Arizona weather balloon releases collect data to understand the monsoon
The Salt River Project and National Weather Service collaborate daily to release weather balloons that collect data to help meteorologists during the monsoon.
Vanessa Abbitt/The Republic
Phoenix reached a high of 103 degrees on Friday, May 9, according to the National Weather Service.
The day began with a low of 73 degrees—a sharp contrast to the cooler mornings the area experienced just last month.
A high of 102 degrees and a low of 77 were forecast for Saturday, May 10, with the National Weather Service calling for a mix of sunny, breezy conditions and mostly clear skies.
The anticipated triple-digit temperatures over Mother’s Day weekend are nearly 10 degrees above the seasonal average.
The National Weather Service forecast a high of nearly 104 degrees for Mother’s Day on May 11, with mostly sunny skies and winds ranging from 10 to 15 mph, and gusts potentially reaching up to 20 mph.
The predicted low for May 11 was around 77 degrees, with partly cloudy skies and light winds between 5 and 10 mph.
A slight cool-down from the 100-degree heat was expected to begin Monday, May 12, with partly cloudy skies and nighttime lows in the 60s and 70s forecast for both Monday and Tuesday, May 12 and 13.
According to Matt Salerno, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix, sharp temperature swings are typical during the transition from spring to summer. As weather systems move through the region, they can significantly cool the area, followed by a ridge of high pressure that brings increased atmospheric pressure and drier air.
Salerno explained that the current high-pressure ridge is capable of heating the Phoenix area more efficiently, and with the sun’s angle shifting as summer approaches, the recent temperature jump came as no surprise to the weather service.
He urged Valley residents to take precautions as the region transitions into hotter months, recommending frequent breaks in the shade or indoors and emphasizing the need for caution as temperatures begin to consistently reach the triple digits.
Arizona Republic reporter Wren Smetana contributed to this article.
