Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Phoenix, AZ
Issued by NWS Phoenix, AZ
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501 FXUS65 KPSR 011923 AFDPSR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Phoenix AZ 1223 PM MST Mon Jun 1 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Slightly above normal temperatures will prevail throughout the week before retreating closer to normal over the weekend. - Other than a slight chance of a thunderstorm in eastern AZ during the middle of the week, dry conditions under mostly sunny skies will prevail through the next several days. && .SHORT TERM /Today through Wednesday/... Latest water vapor satellite imagery as well as streamline analysis show an omega blocking pattern centered over central Canada with troughing along the northeastern CONUS and over the northern Rockies. Meanwhile, over the Desert Southwest, southwesterly flow aloft prevails with weak troughing noted just off the southern CA coast. This weak troughing feature will continue to slowly progress east-southeastward into northern Mexico through midweek and thus will not have any significant sensible weather impacts for our region. Thunderstorm activity materializing across New Mexico through the middle of the week will likely send a westward propagating outflow boundary into far eastern Arizona, increasing low-level moisture somewhat. Thus, isolated thunderstorms are likely to materialize near the White Mountains Wednesday afternoon, potentially impacting far eastern Gila County. Otherwise, fairly tranquil weather under mostly clear skies will prevail throughout the majority of the region. With 500 mb height fields ranging 582-585dm, lower desert highs today and tomorrow will generally be in the low 100s and will rise a couple of more degrees to around 105 degrees by midweek as 500 mb heights rise closer to 585-587dm. These temperatures will be around 3-5 degrees above normal for early June. The overall HeatRisk through Tuesday will remain in the minor category before increasing into the moderate category midweek as temperatures rise into the mid 100s. Therefore, if planning in any outdoor activities, make sure to take the necessary heat precautions to avoid any heat-related illnesses. && .LONG TERM /Thursday through Sunday/... During the latter half of the week, NAEFS members are in fair agreement showing weak southern stream troughing slowly translating into the southern plains as deep negative height anomalies approach the western Conus. The primary uncertainty is the forward speed at which this occurs, and how quickly the forecast area falls under anti-cyclonic subsidence. The preponderance of ensemble output suggests the trough axis not passing into the southern Rockies until Friday, thus keeping modest ascent mechanisms into eastern Arizona Thursday with a continued slight chance of storms over mountainous areas. Regardless, the pattern evolution late in the week will promote height falls and dry westerly flow with H5 readings retreating closer to 580-582dm by the weekend (and possibly much lower early next week). While numerical guidance spread widens during the evolution, an increasing number of ensemble members indicate deeper troughing and more robust cooling arriving over the weekend such that temperatures should return to near normal, or even into a slightly below normal category. && .AVIATION...Updated at 1750Z. South Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT: No aviation weather impacts are expected through Tuesday. Winds will follow typical diurnal tendencies, with a period of light southerly cross winds through early afternoon at KPHX and KDVT, before shifting westerly later this afternoon. Wind speeds will mostly stay aob 10kts with occasional gusts into the teens. FEW to SCT passing high clouds will be common this afternoon and tonight. Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH: No aviation weather impacts expected through Tuesday morning under mostly clear skies. Winds at KIPL will favor a SE component through this afternoon and shift W-SW this evening, with speeds mostly aob 10 kts and a few gusts up to 15-20 kts this evening. At KBLH winds will favor a SSW-SSE component through the period. Wind speeds will also mostly be aob 10 kts, with the exception of some breeziness this afternoon with gusts up to 15-20 kts. && .FIRE WEATHER... The threat for a few lightning strikes with little rainfall in far eastern Gila County Wednesday and Thursday is the main fire weather hazard this week. With temperatures hovering slightly above normal, winds will maintain a diurnal upslope/nocturnal drainage pattern. Gusts will be limited the first half of the week, then increase later in the week, particularly across the lower Colorado River valley and over mountainous locations. Minimum afternoon humidity levels will generally fall in a 5-15% range following a widely ranging poor to fair overnight recovery of 15-45%. && .PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AZ...None. CA...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...Lojero LONG TERM...18 AVIATION...Benedict FIRE WEATHER...18