Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Phoenix, AZ

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465 FXUS65 KPSR 212154 AFDPSR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Phoenix AZ 254 PM MST Tue May 21 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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Temperatures will be near normal through the weekend before warming back above normal by the beginning of next week. Typical afternoon and early evening springtime breeziness will continue into the weekend, with the highest wind speeds expected on Friday. Dry conditions will persist into next week.
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&& .DISCUSSION...
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Broad upper level troughing will remain in place over Western CONUS through the weekend, which will keep our temperatures near normal leading to widespread Minor HeatRisk. Typical afternoon and early evening breeziness can also be expected with gusts around 15-25 mph. A couple dry embedded shortwave troughs will also move through the region with the last shortwave trough moving through on Friday and Saturday. This trough will dig far enough south into our area to cool temperatures off to slightly below normal and increase our afternoon and early evening wind speeds. The highest wind speeds are expected on Friday with gusts of 25-40 mph. Slightly lower wind gusts are expected on Saturday, but gusts of 25-35 mph are still possible. These elevated winds on Friday and Saturday could lead to some elevated, to locally critical, fire danger. After the trough exits on Saturday, global ensemble models are in good agreement that heights aloft will start to rise as a high amplitude trough starts to build in over the region. H5 heights are expected to climb into the 585-590dm range by early next week. This will allow for temperature to rise back above normal, with portions of the lower deserts getting back into triple digits as early as Monday. The ridge will continue to build over the region into the middle of next week where we could potentially see the hottest temperatures of the year so far. Dry conditions will continue into next week.
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&& .AVIATION...Updated at 1735Z. South-Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT: VFR conditions are expected through the forecast period with fairly light winds generally following diurnal tendencies. Expect southwest winds to establish by the afternoon with occasional gusts into the mid teens through early evening. Expect a shift to easterly winds this evening. Clear skies will prevail through the period. Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH: VFR conditions will prevail through the next 24 hours under clear skies. At KIPL winds continue to favor the west northwest with an extended period of light wind speeds (aob 6 kt sustained) increasing later this evening to aob 10 kt sustained. Expect light and variable conditions tomorrow morning. Light and variable winds are forecast at KBLH through the afternoon before settling out of the southwest during the evening becoming light and variable again tomorrow morning. && .FIRE WEATHER...
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Dry conditions, near normal temperatures, and typical afternoon and early evening breeziness will continue through the week. MinRH levels will be in the single digits with some slight improvement into the 10-20% range by the end of the week. Overnight recovery will be poor to fair and in the 20-40% range. Afternoon and early evening wind gusts will be in the 15-25 mph range through Thursday. Friday will have even high wind gusts up into the 25-35 mph range with isolated gusts up around 40 mph. These higher wind gusts will cause some elevated, to locally critical, fire danger.
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&& .PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AZ...None. CA...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Berislavich AVIATION...95 FIRE WEATHER...Berislavich/Benedict