Rain has brought a welcome break from triple-digit heat in Phoenix, with residents and dog owners taking advantage of cooler conditions across the Arizona city.
The National Weather Service recorded a high of 96F (36C) in Phoenix on Saturday, along with 0.04 inches of rain. Sunday’s forecast called for temperatures in the high 80s Fahrenheit, a marked change from the heat earlier in the week.
For Molly Moylan, the wet weather was a reason to get outside rather than stay indoors.
“What a blessing… it’s beautiful,” she said.
The cooler conditions have also made life easier for pets, particularly dogs with thick coats. Katie Warren said her dog had previously needed to be walked very early to avoid the worst of the heat.
“He has a lot of fur, so he gets really hot, really fast,” she said. “So now it’s nice we can go out not super early in the morning, and can finally start doing some later walks as well.”
Warren said the cloud cover had made the walk more enjoyable for both of them, adding: “I’m so happy it’s not blazing sun down on us, we can actually get out and enjoy our walk.”
Moylan described one spell of rain as “really a downpour”, but said it had created the best opportunity of the day to take her dog out.
Other residents were equally keen to make the most of the change. Ayan Siddiqui said they had woken up, eaten breakfast and headed out for a long walk, while Briel Merino said: “It is insane, we hope this weather stays and I hope we’re done with those 90 degree days.”
For now, Phoenix residents and their pets are enjoying a brief respite from the searing temperatures, even if the rain proves short-lived.
