Clouds drift into Maricopa on the horizon, with a chance for rain every day. Photo by Adam Wolfe

=By Adam Wolfe

The week is projected to feature much of the same weather and monsoons that swept through Maricopa over the weekend.

According to the National Weather Service, there is a 20 to 30 percent chance of afternoon rain and thunderstorms each day this week. The storms are expected to drop the high temperatures from near 110 degrees to around 105 degrees throughout the week. Winds are expected to stay near 10 mph, but strong gusts may occur sporadically.

Monday is projected to be partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of afternoon rain and thunderstorms. The chances jump to 30 percent for rain and thunderstorms as the evening approaches. The high is expected to reach 105 degrees, and the wind is expected to stay calm near 10 mph throughout the day.

Tuesday is projected to be partly cloudy in the morning, with potential storms moving in during the afternoon. There is a 10 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms in the early afternoon, but monsoons are expected in the evening, and a 20 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms will linger throughout the night. The high is expected to be 103 degrees, but the wind could kick up loose dust with a steady breeze around 13 mph and occasional strong gusts.

Wednesday is expected to be a near mirror image of Tuesday featuring a 10 percent chance of afternoon storms and a 20 percent chance of evening showers and thunderstorms. The projected high for Wednesday drops to 101 degrees and the wind is expected to calm to around 9 mph for most of the day.

Thursday is expected to feature mostly clear skies during the day before the storms roll in toward the evening. There is currently a 20 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms throughout the night. The projected high is 103 degrees, but the wind is expected to stay relatively calm.

Friday and Saturday forecasts currently call for rain and thunderstorms. The high for both days is expected to be around 100 degrees, but more information on the weekend will be available later in the week.