Tucson Faces Storms and Strong Winds Through Sunday

Southern Arizona faces a combination of thunderstorms, localized downpours, and potentially damaging winds as a developing weather system affects Tucson and surrounding counties. According to KOLD, forecasters designated Saturday a First Alert Weather Day for rain and Sunday a First Alert Weather Day for gusty winds, with isolated storms capable of producing wind gusts up to 60 mph. Scattered showers had already appeared on radar during the morning, bringing light to moderate rainfall and a few lightning strikes.

The forecast gave Tucson a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms during the day, with storm chances continuing overnight and into Sunday and Monday. The main hazards include damaging wind gusts, small hail, and localized heavy rain. Wind speeds are expected to increase Saturday afternoon and become stronger overnight, according to the forecast published by KOLD.

A Wind Advisory begins at 2 a.m. Sunday for central and western Pima County and central Pinal County. At 7 a.m., the advisory expands to eastern Pima County, including Tucson, as well as eastern Pinal County and Santa Cruz County.

The advisories are scheduled to expire at 11 p.m. Sunday.

Forecasters warn that isolated strong to severe thunderstorms could produce localized wind gusts reaching 60 mph. More broadly, wind gusts could reach 45 mph across the affected areas, creating the potential for hazardous conditions during the storm period. Temperatures are expected to remain near normal Saturday before cooling during the following days. Tucson's forecast high is around 92 degrees Saturday, followed by a high near 85 degrees Sunday and approximately 82 degrees on Columbus Day.

Overnight temperatures are also expected to decline. The forecast calls for a low around 71 degrees Saturday night, 66 degrees Sunday night, and 64 degrees Monday night, before temperatures fall into the upper 50s by Tuesday night. Showers and thunderstorms remain possible throughout the early part of the week. The forecast assigns a 20% chance of precipitation on Columbus Day and a 30% chance on Tuesday, while Wednesday is expected to be mostly sunny with a high near 77 degrees.

Conditions are forecast to become sunnier later in the week, with a high near 82 degrees Thursday and approximately 85 degrees Friday. Overnight lows are expected to remain in the mid-50s to low 60s from Tuesday night through Thursday night, according to KOLD's seven-day forecast.