Turning up the heat: Valley high hits 110 degrees

An excessive heat warning is in effect until 8 p.m. today following Monday's record-breaking temperatures that hit 111 degrees in some parts of the West Valley.

Phoenix's official high was 110 degrees - 15 degrees warmer than normal.  The previous record high was 105.

And on the heels of Sunday's high of 105 - the first triple-digit day of 2008 - this was the first time in the recorded history of Phoenix that the 100 and 110 marks were reached on consecutive days.

"Even wilder, we're going to be 30-degrees cooler in a few days," said Tony Haffer, meteorologist in charge of the local National Weather Service office.

The Daily News-Sun weather watcher in Sun City West reported a high of 109. In Sun City Grand, the high was 108. The temperature gauge at the Daily News-Sun offices in Sun City showed 104. The National Bank of Arizona in Sun City had a reading of 111.

Heading toward Arizona is a storm just as powerful as the heat wave currently gripping the state. In the cold front's wake, Thursday's highs will struggle to break 80. The forecast for the Valley even calls for a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

"You don't see this in May," Haffer noted.

But you usually don't see readings of 110 degrees in May, either. On average, the first day with such heat is another month away: June 20. If only looking at the last 30 years, the average is June 11.

The earliest 110-degree day in Phoenix's history is May 8, set in 1989.

Today should see the barest of cooling - a high of 108. An excessive-heat warning is in effect from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.

With the heat comes another problem: bad air.

The Valley is also under a high-pollution advisory today, with state officials warning that ozone levels are expected to exceed federal health standards.

Because of the scorching sun and lack of cloud cover, local ozone production will be very high, according to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

After today's furnace-like conditions pass, the cold front is expected to sweep through on Wednesday. Highs will drop back into the upper 90s. From the afternoon into the evening, sustained westerly winds will exceed 25 mph, and gusts could reach 43 mph.

Thursday's and Friday's highs will be in the low 80s, and the wind will die down. There is the possibility of rain, but dry conditions mean that any precipitation will be scattered and light.