Phoenix Thanksgiving Travel Forecast: Winter Storm Watch Issued

PHOENIX, AZ — The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch that could affect Phoenix area Thanksgiving drivers Thursday night through Friday night. Those traveling other days or times won’t have much to worry about though. Here’s the Thanksgiving forecast to help you plan when to — and not to — travel in the Phoenix area this week.

Monday, Nov. 25: The forecast for tonight indicates clear skies and a low temperature of about 46 degrees. A 5 to 15 mph wind will be coming from the southwest and will change direction to the northwest sometime after midnight. Gusts of winds measure up to 20 mph.

Tuesday, Nov. 26: Tuesday is expected to reach about 63 degrees and boast sunny skies with a wind from the northwest of about 5 mph that will calm down in the afternoon hours. Tuesday night will be mostly clear with a calm wind and a low temperature of about 42 degrees.

Wednesday, Nov. 27: Wednesday gets up to about 67 degrees and is partly sunny, with a 5 mph southeast wind that calms during the afternoon. Wednesday night, the Phoenix area has a 50 percent chance of rain, expected to bring less than one-tenth of an inch. The 5 mph wind from the southeast continues, with mostly cloudy skies and a low temperature of about 51 degrees.

Thursday, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving): Thanksgiving Day’s daytime cloudy skies bring a 70 percent chance of rain, which could result in a half to three-quarters of an inch of precipitation. A 5 to 10 mph south wind comes into play, and temperatures rise to about 62 degrees. For Thursday night, the forecast details the south wind from earlier in the day continuing, with a 90 percent chance of rain again bringing a half to three-fourths of an inch of rain. The low temperature is expected to be about 47 degrees.

However, Thursday night through Friday night also ushers in the winter storm for which the National Weather Service has issued a watch, which will mainly affect the Superstition Mountains and other mountains with elevations above 4,500 feet, in addition to southeast Gila County. Up to 14 inches of snow is a possibility, as are winds moving as fast as 50 mph. Those traveling in those areas are advised that the fierce winds could break off tree branches, making roadway travel a challenge. Also, the wind chill in those areas is expected to bring temperatures as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit, which can cause hypothermia.

Friday, Nov. 29: Black Friday brings the Phoenix area a high temperature of about 57 degrees with a 70 percent chance of precipitation yielding about a tenth to a quarter inch. A southwest wind will travel from 5 to 10 mph under partly sunny skies. Friday night, there’s a 60 percent chance of rain before 11 p.m., still expected to yield about a tenth to one-quarter of an inch, with the 5 to 10 mph southwest winds changing to south/southwest that night. Under partly cloudy skies, the low temperature is expected to be about 41 degrees.

Saturday, Nov. 30: Mostly sunny skies, calm winds and a high around 56 degrees usher in a 20 percent chance of rain. Saturday night will be partly cloudy, and the temperature falls to 39 degrees, with a calm wind.