Cloud cover, such as that seen in this 2019 photo, is expected in Tucson starting Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, to be followed by rain Friday and temperatures at or slightly below freezing in much of the area through Sunday, the National Weather Service says. 

 Rebecca Sasnett, Arizona Daily Star 2019

Tucson can expect a blast of winter weather with wind, rain and temperatures near freezing in the forecast by week’s end, the National Weather Service says.

A large storm system moving across the western United States is expected to bring lower temperatures to the area, said Carl Cerniglia, forecaster at NWS Tucson. He said Tucson should start to see increased cloud coverage by Thursday afternoon, with wind and rain not far behind.

“There are increasing chances that showers will be fairly widespread ... at least during that 24-hour period from Thursday evening into Friday evening, or at least Friday afternoon,” he said.

After that, Tucsonans should prepare for a weekend of temps likely ranging from near freezing into the low 60s through Sunday. The expected low for Saturday is 36 degrees. Water freezes when air temperatures reach 32 degrees.

Cerniglia suggested bringing pets inside and covering outdoor plants susceptible to cold snaps. Low-lying areas can record much lower temperatures, he noted, than the city’s official temperature taken at Tucson International Airport.

“Even in the Tucson metro area, we’ll get down to or slightly below freezing from the way it looks at this point,” he said. “There’s a really good chance of that, so people should be prepared for that potential.”

The leaves along E. Mount Lemmon Hwy, trails in the Santa Catalina Mountains and Summerhaven have started to change their colors during the fall season. Places you can see the leaves changing are at Gordon Hirabayashi Campground, Palisades Visitor Center, Bear Wallow Trail, Summerhaven and Mint Spring Trailhead. Video by Rebecca Sasnett, Arizona Daily Star.

Fans of cooler temps shouldn’t get used to them, however. Cerniglia said the warmer weather the region has experienced due to La Niña should return as early as Monday afternoon, Dec. 13.

“We’ll be back into the 70s again,” he said.

La Niña, the meteorological phenomenon caused by colder-than-normal waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America, is expected to bring a drier and warmer winter than normal in Tucson.

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Edward Celaya is a breaking news and marijuana reporter. He has been on both beats since May 2021.