Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Tucson, AZ
Issued by NWS Tucson, AZ
737 FXUS65 KTWC 020825 AFDTWC Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 125 AM MST Tue Dec 2 2025 .SYNOPSIS...Dry weather with seasonable high temperatures. A weather system will initially bring some afternoon breezes Wednesday, then cooler temperatures and a slight chance of snow showers for the White Mountains Wednesday night. Dry weather then returns to Southeast Arizona Thursday into early next week with high temperatures returning to near seasonable levels this weekend. && .DISCUSSION...The upper pattern this morning is defined by a large amplitude ridge in the Eastern Pacific with its ridge axis extending into the Gulf of Alaska, a cutoff low under this feature around 24N/129W, a shortwave trough diving south along the NE periphery of the ridge into the Pacific Northwest, and a mean trough positioned across the central CONUS. The upper ridge is expected to flop over into British Columbia/Pacific Northwest today. This will allow for the shortwave in that area to dive SSE thru the Intermountain West over the next 24-48 hours. Another shortwave bowling over the top of the upper ridge will keep this feature progressive with it only providing a glancing blow for our neck of the woods when the low center moves through the Four Corners Wednesday night. Other than a slight chance of showers to the Whites, this system will have little impact for Southeast Arizona. The biggest impact will be the potential for some breezy west to southwest winds 15-20 mph with gusts to 30 mph Wednesday as the southern periphery of this feature swings thru Southeast Arizona. Otherwise, this trough will fill into the mean trough to our east Thursday with our neck of the woods residing between the upper ridge to our west and the upper trough to our east. Mild and dry pattern for us. Models have difficulty resolving this type of pattern with regards to the cutoff low that is trapped under the upper ridge to our southwest. It will most likely impact portions of NW Mexico over the next 7-10 days. The only way for it to impact on our neck of the woods is if the upper ridge drifts west than its current position. Low confidence for this to occur. && .AVIATION...Valid through 03/12Z. Skies SKC thru the valid period. SFC wind WLY/NWLY 8-12 kts with occasional gusts to 20 kts this afternoon and early this evening and variable in direction and less than 12 kts all other times. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Dry weather with near normal high temperatures through Wednesday. A weather system will initially bring some afternoon breezes Wednesday, then cooler temperatures and a slight chance of snow showers for the White Mountains Wednesday night. Expect elevated 20-foot winds from the west/southwest around 15 mph with gusts 25 mph over portions of eastern Santa Cruz and Cochise counties Wednesday afternoon. Otherwise, Min RH values will be in the 25-35 percent range through Friday, lowering to 20-30 percent this weekend. Dry weather with lighter winds will return to Southeast Arizona Thursday into early next week with high temperatures returning to near seasonable levels this weekend. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && $$ Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson