Record high temperature in Arizona

Record-breaking heat hits Phoenix area

Unseasonably warm temperatures are expected to continue to break records throughout Arizona this weekend before cooling off throughout the coming week.

Az Central,

15 February, 2013

Charlotte Dewey, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Phoenix, said a high pressure system hovering over the West Coast during the past week caused 80 degree temperatures to make an early return to Arizona.

Saturday’s Phoenix high temperature reached 86, surpassing the record of 83 set in 1977, said National Weather Service Meteorolgist James Sawtelle. Sunday’s high is forecast to reach 85, one degree above another 1977 record.

Other places in Southern Arizona that could see record high temperatures Saturday include Ajo, Picacho Peak, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Willcox, Safford, Sierra Vista and the Bisbee-Douglas Airport, according to the Weather Service.

On Friday Phoenix hit a high of 85, the record set in 1957, according to the Weather Service. Flagstaff and Page also set new high-temperature records Friday. Prescott and Williams tied record highs Friday.

Monday is still expected to be unseasonably warm with a high of 85, though it misses the record high of 87, Sawtelle said. Next week’s evening lows are expected to be in the low to mid 50s.

Tuesday is expected to have a high of 83; Wednesday’s high is predicted to be 80.

Thursday is when it begins to cool down into the 70s; the high for that day is expected to be 78. Friday is expected to reach 76 degrees.

By the time Saturday rolls around with an expected high of 73, “it will be closer to normal” temperatures, Sawtelle said.