Overview
- Following Tuesday's Extreme Heat Warning, forecasters expect a brief cooldown with highs near 101 on Wednesday and about 99 on Thursday.
- Phoenix hit 109 degrees on Monday, landing one degree shy of the May 11 record of 110 set in 1934, according to the National Weather Service.
- An Ozone High Pollution Advisory remained in effect through Tuesday as hot, stagnant air raised respiratory risks, with winds on Wednesday expected to clear some pollution.
- Climate Central ranked the May event at the top of its Climate Shift Index, indicating a strong influence from human-caused warming on the early-season heat.
- Maricopa County officials said they are investigating 42 possible heat-related deaths so far in 2026, with many cases tied to the spring's unusual run of triple-digit days.