This week, the Southwest experiences a medley of meteorological events under Amy Freeze’s expert guidance. Explore days filled with rain, snow, and clear skies.

Meteorologist Amy Freeze walks you through a week of diverse weather conditions ranging from rain showers and chilly nights to sunny days. Each day brings a new twist with snow flurries and warm breezes. Don’t miss detailed forecasts for cities like Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City, and prepare for potential tricky travels with rain and snow mixes in the higher elevations of Arizona. A broad band of showers and snow is sweeping across the western edge of the Great Basin, near Ely and surrounding regions. Salt Lake City sees a mix of rain and snow with active weather moving eastward. Southern California is seeing light rain showers moving inland from the coast, with areas near San Diego getting a sprinkle. High-altitude areas near Cedar City and northward are experiencing snow flurries. It’s relatively clear and dry over central Nevada and the California interior, including Las Vegas and Bakersfield.
Afternoon in Salt Lake City brings temperatures rising from 43 degrees at 4 PM to 47 degrees by 8 PM. Winds will shift from northwest at 10 miles per hour early to a westerly breeze at 8 miles per hour by evening. Expect an initially rainy pattern transitioning to cloudy and then partly cloudy skies.
In the Southwest, we’re seeing a warm day ahead. Phoenix is leading the pack with a high of 81 degrees, while Las Vegas is enjoying a comfortable 77 degrees. Farther north, Flagstaff is much cooler at just 55 degrees. Los Angeles will top out at 59 degrees, indicating some coastal influence. San Diego reaches a high of 64, providing a mild day by the coast. It’s a stark contrast to the temperatures in Cedar City, where the high is only 57 degrees.
Tonight in the Southwest, we’re bracing for some chilly temperatures. Las Vegas will experience a low of 52 degrees, while Phoenix will cool down to 57 degrees. Flagstaff is expected to dip significantly, reaching just 19 degrees, and Ely will be even colder at 18 degrees. Cedar City will also feel the chill with a low of 25 degrees. Los Angeles will stay relatively mild at 48 degrees.
Tomorrow, the Southwest will experience above-average temperatures. Phoenix expects a high of 75 degrees, while Las Vegas will reach 70. Further north in Fresno, temperatures will be warmer at 75 degrees, and Bakersfield will enjoy 73 degrees. San Francisco will be cooler at 63 degrees, but still comfortably above seasonal norms.
A trough of low pressure will bring wind and rain across the Southwest tomorrow, with a rain-snow mix in the higher elevations of northern Arizona by morning. Heavy rainfall may cause tricky travel along Interstate 5, especially through southern California. Temperatures take a cooler turn as the week progresses, particularly in areas experiencing overcast skies and storms. Strong winds are expected ahead of the storm system, leading to potential gusty conditions. By late Thursday, conditions should begin to clear, leading to a drier Friday.
The UV index in Salt Lake City on Thursday will be moderate at 4, offering a burn time of about 35 minutes. On Friday, the UV index increases to 6 with a burn time of approximately 23 minutes.