Weather alerts in Arizona

* WHAT...For the High Wind Warning, east to southeast winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts 55 to 75 mph expected. For the Wind Advisory, east to southeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts 50 to 60 mph expected. * WHERE...From central Pima County eastward excluding northern Graham and Greenlee Counties. * WHEN...For the High Wind Warning, until 5 AM MST Saturday. For the Wind Advisory, from 5 AM to 2 PM MST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages will be possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Gusty winds will blow around and damage unsecured objects. Strong and gusty winds over desert areas could result in blowing dust, briefly lowering visibility below a mile at times. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...For the High Wind Warning the strongest winds are expected on the leeward (west and northwest) sides of the mountains. Terrain gaps and east-west oriented valleys will also be susceptible to strong winds.

What to do: People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind. Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a * Dust Advisory for... Northwestern Cochise County in southeastern Arizona... * Until 830 PM MST. * At 523 PM MST, an area of blowing dust was located 8 miles southeast of Willcox. HAZARD...Less than three miles visibility with strong winds in excess of 40 mph. SOURCE...Satellite observations. IMPACT...Hazardous travel. * Locations impacted include... Willcox, Cochise, Texas Canyon and Cascabel. This includes the following highways... Route 191 between mile markers 58 and 66. Interstate 10 between mile markers 318 and 341. Route 186 between mile markers 327 and 334.

What to do: Blowing dust brings reduced visibility, leading to dangerous driving conditions. If driving, avoid blowing dust if possible. If caught in dense blowing dust, pull off the road, turn off your lights and keep your foot off the brake. Blowing dust can be unhealthy and has been known to lead to Valley Fever. Avoid outdoor exposure.

* WHAT...East winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * WHERE...Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, Globe/Miami, Mazatzal Mountains, Pinal/Superstition Mountains, Rio Verde/Salt River, San Carlos, and Superior. * WHEN...Until 11 AM MST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Difficult driving conditions, especially for larger vehicles traveling along roads with crosswinds. Light, unsecured objects may become airborne. Localized channels of blowing dust may briefly lower visibility under one mile.

What to do: A Wind Advisory means that sustained wind speeds of between 30 and 40 mph are expected, or wind gusts of between 40 and 58 mph. Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. In addition, strong winds over desert areas could result in briefly lowered visibilities to well under a mile at times in blowing dust or blowing sand. Use extra caution.

* WHAT...East to southeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts 50 to 60 mph expected. * WHERE...Baboquivari Mountains. * WHEN...Until 2 PM MST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Difficult driving conditions will be present, especially for larger vehicles traveling along roadways with strong and gusty crosswinds.

What to do: Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

* WHAT...For the High Wind Warning, east to southeast winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts 55 to 75 mph expected. For the Wind Advisory, east to southeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts 50 to 60 mph expected. * WHERE...From central Pima County eastward excluding northern Graham and Greenlee Counties. * WHEN...For the High Wind Warning, until 5 AM MST Saturday. For the Wind Advisory, from 5 AM to 2 PM MST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages will be possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Gusty winds will blow around and damage unsecured objects. Strong and gusty winds over desert areas could result in blowing dust, briefly lowering visibility below a mile at times. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...For the High Wind Warning the strongest winds are expected on the leeward (west and northwest) sides of the mountains. Terrain gaps and east-west oriented valleys will also be susceptible to strong winds.

What to do: People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind. Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

* WHAT...East to southeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts 50 to 60 mph expected. * WHERE...Tohono O'odham Nation. * WHEN...Until 2 PM MST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Strong and gusty winds over desert areas could result in blowing dust. Difficult driving conditions will be present, especially for larger vehicles traveling along roadways with strong and gusty crosswinds.

What to do: Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

AQAPSR The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has issued a PM-10 High Pollution Advisory for Pinal County today. An episode of strong and gusty winds is forecast to generate widespread blowing dust that may result in local PM-10 concentrations that pose a health risk. Adverse health effects increase as air quality deteriorates. Coarse particulate matter - also known as PM-10 - is an air contaminant that can aggravate heart and lung disease conditions, especially in older adults, children, and those with asthma. A decrease in physical activity is recommended. Consolidate your travel, stabilize loose soils, slow down or avoid travel on dirt roads, reduce or eliminate fireplace use, and avoid using gas-powered lawn equipment. For details on this High Pollution Advisory, visit the ADEQ internet site at www.azdeq.gov/forecast/WestPinal or call 602-771-2300.

The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) has issued a Dust Action Day for the Tucson Metro area until 8 PM MST this evening. An episode of strong and gusty winds is forecast to generate widespread blowing dust that may result in local PM- 10 concentrations that pose a health risk. Adverse health effects increase as air quality deteriorates. Coarse particulate matter - also known as PM-10 - is an air pollutant that can aggravate heart and lung disease conditions, especially in older adults, children, and those with asthma. A decrease in outdoor physical activity is recommended. Consolidate your travel, stabilize loose soils, slow down or avoid travel on dirt roads, reduce or eliminate fireplace use, and avoid using gas-powered lawn equipment. For details on this Action Day, visit the PDEQ website at www.pima.gov/deq or call 520-724-6885.

AQATWC The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has issued a PM-10 High Pollution Advisory for Douglas on Friday. An episode of strong and gusty winds is forecast to generate widespread blowing dust that may result in local PM-10 concentrations that pose a health risk. Adverse health effects increase as air quality deteriorates. Coarse particulate matter - also known as PM-10 - is an air contaminant that can aggravate heart and lung disease conditions, especially in older adults, children, and those with asthma. A decrease in physical activity is recommended. Consolidate your travel, stabilize loose soils, slow down or avoid travel on dirt roads, reduce or eliminate fireplace use, and avoid using gas-powered lawn equipment. For details on this High Pollution Advisory, visit the ADEQ internet site at www.azdeq.gov/forecast/douglas or call 602-771-2300.