Weather
Arizona Weather Alert Oct. 15–17: 60 MPH Gusts, Blowing Dust
TUCSON, AZ — Southeastern Arizona faces a prolonged period of strong winds and blowing dust beginning Thursday night, with gusts potentially reaching 60 mph and hazardous driving conditions possible t
By Avery Collins · 2026-10-14T10:47:11.507Z
TUCSON, AZ — Southeastern Arizona faces a prolonged period of strong winds and blowing dust beginning Thursday night, with gusts potentially reaching 60 mph and hazardous driving conditions possible through Saturday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Tucson, a Wind Advisory remains in effect from 11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, until 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, covering a broad portion of southeastern Arizona, including Tucson, Sierra Vista, Nogales, Douglas, Safford, Willcox and surrounding communities.
Forecasters expect east to southeast winds of 30 to 35 mph, with gusts between 50 and 60 mph possible across the advisory area.
The strongest winds may develop Friday morning immediately downstream of higher terrain and near mountain gaps and east west oriented valleys.
Blowing Dust Could Make Driving Dangerous The National Weather Service warns that strong winds across desert areas could generate blowing dust, briefly reducing visibility below one mile.
Sudden visibility reductions and powerful crosswinds could create difficult travel conditions, especially for trucks, recreational vehicles and other high profile vehicles.
Unsecured outdoor objects, including trash cans and yard decorations, could also be blown around. Tree limbs may fall, and isolated power outages are possible.
Residents should secure loose outdoor belongings before Thursday night and use additional caution when traveling during the advisory.
The Tucson specific forecast calls for easterly winds increasing Thursday night, with gusts reaching 39 mph. Stronger gusts approaching 60 mph are expected to be possible elsewhere within the broader advisory area.
Showers and Thunderstorms Possible Saturday The unsettled pattern could continue into the weekend, although winds are expected to ease after the advisory period.
Saturday brings a 30% chance of showers in Tucson, with thunderstorms also possible after 11 a.m. Afternoon temperatures should reach approximately 76 degrees.
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms continues Saturday evening before mostly clear conditions return overnight.
Sunday marks a transition toward warmer, sunnier weather, with temperatures climbing into the lower 80s.
By Monday, Tucson should reach approximately 86 degrees, followed by another sunny afternoon Tuesday.
The improvement would follow several days of wind, dust and changing conditions across southeastern Arizona.
Five Day Weather Outlook: Oct. 16–20 Temperatures below represent National Weather Service forecasts for Tucson, Arizona. The Wind Advisory covers a broader portion of southeastern Arizona.
Friday, Oct. 16: Sunny, windy and dusty, with a high near 78°. The Wind Advisory remains in effect throughout the day. A 20% chance of showers develops after 11 p.m., with a low around 59°. Breezy overnight. Saturday, Oct. 17: Mostly sunny and breezy, with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms possible after 11 a.m. High near 76°. The Wind Advisory expires at 11 a.m. MST. A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms continues before 11 p.m., with a low around 58°. Sunday, Oct. 18: Sunny and warmer, with a high near 83°. Clear overnight, with a low around 63°. Monday, Oct. 19: Sunny and warm, with a high near 86°. Mostly clear overnight, with a low around 65°. Tuesday, Oct. 20: Sunny, with a high near 85°. Overnight forecast details unavailable.