Los Angeles, CA – The Southwestern U.S. is projecting warmer-than-normal temperatures for the holiday week across California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah before a shift toward cooler conditions arrives in early December.
According to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center, the 8–14 day temperature outlook for November 22–28, 2025 places much of the Southwest in the above-normal temperature zone. Residents traveling through major hubs including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Salt Lake City, San Diego and Tucson can expect a warm, stable Thanksgiving week with highs trending several degrees above late-November averages.
This warm pattern is tied to the ongoing La Niña, which is funneling the deepest cold into the Rockies and Pacific Northwest while allowing the Southwest to remain mostly mild and dry during the holiday period.
However, the warmth begins to fade after Thanksgiving. The week 3–4 outlook (November 29–December 12) shows near- to slightly below-normal temperatures developing across portions of the Southwest—especially Nevada, Utah and northern Arizona, with California and New Mexico trending closer to near-normal.
Early December Temperature Outlook by State
- California (Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego): Near-normal early December temps; slight cooling inland.
- Arizona (Phoenix, Tucson): Modest cooling trend; early December mornings turn noticeably colder.
- Nevada (Las Vegas, Reno): Lean toward below-normal temps early December with increased overnight chill.
- New Mexico (Albuquerque, Santa Fe): Trending near-normal with periodic colder intrusions.
- Utah (Salt Lake City, Ogden): Cooler-than-normal conditions likely as early December begins.
Travelers across I-10, I-8, I-15, I-40 and desert corridors can expect a warm, low-impact Thanksgiving travel window but a cooler, more seasonable pattern once December begins.
