For many, Labor Day weekend is the time to hit the road for one last hurrah before looking ahead to fall. In Arizona, plenty of schoolchildren are already back at their desks, and we still won't see the usual telltale signs of fall — like cooler weather — until October or November.
Drivers will find it preferable to start road trips in the morning. Travelers returning home on Sunday and Labor Day should leave as early as possible to avoid heavy traffic in the afternoon, according to AAA.
“Monitoring traffic apps, local news stations, and 511 traveler information services may help drivers navigate around congestion and reduce driver frustration this Labor Day,” Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, said in a AAA news release.
Follow coverage from Republic reporters throughout the holiday weekend.
Traffic eases up by Monday evening
By 7 p.m. on Monday, Arizona Department of Transportation reported traffic was easing up on southbound Interstate 17 near Campe Verde on the way back into the Valley. The area between Camp Verde and New River was experiencing heavy traffic for several hours throughout the afternoon.
Areas of slowing remained on southbound Interstate 17 from south of Cordes Junction to Black Canyon City.
Traffic was also picking up on westbound State Route 260 near Payson, which also experienced heavy traffic during the afternoon.
Traffic backs up on Monday afternoon
Arizona Department of Transportation reported heavy traffic on Monday afternoon on Interstate 17 southbound near Camp Verde to New River, heading back into Phoenix.
Heavy traffic was also reported on State Route 260 westbound near Payson. Travelers are expected to spend longer amounts of time on the road, ADOT said.
— Alexandra Hardle
Zuni dance group performs Labor Day at Grand Canyon National Park
A special Labor Day performance by the Cellicion Zuni Dance group from the Pueblo of Zuni is scheduled at 4 p.m. Monday in the Visitor Center Plaza at Grand Canyon National Park, park officials posted on X, formerly Twitter.
"Hopefully this will help the people understand one another better to bring peace, harmony and unity among the people throughout Mother Earth," said group director Fernando Cellicion.
The group is also scheduled to perform at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Desert View at the outdoor amphitheater.It performs at festivals, art markets and other community events to bring Zuni culture to a wide audience.
— Michelle Cruz
Phoenix cooling centers open for special hours on Monday
In observance of Labor Day, the city of Phoenix announced that some cooling and respite centers will operate during special hours on Monday.
Cooling centers will only be open from noon to 10 p.m. on Labor Day.
For overnight respite centers, Burton Barr Central Library at 1221 N Central Ave. will remain open 24/7 and Senior Opportunities West at 1220 South Seventh Ave. will continue to open nightly from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m.
— Kerria Weaver
Keep cool during return trip home after Labor Day weekend
The drive for many Arizonans returning home after Labor Day weekend may be a warm one.
The high temperature in Phoenix is expected to reach 106 degrees on Monday and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Early morning low temperatures are forecast to be in the mid-80s.
But the heat will increase later in the week with an Excessive Heat Watch in effect from Wednesday to Friday with afternoon temperatures expected to hit 106 to 115 degrees throughout south-central Arizona, the weather service stated.
— Michelle Cruz
Congestion continues on southbound I-17
As of Sunday evening, heavy delays were common in pockets of Interstate 17 southbound from Cordes Junction to Black Canyon City.
For real-time traffic info, check http://az511.gov & the AZ511 app.
— Staff reports
Dust storms and high winds sweep through Phoenix area
High winds and storm clouds rolled through the Phoenix area at 5 p.m. as rain fell in the East Valley.
The National Weather Service in Phoenix sent a dust storm advisory that would last until 6:15 p.m. in rural parts of the West Valley.
In some areas, visibility would be less than one mile, with 40 mph winds.
— Miguel Torres
Infant boy killed in Mesa car crash
Three vehicles crashed at the busy intersection of Power and Baseline roads Sunday afternoon, resulting in the death of an infant boy, according toMesa police.
A Honda Civic traveling west on Baseline Road approaching Power Road just after 1 p.m. collided with the rear of two vehicles stopped at a red light. One of the cars was pushed into the intersection and rolled, according to Brandi Myers, Mesa police spokesperson.
All four people in that vehicle were transported by ambulance. The baby boy, less than 3 months old, was pronounced dead at Banner Children's Hospital. The infant was in a child safety seat, and it was installed properly, Myers said.
Another child in the back seat was treated for a broken bone. The driver and front passenger received minor injuries.
The driver of the Civic sustained broken bones and was treated at a hospital.No signs of impairment were noted, Myer said.
The crash remained under investigation, and speed was believed to be a contributing factor.
— Miguel Torres
Motorcycle crash victim identified in Scottsdale
A motorcycle rider who died in a crash Saturday has been identified as 36-year-old Elliot Carter.
Carter was riding west on McKellips Road near Miller Road when he did not stop for the red traffic light for westbound traffic and collided with a pickup truck lawfully in the intersection on a green light, according to Officer Aaron Bolin, Scottsdale police spokesperson.
Carter was not wearing a helmet, Bolin said. Lifesaving measures were administered by bystanders and first responders. He was transported to a trauma hospital but did not survive his injuries.
The two people in the pickup were not seriously injured.
Speed and impairment were not considered factors at this point in the investigation.
The intersection was closed for about three hours while detectives took measurements and collected evidence.
— Staff reports
East Valley showers and thunderstorm warnings
Rain began to fall in parts of east Mesa and the northeast foothills of the Valley at about 2:20 p.m., with some areas seeing almost a half-inch of rain.
The National Weather Service reported that isolated storms would continue well into the evening until 8 p.m.
The weather service also announced a severe thunderstorm warning with chances of hail and 60 mph winds in Florence, Coolidge and La Palma.
The Arizona Department of Transportation posted alerts on X that drivers on U.S. 60 near Ellsworth and Power roads should slow and leave extra braking room because of possible flooding near washes.
— Miguel Torres
Heavy traffic brings slowdowns on I-17
Slowdowns extended for miles in both directions on Interstate 17 north of Phoenix early Sunday afternoon, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Traffic was heavy from New River to Rock Springs.
Delays were reported in both directions of I-17 in Black Canyon City after several crashes that didn't block traffic lanes.
A crash on southbound I-17 closed at least one lane in the late morning.
For real-time traffic info, check http://az511.gov & the AZ511 app.
— Staff reports
Hot temperatures continue into Sunday
National Weather Service Meteorologist Mark O'Malley said the Labor Day weekend's temperatures would remain high on Sunday, with projected highs falling between 105 and 108 degrees and a low of about 84 degrees with a 10% chance of thunderstorms in the East Valley.
"Not a really good shot," O'Malley said in regard to East Valley residents seeing precipitation.
Temperatures are significantly higher than last year, with the recorded high and low being 90 and 78 degrees, respectively. O'Malley said the Valley saw 1/100th of an inch of rain. Another meteorologist, Matt Salerno, previously told The Republic that remnants of Hurricane Hilary likely accounted for the cooler temps.
O'Malley said the Flagstaff area was projected to have high temps in the low 80s and recorded a low of 49 degrees in the morning. O'Malley added there was a 30% chance of thunderstorms as well.
— Perry Vandell
I-17 sees delays near Black Canyon City
A disabled semitruck backed up traffic on I-17 northbound near Black Canyon City Saturday.
Drivers were advised to take alternate routes, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
— Staff reports
Labor Day food deals to check out this weekend
Over Labor Day weekend, many Americans will labor over a grill orchestrating a holiday cookout. If that's not how you want to celebrate, there are plenty of restaurant deals to take advantage of.
Observed each year on the first Monday of September, Labor Day, which is Sept. 2 this year, was founded to commemorate the contributions of the labor movement. While some places, including post offices and banks, are closed, many restaurants remain open (it doesn't hurt to call ahead, should you want to go to one).
Here are some Labor Day weekend deals.
— Mike Snider
Is the USPS open on Labor Day? Will mail be delivered?
All post office locations will be closed for the federal holiday.
There won’t be regular residential and business mail deliveries. However, Priority Mail Express is available including on federal holidays.
FedEx and UPS will not have pickup or delivery services on Labor Day. Both shipping couriers have modified hours, individuals should check their local stores for specific hours.
UPS has published its holiday schedule on its website. FedEx has a similar page on its website.
— Raphael Romero Ruiz
Is Walmart or Target open on Labor Day?
Walmart, the retail giant, will be open during normal business hours on Labor Day. Customers can find the hours of the location closest to them online.
Target stores will operate on Labor Day with regular business hours, varying by location. Customers can find the hours of the location closest to them online.
— Raphael Romero Ruiz
What grocery stores are open on Labor Day?
If you forgot a key ingredient for your Labor Day celebration, these grocery stores will be open.
Aldi: Stores will be open on Labor Day but will have modified hours. Hours for specific stores can be found using the Aldi store locator on the retailer’s website.
Costco: Will be closed for the holiday, according to the retailer’s website.
Kroger/Fry's: Stores will operate under regular hours.
Trader Joe’s: The retailer announced in June that it would have special hours in observance of Labor Day. All Trader Joe’s stores will close at 5 p.m.
Whole Foods Market: The retailer will have modified hours for Labor Day. Individuals should check their local store page for more information. Whole Foods has an online store locator tool.
— Raphael Romero Ruiz
Things to do in Arizona for Labor Day
If you haven’t planned your Labor Day activities, there are still some great options for you to consider.
- Take a road trip: Arizonans love their road trips. According to a new nationwide Airbnb report, more than half of Airbnb stays booked during Labor Day weekend 2023 were within a 300-mile drive. Stays in Flagstaff, Tucson, Prescott and Sedona proved most popular with metro Phoenix residents. Consider a road trip to a sky island near Tucson, go to a county fair, kayak a lake in the evening or see an Instagram-famous national landmark recently ranked as a more iconic U.S. destination than the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Go Salt River Tubing: Cool down and see some nature with a lazy day of floating the Salt River.
- Catch a Diamondbacks game: Grab some tickets to cheer on the Diamondbacks as they face their rivals the Los Angeles Dodgers. The teams face off in a four-game home series starting on Friday as the DBacks try to continue their climb to the top of the National League West rankings.
- Flashlight Night at Desert Botanical Garden: Bring your flashlight to Desert Botanical Garden on Saturday, Aug. 31, for an evening of activities, vendors and pop-up experiences for the family. The Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary will be onsite to give visitors a chance to interact with reptiles.
- Arizona Black Rodeo at WestWorld of Scottsdale: Cowboys and cowgirls from around the country will be at WestWorld of Scottsdale for this year’s Arizona Black Rodeo on Sept. 1-2. The event highlights African American contributions to Arizona’s rodeo history. Events include bull riding, calf roping and barrel racing.
— Staffreports
5-year-old boy drowns in Tolleson pool
Phoenix police announced on Saturday that a 5-year-old boy had drowned Friday evening in the pool of a Tolleson home.
About 7 p.m., the Phoenix Police Department responded to a child found not breathing in a pool at a residential home near 91st Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road, according to Sgt. Mayra Reeson.
Police learned the boy had fallen in the pool and was not breathing upon officers' arrival, prompting them to perform CPR until the Phoenix Fire Department arrived. The child was transported to Phoenix Children's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Reeson said.
There was no indication of foul play based on a police investigation into the drowning, according to Reeson.
— Rey Covarrubias
Labor Day temps will exceed last year's
National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Salerno predicted that Saturday's high will range between 105 and 108 degrees, with lows in the upper 70s on the outskirts of the Phoenix metro area and around 86 degrees in central Phoenix. Monday’s high is expected to be between 104 and 108 degrees, with lows similar to Saturday's, just one degree higher in central Phoenix.
Salerno also noted that this Labor Day weekend's temperatures will exceed those from last year, which fell between Saturday, Sept. 2, and Monday, Sept. 4, 2023.
"We were several degrees cooler last year," Salerno said, explaining the temperatures on Labor Day weekend 2023 were affected by remnants of Hurricane Hilary.
— Jose R. Gonzalez
Saturday will likely leave Phoenix with its hottest summer on record
Though not official until the end of Saturday, National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Salerno noted that summer 2024, spanning June through August, is on track to become the hottest summer on record.
"It looks like we will reach that new record for the warmest summer on record," Salerno said on Saturday morning.
Salerno reported that the Phoenix metro area has experienced an average temperature of 99 degrees this summer, two degrees warmer than last summer. By the end of Saturday, the region is expected to match 2023's record of 55 days with temperatures reaching 110 degrees or higher.
"No end in sight to the 100-degree temperatures," Salerno said, adding this summer will likely have 100 consecutive days of 100 degrees. "We're at 96 (days) as of yesterday, which is smashing the previous record of 76 (days in 1993)."
— Jose R. Gonzalez
Saturday's forecast: Sunny with a chance of storms
Saturday's high temperature was expected to hit about 108 degrees in the Phoenix area, according to the National Weather Service. The chance of afternoon or evening rain or storms was about 20% in the desert, but wind gusts of 35 mph or more were possible, the weather service said.
The low temperature for the last day of August was 88 degrees in Phoenix.
Northern Arizona could see scattered showers and thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday afternoon and evening but otherwise should expect near-normal temperatures and light winds. The storms were expected to bring brief heavy rain but could include hail, lightning and winds of 30 mph to 40 mph.
— Staff reports
Avoid these restrictions if you're headed to the Grand Canyon
Travelers heading to the Grand Canyon should expect restrictions on overnight accommodations as two areas of the park recover from flash floods and water supply disruptions.
According to park rangers, hotel and lodging services at the South Rim have been suspended due to multiple breaks in the park’s canyon-wide water supply line.
There will be no overnight lodging at hotels El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, Phantom Ranch, Delaware North's Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village. Lodging outside the town of Tusayan would not be impacted by park operations, according to Grand Canyon National Park spokesperson Joelle Baird.
Havasupai Falls and stays at nearby Supai Village were suspended until late September after dramatic flooding closed the region and claimed the life of one Gilbert woman as well as leaving more than 100 tribal members and hikers stranded.
— Rey Covarrubias
What other federal holidays are left in 2024?
If you’re not ready for your long holiday weekend to end, there are still a few federal holidays left in 2024.
After Labor Day, these federal holidays are left in 2024:
Monday, Oct. 14 ― Columbus Day.
Monday, Nov. 11 ― Veterans Day.
Thursday, Nov. 28 ― Thanksgiving Day.
Wednesday, Dec. 25 ― Christmas Day.
― Staff reports
Loop 202 eastbound reopens near Higley Road
The eastbound lanes of Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) were closed earlier near Higley Road, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
At about 7 p.m., the eastbound lanes reopened, according to ADOT.
The closure was due to a crash at milepost 38.
Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, the az511 app (download for Apple or Android devices) or by calling 511.
— Staff reports
Highway patrol to assist with accidents and Labor Day weekend travelers
Highway patrol officers will be out in force over the Labor Day weekend to assist travelers and manage any accidents that occur.
Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesperson Bart Graves noted that a heightened police presence can help reduce the number of accidents typically seen during this busy holiday period. In 2023, 18 people lost their lives in 15 separate crashes across the state, with all six fatal incidents involving alcohol, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
“The best strategy for drivers is to travel during off-peak hours, such as early in the morning,” Graves advised.
He also reminded drivers to get ample rest before hitting the road, prioritize safety by staying alert, and avoid driving distracted. Graves emphasized the importance of driving sober, pointing out that rideshare and taxi options are significantly less costly than the consequences of a DUI charge, as noted by the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.
— Rey Covarrubias
No construction-related closures scheduled during Labor Day Weekend
No major freeway closures or restrictions were expected to affect Arizona highways during the Labor Day holiday weekend.
The Arizona Department of Transportation announced that no construction-related closures were scheduled to accommodate the anticipated increase in travel.
ADOT urged drivers to check their car's tire pressure and engine fluids before hitting the road and to prepare for potential delays and emergencies on busy routes.
While no new closures are planned, existing work zones, such as ADOT's State Route 89A rockfall mitigation between Flagstaff and Sedona, will remain active.
ADOT also emphasized the importance of safety precautions, noting that 18 lives have been lost on Arizona freeways in 2023, compared to 15 in 2022.
— Rey Covarrubias
Isolated thunderstorms
As of 4 p.m., isolated thunderstorms had been lingering over the higher terrain in central Arizona, as well as parts of La Paz and Maricopa counties, according to the National Weather Service.
Between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., gusty winds from these storms were expected to push into the Valley, although new storm development there was expected to be limited, the NWS reported.
— Coleby Phillips
US 60 eastbound lanes at Grand Avenue reopen
As of noon on Friday, the eastbound lanes of U.S. 60 at Grand Avenue had reopened, while the westbound lanes remained closed, according to ADOT.
Both directions of U.S. 60 in Phoenix were closed due to law enforcement activity at 35th Avenue earlier Friday, the Arizona Department of Transportation announced.
Phoenix police spokesperson Sgt. Mayra Reeson said the closure was related to reports of a shooting early Friday morning when police reportedly found a man dead underneath the freeway bridge.
Reeson said more information would be available once officers concluded an initial investigation. Homicide detectives were at the scene.
Just before 8 p.m., ADOT said the eastbound lanes were reopened and traffic on the U.S. 60 was back to normal.
Real-time traffic updates are available on ADOT's website and the AZ511 app.
— Coleby Phillips
Why do we celebrate Labor Day?
Labor Day is actually older than the 1894 act by Congress. The holiday has a longer history, beginning about 12 years earlier in New York. On Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City the first Labor Day celebration was held.
This first celebration was held at a time when conditions for workers were far from where they are now. In the late 1800s, Americans worked 12 hours a day, including weekends, and children worked alongside their parents in the mines and factories of the day.
The first celebration was also a sort of one-day strike, with workers asking for better pay and shorter hours. These demands from the labor movement eventually gave us the eight-hour workday and five-day workweek.
Although New York had held an unofficial Labor Day celebration in 1882, almost five years later, Oregon was the first state to declare it an official holiday with Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York following suit.
By 1894, when Labor Day was declared a national holiday by President Grover Cleveland, 23 states had already adopted the holiday.
— Republic staff
How to save money on gas in Arizona
If your Labor Day plans include a road trip or even a drive across town, here’s how you can save money on gas.
Gasbuddy.com shows local gas station prices online or on its app and tells you where to find the cheapest.
Geico.com is another source, with their search for "local gas prices." You can take advantage of this service whether or not you're a customer of the insurer.
You can also search local gas prices on Google Maps and Waze, which also offers tips on carpooling.Mapquest has a gasoline icon that you can tap to see prices in your area.
Driving habits like going slower on highways, using cruise control if you have it, and accelerating and braking gradually can improve fuel economy.
Keeping your tires properly inflated, replacing dirty air filters, removing excess cargo from your vehicle, making sure the gasoline cap is on tight and reducing idling, if possible, can all help you save some gas.
Use gas rewards programs. Circle K Easy Pay, grocery store discount programs, or using a GasBuddy gas savings card are some of the most popular options. Fry's Food Store customers can redeem points at Fry’s or participating Shell gas stations. A similar program is offered at Albertsons and Safeway stores in Arizona, where rewards can be redeemed for savings at Safeway, Chevron and Texaco gas stations.
— Laura Daniella Sepulveda
