If you were out and about in the Valley, you probably noticed it. Phoenix Arizona weather yesterday was, quite frankly, a bit of a show-off. While a massive chunk of the United States was shivering under a "blast of winter weather" that threatened Florida with snow and whiteout conditions in Ohio, Phoenix was sitting pretty in the high 70s.
It's wild, honestly.
Yesterday, January 16, 2026, the National Weather Service recorded a high of 78°F at Phoenix Sky Harbor. That’s not just "nice" for January; it’s a staggering 10 degrees above the normal high of 68°F.
The Numbers That Mattered
When we look at the hard data from the official climate report, the contrast is sharp.
- Maximum Temperature: 78°F (at 4:45 PM)
- Minimum Temperature: 50°F (at 7:51 AM)
- Average Temperature: 64°F
- Precipitation: 0.00 inches
The record for January 16 stands at 83°F, set back in 1976. So, while we didn't break the all-time record, we certainly gave it a run for its money. It was the kind of day where you start with a light jacket in the morning and find yourself desperately looking for shade by lunch.
Why Phoenix Arizona Weather Yesterday Felt So Dry
You might have noticed your skin feeling a bit tight or reaching for the ChapStick more than usual. There's a reason for that. The relative humidity yesterday bottomed out at a bone-dry 12% around 6:00 PM.
💡 You might also like: Is The Franklin at East Cobb Actually Worth the Price? What Residents Really Experience
Average humidity for the day was only 38%. When the air is that dry, the "feels like" temperature doesn't really move—it just feels crisp. The sky cover was practically non-existent, averaging 0.1, which basically means it was a "severe clear" day.
The Wind Factor
We didn't have much of a breeze to cool things down, either. The highest wind speed clocked in at just 10 mph coming from the East, with a peak gust of only 14 mph. Basically, the air was stagnant and warm, typical of a high-pressure system sitting right over the Southwest.
What Most People Misunderstand About January in the Desert
People think "desert" and assume it's always hot. But January is usually when Phoenix locals actually get to wear their "winter" clothes.
Yesterday was an outlier.
Usually, we're looking at lows in the mid-40s. Seeing a low of 50°F means the overnight "cooldown" wasn't much of a cooldown at all. If you were out late, it stayed remarkably mild because the ground held onto that 78-degree heat.
A Quick Reality Check on the "Winter Blast"
While we were enjoying patio weather, the rest of the country was in chaos.
- Tallahassee, Florida was bracing for actual snow.
- Cleveland was dealing with whiteout conditions from snow squalls.
- The Northeast was expecting sub-zero wind chills.
It puts things into perspective. When people complain about it being "too hot" in January here, they’re usually the ones who haven't had to shovel a driveway in a decade.
Practical Steps for the Next Few Days
Since the weather is holding steady with highs in the mid-70s, here is how you should actually handle the current climate:
💡 You might also like: Why Words for Every Letter of the Alphabet Still Shape How We Think
- Hydrate aggressively. With humidity at 12%, you’re losing moisture through your breath and skin way faster than you realize.
- UV Protection is mandatory. The UV index is creeping up to 3. It sounds low, but with zero cloud cover, that desert sun is direct.
- Layering. Even though yesterday was warm, the shift from a 78°F high to a 50°F low is nearly a 30-degree swing. Keep a hoodie in the car.
The warmth isn't going away immediately. Forecasts for the rest of the week show us staying in the low-to-mid 70s. If you have outdoor projects or hiking plans, now is the window before the next inevitable cold front—or the eventual climb toward triple digits.