ARIZONA NEWS

Phoenix slides into 2024 with bouts of rain, near-freezing temperatures in forecast

Jan 2, 2024, 9:21 AM

Looking through a clear plastic umbrella on a rainy day...

Phoenix is expected to get its first rain of the year on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (Pixabay Photo)

(Pixabay Photo)

PHOENIX — After one of the hottest and driest years on record, Phoenix is in for a cold and wet start to 2024.

Multiple waves of rain are in the forecast, but the potential for near-freezing temperatures is National Weather Service meteorologist Gabriel Lojero’s primary concern.

“The bigger story is going to be [that] the cold temperatures are going to be settling in after these storm systems pass by,” Lojero told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Tuesday morning.

When is Phoenix expected to get first rain of 2024?

The first rain of the new year is expected to arrive Wednesday night, when there’s a 70% chance for precipitation. That should clear out by early Thursday after dropping less than 0.1 inches of rain.

Friday and Saturday are expected to be clear but chilly, with highs around 60 degrees and overnight lows around 40.

A stronger winter system that could deliver up to 0.25 inches of precipitation is expected to hit the Valley on Sunday. Once that clears out, the forecast calls for the coldest temperatures of the season.

“We may see highs in the 50s for the weekend and into next week,” Lojero said. “But then the overnight lows, we may see [low] temperatures near freezing across portions of the Phoenix metro area.”

This winter’s coldest temperature so far was 43 degrees on Dec. 27.

How much rain did Phoenix get last January and throughout 2023?

It’s shaping up to be the second consecutive active January for Phoenix. The city received more than a half-inch of rainfall on the first two days of 2023 and finished the month with more than an inch.

The wet start turned out to be an outlier for the year. Phoenix ended 2023 with just 4.21 inches of total rainfall, 3.01 inches below normal.

It was the 15th-driest year documented in Phoenix, according to National Weather Service records that date back to 1895. It was also the fourth-warmest year on record, with an average temperature of 77 degrees.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

79° | 52°
79° and partly sunny

Arizona News

Scottsdale Airport...

Danny Shapiro

Scottsdale Airport runway shut down following accident

The Scottsdale Airport runway was shut down on Monday afternoon due to an accident, authorities said.

25 minutes ago

new Surprise fire department West Valley Arizona...

Serena O'Sullivan

Surprise completes 1 new fire station, buys land for another

Surprise Fire Station 309, the new Surprise fire department at the north side of Cactus Road at Perryville Road, became operational last week.

50 minutes ago

Republican state Rep. Matt Gress is questioning the legality of the lease-purchase deal that bailed...

Kevin Stone

Arizona lawmaker raises questions about legality of Isaac School District lease-purchase deal

An Arizona lawmaker is questioning the legality of the lease-purchase deal that bailed the Isaac School District out of its financial crisis last month.

2 hours ago

research funding...

Kevin Stone

Arizona joins lawsuit to stop Trump research funding cuts that could cost state millions

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined a multistate lawsuit against the Trump administration to protect medical and public health research funding.

4 hours ago

The Arizona Constitution currently provides legislative immunity for traffic violations....

Kevin Stone

Arizona Republican wants lawmakers to follow same traffic laws as everyone else

An Arizona lawmaker introduced a resolution that would refer a constitutional amendment ending legislative immunity for traffic violations to the ballot.

5 hours ago

Officials: WM Phoenix Open 2025 more peaceful than last year...

Serena O'Sullivan

This year’s WM Phoenix Open upgrades made event smoother, more respectful, organizers say

Event organizers put in place a variety of changes during the WM Phoenix Open 2025 after weather conditions and crowd issues last year.

6 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Collins Comfort Masters

Collins Comfort Masters: Your go-to plumbing experts in Arizona

Collins Comfort Masters, a trusted name in HVAC, water and plumbing since 1985, is you go-to plumbers for the residents of Phoenix and the Valley.

...

Bright Wealth Management

How to start your retirement planning early and avoid costly mistakes

Retirement planning can feel overwhelming, but with the right guidance, you can avoid costly pitfalls.

...

Fiesta Bowl Foundation

Join us for the 52nd annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade

The 52nd annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe returns on Saturday, December 28, at 10 a.m.

Phoenix slides into 2024 with bouts of rain, near-freezing temperatures in forecast