A strong but dry cold front is forecast to blow through the Valley over the next two days, raising dust and the threat of fire while lowering temperatures.
The National Weather Service will be issuing a wind advisory, predicting sustained breezes up to 26 mph and gusts as strong as 40 mph. The only break before the front clears will be late tonight into Thursday morning.
Friday’s daytime high is expected to fall to 76 degrees; the normal for the date is 84.
Because of the high winds and low humidity, forecasters also expect to raise red flag warnings. Such a warning means critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur.
“There will be quite a few things hoisted from our office,” said Valerie Meyers, a meteorologist at the Phoenix bureau of the NWS.
Due to the threat of blowing dust, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality issued a health watch for today, meaning the level of airborne dust may approach the federal standard. Expected Thursday is a high pollution advisory, as the blowing dust may exceed the federal standard.
During these days, children, active adults and those with respiratory illness should restrict their outdoor activities.
