486 FXUS65 KFGZ 182337 AFDFGZArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 437 PM MST Thu Sep 18 2025
.SYNOPSIS...Areas of showers and thunderstorms will continue through Friday, before fading out over the weekend. The cooler temperatures seen for the next few days will be replaced by a warming trend by early next week.
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.DISCUSSION...Most convection today is around the periphery of what remains from the morning rainfall and cloud cover. 18Z KFGZ sounding indicated some instability is available above the cap, but it is skinny and will not result in many stronger storms.
The trough off the west coast of California will continue to lift northeastward tonight and Friday, eventually shearing out and then retrograding as a ridge builds over the SW. This will bring another 12-24 hours of weak dynamics and outflows to our area, causing a continuation of showers and thunderstorms. We are not expecting organized or even prolonged rainfall.
Eventually, the flow aloft becomes anti-cyclonic and activity will fade out over the weekend and into early next week. There are some models that indicate another low next week near San Diego, there are some that don`t. We left in isolated PoPs for now, due to the uncertainty.
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.AVIATION...Friday 19/00Z through Saturday 20/00Z...Mainly VFR expected. ISO-SCT SHRA/TSRA along a KGCN-KFLG-KJTC line, pushing NE and becoming SCT-NMRS overnight into Friday. Gusty and erratic winds and brief MVFR conditions possible in and around TS. Outside of storms, expect daytime SW-NW winds 5-15 kts becoming light and variable overnight.
OUTLOOK...Saturday 20/00Z through Monday 22/00Z...Mainly VFR expected. ISO SHRA/TSRA on Saturday. Gusty and erratic winds and brief MVFR conditions possible in and around TS. Outside of storms, expect daytime S-SW winds 5-15 kts.
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.FIRE WEATHER...Friday and Saturday...Expect thunderstorms to redevelop over the area by Friday afternoon. Wetting rains are likely. Isolated thunderstorms will be possible again on Saturday, but more confined over the higher terrain. Minimum RH values will range between 30-50% Friday and 25-40% on Saturday. Winds SW-W 5-15 mph during the day, light and variable or terrain driven overnight.
Sunday through Tuesday...Isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible over the higher terrain each afternoon. Minimum RH values 20-35% Sunday, 15-30% Monday, 15-25% Tuesday. Winds SW-W 5-10 mph Sunday, NW-N 5-10 mph Monday, light and variable on Tuesday.
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.FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None.
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PUBLIC...Peterson AVIATION...Meola FIRE WEATHER...Bernhart
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NWS FGZ Office Area Forecast Discussion