Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Flagstaff, AZ
Issued by NWS Flagstaff, AZ
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361 FXUS65 KFGZ 030742 AFDFGZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 1242 AM MST Wed Dec 3 2025 .SYNOPSIS...A weak weather system will bring a chance of light rain and snow showers from through this evening, mainly north and east of the Mogollon Rim. Fair weather returns Thursday with a warming trend beginning on Friday and lasting into the start of next week. && .DISCUSSION...through this evening...A shortwave currently over Nevada begins to dive south and east into the Four Corners region today. While moisture is still fairly limited with this system, there looks to be enough of an increase to generate some scattered rain and snow showers. Some light activity has already developed near the Arizona-Utah border as of early this morning. This activity should continue to spread south and east through the morning hours and into the afternoon hours along a weak band of frontogenetic forcing ahead of the shortwave. Any activity looks to diminish by this evening as the cold front moves through northern Arizona. Given the track of this system and limited moisture, the best chances for seeing any precipitation will largely be confined to areas along and north of the Mogollon Rim, with the highest chances near the Four Corners. Overall, precipitation amounts look to be on the lighter side. The latest hi-res guidance seems to suggest QPF amounts of around a few hundredths to a quarter of an inch of liquid. Some locally higher amounts could be possible in the upslope areas, namely the Kaibab Plateau, Chuska Mountains, Black Mesa, and the San Fransisco Peaks, but these will be isolated amounts. While some warmer air looks to be present aloft, at least initially, temperatures quickly begin to fall aloft with 700mb temperatures near -4C to -6C by around 5 AM. Thus, snow levels look to to around the 5500-6000 feet mark, with potentially some rain/snow mix down to around 5000 feet. Overall, snowfall amounts will be on the lighter side generally up to an inch or two possible for most areas above 6000 feet, and locally 2 to 4 inches in aforementioned upslope areas. With the colder air aloft, a couple stronger snow showers will be possible during the afternoon hours. 00Z HREF guidance seems to support this with a subtle signal of some brief, isolated moderate to heavy snowfall rates. Nevertheless, brief and sudden periods of reduced visibility and slick roads will be possible over the High Country today. Tonight and Thursday...Cooler and drier conditions look to set in behind the shortwave. Overnight lows will likely drop into the the teens across the higher terrain, to the 30s F across the lower elevations. Some of the typically cooler locations may see single digit temperatures overnight tonight. However, some locations mainly downwind (southwest) of the terrain may remain slightly warmer with breezy northeasterly winds remaining overnight. Friday through Tuesday...High pressure then begins to strengthen over Pacific, pushing the storm track further inland and away from Arizona. Gradually warmer and dry conditions look to set in through the end of the week and into the start of next week as a result. && .AVIATION...Wednesday 03/06Z through Thursday 04/06Z...VFR conditions expected through much of the period. Brief MVFR conditions possible after 18Z from -SHRA/-SHSN, primarily along and NE of a KGCN-KSEZ-KSOW line. Look for west through north winds 5-15 kts after 18Z, and light and variable winds otherwise. OUTLOOK...Thursday 04/06Z through Saturday 06/06Z...Localized areas of MVFR conditions possible prior to 12Z Thursday due to -SHRA/-SHSN. Otherwise, VFR conditions expected. Mostly light winds (10 kts or less) forecast through the period, but breezy terrain driven winds during the overnight periods will be possible. && .FIRE WEATHER...Today and Thursday...Colder conditions arrive today as rain and snow showers develop, mainly along and north of the Mogollon Rim. Drier air follows this system for late tonight and Thursday, with cool temperatures continuing. Winds will stay generally light at 15 mph or less, northwesterly for today, then northerly to northeasterly on Thursday. Friday through Sunday...Dry conditions with temperatures gradually rising into the weekend. Winds will remain light with directions ranging from northwest through northeast. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && $$ PUBLIC...Humphreys AVIATION...Konieczny FIRE WEATHER...JJ For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff