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MOST ACCURATE FORECAST: Temperatures set to drop through the weekend

After early-morning rain on Christmas Day, clouds cleared through the afternoon, allowing Phoenix to tie for the fourth-warmest Christmas on record, with a high of 74 degrees. We will be cooling off in the coming days!

Temperatures set to drop through the weekend

By: Justin Hobbs

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and last updated

PHOENIX — After early-morning rain on Christmas Day, clouds cleared through the afternoon, allowing Phoenix to tie for the fourth-warmest Christmas on record, with a high of 74 degrees.

Rain moved out quickly as drier air filtered into the lower levels of the atmosphere. However, lingering midlevel moisture will keep some cloud cover in place through the end of the week.

Tonight will be partly cloudy, with overnight lows dropping into the upper 50s. A No Burn Day remains in effect through the end of the day Thursday for Maricopa County. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued a High Pollution Advisory for tonight.

With increased holiday burning expected, particle pollution levels could rise late tonight. Burning wood in fireplaces, stoves, or outdoor fire pits is prohibited. The use of leaf blowers and off-road vehicles is also discouraged.

Looking ahead to Friday, the low-pressure system off the California coast will track north of Arizona late in the day. This will increase our cloud coverage through the day, with Valley highs remaining in the mid to lower 70s.

Friday night, as the system passes to the north, a few isolated showers are possible across northern Arizona, with snow showers above 7,000 feet.

Behind the storm, temperatures will cool through the weekend. Valley highs will fall into the mid to upper 60s, with morning lows dropping into the 40s by Sunday.

Another storm system is being monitored for parts of Arizona around New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. We will continue to provide updates as we get closer.