Navigation

New Phoenix spring forecast released: What to expect

Warmer temperatures are around the corner. More rain is not.
Image: camelback mountain
Spring in Phoenix should be dry and slightly warmer than usual. H Babs/Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Today is the last day of our summer campaign, and we’re just $450 away from our goal!

We’re ready to deliver—but we need the resources to do it right. If Phoenix New Times matters to you, please take action and contribute today to help us expand our current events coverage when it’s needed most.

Contribute Now

Progress to goal
$10,000
$9,550
Share this:
Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

As they say, it’s a dry heat.

In a little more than a month, residents can expect traditional Phoenix weather as the Valley transitions from a cool winter into a warmer spring.

According to the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center, Phoenix’s weather will likely be dry and warm in the coming months.

In a seasonal temperature outlook map posted in mid-January, the Climate Prediction Center forecasted warmer temperatures and less-than-usual precipitation for Arizona entering spring.

click to enlarge a map of the U.S. showing that Arizona is likely to have above-average temperatures in spring
National Weather Service

According to the NWS, Arizona has a 50-60% likelihood of experiencing higher-than-average temperatures from March through May. months. There’s only a 16% likelihood of temperatures being cooler than average, according to NWS meteorologist Austin Jamison. Still, that doesn’t mean that cooldowns “for a few days or a week” are out of the picture.

“Odds favor warmer than normal temperatures and below normal precipitation for that three-month period,” Jamison said. “That doesn’t mean it’s the only possible outcome, but it’s the more likely one we take.”

Precipitation levels are expected to be low, continuing a trend after Phoenix nearly set a record dry streak in January. “It’s a lot less likely that it’s going to be above normal for precipitation,” Jamison said.

click to enlarge a map of the U.S. showing the Southwest is likely to have below-average precipitation in spring
National Weather Service

Spring training attendees could still see a rainout here and there — Jamison said the forecast “doesn’t mean you can’t get a big event” like a thunderstorm — but in general, spring will be parched.

Basically, after months of heat and rainless records, expect more of the same. If you’re hoping for a wet, cool spring, don’t hold your breath — or an umbrella.