Phoenix (KPHX) Temperature Market Guide
KPHX • Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
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Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (KPHX) offers a ForecastEx temperature market in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. Phoenix routinely records the hottest temperatures of any major U.S. city, with summer highs frequently exceeding 110°F. Understanding desert climate dynamics and the monsoon season is essential for trading this market.
Quick Facts
| Station Code | KPHX |
|---|---|
| Location | Phoenix, AZ |
| Coordinates | 33.4373°N, 112.0078°W |
| Elevation | 1,135 ft (346 m) |
| Timezone | MT (America/Phoenix) |
| NWS Office | Phoenix (PSR) |
| Resolution Source | NWS CLI Report ↗ |
About the KPHX Weather Station
The KPHX ASOS is located at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, just 3 miles southeast of downtown Phoenix. At 1,135 feet elevation in the Salt River Valley, the station is surrounded by one of the most intense urban heat islands in the country.
The airport's location in the urban core means it often records higher temperatures than outlying areas. The vast expanses of concrete, asphalt, and buildings in the Phoenix metro area absorb and re-radiate heat, intensifying already extreme desert temperatures.
The airport's location in the urban core means it often records higher temperatures than outlying areas. The vast expanses of concrete, asphalt, and buildings in the Phoenix metro area absorb and re-radiate heat, intensifying already extreme desert temperatures.
Phoenix Climate & Temperature Patterns
Phoenix experiences a hot desert climate (Koppen: BWh) with extremely hot summers, mild winters, and very low humidity outside of monsoon season. The city averages over 300 sunny days per year.
Key Climate Factors:
Extreme Heat: Phoenix is the hottest major city in the United States. Summer highs routinely exceed 105°F, with 110°F+ temperatures common. The record is 122°F.
Urban Heat Island: Phoenix has one of the most intense urban heat islands in the world. The city can be 10-15°F warmer than surrounding desert, especially at night.
Monsoon Season: From mid-June through September, the North American Monsoon brings moisture and thunderstorms. These storms can briefly drop temperatures 15-20°F.
No Daylight Saving Time: Arizona (except Navajo Nation) does not observe DST, which affects timing considerations.
Key Climate Factors:
Extreme Heat: Phoenix is the hottest major city in the United States. Summer highs routinely exceed 105°F, with 110°F+ temperatures common. The record is 122°F.
Urban Heat Island: Phoenix has one of the most intense urban heat islands in the world. The city can be 10-15°F warmer than surrounding desert, especially at night.
Monsoon Season: From mid-June through September, the North American Monsoon brings moisture and thunderstorms. These storms can briefly drop temperatures 15-20°F.
No Daylight Saving Time: Arizona (except Navajo Nation) does not observe DST, which affects timing considerations.
📊 View Real-Time Phoenix Data
Access live temperature readings, forecasts from 15+ models, and historical analysis tools.
Open Live DashboardSeasonal Trading Considerations
Winter (December - February):
Pleasant with highs typically in the 60s°F. Occasional cold snaps can drop temperatures into the 40s-50s°F. Frost is possible but rare in the urban core.
Spring (March - May):
Rapid warming with temperatures climbing from the 70s to over 100°F by May. Very dry conditions.
Summer (June - August):
Extreme heat with highs typically 105-115°F. June is typically the hottest and driest month before monsoon moisture arrives. Monsoon storms bring brief relief in July-August.
Fall (September - November):
Slow cooling from extreme heat. September still sees 100°F+ days. By November, temperatures become pleasant.
Pleasant with highs typically in the 60s°F. Occasional cold snaps can drop temperatures into the 40s-50s°F. Frost is possible but rare in the urban core.
Spring (March - May):
Rapid warming with temperatures climbing from the 70s to over 100°F by May. Very dry conditions.
Summer (June - August):
Extreme heat with highs typically 105-115°F. June is typically the hottest and driest month before monsoon moisture arrives. Monsoon storms bring brief relief in July-August.
Fall (September - November):
Slow cooling from extreme heat. September still sees 100°F+ days. By November, temperatures become pleasant.
Phoenix-Specific Trading Tips
Pre-Monsoon Heat: June is often the hottest month because it's hot AND dry. July-August temperatures may be slightly lower due to monsoon cloud cover and storms.
Monsoon Storm Impacts: Monsoon thunderstorms can rapidly drop temperatures but are very difficult to predict precisely. They typically form in the mountains and move toward the city.
Urban Heat Island: Sky Harbor often runs 5-10°F warmer than suburban stations. Use airport-specific forecasts.
No DST: Arizona doesn't observe DST, so time zone offsets change seasonally relative to other markets.
Monsoon Storm Impacts: Monsoon thunderstorms can rapidly drop temperatures but are very difficult to predict precisely. They typically form in the mountains and move toward the city.
Urban Heat Island: Sky Harbor often runs 5-10°F warmer than suburban stations. Use airport-specific forecasts.
No DST: Arizona doesn't observe DST, so time zone offsets change seasonally relative to other markets.
Market Resolution Details
Phoenix temperature markets resolve based on the official high temperature in the NWS CLI for station KPHX, issued by the Phoenix forecast office (PSR).
Resolution Source: NWS CLI (Climatological Report)
Reporting Period: 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM Mountain Standard Time (Arizona does not observe DST).
Time of Maximum: Summer highs typically occur between 3-5 PM MST.
Resolution Source: NWS CLI (Climatological Report)
Reporting Period: 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM Mountain Standard Time (Arizona does not observe DST).
Time of Maximum: Summer highs typically occur between 3-5 PM MST.
Data Release Schedule
Typical release times for key data products at KPHX. Times shown in UTC.
| Data Type | Typical Time (UTC) | Variability |
|---|---|---|
| CLI Report Daily climatological summary |
08:18 UTC | ±11 min |
| 24hr High METAR with max temp |
06:51 UTC | ±1 min |
| METAR Hourly observations |
Hourly at :51 | ±1 min |
| DSM #1 Daily summary message |
00:09 UTC | Issuance time |
| DSM #2 Daily summary message |
23:09 UTC | Issuance time |
| DSM #3 Daily summary message |
15:09 UTC | Issuance time |
| DSM #4 Daily summary message |
15:08 UTC | Issuance time |
6-Hour High/Low Reports
These METARs include 6-hour maximum and minimum temperatures, useful for tracking intraday temperature trends.
05:51 UTC
11:51 UTC
17:51 UTC
23:51 UTC
Note: Times are approximate and may vary. CLI reports are the official resolution source for temperature markets. See NWS Data Guide for more information.
Data Resources
Quick links to official data sources and tools for Phoenix.
📊 NWS Data
🗄️ Iowa Environmental Mesonet
📈 Wethr.net Tools
Forecasting Challenges
Extreme Heat Precision: Forecasting whether temperatures will reach 112°F vs 116°F requires precision in a regime where small changes matter.
Monsoon Thunderstorms: The timing, location, and intensity of monsoon storms is extremely difficult to predict. Outflow boundaries can dramatically affect temperatures.
Urban Heat Quantification: The intense urban heat island makes model performance challenging.
Monsoon Thunderstorms: The timing, location, and intensity of monsoon storms is extremely difficult to predict. Outflow boundaries can dramatically affect temperatures.
Urban Heat Quantification: The intense urban heat island makes model performance challenging.
Historical Temperature Records
Record High: 122°F recorded in June 1990.
Record Low: 16°F recorded in January 1913.
100°F+ Days: Phoenix averages about 110 days per year at or above 100°F.
110°F+ Days: Phoenix averages about 20-30 days per year at or above 110°F, almost exclusively in June-August.
Record Low: 16°F recorded in January 1913.
100°F+ Days: Phoenix averages about 110 days per year at or above 100°F.
110°F+ Days: Phoenix averages about 20-30 days per year at or above 110°F, almost exclusively in June-August.
📡 Official Data Sources
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