It looks like it’s going to be a wet Christmas following possible record-setting heat this week in Phoenix.
The National Weather Service in Phoenix is forecasting highs around 80 degrees to start off the holiday week. It will slightly cool off later on in the week, with rain chances as early as Tuesday afternoon into Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
“You might have heard about an atmospheric river making landfall along coastal California," said Ted Whittock with the NWS. "While we are seeing the moisture making its way into our region, it’s not going to be as impactful as what they’re seeing over in California.”
Overnight lows later in the week are expected to be warmer than usual.
"So we’ll probably see low temperatures in the Phoenix area in the upper 50s to around 60 degrees, and that will actually challenge the record warm low temperatures for those days going into the middle of the week," Whittock said.
National Weather Service forecast for Phoenix
Tuesday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 79. East wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Showers likely, mainly after 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 60. West northwest wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. East wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Showers. Low around 62. East southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Christmas Day: Showers likely, mainly before 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Christmas Night: : A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Calm wind.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. East southeast wind around 5 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
