Warm, quiet weather pattern settles over
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - A stretch of warm, calm, and completely dry weather is locking into place across Yuma and Imperial Counties and it’s expected to stick around well into next week.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service say a broad ridge of high pressure is parked over the region, keeping storms far to the north and allowing temperatures to climb well above what’s normal for mid-December.
Both counties will feel the warm-up. Highs are expected to land in the upper 70s to low 80s, with Imperial County likely running even warmer and some locations flirting with record temperatures by Thursday and Friday.
While December can sometimes bring a few cool snaps, meteorologists say it’s not unusual for desert communities like Yuma, Winterhaven, El Centro and Brawley to hit 80° this time of year. Still, the stretch of warm days this week is on the high side, with temperatures running 8 to 13 degrees above average.
If you’ve been waiting for rain you’ll be waiting longer.
The forecast remains bone-dry for at least the next seven days, and likely longer. Long-range models don’t show meaningful precipitation until around December 20th at the earliest, and even that isn’t a strong signal.
Forecasters say the ongoing La Niña pattern continues to favor dry conditions for the Southwest, and the atmosphere just isn’t showing signs of shifting anytime soon.
Unlike earlier this week, breezy conditions won’t be an issue. Both counties will see light, typical daytime wind patterns with calm nights and mornings. Humidity levels will stay low but not low enough to raise major fire concerns.
It’s a classic December stretch in the desert: warm, sunny, and dry and it’s not changing anytime soon.
