Phoenix high of 81 degrees sets record

Wednesday's high temperature at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport reached 81 degrees, breaking the old record of 79, set in 1948.

Earlier in the day, the National Weather Service forecast called for temperatures to fall just short of that mark.

Wednesday is expected to be the hottest day of the week and the only one likely to come anywhere near a record, the Weather Service said.

The record for Jan. 8 is 81 degrees, set in 2002. The record for Jan. 9 is 84, set in 1923.

Thursday should be partly cloudy and a little cooler, with highs from 65 to 70. Thursday night should also be partly cloudy with lows from 41 to 49.

Partly cloudy conditions are expected to continue from Friday through Monday with highs in the mid- to upper 60s and lows in the 40s.

Wednesday's heat comes just days after the Weather Service announced that 2014 was the warmest year ever recorded in Arizona.