Extreme heat grips Maricopa, Pima and northern Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona – Wednesday, June 19, 2025, 8:00 AM (local time) – An intense heat wave is tightening its grip across Arizona, with daytime temperatures expected to soar up to 116°F (46.6°C) over the next few days. The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for eight counties, including Maricopa, Pima and Coconino, where the alert will remain in effect through Friday.
Metro Phoenix forecast: Rising risk with each day
Thursday will bring relentless sunshine and sweltering heat, with temperatures peaking near 115°F (46.1°C). Winds will stay calm in the morning, shifting to a light west-southwest breeze around 5 mph during the afternoon. Overnight lows will drop only to around 83°F (28.3°C).
Friday will continue the dangerously hot pattern, with highs near 110°F (43.3°C) and winds intensifying to 10 mph, with gusts reaching 20 mph. The night will remain uncomfortably warm, settling near 81°F (27.2°C).
Saturday brings some moderation, but it will still be blazing, with highs around 106°F (41.1°C). Breezes will shift from the south-southeast to southwest, gusting again near 20 mph. The low will cool slightly to about 77°F (25°C).
Sunday sees temperatures sliding to 102°F (38.9°C). Winds continue to shift from the south-southeast to the west-southwest, with evening temperatures holding at 77°F (25°C).
Monday remains sunny and hot, with highs near 102°F (38.9°C) and light winds. Nighttime lows will hover around 78°F (25.5°C).
Phoenix boosts shade to battle heat
As temperatures climb, the City of Phoenix is taking action. The Shade Phoenix initiative, recently approved unanimously by the Phoenix City Council, will plant 27,000 new trees and install 550 new shade structures over the next five years to combat the city’s worsening urban heat island effect.
Heat safety in workplaces under pressure
More than two dozen advocacy groups, including those representing farmworkers, airport staff, postal carriers, and construction crews, are demanding statewide, enforceable workplace heat safety standards in Arizona. These efforts aim to protect outdoor laborers from increasing heat-related health risks.
Tucson and southern Arizona near records
In Tucson and the southern counties, the weekend brought near-record highs, and temperatures will remain 5 to 12 degrees above seasonal averages. The National Weather Service expects more extreme heat warnings to be issued on Thursday and Friday, underscoring the persistence of the heat event.
Northern Arizona also under warning
Extreme heat is also expanding into northern Arizona, where historically cooler elevations are experiencing unusual temperature spikes.
Neighboring Sonora, Mexico faces mounting health toll
Just across the border, Sonora has ranked among the top 10 Mexican states for heat-related illnesses throughout 2025. Local officials report increasing cases of dehydration and heat stroke, reflecting the wider regional impact of this season’s brutal heat.
