Overview
- Phoenix reached 81 degrees early Monday afternoon, surpassing the previous Dec. 15 record of 79 set in 1969.
- Sunday hit 82 degrees at Sky Harbor, topping the prior Dec. 14 mark of 78 from 2010 as the heat wave intensified.
- A strong high-pressure ridge is driving temperatures roughly 10 to 15 degrees above normal across Arizona.
- Valley highs are expected to hold in the upper 70s to near 80 through the weekend with clear skies, light winds, and mild nights in the low to mid-50s.
- The 10-day outlook remains dry, though some models hint at possible rain and cooler temperatures around Christmas, which forecasters say is uncertain.