Big changes coming to Valley later this week, with rain, cooldown in forecast

PHOENIX – Fall will soon be in the air in metro Phoenix.

The Valley forecast calls for unseasonably warm highs in the mid-80s from Veterans Day to Thursday, but a storm system is expected to bring big changes to the area starting Friday.

In fact, Phoenix could see its first daily high temperature in the 60s in seven months and first precipitation since a multiday rain event a month ago.

“That system’s going to bring noticeably cooler temperatures — fall-like temperatures, in fact — as we head into this weekend, with highs in the mid-60s to around 70 degrees, actually, on Saturday and Sunday. It will definitely feel much cooler,” Matt Salerno, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix, told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Tuesday morning.

Phoenix normally reaches the middle to upper 70s in mid-November.

“When we start to see the highs in the 60s, that’s about 8 to even 10 degrees below the average. And then the low temperatures in the 50s, that’s pretty normal for this time of the year, actually,” Salerno said.

Valley forecast has 50% chance for rain

April 2 was the last time the Phoenix temperature didn’t reach at least 70, and Oct. 13 was the last time measurable rain fell at Sky Harbor International Airport, which the NWS uses for the city’s official readings.

“Our chances are pretty decent right now,” Salerno said of the potential for rainfall later this week. “I’d say they’re up to 50% for Friday and even into early Saturday up to 40%.”

Meanwhile, Flagstaff could see a mixture of rain and snow from the system, he added.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Colton Krolak contributed to this report.

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