Tucson is showing off again. Honestly, if you're looking at the Tucson AZ 7 day forecast right now, you’re looking at why people move to the Sonoran Desert in the first place.
While the rest of the country is probably scraping ice off windshields or dealing with gray slush, we’re sitting here with temperatures that feel more like early spring than mid-January. It’s that weird, beautiful window where you need a heavy hoodie at 6:00 AM and a t-shirt by noon.
The Setup: Sunny Days and Crisp Nights
Right now, the current temperature in Tucson is 24°C with nothing but blue sky. It's sunny. It's dry. The humidity is sitting at a tiny 15%, which is basically just enough to make you reach for your chapstick every twenty minutes.
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Today, Thursday, January 15, we’re topping out at 24°C. The wind is barely a whisper coming from the southeast at 1 mph. But don't let that afternoon warmth fool you. Once that sun dips behind the Tucson Mountains, the desert floor loses heat fast. We’re dropping down to 7°C tonight.
That’s a massive swing. It’s the kind of weather where you leave your jacket in the car and regret it the second you walk out of a restaurant at 8:00 PM.
Friday and the Weekend: More of the Same (Mostly)
Tomorrow, Friday, looks almost identical. Expect a high of 23°C and another low of 7°C. The wind shifts a bit, coming from the northwest at 6 mph, but it’s still going to be a gorgeous day for a hike up Tumamoc Hill or a stroll through Fourth Avenue.
Saturday stays the course with a high of 22°C and a low of 6°C. It’s basically peak "outdoor brunch" weather.
Does it actually rain in January?
Usually, January is one of our "rainy" months—if you can call an inch of rain a season. But looking at the Tucson AZ 7 day forecast, there’s almost zero chance of seeing a drop.
- Sunday: We see a slight change. It’ll be mostly sunny with a high of 23°C, but clouds start rolling in by evening. There’s a tiny 5% chance of rain during the day, bumping up to 10% at night.
- Monday: It’s looking cloudy all day. High of 23°C, low of 9°C. Still only a 10% chance of rain, so don't cancel your plans.
- Tuesday: We're back to mostly sunny. High stays around 21°C.
- Wednesday: Pure sun again. High of 22°C and a low of 9°C.
The UV Situation
Even though it feels "cool" compared to our 110-degree summers, the desert sun is no joke. The UV index is hovering around 3 most of this week. It sounds low, but if you’re out at Saguaro National Park for three hours without sunscreen, you’re going to feel it.
How to handle this forecast like a local
Basically, you’ve gotta layer.
- Start with a light base.
- Add a flannel or a light sweater.
- Keep a real jacket in the trunk for after sunset.
The air is incredibly dry right now, and with the wind coming mostly from the east and northwest at speeds between 4 and 9 mph, you won't feel the heat as much as you would in a humid climate. Stay hydrated. The desert has a way of sucking the moisture out of you before you even realize you're thirsty.
This week is a reminder that winter in the Old Pueblo is less about surviving the cold and more about enjoying the best weather in the Southwest. If you've been waiting for a reason to get outside, this is it.
Pack some water, grab your shades, and make the most of these 20-degree afternoons before the real heat shows up in a few months.