960
FXUS65 KPSR 101735
AFDPSR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
1035 AM MST Mon Jun 10 2024

.UPDATE...Updated Aviation Discussion...

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
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.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
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.

&&

.AVIATION...Updated at 1735Z.

South-Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT;
VFR conditions forecast through the TAF period. Wind pattern will
continue to follow diurnal tendencies, although a period of
southerly cross winds is expected 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:
VFR conditions forecast through the TAF period. FEW-SCT clouds
mainly aoa 20 kft can be expected. 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 this evening. At
KBLH, winds will generally be out of the south. Wind speeds should
generally remain aob 10 kts at both sites.

&&

.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...95
FIRE WEATHER...Smith/95