Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Tucson, AZ
Issued by NWS Tucson, AZ
566 FXUS65 KTWC 041945 AFDTWC Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 1244 PM MST Thu Dec 4 2025 .SYNOPSIS...Below normal high temperatures will continue through Friday. Cold morning low temperatures are expected the next couple of mornings, with widespread sub-freezing temperatures expected in the valleys east and south of Tucson. A ridge of high pressure begins to shift into the region Saturday, strengthening through next week. This will result in dry conditions and high temperatures warming to above seasonable levels Sunday through next week. && .DISCUSSION...The latest satellite imagery shows a mix of cumulus clouds south/southeast of Tucson and high clouds filtering in from the west. High temperatures currently range from the lower 50s across the eastern valleys to near 60 degrees from Tucson westward. Highs today will top out 4-6 degrees below normal. Most of the clouds should diminish this evening, with generally clear skies later tonight. The main weather story will be the cold morning low temperatures both Friday and Saturday south and east of Tucson. Low temperatures will be in the upper 20s to lower 30s across much of the lower elevations of Santa Cruz, Graham, Cochise and Greenlee counties, with even colder temperatures (lower to mid 20s) in the typical cold spots of eastern Santa Cruz and the Sulphur Springs valley of Cochise County. This will be the first freeze of the season for some of these locations and a Freeze Warning remains in effect from 2 am to 9 am MST Friday morning. Low temperatures will be in the mid to upper 30s in the outlying areas surrounding the Tucson Metro, especially Saturday morning when a few locales might even briefly fall into the lower 30s. Friday and Saturday: Baggy troughiness will continue across the desert southwest through Friday. High temperatures warm 1-3 degrees on Friday, but will still be a couple of degrees below normal. Highs then warm another 2-4 degrees on Saturday as ridging begins to build in from the west, with afternoon highs right around normal. Sunday: High temperatures continue to warm and will be 2-4 degrees above normal. Highs will top out in the mid to upper 60s across the lower elevation locations of eastern Santa Cruz, Cochise, Graham and Greenlee counties and in the lower 70s from Tucson westward. Monday through Friday of next week: Highs warm to 5-8 degrees above normal all of next week, as stronger ridging builds into the desert southwest from the west. This translates into highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s across the lower elevation locations of eastern Santa Cruz, Cochise, Graham and Greenlee counties and in the mid to upper 70s from Tucson westward. Dry conditions are expected through all of next week and next weekend. && .AVIATION...Valid through 06/00Z. FEW-SCT clouds at 6k-9k ft AGL mainly from KTUS south/southeast and SCT clouds AOA 20k ft AGL areawide thru 05/02Z. Clearing skies aft 05/02Z, with generally SKC conditions/clear skies by 05/06Z. SFC wind less than 12 kts thru the forecast period, favoring a WLY/NWLY direction thru 05/03Z and again aft 05/18Z and variable in direction at other times. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Dry conditions are expected the next 7 days. Below normal high temperatures will continue through Friday, with cold morning lows the next couple of mornings and widespread sub-freezing temperatures in the valleys south and east of Tucson. 20-foot winds will generally be 15 mph or less and terrain driven through the middle of next week. Minimum RH values in the valleys will be in the 23-33 percent range through Friday, lowering to 16-26 percent this weekend through the middle of next week. High temperatures will be right around normal on Saturday, warm a couple of degrees above normal on Sunday, and then warm to 5-8 degrees above normal all of next week. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Freeze Warning from 2 AM to 9 AM MST Friday for AZZ503-507>509. && $$ Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson