100-Degree Weather in Store for the Desert Southwest Into the Weekend

While the eastern U.S. deals with a surge of unseasonably cold temperatures, the southwestern corner of the country will see the first triple digits of the season. Here is a look at this toasty forecast.

The Heat is on for the Southwestern U.S.

Record-challenging temperatures are in store for the Desert Southwest by the end of the week as heat builds over the region. While the heat is welcome news for those itching for a taste of summer, the high temperatures will combine with the dry air to increase the threat of wildfires.

Some of the warmest weather of the year thus far is in store for the interior portions of the Southwest by the end of the work week and into the weekend. The warmth will come at the hands of a large area of high pressure that is setting up over the region. The high will reach its peak by Thursday and Friday before lessening slightly over the weekend as it moves to the east.

You can expect daily highs to hover at about 10 to 20 degrees over the historical average for the second week of April. The strong sunshine will bring the real feel readings up even higher, likely to catch many people guard with its intensity.

The forecast is calling for Phoenix to see its first triple-digit reading of the year by Thursday. Friday and Saturday will also likely see temperatures eclipse the century mark. Skies will be mostly sunny during this time while overnight lows will bottom out in the upper 60s. Saturday is looking to be the breeziest day of the stretch with winds clocking in at 10 to 20 mph from the west-southwest.

Although the Valley of the Sun is certainly known for its hot weather, the average date of the first 100-degree reading does not happen until May 2 in Phoenix. Even if the temperatures hit this benchmark in the days ahead, it will still fall short of the earliest date of this reading. The record belongs to the year 1988 when Phoenix notched its first 100-degree day of the year on March 26.