Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Flagstaff, AZ
Issued by NWS Flagstaff, AZ
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250 FXUS65 KFGZ 130320 AFDFGZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 820 PM MST Sun May 12 2024 .SYNOPSIS...An unsettled pattern continues across much of the Southwest this week. Expect warm temperatures, breezy winds, and chances for isolated showers and thunderstorms each afternoon. && .UPDATE...The forecast remains on track this evening with skies quickly clearing and winds becoming light. Today`s precipitation amounts ranged from trace to a few hundredths for the lucky spots in northern Arizona that received rain. As previously mentioned, expect partly cloudy skies to return over high terrain by mid- morning tomorrow. CAMs are indicating isolated to widely scattered showers beginning sometime from late morning to early afternoon with the best chances along the Mogollon Rim and near the Arizona/New Mexico border. Isolated thunderstorms are possible as well. && .PREV DISCUSSION /513 PM MST/...Tranquil weather conditions are taking place across northern Arizona this afternoon with mild temperatures and breezy, 10-20 mph, northerly winds. Even with a similar moisture profile in place as yesterday afternoon`s, shower and thunderstorm development for this afternoon has been lacking thanks to increasing heights and warm air aloft as a shortwave ridge moves in from the west. A light rain shower or two is not out of the question by this evening near the Kaibab Plateau, the eastern Mogollon Rim, and White Mountains according to the HREF, however, chances remain quite low (10-15%). Expect clearing skies overnight with near average low temperatures and little to no wind. On Monday, with the shortwave ridge axis directly over Arizona, daytime temperatures become 5-10 degrees above average with west-northwest winds, 10-20 mph. Isolated shower and thunderstorm coverage remains in the forecast with 10-20% chances along the high terrain for Monday afternoon. Confidence is quite low at this time, hence the very slight chances, however, hi-res guidance does suggest a few showers and a thunderstorm or two developing over the Mogollon Rim, Kaibab, and White Mountains. As we head into the middle of the week, the ridge looks to break down as a weak area of low pressure from the west phases with a shortwave trough likely to sweep across the Rockies. Moisture advection looks to gradually increase each day, peaking on Wednesday according to GEFS and ECMWF Ens guidances, with PWAT values slightly above average for this time of year. With the increase in moisture and conditions becoming more unstable aloft as cooling takes place, chances for showers and thunderstorms increase each afternoon for Tuesday and Wednesday. The greatest coverage is expected on Wednesday as the low moves across Arizona. At this time, scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast across much of northern Arizona on Wednesday as temperatures return to average. After Wednesday, precipitation chances begin a decreasing trend as drier northwest flow develops Thursday into Friday. Temperatures warm into the weekend with breezy southwest winds returning. Something to keep our eye on in regards to the long term forecast is the chance for a drier and windier pattern to develop across the Southwest after next weekend. Ensemble model guidance suggests this trend as the overall synoptic pattern looks to remain active across the West. && .AVIATION...Monday 13/00Z through Tuesday 14/00Z...VFR conditions will prevail through the TAF period with light winds, with an isolated shower possible over the higher terrain through 02Z. .OUTLOOK...Tuesday 14/00Z through Thursday 16/00Z...Generally VFR conditions are forecast through the period. Look for isolated afternoon showers with a stray thunderstorm or two possible over the mountains. Daytime winds are forecast to be from the west to southwest at 5-15 kts gusting 25 kts but gusty and erratic winds will be produced by any showers/storms. && .FIRE WEATHER...Monday and Tuesday...Isolated afternoon showers and a few high-based thunderstorms mainly confined to the Mogollon Rim, Kaibab Plateau, White Mountains, and the Chuska Mountains. Wetting rain is unlikely. Outside of any erratic outflow gusts from storms, expect west to southwest winds at 5 to 15 mph gusting to 25 mph each afternoon. Look for Warm temperatures each day with minimum humidity of 10 to 20%. Wednesday through Friday...Shower and thunderstorm chances persist each afternoon through Friday with the greatest coverage likely on Wednesday. Afternoon winds will be out of the west each day at 5 to 15 mph gusting to 25 mph. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && $$ PUBLIC...Mazon/LaGuardia AVIATION...BAK FIRE WEATHER...McCollum For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff