Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Phoenix, AZ
Issued by NWS Phoenix, AZ
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787 FXUS65 KPSR 100911 AFDPSR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Phoenix AZ 211 AM MST Wed Dec 10 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Well above normal temperatures are expected to continue into next week with some locations flirting with record highs over the next few days. - Dry and tranquil conditions will prevail for at least the next week. && .SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... An unseasonably strong high pressure ridge will continue to dominate across the Southwestern U.S. through the rest of this week. The center of the ridge will largely remain just off the California coast over the next few days, but H5 heights of 582-585dm (well above 90th percentile of climatology) will stay in place across the Desert Southwest. This will continue to allow for well above normal temperatures with highs mainly in the upper 70s across the lower deserts to as warm as the lower 80s in places like El Centro and Yuma. We can`t rule out some daily records being threatened, but the probabilities of reaching records are generally 30% or less each day. In addition to the warm temperatures, sky conditions will remain clear to mostly clear through Friday. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH NEXT WEEK/... The weather pattern over the weekend and likely through most if not all of next week will continue to support ridging mostly dominating across the Southwestern U.S. The ridge to our west is expected to weaken over the weekend as one or two very weak shortwave troughs try to undercut or move into the ridge. These disturbances should lead to the ridge weakening or even pushing through and then to the east of our region by Sunday or Monday, but H5 heights are not expected to drop all that much. The near 80 degree daily highs are likely to persist through at least Saturday and maybe even Sunday before the lower heights bring highs more into a 74-77 degree range by early next week. The disruption of the ridge should also result in periods of higher level clouds moving through the region. Model guidance shows very good agreement in rebuilding the ridge again to our west by next Tuesday before moving back over our region by next Wednesday or Thursday. Both the GEFS and EPS show mean H5 heights staying between 579-582dm through all of next week which should keep daytime highs well into the 70s, but slightly cooler than what we will see over the next couple of days. Guidance shows no precipitation chances through next week. && .AVIATION...Updated at 0505Z. South Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT; and Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH: No weather concerns will exist through Wednesday night under clear skies. Winds trends will be nearly identical to the past 24 hours featuring only a brief late afternoon/early evening light westerly direction in the PHX metro, and a general W/NW trajectory across SE California. Extended periods of nearly calm conditions will be common. && .FIRE WEATHER... Warm and dry weather will prevail across the region through this week. Temperatures will be above normal and gradually warm to 8-13 degrees above normal by the end of the week. A dry weather system toward the middle of next week may enhance winds. Otherwise, winds will remain light every day and follow diurnal tendencies. Humidities over the next week will stay above critical levels with afternoon MinRHs mostly ranging between 20-25%, followed by good overnight recoveries to around 50-70%. && .CLIMATE...Daily Record Highs Phoenix ------- 12/11 81 (1977) 12/12 79 (2010) 12/13 82 (2010) 12/14 78 (2010) 12/15 79 (1969) && .PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AZ...None. CA...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...Kuhlman LONG TERM...Kuhlman AVIATION...18 FIRE WEATHER...Benedict/Kuhlman CLIMATE...Benedict