The city of Phoenix is experiencing a string of notably high temperatures for the season, with the mercury pushing almost to the edge of record levels. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, Thursday's temperatures reached 79 degrees, just shy of the record high for the area. The forecast promises continued clear skies into the evening, as temps are set to dip into the low 50s.
Friday is set to bring slightly cooler weather, with a high around 78 degrees. It is important to note that these temperatures mark a significant upward trend from the seasonal average of 68 degrees typically expected at this time of year. "High temperatures continue to trend well above normal for this time of year," said a report by AZ Family, directly attributing this warmth to a persistent high-pressure system located along the West Coast.
The high pressure is to be firmly in place over the weekend, which means residents in the Valley area can look forward to warm and sunny conditions with temperatures lingering in the upper 70s. In contrast, the High Country, particularly north of the Mogollon Rim, can anticipate a cooldown by several degrees before warming again on Sunday.
Such unseasonable warmth has placed January 2026 among the warmest on record for Arizona. "So far, in the first two weeks of 2026, we’re down as the fourth-warmest January on record, with an average temperature of 60.1 degrees," claimed AZ Family's report. Despite the current dry spell, which is to persist without rain or snow for the coming week, long-range forecasts suggest temperatures will only cool slightly, maintaining above-average warmth into the following week.
No major weather changes are on the horizon, ensuring the warm, dry conditions will hold steady through the holiday weekend. For those looking to keep a close watch on the weather, FOX 10 Phoenix suggests downloading their free weather app for the latest updates, or by visiting their weather page for comprehensive coverage, including satellite and radar images, daily planners, and live video feeds.
