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What to expect: Wind, rain and snow coming to Arizona this weekend

Phoenix rain
Posted at 4:56 PM, Nov 05, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-07 18:20:27-05

PHOENIX — We are tracking back-to-back storms taking aim on Arizona this weekend.

Temperatures will drop dramatically as winds pick up and rain and snow move in.

The first storm hits on Saturday bringing mostly rain showers to our state.

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The second storm system arrives late Sunday into Monday, bringing even colder air and dropping the snow level across northern Arizona.

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Phoenix will drop nearly 20 degrees on Saturday, putting highs back down in the mid 70s after a record-shattering 99 degrees on Thursday.

That cool-down comes as the cold front ahead of the first storm system races through our state picking up winds, too.

Peak wind gusts could top 30 mph in the Valley with gusts as high 50 mph across northern Arizona.

Wind Advisories will be in effect Saturday for northern, eastern and southeastern Arizona.

Winds will get gusty again late Sunday as the next storm system arrives. That will push even colder air in allowing Valley highs to fall into the mid 60s by Monday.

Our best chance for measurable rain in the Valley will be Sunday night into early Monday morning. Some locations could see up to a quarter of an inch of rain here in the Phoenix metro area.

Up north, we are expecting several inches of snow in parts of the high country. Travel will be impacted and may get downright dangerous in spots above 5,000 feet in elevation, especially Sunday night into Monday morning.

The snow level will drop to around 6,000 feet with the first storm late Saturday. Then, it will fall to between 4,000 and 4,500 feet by early Monday morning. Flagstaff could pick up 5 to 10 inches of snow Saturday through Monday.

Snow showers will start to taper off along the Mogollon Rim late Monday night and we'll be back in the clear statewide by Tuesday.