162  
FXUS65 KFGZ 162213  
AFDFGZ  
 
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLAGSTAFF AZ  
313 PM MST WED JUL 16 2025  
   
SYNOPSIS
 
A MORE ACTIVE MONSOONAL PERIOD IS FORECAST THROUGH  
FRIDAY, WITH NUMEROUS TO WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS  
EXPECTED EACH DAY. COOLER TEMPERATURES ARE ALSO EXPECTED THROUGH  
THE REST OF THE WEEK.  
 

 
   
DISCUSSION...TODAY
 
A WEAK TROUGH SITTING OFF THE COAST OF BAJA  
CALIFORNIA IS PREVALENT IN MID-LEVEL WV IMAGERY. THIS SITS IN  
CONJUNCTION WITH GENERAL RIDGING OVER NEW MEXICO AND TEXAS. THESE  
FEATURES ARE WORKING TO SET UP AN IDEAL AXIS OF SOUTHERLY MOISTURE  
ADVECTION INTO NORTHERN AZ. THE 18Z FGZ SOUNDING SHOWS PRECIPITABLE  
WATER RIGHT AROUND 0.79 INCHES, UP FROM 0.65 INCHES AT 12Z. WE ARE  
SEEING ACTIVITY FIRING ALONG THE HIGHER TERRAIN SITES AS OF 1430  
MST. CONDITIONS ARE IDEAL FOR CELLS TO STAY RATHER STATIONARY WHILE  
MAINTAINING HIGH PRECIPITATION RATES, AND THERE IS A RISK OF FLASH  
FLOODING TODAY. OTHER THAN FLOODING THE HAZARDS EXPECTED TODAY ARE  
HAIL AND GUSTY OUTFLOWS TO AROUND 35-45 MPH.  
 
TONIGHT...AMPLE MOISTURE WILL BE PRESENT WELL INTO THE OVERNIGHT  
HOURS. THINGS STAY ACTIVE AS WE SEE A TRANSITION TO LIGHTER AND  
WIDESPREAD SHOWERS NORTHEAST OF THE MOGOLLON RIM A LITTLE AFTER  
SUNSET. ADDITIONALLY, A SMALL VORTICITY MAXIMA CURRENTLY APPARENT IN  
SATELLITE IMAGERY SOUTH OF TUCSON IS HEADING TOWARDS NORTHERN AZ.  
THIS FEATURE COULD BRING A REGION OF OVERNIGHT SHOWERS TO YAVAPAI  
COUNTY LASTING THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING, BUT THERE IS SOME  
UNCERTAINTY IN THE GUIDANCE AT THIS TIME.  
 
TOMORROW AND FRIDAY...THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO MEANDER  
NORTHWARD AND WE WILL SEE ANOTHER ROUND OF CONVECTION INITIATE  
AROUND 1200-1300 MST TOMORROW. FURTHER PERIODS OF LOCALLY HEAVY  
PRECIPITATION ARE POSSIBLE. THIS IS COMPLICATED BY THE FACT THAT THE  
LATEST HI-RES MODEL RUNS ARE PICKING UP A TREND WHERE DRY MID-LEVEL  
AIR WRAPS AROUND THE CYCLONE AND BEGINS TO INTRUDE NORTHERN AZ. THIS  
WILL HELP TO SHUT DOWN THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY AFTER SUNSET THURSDAY,  
AND PW WILL TICK DOWN A BIT THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY.  
OVERALL HIGH COVERAGE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS STILL EXPECTED EACH DAY,  
BUT PERHAPS A BIT LESS NUMEROUS THAN TODAY.  
 
SATURDAY AND BEYOND...ANOTHER ROUND OF DRY AIR MAY INTRUDE THIS  
WEEKEND. RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS AS IF IT WILL BE WET ENOUGH FOR SOME  
SCATTERED-NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ON SATURDAY, BUT THIS IS  
STILL VERY UNCERTAIN. AFTER THE TROUGH PASSES, A PERIOD OF DRIER  
CONDITIONS COULD BE IN STORE. HOWEVER, HIGH PRESSURE OUT EAST  
MAINTAINS ITS STRUCTURE AND KEEPS ENOUGH MOISTURE AROUND FOR DAILY  
ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY.  
 

 
   
AVIATION...WEDNESDAY 16/18Z THROUGH THURSDAY 17/18Z
 
SHRA/TSRA IS  
EXPECTED TO DEVELOP N/E OF KCMR-KPAN LINE AFTER 19Z, THEN GRADUALLY  
MOVE SOUTHWEST THROUGH 06Z. LINGERING -SHRA WILL BE POSSIBLE  
OVERNIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING. BRIEF MVFR CONDITIONS AND GUSTY,  
ERRATIC WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 KTS WILL BE POSSIBLE IN AND AROUND  
TS. HZ/FU POSSIBLE NEAR KGCN/KPGA DUE TO NEARBY WILDFIRES.  
OTHERWISE, VFR CONDITIONS WITH WINDS SW-NW 5-15 KTS WITH GUSTS  
20-25 KTS IN THE AFTERNOON.  
 
OUTLOOK...THURSDAY 17/18Z THROUGH SATURDAY 19/18Z...SCATTERED  
SHRA/TSRA CONTINUES, WITH STRONGEST STORMS LIKELY BETWEEN 18Z-04Z  
EACH AFTERNOON/EVENING. BRIEF MVFR CONDITIONS AND GUSTY, ERRATIC  
WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE IN AND AROUND TS. OTHERWISE, VFR CONDITIONS  
WITH W/SW WINDS 5-15 KTS ON THURSDAY, BECOMING S/SW ON FRIDAY.  
 

 
   
FIRE WEATHER...THURSDAY AND FRIDAY
 
INCREASING MONSOON MOISTURE  
WILL BRING NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORM THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, CAPABLE OF  
PRODUCING A WETTING RAINFALL. GUSTY/ERRATIC OUTFLOW WINDS AND FLASH  
FLOODING WILL BE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. OTHERWISE, DAYTIME WINDS WEST  
THROUGH SOUTHWEST 5-10 MPH WITH GUSTS 10-20 MPH EACH DAY.  
 
SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ON  
SATURDAY, BECOMING SCATTERED TO ISOLATED SUNDAY AND MONDAY.  
WETTING RAINS ARE LIKELY WITHIN ANY STRONGER STORMS. WINDS WEST  
THROUGH SOUTHWEST 5-10 MPH WITH GUSTS 10-20 MPH EACH DAY. GUSTY,  
ERRATIC WINDS POSSIBLE IN AND AROUND THUNDERSTORM  
 

 
   
FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
 
NONE.  
 

 
 

 
 
PUBLIC...LEWANDOWSKI  
AVIATION...LEWANDOWSKI  
FIRE WEATHER...LEWANDOWSKI  
 
FOR NORTHERN ARIZONA WEATHER INFORMATION VISIT  
WEATHER.GOV/FLAGSTAFF  
 
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