Arizona weather forecast: Above normal temperatures continue, but a cooldown is expected for Christmas

4 p.m. Weather Forecast - 12/24/24

A mild and dry Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are in the forecast before the 70's come calling later in the week.

PHOENIX - Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah! Christmas Eve brings still warmer than average temperatures to the state. Phoenix reached a high temperature of 78 degrees on Tuesday with dry conditions and light winds. Upper 50s are expected in Flagstaff on Christmas Eve.

Change, however, arrives overnight into Christmas morning. A cold front approaching from the west brings light, spotty showers to northern Arizona overnight and early Wednesday. Winds will increase with the front and temperatures will be closer than average.

Christmas Day starts around 50 degrees in Phoenix, but only warms up to the middle to upper 60s. Winds will hit around 15-20 mph gusts in the Valley. In Northern Arizona, stronger winds gusts 25-35+ mph are expected.

The spotty rain/snow shower chance is generally focused north of I-40, but a stray shower may pass over Flagstaff overnight into early Christmas morning.

Anything that moves through will be light, and short-lived. The best chance for light accumulation would be over the Kaibab Plateau and far northeastern Arizona.
The rest of Christmas day will be dry and comfortable.

Temperatures closer to average continue Thursday and Friday with highs in the upper 60s in Phoenix. Overnight lows will slip into the middle 40s for a cool start in the Valley. A second system may bring another chance for a few spotty showers to far northern Arizona by Thursday night.

By the weekend, temperatures will begin to warm back into the 70s in Phoenix and the lower deserts.

You can always check the latest weather conditions by visiting the FOX 10 Phoenix weather page, or download the Free FOX 10 Weather app, which is available on Apple iOS and Android.

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