After several weeks of calm skies and warm sunshine, metro Phoenix’s weather has taken a big shift.

A series of storm disturbances was expected to usher in continued rain chances, much cooler temperatures and gusty winds for the next few days, according to the National Weather Service in Phoenix. Northern Arizona was expected to see rain or snow from the same storm system.

After, some areas of metro Phoenix saw rain on Thursday morning, more storms began rolling through the Valley on Friday morning, the weather service said in a post on X. They warned that the “widespread light to moderate rain” could impact the morning commute.

Here’s everything you need to know about the weather in Phoenix this week, including temperatures, rain chances, weather radar and the forecast for the next seven days.

When will it rain in metro Phoenix?

Though scattered showers began Thursday morning, with a stronger, more widespread round of rain predicted to hit on Friday.

Rainfall chances in metro Phoenix were as high as 80% for at least 0.1 inch, with even higher odds in areas east of the Valley, such as Globe. However, officials said there was still uncertainty regarding the exact timing, location and amount of rain expected.

Temperatures were set to dip into the mid-60s on Friday, accompanied by wind gusts of up to 40 mph.

With the bulk of the rain and strongest winds expected Friday morning through the evening, officials advised residents to stay alert for potentially hazardous conditions.

Phoenix weather radar

Phoenix 7-day weather forecast

Here is the seven-day forecast at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, according to the National Weather Service:

• Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 9 a.m. Cloudy through midmorning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 68. Breezy, with a west-southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
• Thursday night: A 20 percent chance of showers after 11 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 47. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 15 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
• Friday: Showers. High near 57. Calm wind becoming west-southwest about 5 mph in the morning. The chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Friday night: A 30 percent chance of showers before 11 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low of about 43. South wind about 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming west about 5 mph in the afternoon.
• Saturday night: Clear, with a low of about 45. West-southwest wind about 5 mph becoming calm.
• Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming east about 5 mph.
• Sunday night: Clear, with a low around 50. Calm wind becoming north-northeast about 5 mph.
• Monday: Sunny, with a high near 82. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
• Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. South-southeast wind about 5 mph.
• Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
• Tuesday night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low of about 50. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. South-southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Potential hazards and impacts

Here are some expected weather impacts for the upcoming days, according to the weather service in Phoenix.

• Ponding on roads.
• Slow commutes.
• Gusty winds.

How to drive in the rain

Here’s what Arizonans on the road need to know to stay safe:

1. Turn on your headlights: It’s important for other drivers to be able to see you. Even at midday, cloudy weather and rain could make your car less visible to anyone else on the road.
2. Go slow: The Arizona Department of Transportation advises creating a “space cushion” between you and the car in front of you.
3. Don’t brake suddenly: This can cause hydroplaning, which is “when a thin layer of water accumulates between your tires and the asphalt and your vehicle loses contact with the roadway,” as ADOT described. When hydroplaning, your vehicle may begin drifting across the road. To regain control, turn your wheel with the slide and step off the gas.
4. Avoid puddles on the roadway: Try to drive in the center lanes or, while maintaining a safe distance, drive in the tire tracks of the vehicle ahead of you.
5. Try not to drive behind large vehicles: The tires on these vehicles can spray onto your windshield, further reducing visibility.
6. Make sure your windshield wipers are up to par: Check if they are working, or if they need replacing. You don’t know how important it is for debris and rainfall to be removed from your windshield until it’s raining.

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