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Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Phoenix, AZ
Issued by NWS Phoenix, AZ
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874 FXUS65 KPSR 021732 AFDPSR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Phoenix AZ 1032 AM MST Tue Jul 2 2024 .SYNOPSIS... The weather pattern over the next few days will eject the lingering monsoon moisture southward out of the region leaving only minimal chances for showers and a few thunderstorms generally over higher terrain areas through Wednesday. Starting Thursday, very strong high pressure and dry conditions will overtake the region with excessive heat conditions likely spreading eastward through much of the lower deserts of Arizona. Very hot temperatures with highs around 115 degrees are expected starting July 4th, lasting through at least the coming weekend. && .DISCUSSION... A major pattern swing has begun with monsoon moisture getting kicked eastward as a trough passes by to our north before strong ridging and northerly flow scours out the rest of the moisture on Thursday. Water vapor imagery continues to show drier air spreading eastward through all but far southeast Arizona. A couple days ago, guidance was keeping enough moisture around for at least some modest rain chances through Wednesday, but as we now see this was too optimistic. For today, the drier air will largely end rain chances across all of the lower deserts in Arizona and then even over higher terrain areas starting Wednesday. By Thursday, PWATs are forecast to drop to below 1" with surface dew points dropping to as low as 35-40 degrees on Friday. This kind of dry air is more like what we typically see in June before the monsoon gets going. The main forecast concern through the rest of the week is the building heat and the excessive heat conditions expanding into much of southern and central Arizona. A very strong high pressure ridge with H5 heights near 600dm has developed off the coast of California over the last couple of days and this heat dome is forecast to gradually shift eastward over our region later this week. Temperatures will continue to rise over the next several days with highs nearing 115 degrees across the southeast California lower deserts by Wednesday and topping 110 degrees in the Phoenix area. Starting Thursday, the center of the ridge is likely to get closer to the California coast while the ridge elongates and spreads over the Desert Southwest. This should raise our H5 heights from the current 590-592dm to 594-596dm starting around Thursday. We will also fall under an increasing dry northerly flow, scouring out the rest of the boundary layer moisture on Thursday. NBM forecast temperatures continue to trend hotter for later this week and through the holiday weekend, partially due to the drier conditions and also because the ridge is now likely to eventually move directly over the region late in the weekend and early next week. Temperatures are now expected to reach between 110-114 degrees in the Phoenix area on July 4th to 112-116 degrees across far southwest Arizona into southeast California. Thursday may be the start of a more expansive and extended heat wave across much of the region. Excessive heat is a near certainty across all of the western deserts Thursday and through at least the weekend (likely longer), while the eventual positioning of the ridge will determine how far east the excessive heat will spread. Forecast confidence has increased enough to issue an Excessive Heat Warning for all of southeast California starting Thursday and an Excessive Heat Watch for southwest and south- central Arizona. The end time is currently next Tuesday, but given the good agreement among guidance through at least the middle of next week, the excessive heat conditions are likely to persist through much if not all of next week. Any good moisture return could end this upcoming heatwave, but as of now that probably won`t happen through at least the middle of next week. Forecast temperatures Friday through early next week are now showing highs ranging from 112-116 degrees across south-central Arizona to 113-119 degrees across far southwest Arizona and southeast California. Given it seems models are playing a little catch up with the ridge and the dry air coming in over the next few days, it would not be surprising to see these forecast ranges increase another couple of degrees. && .AVIATION...Updated at 1730Z. South-Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT: Winds will continue to follow familiar diurnal tendencies through the TAF period. Uncertainty exists regarding our usual E`rly shift, with morning hi-res guidance showing a weak outflow from distant thunderstorms turning winds earlier than normal between 03-04Z, while more recent guidance shows a more typical outcome, with the E shift occurring closer to 07-09Z. TAFs currently reflect the later switch, but amendments may be needed if any outflows occur. Gusts with potential outflows may reach into the upper teens to around 20 kts but outside of that, wind speeds should generally be aob 10 kts. FEW mid and high level clouds will be present through Wednesday morning, with the lowest bases around 12 kft. Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH: Winds at IPL will generally be out of the SE through the period, with perhaps a brief switch to the SW early tonight. At BLH, winds will follow diurnal trends, with occasional afternoon gusts upwards of 20 kts. Speeds at BLH may pickup by mid morning Wednesday, with potential gusts 20-25 kts. Clear skies will prevail through the current forecast window. && .FIRE WEATHER... Drier conditions will continue to filter into the region over the next few days. Isolated afternoon showers and a few thunderstorms are expected today over the Arizona higher terrain with chances on Wednesday even lower. As conditions continue to dry out, even hotter temperatures are expected, especially later this week. Humidities will drop considerably today over the majority of the area. The lower deserts will see MinRHs mostly fall to around 15%, while higher terrain areas east of Phoenix will see 25-35%. Winds will follow diurnal trends, occasionally gusting to 20 mph during the afternoon hours. Starting Thursday, essentially all of the monsoon moisture will get ejected from the area leaving very dry and hot conditions, likely well into next week. MinRHs starting Thursday will mostly be between 10-15% over the lower deserts to 15-20% over higher terrain areas. The dry air will also end any rain chances during this time. Temperatures are expected to climb to well above normal by Thursday with lower desert highs between 112-118 degrees. && .PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AZ...Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM MST Tuesday for AZZ530. Excessive Heat Watch from Thursday morning through Tuesday evening for AZZ531>544-546-548>551-553>555-559. CA...Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM PDT Tuesday for CAZ562-566-567- 569-570. Excessive Heat Warning from 10 AM Thursday to 8 PM PDT Tuesday for CAZ560-561-563>565-568. && $$ DISCUSSION...Kuhlman AVIATION...RW FIRE WEATHER...Kuhlman