700 FXUS65 KFGZ 122308 AFDFGZArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 408 PM MST Fri Sep 12 2025
.SYNOPSIS...Gusty winds will continue into the early evening before lighter winds and cooler temperatures arrive for the weekend. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are forecast to continue through the might, mainly across eastern Arizona. Most locations will see dry conditions over the weekend but a few showers could linger over far eastern Arizona on Saturday.
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.DISCUSSION...A long-wave trough will gradually push eastward across the western states over the next 24 hours ushering in a drier air mass, lighter winds and cooler temperatures.
For this afternoon and overnight...Moisture and pockets of instability will continue to linger over eastern Arizona, roughly along and east of a Payson to Four Corners line. Storm coverage will diminish during the evening hours but we expect that a few storm cells will develop through the night across the same area. Any stronger storms will be capable of producing near quarter size hail and brief gusty winds of 40 to 50 mph. The remainder of the area to the west will see clear skies, diminishing winds and a slight extra chill to our overnight low temperatures.
On Saturday...There will remain a slight chance of a stray shower or thunderstorms over far eastern Arizona. For the rest of the area a dry air mass will push in from the west behind the eastward moving trough. It will turn a bit cooler behind the trough and with weaker pressure gradients developing daytime winds will turn much lighter, generally from the west to southwest at 10 to 20 mph.
From Sunday through Wednesday...Mainly dry. There will be a slight chance of showers/thunderstorms across the White Mountains/eastern Mogollon Rim region on Tuesday and Wednesday as moisture is pulled northward by a weak passing trough. Otherwise, seasonable temperatures and light winds at 5 to 15 mph are forecast.
Late next week...Forecast models shows another long-wave trough approaching the western states drawing moisture northward across Arizona. Too early to make any firm statements but we`ll be keeping any eye on another potential increase in shower and thunderstorm chances.
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.AVIATION...Saturday 13/00Z through Sunday 14/00Z...Mainly VFR conditions expected, isolated to scattered SHRA/TSRA possible overnight east of the Highway 87 corridor. Isolated SHRA/TSRA possible after 12Z along the Utah and New Mexico border. Winds light and variable or terrain driven overnight, becoming SW 10-15kts gusts 20-30kts Saturday after 15-18Z.
OUTLOOK...Sunday 14/00Z through Tuesday 16/00Z...VFR conditions expected. No precipitation Sunday, isolated thunderstorms possible near White Mountains Monday. Winds SW 5-15kts Sunday, SW 5-10kts Monday. Light and variable or terrain driven during overnight hours.
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.FIRE WEATHER...Saturday and Sunday...Seasonably cool and turning dry. Winds are southwest through west 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 20 to 25 mph on Saturday, then southwest 5 to 15 mph on Sunday. Isolated storms on Saturday confined to areas right along the UT and NM state lines, dry on Sunday.
Monday through Wednesday...Mostly dry with seasonal daytime temperatures. Minimum RH is generally 10-20%, locally higher at high elevation sites. Daytime winds are southwest through west 5 to 15 mph. Chance for isolated showers and thunderstorms in the White Mountains each day.
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.FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None.
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PUBLIC...McCollum AVIATION...Bernhart FIRE WEATHER...Lewandowski
For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
NWS FGZ Office Area Forecast Discussion