Phoenix woke up to clear skies and a comfortable 70°F at Sky Harbor this morning, setting the stage for a breezy Saturday that will feel a lot more active than your basic spring warm-up. Daytime highs are still expected to top out near 85°F, but the real headline is the wind, with gusts across the Valley projected to push into the 20 to 30 mph range this afternoon and evening. It is a good day to secure that patio furniture and plan on slightly cooler readings by Sunday afternoon.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
According to the National Weather Service Phoenix, winds will swing around to the west and southwest this afternoon, with gusts commonly in the 20 to 30 mph range across metro Phoenix. Stronger gusts of 30 to 45 mph are expected over southeast California late Saturday into the overnight hours. A Wind Advisory is in effect for parts of southeast California from 5 PM Saturday through 5 AM PDT Sunday. Drivers of high-profile vehicles are urged to use extra caution on exposed stretches of road and along east-west corridors during the evening commute.
Weekend Temperatures And Rain Chances
Highs should land near 85°F on Saturday, with overnight lows slipping into the low to mid 60s. Sunday will come in a bit cooler, with highs in the upper 70s and southwest winds generally in the 5 to 15 mph range. There is only a slight chance for light showers over the higher terrain tonight and again later next week, so most of the Valley is expected to stay dry. For context on this pattern and how it lines up with earlier expectations, see our look at chair-tossing gusts before the cooldown.
Local Impacts And What To Do
Residents should secure loose outdoor items, pull in lightweight patio furniture, and allow a little extra time on the roads if driving a high-profile vehicle during the windier periods. At Sky Harbor, flights could encounter gusty crosswinds during the late-afternoon and evening window, so travelers should check with their airline for any schedule updates. Minimum relative humidities are expected to drop into the mid-teens this afternoon, with overnight recoveries rebounding to around 40 to 60 percent, which helps keep widespread fire-weather concerns limited for metro Phoenix for now.
