Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Phoenix, AZ
Issued by NWS Phoenix, AZ
Versions:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
755 FXUS65 KPSR 282319 AFDPSR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Phoenix AZ 419 PM MST Fri Nov 28 2025 .UPDATE...Updated Aviation Discussion. && .KEY MESSAGES... - Dry and tranquil weather conditions will persist across the region with slightly above normal temperatures through this weekend. - A fast moving and mostly dry weather system will skirt past the area to the north early Monday dropping temperatures back into the normal range, lasting through the first half of next week. && .SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Current water vapor imagery shows the Desert SW under a weak upper level ridge, which has brought the slightly above normal temperatures throughout this week and for the Thanksgiving holiday. This weak ridge will continue to keep temperatures slightly above normal throughout the weekend, and mostly sunny skies with some high passing clouds. Temperatures today will to be in the mid to upper 70s for the lower deserts with temperatures dropping 1-3 degrees to be generally below 75 degrees over the weekend. Although temperatures through the weekend will be quite pleasant a small shift in the upper level pattern is anticipated by Sunday evening to start the work week. This shift comes from an a upper level shortwave trough, originating from the NW, that will reach the Four Corners regions by Sunday evening. This trough will bring a weak cold front through the region by early Monday. Leading to temperatures cooling to near normal for the beginning of December. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Next week is trending more toward less active weather than originally forecast by the models. The first disturbance should bypass our area completely to the north on Monday bringing only a period of breezy conditions across the Lower CO River Valley and knocking down daytime highs into the upper 60s to around 70 degrees, or within the normal range for early December. The other weather system off the West Coast should basically be a non-factor for our region as it becomes mostly cut off from the main flow and will eventually dissipate or somewhat get absorbed by a potential system dropping down from the northwest during the middle part of next week. There is still a good deal of model uncertainty with the mid to late week weather system as it could just be another progressive system or it may try to cut off and retrograde westward to off the coast of southern California. Models over the past couple of days have been trending drier with this system, but they still show modest precipitation chances (20-40%) centered on Wednesday night/early Thursday. If the system ends up being a fast mover it likely won`t amount to much more than high terrain precip chances, but if it cuts off and doesn`t stray too far to the west it could bring more widespread chances. We likely will not know which solution will win out until early next week. && .AVIATION...Updated at 2320Z. South Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT; and Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH: No aviation weather concerns are expected through the TAF period, with wind speeds at or below 6 kts at all terminals and directions following typical diurnal tendencies with periods of calm and light variability. Clear skies will prevail through Saturday morning followed by FEW to SCT high cirrus. There is a low probability for shallow fog to move into the Imperial Valley Saturday morning, but too low a chance to include in the TAF. && .FIRE WEATHER... Dry and tranquil weather conditions are expected to persist into early next week despite a weak weather system passing just to the north of the area on Monday. Expect slightly above normal temperatures through Sunday before cooling into the normal range starting Monday. Daily MinRHs will continue to range from 25-35% through early next week with good to very good overnight recoveries of 60-80%. Winds will overall remain light through the period except for a period of northerly breezy conditions across the Lower CO River Valley on Monday. && .PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AZ...None. CA...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...Ryan LONG TERM...Kuhlman AVIATION...Benedict FIRE WEATHER...Ryan/Kuhlman