622  
FXUS65 KFGZ 240010  
AFDFGZ  
 
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLAGSTAFF AZ  
510 PM MST WED SEP 23 2026  
   
SYNOPSIS
 
INCREASING MOISTURE WILL BRING SCATTERED SHOWERS AND  
THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THURSDAY OR FRIDAY, WITH DRIER WEATHER OVER  
THE WEEKEND. RAIN CHANCES MAY INCREASE AGAIN EARLY NEXT WEEK.  
 

 
   
DISCUSSION
 
MOISTURE CONTINUES TO STREAM INTO ARIZONA, AS DEEP  
AND LAYERED SOUTHWEST FLOW PERSISTS OVER THE SOUTHWEST UNITED  
STATES. THE BULK OF THE MOISTURE RESIDES IN NEW MEXICO, BUT OUTFLOWS  
ARE PUSHING HIGHER DEW POINTS INTO PORTIONS OF EASTERN, SOUTHERN AND  
CENTRAL ARIZONA THIS AFTERNOON.  
 
THE 18Z KFGZ SOUNDING INDICATES RELATIVELY LOW INSTABILITY AND SOME  
DRY AIR IN THE MID-LEVELS, SO STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP TODAY PROBABLY  
WILL NOT HAVE MUCH OF A BITE.  
 
MORE OF THE SAME THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, MAYBE A BIT MORE IN THE WAY OF  
DYNAMICS AS A TROUGH AXIS APPROACHES FROM THE NW. DRIER WEATHER IS  
LIKELY TO DEVELOP BEHIND THIS TROUGH AXIS FOR SATURDAY AND MAYBE  
SUNDAY.  
 
THEN, ALL EYES ON THE SUB-TROPICS AS WE WAIT AND SEE OF ONE OF THESE  
HURRICANES WILL INDUCE A SURGE OR PROVIDE SOME MID-LEVEL MOISTENING.  
IT IS A LITTLE EARLY TO MAKE THAT CALL AT THIS TIME, BUT THE DOOR IS  
DEFINITELY OPEN FOR IT TO HAPPEN. STAY TUNED.  
 

 
   
AVIATION...THURSDAY 24/00Z THROUGH FRIDAY 25/00Z
 
MAINLY  
VFR, WITH MVFR NEAR SHRA/TSRA. ISOLD-SCT SHRA/TSRA EXPECTED TO  
CONTINUE UNTIL 03Z MAINLY S AND E OF THE KGCN-KFLG-KPRC LINE, AND  
THEN DECREASING. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR -SHRA/-TSRA  
OVERNIGHT, MAINLY NEAR AND S/E OF THE KPAN-KINW-0V7 LINE. BRIEF  
GUSTY ERRATIC WINDS AROUND 35 KT POSSIBLE NEAR TS AND OUTFLOW  
BOUNDARIES. WINDS BECOMING VARIABLE OR TERRAIN DRIVEN OVERNIGHT  
THEN BECOMING NE-SE 5-10 KTS AFTER 18Z. ISOLD-SCT SHRA/TSRA  
EXPECTED AGAIN 19Z TO 00Z OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN, MOST NUMEROUS  
NEAR AND W OF THE KGCN-KFLG-KSOW LINE.  
 
OUTLOOK...FRIDAY 25/00Z THROUGH SUNDAY 27/00Z...MAINLY VFR.  
SCT SHRA/TSRA THURSDAY AFTERNOON SHOULD BE DECREASING, BUT COULD  
SEE ADDITIONAL SHRA/TSRA DEVELOP IF FAR EASTERN ARIZONA THURSDAY  
NIGHT, THOUGH THE POTENTIAL IS LOW AT THIS TIME. ISOLD SHRA/TSRA  
FRIDAY. BRIEF MVFR CONDITIONS AND GUSTY ERRATIC WINDS EXPECTED  
NEAR TS. WINDS VRB 5-10 KTS THURSDAY EVENING, BECOMING S-W ON  
FRIDAY.  
 

 
   
FIRE WEATHER...THURSDAY AND FRIDAY
 
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND  
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ARIZONA  
THURSDAY. STRONGER STORMS WILL BRING HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY AND/OR  
ERRATIC WINDS. DRIER AIR MOVES IN ON FRIDAY FOR ONLY A SLIGHT CHANCE  
OF SHOWERS AND STORMS FOR MOST OF THE AREA. THE BEST CHANCES ON  
FRIDAY WILL BE CONFINED TO THE MOUNTAINS OF FAR EASTERN ARIZONA.  
OUTSIDE OF STORMS, WINDS WILL BE VARIABLE AT 5-15 MPH.  
 
SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY...EXPECT FAIR AND DRY WEATHER ON SATURDAY.  
SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES LOOK TO INCREASE ON SUNDAY AND  
MONDAY BUT CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY REMAINS IN THIS PORTION OF THE  
FORECAST. WINDS WILL BE SOUTHWEST 5-15 MPH ON SATURDAY INCREASING TO  
10-20 MPH ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY.  
 

 
   
FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
 
NONE.  
 

 
 

 
 
PUBLIC...PETERSON  
AVIATION...SCHANK  
FIRE WEATHER...MCCOLLUM  
 
FOR NORTHERN ARIZONA WEATHER INFORMATION VISIT  
WEATHER.GOV/FLAGSTAFF  
 
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