Hot, dry conditions forecast for Phoenix this weekend

Dry conditions and chances of "record-breaking" heat return to the Phoenix area over the weekend, as the prospect of rainy relief continues to fade in the middle of the monsoon.

According to The National Weather Service, hotter temperatures with highs over 110 degrees are back on the menu for much of the Phoenix area and southern Arizona beginning Friday, placing the Valley under another excessive heat warning that lasts until Monday.

The excessive heat warning was in effect from 10 a.m. Friday to 8 p.m. Monday, according to the weather service.

After the brutal month that was July, where Phoenix produced a 31-day streak of temperatures at or above 110 degrees, the Valley will continue to add to its yearly total, currently at 35.

"The temperatures Friday and through the weekend are actually going to be pretty hot, well above normal," Phoenix office meteorologist Gabriel Lojero told The Arizona Republic. "We're talking highs approaching 115 degrees through at least Sunday and potentially extending into early next week."

With the current forecast, temperatures were projected to be around eight to 10 degrees higher than the typical average for this time of year, placing the heat risk at major.

Coupled with the high heat, weather conditions will be very dry due to "well-below-normal moisture" levels.

"We're pretty much in a very dry air mass for now. Well below normal moisture is currently entrenched across the region, and that's basically going to produce sunny skies with no chance of thunderstorm activity," Lojero said.

With the 0% chance of thunderstorms, Lojero said that 2023 could move into second place in terms of consecutive days with no measurable precipitation at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Areas throughout metro Phoenix have received measurable amounts of rainfall. However, because the official climate statistics are recorded at Sky Harbor — which has not seen at least 0.01 inches of rain since March 22 — the streak lives on.

"We're at 134 consecutive days with no measurable precipitation here at Phoenix Sky Harbor. Second place is 143, so it's becoming increasingly probable that we're going to go into that number two spot," Lojero said.

That mark of 143 days was set in 1960, promptly ending on July 22. It was then tied back in 2006, ending on March 10.

For those wondering, the top spot was set in 1972 at 160 days.

"Based on what we're looking at and the extended, it's just not looking like the chances for any measurable precipitation are going to come to fruition, at least for the next seven to 10 days," Lojero said.

Light breezy conditions will likely spawn during the afternoon hours, but outside of that, expect some "unusually quiet weather" given that Arizona is smack dab in the middle of its monsoon season, according to Lojero.

A caveat, however, is that the drier air is slated to keep the overnight lows in the 80s to low 90s.

Ultimately, much of the same will be felt throughout the Valley through the course of the following week with persistent high temperatures and virtually no chances of rain.

Higher terrain areas north and east of Phoenix run the possibility of receiving some isolated thunderstorms develop, sitting at around 15-20% starting Monday.

Heat-related illnesses:On the rise due to ongoing Arizona heat wave

The Arizona Department of Health Services provided tips to prevent heat-related illness: