Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Phoenix, AZ

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426 FXUS65 KPSR 101126 AFDPSR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Phoenix AZ 426 AM MST Mon Jun 10 2024 .UPDATE...
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Updated 12z Aviation Discussion...
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&& .SYNOPSIS...
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Near to slightly above normal temperatures will continue today before temperatures begin increasing starting Tuesday. Excessive heat conditions are expected to develop across south-central Arizona Tuesday through Thursday as afternoon temperatures approach or exceed 110 degrees. Dry conditions are favored to continue through the forecast period.
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&& .DISCUSSION...
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Early morning WV imagery showed the weak cutoff low that had been positioned off the coast of the Baja Peninsula last week is now situated over the AZ/NM border. Outside of bringing an increase in high clouds to the region, this weak system brought temperatures back down to near to slightly above normal readings over the weekend. Temperatures this afternoon will be similar to yesterday as highs are forecast to top out around 102-107 degrees for most places across the lower deserts. However, these near to slightly above normal temperatures won`t last for long as the weak low continues to exit the region and hotter temperatures return after today. Going forward, an upper low currently positioned off the coast of southern California and northern Baja will cutoff while downstream ridging amplifies across the Southwest early to midweek. As the ridge strengthens/amplifies, ensemble guidance indicate mean 500 mb heights rising to around 590 dm Tuesday before further rising to around 592-594 dm Wednesday and Thursday, primarily over the eastern half of our CWA. This will translate to temperatures warming up once again near or in excess of 110 degrees across the lower deserts during the Tuesday-Thursday time period primarily across south-central Arizona. While the greatest coverage of Major HeatRisk is expected mainly Wednesday for south-central Arizona, temperatures Tuesday and Thursday will be similar and near Major HeatRisk thresholds. Thus, the Excessive Heat Watch has now been upgraded to a warning for Tuesday through Thursday. Temperatures may flirt with records during this time with the latest NBM showing about a 30-40% chance of tying/breaking the record high in Phoenix on Wednesday. Out west, temperatures won`t be quite as hot given the closer proximity to the cutoff low. Afternoon highs across southeast California and southwest Arizona are forecast to be around 105-110 degrees for the middle part of the week. Heading into the end of the workweek, ensemble cluster analysis shows great agreement that the aforementioned cutoff low will begin to move inland across the Desert Southwest. Ensemble and deterministic guidance show this occurring late Thursday into Friday, which is expected to push temperatures back down to near normal readings Friday. Guidance show mid-level moisture increasing into the region ahead of the low Thursday, which may be enough for some weak shower development across the AZ high terrain, but for now PoPs remain around 10% or less for most places. Additionally, breezy conditions will increase for the latter half of the week in response to the upper low. The increase in winds combined with hot, dry conditions will lead to enhanced fire weather conditions. For the weekend following the passage of the upper low, uncertainty increases in regards to how a trough expected to pass through the Pacific Northwest will evolve. For now, flat ridging is expected to prevail across the Southwest for the upcoming weekend into early next week, keeping highs around 105-110 degrees across the lower deserts according to the NBM.
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&& .AVIATION...
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Updated at 1120Z. South-Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT; No aviation weather concerns can be through the TAF period. Wind pattern will continue to follow diurnal tendencies, although a period of southerly cross winds is expected during the late morning through the mid-afternoon period, particularly at KPHX. Wind speeds will generally remain under 10 kts, although some occasional afternoon and early evening gusts into the mid to upper teens can be expected. FEW-SCT clouds above 15 kft will prevail through the period. Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH: No aviation weather concerns under FEW-SCT clouds mainly aoa 20 kft can be expected through the TAF period. At KIPL, winds will generally be out of the southeast through most of the period, with the exception of a period of westerly winds during the evening hours later today. At KBLH, winds will generally be out of the south. Wind speeds should generally remain aob 10 kts at both sites.
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&& .FIRE WEATHER... Hot and seasonably dry conditions will continue to support a high fire danger across the area through the week. Near to slightly above normal temperatures will continue today before heating up once again heading into the middle part of the week. Winds will continue to generally favor diurnal tendencies with occasional afternoon breeziness of 20-25 mph expected across most of the region. MinRHs ranging between 5-15% with poor to fair overnight recoveries of between 20-45% are expected. && .PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AZ...Excessive Heat Warning from 10 AM Tuesday to 8 PM MST Thursday for AZZ534-537>555-559-560-562. CA...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Smith AVIATION...Lojero FIRE WEATHER...Smith/95