TUCSON, Ariz. – The desert wakes under a pale gold sky, the kind that glows over the Catalina foothills before sunrise. The air feels mild — mid-50s at dawn, warming quickly under clear skies. By afternoon, the city basks near 87°F, more like late September than early November.
A strong ridge of high pressure continues to hold over southern Arizona, keeping conditions dry, sunny, and unseasonably warm through Veterans Day on Tuesday. Outdoor events, ceremonies, and travel across I-10 and Route 86 should see excellent visibility, calm winds, and clear skies. East winds may gust between 15 and 20 mph at times, but they’ll do little to cool the steady daytime warmth.
This stretch of late-fall heat won’t last. By Thursday night into Friday, a weak Pacific trough will begin sliding toward the region. That shift brings a 20–40% chance of light showers, most likely Friday afternoon into early Saturday. While rainfall totals will be light, it marks a subtle November pattern change as the Southwest edges toward cooler, more active conditions leading into Thanksgiving week.
Temperatures will hold in the 80s through midweek, then dip closer to the upper 70s Friday and Saturday. Morning lows stay comfortable in the 50s.
For now, Tucson’s weather offers ideal days for outdoor projects, veterans’ events, and early holiday travel, but by week’s end, the desert sky may trade its bright blue for the first clouds of a shifting season.
Five-Day Outlook for Tucson, AZ:
Mon: 86/54 – Sunny, light east wind.
Tue (Veterans Day): 87/54 – Mostly sunny, warm.
Wed: 86/57 – Breezy, mostly sunny.
Thu: 87/58 – Mostly sunny, dry.
Fri: 79/51 – 40% chance of showers, cooler trend.
