Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Phoenix, AZ

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471 FXUS65 KPSR 260525 AFDPSR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Phoenix AZ 1025 PM MST Sat May 25 2024 .UPDATE...
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Updated 06Z Aviation Discussion.
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&& .SYNOPSIS... Another breezy afternoon will precede much more tranquil conditions going through next week. The coolest temperatures over the next week will be today, as a warming trend to above normal, accompanied by triple digit highs across the lower deserts early next week, will commence tomorrow. Otherwise, dry conditions under mostly clear skies will continue during this period as well. && .DISCUSSION... Longwave troughing continues to engulf western CONUS, while clear skies continue to dominate the region as the main dynamic energy remains well north of the region. Temperatures remain considerably below normal today (6-8 degrees), as the negative height anomalies associated with this troughing feature traverses across the region through tonight. Breezy to isolated windy conditions, strongest in southwestern Imperial County, will continue this afternoon, with winds gusting 20-35 mph this afternoon and extending into the evening hours across the region. Looking ahead, the general mid-level pattern evolution over the next several days will be building heights across the region, with the warmest temperatures of the year expected through the middle portions of this upcoming week. Warming conditions will commence tomorrow, as the troughing feature currently anchored over the region will exit to the east. Mid-level heights will quickly build going into early next week, with the main ridge axis generally centered over Arizona. As a result, temperatures will warm, with triple digit highs likely (60-100%) across the lower deserts as early as Monday. Mid-level heights will continue to build through the middle of the week (heights peaking around 582-585 dam), with potential of highs 105 or greater peaking on Tuesday around 30-70% (greatest in the Phoenix metro) across the lower deserts. Thus, the building heat will result in areas (30-50% coverage) of Moderate HeatRisk by Tuesday for the lower deserts, with the worst conditions mostly across southeastern California and the Phoenix metro. Heading into the latter portions of next week, ensembles are trending towards weakening mid-level heights, as an anomalous closed low traverses across the Pacific Northwest. A cooling trend remains of high certainty, although the magnitude of cooling remains more uncertain. Clustering analysis depicts some pretty significant differences no later than Friday, where this trough moves quickly across the Intermountain West, resulting in a slight cooling trend, or a much deeper and slower moving trough, which would result in a much cooler scenario. This much cooler scenario would result in the potential for breezy conditions to become more of a noticeable increase as well. Current clusters favor the weaker troughing solution (50-70%), but, as noted previously, the magnitude of cooling remains noticeably uncertain, as the interquartile ranges of the NBM high temperatures have a 5-7 degree spread late next week and into next weekend. && .AVIATION...
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Updated at 0523Z. South-Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT: Winds will follow their typical diurnal patterns with speeds aob 7 kt. Extended periods of light and variable winds are expected, especially at KSDL and KDVT. Skies will remain clear through Sunday. Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH: Winds will follow their typical diurnal patterns with extended periods of variability. Speeds will be aob 9 kt through the TAF period. Skies will remain clear through Sunday.
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&& .FIRE WEATHER... Locally elevated fire weather conditions continue this afternoon, particularly over the high terrain of the eastern districts, as a weak system helps to generate widespread breezy conditions. Gusts over the high terrain of the eastern districts will peak between 25-30 mph, with isolated gusts potentially up to 35 mph. Gusts will peak mostly between 20-25 mph this afternoon elsewhere across the lower deserts. MinRH values will range between 10-20% today and locally higher in the high terrain, and will drop to 10-15% tomorrow. Overnight recoveries will be fair tonight at around 30- 50% and drop to 25-40% Sunday night. Hot and dry conditions will persist after today, with generally lighter wind speeds and typical afternoon breeziness each day. Daily highs will reach the century mark in many lower desert locations by Monday and values generally top out between 100-105 through the middle of next week. && .PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AZ...None. CA...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Young AVIATION...Berislavich FIRE WEATHER...Young/Whittock