A major heat wave is headed to the Southwest this week, and metro Phoenix is likely to experience its hottest March temperatures ever recorded.
“We’re going to shatter records,” said Sean Benedict, lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix.
Benedict said Phoenix has only hit 100 degrees in March one time before — on March 26, 1988.
Wednesday’s high is expected to hit 102, and temperatures could climb as high as 105 or 106 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
“So we’re not just touching 100, but pushing well past it,” Benedict said.
Phoenix typically does not hit 100 degrees until around May 2. This week is expected to be the earliest the Valley has ever reached the triple-digits.
The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for southern Arizona on Thursday morning through Sunday evening — the first such warning ever issued in March.
Benedict urges Arizonans to take caution.
“For March, it’s highly unusual and we’re not quite acclimated yet,” Benedict said. “This is the time of year when people are really getting outdoors, there’s a lot of outdoor activities and events going on. We have spring training going on, there’s still probably a lot of people from out of town here that are not used to this type of heat.”
A strong high pressure system is driving the unprecedented heat across much of the West, Benedict said.
The climate research organization Climate Central ranks the temperatures forecast for this week at the highest end of its Climate Shift Index scale, meaning these conditions have been made at least five times more likely due to human-caused carbon pollution.
Benedict expects temperatures will drop slightly next week, but highs will still be in the 90s.
“Unfortunately, it looks like the well above-normal temperatures will continue potentially through the end of the month.”
Metro Phoenix forecast from NWS
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 66. Calm wind.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 101. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 104. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 69. Calm wind.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 108. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 70. West southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 106. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 70. West southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
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