Homeless in Arizona

Phoenix weather: Freezing temperatures forecast for Friday

Phoenix weather: Freezing temperatures forecast for Friday

By Megan Stewart The Arizona Republic-12 News Breaking News Team Wed Jan 9, 2013 8:23 AM

Freezing temperatures are expected to hit the Valley Friday night and remain until possibly Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

This would mark the coldest stretch in the Phoenix area this winter, Weather Service meteorologist Gary Woodall said. Communities in the outlying areas will likely see hard freezes, where the minimum are below 28 degrees. The freezing night temperatures could hit nightly through Wednesday.

“Its actually going to remain in place over us for several days,” Woodall said.

A cold weather system that originated in northwest Canada is blanketing the area with cold temperatures, Woodall said.

Phoenix area bracing for record cold

Phoenix area bracing for record cold

By Michael Clancy The Republic | azcentral.com Wed Jan 9, 2013 11:05 PM

The coldest spell in nearly a quarter-century could ruin home landscapes and drive more people than usual into homeless shelters over the next several nights.

Below-freezing temperatures are expected to begin Friday night and run through Monday night, the National Weather Service said. In some locations, low temperatures could drop below 28 degrees, the level defined as a “hard freeze.”

Four nights in a row of subfreezing temperatures would match a December 1988 cold snap. More than one night of temperatures of 28 or below also would set a mark that has not been seen since 1981.

The longest Phoenix has ever seen temperatures below freezing was 14 days in January 1912 and December 1916. The longest spell of 28 or below was six days in January 1971.

The records are kept at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, usually one of the warmest spots in the Valley. Meteorologist Gary Woodall says he does not expect temperatures in the 20s at the airport or the central city, but outlying areas, such as Queen Creek, Buckeye or Cave Creek, could see temperatures in the low 20s.

“Usually, these weather patterns move through in a day or a day and a half,” he said. “This one will stay put a little longer.”

Gardening experts at Maricopa County Cooperative Extension say native plants should weather the cold without problems.

But desert-adapted plants such as bougainvillea and yellow bells could freeze to the ground, only to revive once temperatures rise again.

Extension officials say the freeze should take care of pests that afflicted the latter two plants last year.

Garden plants, including most vegetables and citrus fruit, could be more severely damaged, extension officials say.

They recommend watering plants during the day, then covering them at night with frost cloths or sheets, not plastic.

For citrus plants that are too tall to cover with a sheet, officials recommend placing a floodlight or two under the tree, pointed into the crown.

“Successive nights of freezing are what really harms plants, especially something like citrus,” said extension assistant Haley Paul. “They can handle maybe one night at 29 degrees, but throw in two or three consecutive nights, and that's when you could have issues.”

Plants in pots should be brought to covered patios or inside, experts say.

Frost-damaged plants should not be pruned until the threat of a freeze has passed.

Historically, the average last day Phoenix sees temperatures at or below freezing is Feb. 25.

Outlying areas could see a threat of freezing nights through March.

Plants and gardens are not the only living things potentially impacted by the cold.

Freezing temperatures also pose a serious threat to the homeless, especially those reluctant to go to shelters.

Irene Agustin of Central Arizona Shelter Services says officials expect more people than usual to seek shelter during the coldest nights. She said the shelter normally can take in 770 people per night, but it will add more sleeping space at its overflow shelter if necessary.

“The cold nights are unbearable for many people, but we will be able to accommodate the need,” she said.

Donations of warm clothing, blankets and hygiene supplies always are welcome during the winter, she said.

The shelter and administrative offices are at 230 S. 12th Ave. in Phoenix.

Reach the reporter at 602-444-6840 or michael.clancy@arizonarepublic.com.

Cold coming: Rain snow wind in Arizona's weekend forecast

Cold coming: Rain snow wind in Arizona's weekend forecast

Posted: Thursday, January 10, 2013 8:10 am

By Amy Murphy, ABC15.com | 0 comments

A Pacific storm rolling in will bring lots of wind, chances for rain and mountain snow, and a massive drop in temperatures!

Look for a high of 67 degrees today with wind winding up as the cold front moves in this afternoon.

Here in the Valley, we will feel strong breezes up to 25 mph with gusts in the 30 to 35 mph range.

Even stronger winds to our south and southwest will bring the threat of blowing dust to the open deserts. So, a High Pollution Advisory has been issued for dust tomorrow in Pinal county.

Winds will also howl up north and out to the northwest where Wind Advisories are in effect. Peak gusts could reach 50 mph there.

The wind and dust will be followed by chances for rain and mountain snow.

We will see a 40 percent chance of Valley rain showers tonight. The key time frame will be between 5 p.m. and midnight.

We will see even better chances for rain and snow to our north.

Winter Weather Advisories are posted from 8 p.m. tonight through 3 a.m. Friday for northern Gila county, along the Mogollon Rim, and into the White Mountains. Right now it looks like we could see one to two inches of snow between 3,000 and 6,000 feet, with two to five inches above the 6,000 foot level.

Temperatures will drop about 15 degrees as the cold air arrives on Friday. That will send Valley highs down to the low 50s and they will stay there through the weekend.

Overnight lows will plummet, too!

In fact, we are looking at some of the coldest air of the season arriving from the north sending Valley overnight lows well below the freezing point with Phoenix Sky Harbor forecasted to drop in to the low 30s early Saturday, Sunday, Monday and perhaps even Tuesday morning. Freeze Watches are now in effect for those days.

The last time we saw temperatures below the freezing point of 32 degrees at the airport was back on Feb. 3 and 4, 2011 with lows of 30 degrees both mornings.