Winter Weather Forecast For the Valley: See Daily Predictions

PHOENIX, AZ — With the official start of the 2021-22 winter a little more than two months away, some residents of Phoenix may be eager for the cooler weather to arrive to plan some exciting outdoor activities without the fear of heatstroke.

Specific, long-term weather predictions can help with planning outdoor activities best suited for the cooler temps. To help you plan ahead, the private weather company AccuWeather has released its 2021 winter weather forecast.

Daily forecasts for Phoenix are listed through the end of December. After that, AccuWeather lists the historical average temperature for the rest of the winter.

AccuWeather predicts highs in the upper 80s in Phoenix into early November, with highs in the 70s later in the month and lows throughout the month in the 50s. The mostly-sunny skies that are typical of Phoenix are expected throughout the majority of the month. Black Friday and the weekend after Thanksgiving could be wet, with more than a 50 percent chance of rain that Friday and Saturday.

AccuWeather doesn't expect highs to drop to the 60s until December, with lows also expected to drop to the 40s at that time. Weather throughout December is expected to be sunny and dry.

In the Southwest, meteorologists predict that a lack of early-season precipitation will allow the ongoing wildfire season to extend all the way into December, an unusually late end to the season. As we move to January, the prospects for rain will increase for California - good news for areas of the state where wildfires have raged. But meteorologists warn that rain later in the winter will not be a "drought buster."

Nationally, AccuWeather predicts an eventful winter similar to the 2020-21 season, which brought record-breaking snowfall and blackouts to other parts of the country.

Meteorologists also expect the return of La Niña, a weather phenomenon that occurs when the water near the equator of the Pacific Ocean is cooler than average. It will shape part of the overall weather patterns this winter, weather experts said.

The upcoming La Niña will be weaker than the one experienced last winter, in turn, opening up the door for other elements to factor into the winter forecast — especially during the second half of the season.

This year, the polar vortex may also be weaker, according to AccuWeather.
This could result in colder air from the Arctic to slide southward into the U.S. before the official start of meteorological winter, which is on Dec. 1. The first official astronomical day of winter arrives on Tuesday, Dec. 21.

Winter could pound the Northeast with a vengeance starting in mid-December before potentially intensifying in January, which could include a heightened risk for nor'easters and, yes, snowstorms at the tail end of the season.

Meanwhile, the winter weather will take its time arriving in the Southeast, with only mild temps in some place throughout December. Southerners, however, could be in store for a big dip in the temperature with the arrival of 2022, AccuWeather reports. Spells of rain and thunderstorms are expected so keep the rain gear handy.

In the Pacific Northwest, a wet winter is anticipated with plenty of snow in the mountains, AccuWeather reports. The early arrival of the winter storms will also spell an end to the active wildfire season for the region as rain and snow help to douse any flames.

To see how the weather is shaping up for the remainder of the country, click here.

Are you ready for the upcoming cooler weather? Tell us your plans in the comments section below.