985 FXUS65 KFGZ 162358 AFDFGZArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 458 PM MST Tue Sep 16 2025
.SYNOPSIS...Limited showers and thunderstorms today and Wednesday, before we begin to see a gradual increase in moisture Thursday through the first part of the weekend. Outside of precipitation chances, seasonable temperatures and generally light winds are forecast.
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.DISCUSSION...Southern Apache and Navajo counties have been the "hot spot" for showers/storms today. Most of the activity we`ve seen has been along and south of a Winslow-St. Johns line, but we can`t completely rule out a stray shower elsewhere in our CWA. Otherwise, dry and warm weather is anticipated across northern Arizona. Similar conditions will be on tap for Wednesday, where the White Mountains and eastern Mogollon Rim will have the best chances for showers/storms.
Thursday is where things could become more interesting. Arizona will remain under an area of high pressure, and a trough will be located to our west. This pattern mixed with any remnant moisture from Tropical Storm Mario may result in elevated chances for showers and thunderstorms. There is decent agreement among model guidance for activity to ramp up Thursday through Saturday, especially along and south of a Fredonia-St. Johns line. The 13Z run of the NBM shows CAPE values generally between 200-750 J/kg by Friday afternoon, where the higher instability values look to be focused across Yavapai County. So if we do see stronger showers and thunderstorms, they will likely be concentrated over the southwestern portion of our CWA.
Sunday onward, high pressure looks to strengthen over Arizona. This will result in above normal daytime highs, generally light winds, and mostly dry conditions. There is some indication that more unsettled weather could return later next week, as a trough potentially descends down from the Pacific Northwest. There is still plenty of time to hash out the details on all this, so stay tuned!
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.AVIATION...Wednesday 17/00Z through Thursday 18/00Z...Mainly VFR conditions. Expect to see isolated -SHRA/-TSRA through 03Z along and east of a line from KPAN-KINW. Wind gusts of 25-35 kts possible in and around storms. Daytime winds west to southwest at 5-15 kts otherwise, light and variable.
OUTLOOK...Thursday 18/00Z through Saturday 20/00Z...Mainly VFR conditions. Isolated -SHRA/-TSRA on Wednesday, mainly near and south of a KPAN-KJTC line. Scattered SHRA/TSRA possible on Thursday, mainly south of Interstate-40. Wind gust of 25-35 kts possible in and around storms. Daytime winds west to northwest at 5-15 kts on Wednesday, becoming west to southwest on Thursday and Friday.
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.FIRE WEATHER...Wednesday and Thursday...Mostly dry on Wednesday, with only isolated showers and thunderstorms south of the Eastern Rim. Cooler on Thursday, with scattered thunderstorms (25-35% chance) most numerous south and west of the Mogollon Rim. Winds generally light from the west.
Friday through Sunday...Cooler. Chances for showers and thunderstorms each day, with best chance for wetting rains (50-70%) on Friday. Wind south through west 5-15 mph each day.
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.FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None.
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PUBLIC...Konieczny AVIATION...McCollum FIRE WEATHER...BAK
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NWS FGZ Office Area Forecast Discussion