Warmer, Dry Days Ahead for Southern Arizona Before Rain Returns Late Thursday

Southern Arizona is in for several dry and warmer days this week, but the pattern is set to change by the end of the work week. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to return late Thursday, with the potential for heavy rain next Sunday.

Sunday was cooler than normal across the region. From Monday through Thursday, afternoon highs are forecast to run near or slightly above normal. Temperatures are expected to fall back below normal on Friday and remain there through the weekend.

Monday morning begins on a crisp note, with lows in the 50s across much of the Tucson metro area. Tucson is forecast to drop to 56 degrees, while Oro Valley and the Catalina Foothills bottom out at 57. Marana starts the day at 54, Sahuarita and SaddleBrooke at 52, Vail at 51 and Green Valley at 50. Mount Lemmon dips to 41.

By Monday afternoon, highs reach the mid-80s. Tucson tops out at 85 degrees, with Oro Valley, Marana and the Catalina Foothills at 84. Sahuarita and Green Valley reach 83, Vail hits 79 and SaddleBrooke climbs to 75. Mount Lemmon stays cool at 58, while Phoenix reaches 84.

Southeastern Arizona begins the day even cooler, with Monday morning lows in the upper 40s and low 50s. Benson falls to 46 degrees. Tombstone, Elfrida and Sonoita drop to 47, and Willcox to 48. Bisbee, Douglas and Nogales start at 50, while Sierra Vista and Bowie bottom out at 51.

Monday afternoon highs in the southeast climb into the upper 70s and low 80s. Douglas reaches 80 degrees, Elfrida 79, and Sierra Vista and Tombstone 78. Willcox, Benson and Bowie top out at 77, and Bisbee reaches 75. Nogales warms to 81, while Sonoita reaches 77.

Dry conditions are expected to hold across the region through Thursday. Showers and thunderstorms then move back in late that day and linger through the weekend, which could affect Halloween plans on Saturday. The heaviest rain is possible next Sunday.