Abnormally high temperatures are expected for the Valley this weekend, but the chance of rain in the evening and overnight is higher, according to the National Weather Service.
From Thursday through Sunday, the National Weather Service forecasts temperatures to or above 110 degrees. These highs come in the same week that Phoenix had its hottest day of the year yet on Monday, July 11, with a high of 115 degrees.
Around this time of year, Phoenix should see high temperatures averaging 107 degrees, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Sean Benedict. That means that daily temperatures are up to about 5 degrees higher than normal.
On Monday, temperatures will begin to drop slightly again, but “it will still be hot,” Benedict said, as temperatures are expected to be between 105 and 107 degrees.
Although the National Weather Service has not issued a warning of extreme heat for the weekend, Benedict warned that people should still take necessary precautions to protect themselves from high temperatures.
The National Weather Service recommends that people drink plenty of water and stay indoors as much as possible. It also advises caution with cars, which reach high temperatures very quickly, and states that children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles.
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Some thunderstorms are expected for the area over the weekend, with the highest chance Thursday and Sunday in the afternoon and evening, although the forecast is still uncertain and could mean more thunderstorms than expected on another weekend day, it said. Benedict.
Most activity is forecast in the higher elevations of south-central Arizona. The National Weather Service’s forecast shows a 20% chance of rain every evening through Sunday, although evening temperatures are not expected to drop below 90 degrees.
This thunderstorm is consistent with normal monsoon behavior, Benedict said.
Road closures and delays
On and along Interstate 10 in Phoenix, there will be several closures and lanes this weekend, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
I-10 westbound will be closed from Loop 202 to US 60 from 10:00 PM Friday to 4:00 AM Monday, including ramps at Wild Horse Pass Boulevard/Sundus Road and between Chandler Boulevard and Elliot Road. Ramps from eastbound and westbound Loop 202 to westbound I-10 will also be closed.
Eastbound 1-10 will be narrowed in two places.
First, from 3:00 AM to 11:59 PM Saturday, eastbound I-10 at Elliot Road will be narrowed to two lanes and the exit at Elliot Road will be closed.
Second, from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., eastbound I-10 between Warner and Ray roads will be narrowed to three lanes, and the Warner Road ramp and Ray Road exit will be closed.
Reach breaking news reporter Sam Burdette at [email protected] or on Twitter @SuperSafetySam.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix to see abnormally high temperatures, I-10 closures
