Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Phoenix, AZ
Issued by NWS Phoenix, AZ
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885 FXUS65 KPSR 010827 AFDPSR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Phoenix AZ 127 AM MST Mon Dec 1 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Overall dry and fairly quiet weather conditions are expected throughout the coming week. Temperatures will gradually drop to slightly below normal by late week before warming again into next week. - A passing weak weather system today will bring breezy conditions across the Lower CO River Valley, while a second system late Wednesday and Thursday may bring light precipitation chances to the Arizona high terrain. && .SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... A weak shortwave trough is currently tracking southeastward through the Four Corners area with a band of high clouds moving through central Arizona. This system will not bring much in the way of changes to our area today, but it will result in some breezy winds across the Lower CO River Valley and drop temperatures a couple of degrees from yesterday. After the disturbance quickly moves to our east by tonight, we will remain under broad cyclonic northwesterly flow on Tuesday with temperatures falling another 1-2 degrees pushing highs into the normal range. Dry conditions, mostly clear skies, and light winds are also expected on Tuesday. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Models continue to trend away from any impactful weather later this week with a second Pacific trough now expected to take a more northerly track. Ensembles are now in very good agreement the next system for later Wednesday and Thursday will be much like the first progressive system. Even compared to model runs yesterday, the system shows a more eastward and northerly track shift bringing the bulk of the energy across northeastern Arizona. Additionally, the fact the trajectory of the trough is completely inland and it is now likely to take a shallower track through our region moisture will be even more limited than previously expected. As are result, NBM PoPs have dropped dramatically since yesterday with PoPs dropping to below 10% for all of the western deserts and even the western half of the Phoenix metro. Depending on the exact track of the system, the Arizona high terrain may still see some light shower activity, but expected QPF amounts have fallen below 0.05". Temperatures should also dip a bit further with the passage of the trough with lower desert highs falling more into the mid to upper 60s for Thursday and Friday. Guidance also heavily favors a more expansive ridge setting up over the eastern Pacific later this week with a fairly likely chance of a portion of the ridge will edge into our region by the weekend. Although the ridge is shown to flatten out over the weekend, the weather pattern may support the ridge to rebuild again and push farther into our region during the first half of next week. We have high forecast confidence in dry conditions prevailing well into next week with temperatures eventually warming to above normal. && .AVIATION...Updated at 0620Z. South Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT; and Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH: Little to no aviation weather concerns are expected through the TAF period. Winds will mostly remain light, generally at or below 7 kts at all terminals, and directions will follow typical diurnal tendencies. The one exception is some northerly wind gusts up around 20 kt across the Lower CO River Valley (impacting KBLH) this afternoon. FEW-SCT high cirrus clouds will be common through the period. && .FIRE WEATHER... Dry conditions will continue to prevail for the bulk of the region this week as two mostly dry weather systems pass near or through portions of the region. Today`s weak weather system will only bring breezy northerly winds across the Lower CO River Valley and slightly cooler temperatures. Another weather system for late Wednesday and Thursday may bring light precipitation chances, but mostly to higher terrain areas. Humidities this week will stay elevated with MinRHs mostly ranging between 25-35% much of the time, with good to very good overnight recoveries. Winds are expected to stay light across the eastern districts, while another round of breezy conditions will be possible across the western districts Wednesday and Thursday. && .PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AZ...None. CA...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...Kuhlman LONG TERM...Kuhlman AVIATION...Berislavich FIRE WEATHER...Kuhlman