According to Marvin Percha, meteorologist for the National Weather Service, windy weather and blowing dust are expected in the Phoenix area in the next few days.
“We have a pretty robust system moving from the northwest into the region … The main impact will be some gusty southwest winds this afternoon, and we’ve been able to see gusts as high as 35-40 mph in some places therefore it is certainly of concern today for areas where there are dust blowing, “he said.
Travelers should watch out for dust on Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson or Interstate 8 from Gila Bend to Casa Grande, the weather service tweeted.
The weather system will also bring cooler temperatures in the next few days, but the valley will warm up early next week.
“With this system we’re looking for highs today in the mid-1970s, and tomorrow it actually looks like it’s going to be cooler, probably around 68,” Percha said. “We’ll be under a lot of pressure, we’ll fit in and slowly warm up. We could expect temperatures close to 90 by next Monday.”
The Arizona Department of the Environment in Phoenix issued a pollution notice for the Phoenix area on Thursday due to gusty winds. For the Phoenix area, a dust blowing notice applies until Thursday, 8:00 p.m., warns of a possible visual range of between a quarter of a mile and a mile while the dust is being blown.
Snow is expected in Flagstaff on Thursday evening, which can cause problems for travelers in the area. In a tweet, the weather service warned drivers to be ready for a smooth commute through the highlands on Friday morning.
The high temperatures in the Flagstaff area will be in your top 30s through Friday, rising into your top 40s on Saturday and 50s on Sunday.
“Tonight through tomorrow night there is a total accumulation of 1 to 3 inches … The main impact, of course, will be for travelers up there. Slippery conditions and icy roads,” Percha said.
Roads in areas over 6,000 feet could become slippery from time to time due to snow, mostly during the night and early morning hours, the weather service tweeted.
After a slight chance of rain on Friday, Phoenix will warm up again.
“Tomorrow there is a slight chance of showers, but even if we get something we probably only look at a few hundredths of an inch and then it will be drier and warmer,” said Percha.
You can reach breaking news reporter Delaney White at [email protected] or on Twitter @ delaneywhite04.
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