Phoenix Area Sees Big Warm-Up, Flirting With 80s This Weekend

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High pressure continues to dominate the forecast in the Phoenix area, sending temperatures soaring well above normal for late January. Valley highs are expected to reach the 70s and could even approach 80 degrees by this weekend, around 10 degrees above the seasonal average. Overnight lows will still be chilly, dropping into the 40s, but no rain chances are in the forecast as the region heads into February.

Why it matters

This warm spell is part of a broader trend of rising temperatures and declining rainfall in the Phoenix metro area. January 2026 is on track to be the 3rd warmest January on record at Sky Harbor Airport, continuing a pattern of hotter and drier conditions that have impacted the region in recent decades.

The details

The warm, dry weather is being driven by a persistent high pressure system over the Southwest. While mornings will still be chilly, with overnight lows in the 40s, daytime highs are expected to reach the 70s and potentially even the 80s by this weekend. This is around 10 degrees above the normal high temperatures for late January in the Phoenix area. The lack of rainfall is also notable, with only 0.18 inches recorded so far this month, over half an inch below average.

• Overnight lows will drop into the 40s across the Valley all week.
• Daytime highs are expected to reach the 70s and potentially the 80s by this weekend.
• January 2026 is currently the 3rd warmest January on record at Sky Harbor Airport.