Mary Moore holds a warm cup of coffee in one hand while the other finds shelter in her pocket on the chilly winter morning this week near the University of Arizona campus. A winter storm is expected to sweep across Tucson on Thursday.

A cold winter system set to sweep through Tucson on Thursday, is expected to bring a mix of rain, snow, and gusty winds to the region, according to the National Weather Service.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday for elevations above 4,500 feet, including Mount Lemmon, where snow and windy conditions are expected.

In the Tucson metro area, a wind advisory is in effect from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. Strong wind gusts could affect loose objects, temporary structures and trees, the weather service said.

A hard freeze watch was issued for Friday morning, with freezing temperatures anticipated throughout the weekend, the weather service says. Friday morning lows are expected to drop to 28 degrees or colder, potentially causing damage to pipes and sensitive outdoor plants, the weather service says.

Visit weather.gov/tucson for the latest updates and weather information.

See what today's weather forecast looks like in Tucson.


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Eddie Celaya is a breaking news reporter and host of the "Here Weed Go!" podcast. He graduated from Pima Community College and the University of Arizona and has been with the Arizona Daily Star since May 2019.