Phoenix entered the hottest stretch of the weekend Aug. 1 as temperatures pushed toward 117 degrees and warm nights offered little relief.
The National Weather Service expected the worst conditions Aug. 1-2, with hot afternoons and warm nights raising the risk of heat-related illness across Phoenix. The warning remained in effect through Aug. 3.
Strong high pressure will keep temperatures near record levels while suppressing most monsoon activity, said Sean Benedict, lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Phoenix.
Temperatures should ease slightly Aug. 3, but dangerous heat will continue and broader storm chances will remain several days away.
Phoenix was forecast to reach 116 degrees on Aug. 1, tying the daily record, before climbing to 115 degrees on Aug. 2 — 1 degree above the record for that date, according to the National Weather Service.
Temperatures also fell no lower than 94 degrees early Aug. 1 in Phoenix.
That's 9 degrees above normal and 1 degree shy of the record-warm low set in 2008, according to the National Weather Service.
The Weather Service forecast Phoenix-area highs of 111 to 117 degrees through Aug 3.
Overnight lows of 87 to 93 degrees will provide little relief before daytime heat builds again.
The high-pressure system should weaken slightly on Monday.
Benedict said temperatures could fall by 1 to 3 degrees, but dangerous heat will continue.
Pedestrians seek shelter from the sun near the Phoenix Convention Center during a heat wave in central Arizona on May 11, 2026.Arizona has amazing sunrises and sunsets: See the photos (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)A man rides along Washington Street near the Phoenix Convention Center during a heat wave in central Arizona on May 11, 2026. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)Winds push a huge dust storm over Phoenix on June 17, 2026, after the National Weather Service warned of strong winds and to "expect dust." (Provided by Phoenix via Storyful)A trail at South Mountain is empty as temperatures reach over 105 degrees on May 11, 2026, in Phoenix. (Megan Mendoza/The Republic)Alisha Altiveros, 6, flies her butterfly kite during a breezy overcast day at Christy Cove Park on April 6, 2026, in Phoenix. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)Overcast skies and a breeze allowed for kite flying at Christy Cove Park on April 6, 2026, in Phoenix. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)Overcast skies and a breeze allowed for kite flying at Christy Cove Park on April 6, 2026, in Phoenix. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)The wind blows the U.S. flag on a construction crane at the former Paradise Valley Mall, now known as PV on April 6, 2026, in Phoenix. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)The wind blows the U.S. flag on a construction crane at the former Paradise Valley Mall, now known as PV on April 6, 2026, in Phoenix. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)The entrance to the Piestewa Peak summit trail in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve is closed from 8 AM to 5 PM due to an extreme heat warning on March 20, 2026, in Phoenix.Weather records: Arizona's wettest day became its deadliest after extreme rains (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)The entrance to the Piestewa Peak summit trail in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve is closed from 8 AM to 5 PM due to an extreme heat warning on March 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)Park ranger Sam Weller guards the entrance to the Piestewa Peak summit trail in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve as trails are closed from 8 AM to 5 PM due to an extreme heat warning on March 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)Toni Bacon watches her son, Tristen Bacon (#45 LB) during ASU's football practice at Kajikawa Practice fields March 19, 2026, in Tempe. (Mark Henle/The Republic)Roman Pitre (#13 DL) cools off during ASU's football practice at Kajikawa Practice fields March 19, 2026, in Tempe. (Mark Henle/The Republic)A Cactus League spring training game at Salt River Fields is delayed to an evening start due a heat wave on March 19, 2026, near Scottsdale. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)The infield is watered before a spring training game that was delayed until evening due to a heat wave at Salt River Fields on March 19, 2026, near Scottsdale. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)Rain begins to fall and clouds fill the skies over East Mesa near Power and Brown roads the evening of March 9, 2026. (Wendy Killeen/The Republic)The snow-capped San Francisco Peaks as seen from Flagstaff on Jan. 9, 2026. (Provided by Calvin Johnson)The snow-capped San Francisco Peaks as seen from Flagstaff on Jan. 9, 2026. (Provided by Calvin Johnson)Paragliders Roy Devilbiss (top) and Chuck Woods sail under a storm cloud alongside a bird at South Mountain on Jan. 2, 2026, in Phoenix. (Megan Mendoza/The Republic)Paraglider Roy Devilbiss takes off from Gila Valley Lookout at South Mountain on Jan. 2, 2026, in Phoenix. (Megan Mendoza/The Republic)Paraglider Roy Devilbiss stands at the edge of Gila Valley Lookout over Ahwatukee as he prepares to take off from South Mountain on Jan. 2, 2026, in Phoenix. (Megan Mendoza/The Republic)Roy Devilbiss prepares his paragliding gear as he waits for the right wind conditions to take off from Gila Valley Lookout at South Mountain on Jan. 2, 2026, in Phoenix. (Megan Mendoza/The Republic)Paraglider Roy Devilbiss puts on safety gear as he prepares to take off from Gila Valley Lookout at South Mountain on Jan. 2, 2026, in Phoenix. (Megan Mendoza/The Republic)Paraglider Roy Devilbiss puts on safety gear as he prepares to take off from Gila Valley Lookout at South Mountain on Jan. 2, 2026, in Phoenix. (Megan Mendoza/The Republic)Paraglider Roy Devilbiss takes off from Gila Valley Lookout at South Mountain on Jan. 2, 2026, in Phoenix. (Megan Mendoza/The Republic)Paraglider Chuck Woods waits for the right conditions before taking off at South Mountain on Jan. 2, 2026, in Phoenix. (Megan Mendoza/The Republic)Carlos Espinoza blows his shofar at Dobbins Lookout at South Mountain Park in Phoenix, on Jan. 1, 2026. (Mark Henle/The Republic)A hiker and her dog enjoys the weather in the Dreamy Draw Recreation Area on Jan. 13, 2026, in Phoenix. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)A mountain biker rides a trail through the Dreamy Draw Recreation Area on Jan. 13, 2026, in Phoenix. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)A monarch butterfly lands on a brittlebush in the Dreamy Draw Recreation Area on Jan. 13, 2026, in Phoenix. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)A mountain biker rides through the Dreamy Draw Recreation Area on Jan. 13, 2026, in Phoenix. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)A brittlebush flower in the Dreamy Draw Recreation Area on Jan. 13, 2026, in Phoenix. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)A bicyclist rides through the Dreamy Draw Recreation Area on Jan. 13, 2026, in Phoenix. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)A hiker enjoys the weather in the Dreamy Draw Recreation Area on Jan. 13, 2026, in Phoenix. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)A monarch butterfly lands on a brittlebush in the Dreamy Draw Recreation Area on Jan. 13, 2026, in Phoenix. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)A hiker follows a trail in the Dreamy Draw Recreation Area on Jan. 13, 2026, in Phoenix. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic)A runner jogs past a flock of geese near the Eastern Canal on Jan. 15, 2026, in Chandler. (Megan Mendoza/The Republic)
Pedestrians seek shelter from the sun near the Phoenix Convention Center during a heat wave in central Arizona on May 11, 2026.
Arizona has amazing sunrises and sunsets: See the photos
For public safety, the City of Phoenix will close the following trails from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, through Monday, Aug. 3:
Camelback Mountain Preserve: Echo Canyon and Cholla trails
Phoenix Mountains Preserve: Piestewa Peak Summit Trail and associated trails
South Mountain Park and Preserve: Holbert Trail, Mormon Trail, Hau'Pal Loop Trail, and access to the National Trail from the Pima Canyon Trailhead
The city reminds hikers to "Take a Hike. Do It Right."
More than 200 hikers are rescued each year from Phoenix's desert parks and mountain preserves. During Extreme Heat Warnings, the city strongly discourages hiking on all Phoenix trails between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Strong high pressure and generally dry air will eliminate most monsoon activity through the weekend, Benedict said.
Storms are expected to remain concentrated over the White Mountains and southeastern Arizona. Isolated thunderstorms could develop in far southeastern Gila County beginning Aug. 2, bringing the potential for strong, gusty outflow winds.
Those outflow winds could also reach parts of south-central Arizona, though Benedict said they are not expected to be strong enough to spark new storms.
The Weather Service listed a 10% chance of Phoenix-area thunderstorms beginning Aug. 4.
The Arizona Republic's meteorologist Tevian Whitehurst contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix heat wave brings record temperatures