This is shaping up to be one of the hottest winters ever in Phoenix. December was the warmest ever recorded in the Valley. January wasn’t a record-breaker, but it’s on track to be the fourth-hottest ever for Phoenix.
The average temperature through January has been about 61 degrees. Normally, Phoenix’s average temperature in January is about 57 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Warmer-than-normal conditions are likely to continue into February. National Weather Service forecasts show a strong high-pressure system is moving into much of the Western U.S. — that will keep temperatures above-normal for at least the first week of February.
La Niña conditions have contributed to Phoenix’s warm winter weather, but climate change also plays a role.
Analysis from the climate research organization Climate Central shows fall is the fastest-warming season in Phoenix, as hot summer-like conditions push later into the year.
But winters are warming up, too. Climate Central data shows human-caused carbon pollution has contributed to an increase in winter temperatures of about three degrees in Phoenix since the 1970s.
Metro Phoenix forecast from NWS
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 51. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 81. East northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Breezy, with an east northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. East northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 79. East wind around 5 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon
