Starting the winter season warmer than normal

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY-TV) - Today December 21, 2022, marks the first day of the Winter Solstice, which is when the Earth's axis is tilted the farthest away from the sun.

What that means is in the Northern Hemisphere the date marks the 24-hour period with the fewest daylight hours of the year, in other words, it's known as the shortest day and longest night of the year.

Here in the Desert Southwest, our first day of winter was a few degrees warmer for the season.

By tomorrow morning, expect clear skies, light winds, and chillier temperatures where lows will drop into the mid and lower 40s.

Temperatures are on the rise for the next several days as we have a strong ridge of high pressure dominating our region.

Thankfully weather conditions will stay calm and dry, just temperatures will trend 5 to 10 degrees above normal starting this weekend and into early next week.

For now, afternoons will be warming up and by the end of this week and into early next week we can expect highs to reach the mid and upper 70s.

We will also experience plenty of sunshine for the next several days before more clouds arrive with greater rain potential and cooler temperatures by the middle of next week