Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Flagstaff, AZ
Issued by NWS Flagstaff, AZ
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332 FXUS65 KFGZ 172332 AFDFGZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 432 PM MST Mon Jun 17 2024 .SYNOPSIS...Critical fire weather conditions will persist through this evening. Temperatures will trend closer to normal through Wednesday, before warming again late in the week. A chance of thunderstorms will develop daily from Thursday through the weekend. && .DISCUSSION...Critical fire weather conditions are ongoing across northern Arizona as a trough moves across the northwest U.S. Winds so far have been ranging between 25 and 55 mph and will continue to do so this afternoon. After today, the main low will move northeast but a trough will remain stalled over the western U.S., keeping breezy southwesterly winds (15-30 mph) each afternoon for Tuesday and Wednesday. Accompanying the system is cooler weather with Tuesday`s highs expected to be ~5 degrees below normal. Later this week into the weekend, confidence remains high that monsoonal moisture will start to increase as high pressure builds and shifts west. Confidence remains low in precipitation amounts and overall coverage for the weekend as the high shifts. Moisture overall looks limited and elevated so receiving any meaningful moisture will only be for a lucky few. Right now Friday looks to be the best day for coverage. In reality, these storms provide more of a wildfire risk as they could help contribute to new lightning started fires. As we head into the weekend and into next week, the high parks almost directly overhead, resulting in more suppression than actual moisture input...though shifts in placement would result in variations in precipitation so will continue to have to monitor over the coming days. && .AVIATION...Tuesday 18/00Z through Wednesday 19/00Z...VFR conditions will persist through the period. SW wind gusts up to 30 knots will taper off after 03z tonight. SW wind gusts in the 20-25 knot range will develop over northern Arizona Tuesday afternoon. OUTLOOK...Wednesday 19/00Z through Friday 21/00Z...VFR conditions will prevail over northern Arizona through the period. Dry conditions and southwesterly wind gusts up to 20 knots are forecast for Wednesday. For Thursday, there will be a chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms east of a line from KPAN- KINW-KPGA. SW wind gusts up to 30 knots is also forecast across eastern Arizona, with SW wind gusts in the 20-25 knot range along and west of I-17 and Highway 89. && .FIRE WEATHER...Rest of Today through Wednesday...Strong winds gusting 25-45 mph will persist into the evening. This, coupled with teen to single digit RHs, is resulting in critical fire weather conditions. A RFW will remain in effect until 2000 MST tonight. Tuesday and Wednesday will feature lighter winds with afternoon gusts 15-25 mph out of the SW/S. Afternoon RHs will continue falling into the teens to single digits. Thursday through Saturday...Warming temperatures and SW breezy afternoons gusting 15-30 mph are expected Thursday and Friday. Increasing moisture will result in higher RHs and shower and storms chances starting Thursday. Winds become lighter for the weekend. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MST /9 PM MDT/ this evening for AZZ104>107-109>116-139-140. Wind Advisory until 8 PM MST /9 PM MDT/ this evening for AZZ004- 006-007-009>016-039-040. && $$ PUBLIC...RKR AVIATION...TM FIRE WEATHER...RKR For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff