a thermal blanket, he said, tucking us in for overnight lows in the mid 70’s to 80’s.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been modified to correct the start date of monsoon season.
