Get ready for it: 90-degree weather is coming

PHOENIX — The calendar still says winter, but summerlike heat is already knocking on the Valley’s door.

12News Meteorologist Chris Dunn says Phoenix is expected to reach its first 90-degree high of the year next week — a milestone that normally doesn’t arrive until the end of March.

With the weather setup we have forecast next week, our temperatures will be trending way ahead of the calendar.

If you were in the Valley last year, this might seem like deja vu; Phoenix hit 90 on Feb. 25, 2025! Remarkably, that wasn’t enough for a record (92 set in 1921).

But our forecast numbers for the week ahead put Phoenix close to some daily high temperature records for the final days of February.

In addition, based on what we have already recorded this month and our forecast temperatures for the next nine days, February 2026 will likely end up being the warmest on record in Phoenix.  That will also push this winter to the top of the list of the warmest meteorological winter seasons (December-February) on record in Phoenix. 

RELATED: Weather whiplash this weekend across Arizona!

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“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.  

The Valley is made up of various major cities other than Phoenix, including:  

• Mesa  

• Chandler  

• Scottsdale  

• Tempe  

• Glendale  

• Surprise  

• Peoria  

• Gilbert  

• El Mirage 

• Avondale 

• Litchfield Park 

• Goodyear 

• Buckeye 

Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on where it is in relation to Phoenix.  

The cities of the Valley have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country right behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.