Wind Advisory Issued for Southeast Arizona: Prepare for Gusts Up To 60 MPH

Residents across southeast Arizona are advised to prepare for strong winds. A Wind Advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) in Tucson, effective from Thursday, October 16, at 11:00 PM MST until Saturday, October 18, at 11:00 AM MST.

East to southeast winds are expected to reach 30 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 50-60 mph. The strongest winds are anticipated immediately downstream of higher terrain, along terrain gaps, and in east-west oriented valleys, particularly on Friday morning.

The advisory covers the Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys including Nogales, Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail, South Central Pinal County including Eloy/Picacho Peak State Park, Southeast Pinal County including Kearny/Mammoth/Oracle, Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson, Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet including Douglas/Willcox, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys including Clifton/Safford, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains including Mount Graham, Chiricahua Mountains including Chiricahua National Monument, Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains including Bisbee/Canelo Hills/Madera Canyon, Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains including Mount Lemmon/Summerhaven, and the Baboquivari Mountains including Kitt Peak.

These conditions may lead to blowing dust, reducing visibility, and create difficult driving conditions, especially for high-profile vehicles. Unsecured outdoor objects could be displaced, and some tree limbs may fall, potentially causing power outages.

The NWS advises exercising extra caution while driving during this period.