Phoenix facing blistering stretch of triple-digit heat
By
Brandon Buckingham, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Published Apr 21, 2020 10:43 AM EDT
Video from before and after the lockdowns began in various cities around the world shows how the coronavirus has had a noticeable improvement on air quality.
The persistent dip in the jet stream across California and the Desert Southwest during the first half of the month that resulted in cool and wet conditions will be all but a memory into this weekend as dry and mild weather settles in.
The jet stream will shift northward into the Pacific Northwest, sending the storm track northward along with it. As a result, rain and mountain snow will target the Pacific Northwest rather than the Southwest.
As the jet stream shifts north, an area of high pressure will begin to expand over California and the Desert Southwest through the remainder of the week.
Temperatures will begin to climb to summerlike levels and even challenge daily record highs in some spots.
Temperatures peaked in the 80s and 90s on Thursday afternoon across the San Joaquin Valley and even across the Los Angeles Basin as the heat settles in.
By Friday, record-challenging temperatures are forecast in downtown Los Angeles. The record high of 99 degrees in Phoenix from 1987 will likely be challenged.
One area that will remain closer to seasonable temperature readings will be along the immediate Pacific Coast as a northwest wind will bring in cooler air.
Because of the unusually wet pattern to start the month of April across Southern California and the Desert Southwest, the wildfire threat is not expected to be exceptionally high during this hot and windy stretch. However, this weather pattern will begin the process of drying out vegetation across the region.
"One area where the combination of leftover dry winter vegetation exists with gusty winds that can lead to an elevated fire risk will be centered on New Mexico through the balance of this week," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Edwards.
It is important to remember to double check vehicles before walking away to ensure children or pets have not been left behind.
The windiest weather will be late this week, but the highest temperatures over the interior Southwest will be felt this weekend.
"Phoenix is likely to get its first 100-degree temperature of the season late this week or this weekend," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller stated.
Phoenix hit 90 for the first time this year on Wednesday.
Las Vegas hit 90 for the first time this year on Thursday. The city may also hit 100 for the first time this season this weekend.
The weather pattern is expected to remain relatively unchanged into this weekend as well. The storm track will remain aimed at the Pacific Northwest, while hot, dry and sunny conditions will envelop much of the Southwest.
It is not totally uncommon to see a jet stream pattern set up like this, as this is the typical start to the dry season across the region.
AccuWeather meteorologists are suggesting this pattern could continue well into next week.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Weather Forecasts
Phoenix facing blistering stretch of triple-digit heat
By Brandon Buckingham, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Published Apr 21, 2020 10:43 AM EDT
Video from before and after the lockdowns began in various cities around the world shows how the coronavirus has had a noticeable improvement on air quality.
The persistent dip in the jet stream across California and the Desert Southwest during the first half of the month that resulted in cool and wet conditions will be all but a memory into this weekend as dry and mild weather settles in.
The jet stream will shift northward into the Pacific Northwest, sending the storm track northward along with it. As a result, rain and mountain snow will target the Pacific Northwest rather than the Southwest.
As the jet stream shifts north, an area of high pressure will begin to expand over California and the Desert Southwest through the remainder of the week.
Temperatures will begin to climb to summerlike levels and even challenge daily record highs in some spots.
Temperatures peaked in the 80s and 90s on Thursday afternoon across the San Joaquin Valley and even across the Los Angeles Basin as the heat settles in.
By Friday, record-challenging temperatures are forecast in downtown Los Angeles. The record high of 99 degrees in Phoenix from 1987 will likely be challenged.
One area that will remain closer to seasonable temperature readings will be along the immediate Pacific Coast as a northwest wind will bring in cooler air.
Because of the unusually wet pattern to start the month of April across Southern California and the Desert Southwest, the wildfire threat is not expected to be exceptionally high during this hot and windy stretch. However, this weather pattern will begin the process of drying out vegetation across the region.
Related:
"One area where the combination of leftover dry winter vegetation exists with gusty winds that can lead to an elevated fire risk will be centered on New Mexico through the balance of this week," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Edwards.
It is important to remember to double check vehicles before walking away to ensure children or pets have not been left behind.
The windiest weather will be late this week, but the highest temperatures over the interior Southwest will be felt this weekend.
"Phoenix is likely to get its first 100-degree temperature of the season late this week or this weekend," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller stated.
Phoenix hit 90 for the first time this year on Wednesday.
Las Vegas hit 90 for the first time this year on Thursday. The city may also hit 100 for the first time this season this weekend.
The weather pattern is expected to remain relatively unchanged into this weekend as well. The storm track will remain aimed at the Pacific Northwest, while hot, dry and sunny conditions will envelop much of the Southwest.
It is not totally uncommon to see a jet stream pattern set up like this, as this is the typical start to the dry season across the region.
AccuWeather meteorologists are suggesting this pattern could continue well into next week.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo