Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Flagstaff, AZ
Issued by NWS Flagstaff, AZ
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522 FXUS65 KFGZ 300520 AFDFGZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 1020 PM MST Sat Nov 29 2025 .SYNOPSIS...Near to above normal temperatures and mostly dry conditions are forecast through the weekend. Beginning late Sunday through early Monday, chances for rain and high elevation snow return. Cool and dry weather will move in on Tuesday before unsettled weather returns later on Wednesday through the end of the week. && .DISCUSSION...It will be a week of shortwave troughs of varying strength diving from north to south across Arizona. For Sunday and Monday...The first shortwave and associated cold front will dive from north to south across Arizona from late Sunday into Monday. This will be a fast moving system but with enough moisture, upward dynamics and upslope flow for some precipitation from the Mogollon Rim northward. The best dynamics and moisture profile will be across far northeast Arizona, primarily the Four Corners and Chuska Mountains. Elsewhere, limited moisture and lift will result in only light precipitation accumulations. During the period with the highest precipitation chances the snow level will dip to around 6000 feet so accumulating snow will be possible. The best chances for accumulating snow will be the Chuska Mountains (2-4 inches) above 6500 feet. We`re looking at 1 inch or less for most other locations above 6000 feet. In advance of the Sunday trough winds will become gusty, generally southwest 15 to 25 mph but gusting in spots to around 40 mph by mid afternoon from the Mogollon Rim northward. Monday will see winds shift to north to northeast at 5 to 15 mph behind the cold front. High temperatures 5 to 10 cooler on Sunday with further cooling on Monday. On Tuesday...Mostly sunny with temperatures near average under weak high pressure. Winds look to be south to southwest at 5 to 15 mph. Generally a nice day. From Wednesday onward...Another north to south diving system stronger along with a bit more complexity. There are two main solutions. One solution moves the shortwave trough across Arizona delivering accumulating snow to elevations above 5000-6000 feet exiting Arizona by early Friday (operational GFS). The other main solution carries the trough further west and south of Arizona potentially lingering through late Friday (operational European). The European solution would carry a higher snow level with accumulating snow more in the 7500 to 8500 foot range. Both solutions present a good chance of precipitation. The ensemble forecasts are pretty much an average of these two solutions. We will need to get closer to Wednesday to make a better determination. Otherwise, temperatures falling to at or below seasonal averages. Winds may turn gusty from the southwest on Wednesday but then lighter from a more northerly to easterly direction the remainder of the week depending on the path of the low. && .AVIATION...Sunday 30/06Z through Monday 01/06Z...Mainly VFR expected with brief MVFR or lower possible in ISO-SCT -SHRA/-SHSN after 00Z, along and north of KGCN-KRQE line. Light and variable winds becoming SW 10-20 kts with gusts 20-35 kts after 16Z. Winds become light and variable after 02Z-04Z. OUTLOOK...Monday 01/06Z through Wednesday 03/06Z...Mainly VFR expected. Brief MVFR or lower possible in ISO-SCT SHRA/SHSN through 12Z Monday, along and north of KGCN-KRQE line. N-NE winds 5-15 kts on Monday, becoming S-SW 5-15 kts on Tuesday. && .FIRE WEATHER...Sunday and Monday...Sunday starts out dry before a weak weather system brings a 10-30% chance of rain and high elevation snow showers over northeastern Arizona Sunday evening into Monday morning. Precipitation amounts generally less than 0.10". Things dry back out again by Monday afternoon. Winds will pick up out of the SW 15-20 mph, gusting 25 to 35 mph on Sunday before calming down to NW-N 10-15 mph on Monday. Tuesday through Thursday...It will be dry on Tuesday. Another weather system approaches on Wednesday bringing a 20-50% of rain and high elevation snow showers starting Wednesday afternoon and lasting through Thursday. Winds SW 10-15 mph on Tuesday and Wednesday, switching to the N-NE 5-10 mph by Thursday. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && $$ PUBLIC...McCollum AVIATION...Meola FIRE WEATHER...Bernhart For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff