PHOENIX - Where is winter? It's a question we've heard dozens of times around the Valley in 2018. With the exception of a few blips of cooler temperatures and rain, this season could go down as one of the warmest on record.
Monday could easily tie or break record-highs in the Valley. With a forecast high of 83 in Phoenix, it's expected to tie the same record set back in 1935.
The entire month of January has been warm too. The National Weather Service says so far, it's the top three warmest on record for Phoenix. This includes the warmest November and fourth warmest December, looking back to 2017.
Back in November, Team 12 told you we're expecting a La Nina winter. Meteorologists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, are finding unusually cold ocean waters in the Pacific near the equator, signaling La Nina.
The weather Arizona is experiencing right now, warmer and drier, is pretty typical of La Nina in the Southwestern United States.
The Climate Prediction Center is leaning towards a warmer and drier February 2018. So far, there doesn't appear to be any relief in sight for cooler or wetter weather in the Valley, in the short or long-term forecast.
Even though Phoenix is used to much hotter temperatures during the summer, it's important to remember that 80s are not usual in January and February. So, if you're spending any lengthy amount of time outdoors in the foreseeable future, make sure to stay cool and hydrated.