Get ready for a hard freeze overnight into Wednesday morning as the precipitation moves out and the cold moves in.
Snow hit area mountains Monday, but the bulk of the snow largely bypassed Tucson. Snow was mainly reported above 4,000 feet and Oracle got a dusting Monday.
With the precipitation out of the way, the cold will settle in during the next couple of nights.
The area will be under a hard freeze watch Tuesday night, Dec. 15, into Wednesday morning as low temperatures drop into the mid-20s by early Wednesday. The National Weather Service said a hard freeze watch is issued when temperatures are expected to drop below freezing and stay below freezing for several hours.
Another hard freeze is expected Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
The weather service said temperatures will fall below freezing around midnight with the coldest temperatures occurring between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. Sensitive outdoor plants should be protected, pets should be brought indoors and outside pipes should be protected from the cold, the weather service said.
High temperatures are expected to be in the mid-50s through Thursday, warming into the 60s by Friday.
Overnight temperatures should hover around freezing Friday morning, but steadily rise throughout the weekend.
For people in need of a warm place to sleep, the Salvation Army Hospitality House, 1002 N. Main Ave., has opened its doors as part of Operation Deep Freeze.
βWeβre bringing in anyone and everyone who shows up at our door,β said house manager Yoli Hasler.
People coming in from the cold can get a meal, a shower, warm clothing, a bed and a haircut, she said. On Sunday night, the shelter received 111 people and more were expected to come Monday evening.
If the shelter reaches capacity, staffers will try to find another warm place for people to sleep, she said.
Staffers prefer that people come in between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., she said.
The shelter needs donations of warm clothing. For more information on donations, call 795-9671.
