After a few early sprinkles across the Valley, Phoenix is shaking them off and heading into a sunny, breezy Saturday. Highs are expected to climb into the upper 80s, around 86-88°F, and southwest winds are set to gust into the 20s this afternoon, so it will feel noticeably blustery once things heat up.
Afternoon Winds Ready To Roar
Southwest winds are forecast to increase to 5-10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph this afternoon. On Sunday, those gusts could jump into the 25 to 35 mph range across much of the Valley, with isolated stronger gusts in higher terrain. Late Monday into early Tuesday (April 13-14) brings the best shot at cooler temperatures and a slight chance of light showers, mainly over Arizona’s higher terrain, while the lower deserts hold only marginal rain chances, according to the National Weather Service in Phoenix.
What It Means For Your Weekend Plans
Afternoon plans may come with a side of wind. Commutes could feel choppy, and outdoor activities will be breezier than usual, so it is a good idea to secure patio furniture, keep an eye out for sudden gusts if you are on a bike or driving a lighter vehicle, and aim yard work or other outdoor chores for the morning or evening when winds tend to ease.
Sky Harbor and other local airports may see variable winds through the afternoon, though there are no watches or warnings currently in effect for the Valley. For a little more context on how this pattern developed, residents can check out the backstory on this windy cool-down.
