532 FXUS65 KTWC 051503 AFDTWCArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 803 AM MST Fri Sep 5 2025
.SYNOPSIS...With considerable moisture in place, expect scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms through Saturday. The main threat from these storms will be areas of locally heavy rain producing isolated flash flooding. Below normal high temperatures through Saturday. Drier conditions return starting Sunday with a return to near to slightly above normal temperatures next week.
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.UPDATE...Clouds overnight are expected to linger for much of the day clearing up some late this evening. Slight chance for showers and storms today focused to where there is less significant cloud cover, north and west of Tucson. Models suggest that most of the heavy rain will stay to the south of the International Border but if it creeps northward areas close to the border from Nogales eastward may see some rain as well. Temperatures will stay at or just below normal today with Minor HeatRisk. Highs will be in the upper 70s to upper 80s in the lower elevations and in the upper 50s to low 60s in the higher elevations.
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.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 213 AM MST Fri Sep 5 2025/
.DISCUSSION...Partly to mostly cloudy skies early this morning from Tucson south and eastward with mostly clear to partly cloudy skies to the west of Tucson. Dry conditions currently prevail across the forecast area with some shower activity to our south in Sonora. Over the last few days, we`ve been watching what was Tropical Storm Lorena closely. As of 2 AM PDT, the NHC issued the last advisory and this is now a remnant low. While Lorena was always going to help direct increased moisture into AZ, the uncertainty of the track has played a large impact on the range of possible scenarios. The earlier potential for defined mid level remnants of Lorena making it into (or near) AZ resulting in higher end rain totals is now off the table. The mid and upper level structure from the remnant low has sheared away from the exposed low level circulation off of the Baja California Peninsula with the heavier rain threat staying to our south in Sonora. The latest HREF still indicates considerable cloud cover from Tucson south and eastward today with some mainly light stratiform rain along the Int`l border. For areas that see some sunshine, there is still ample moisture in place for scattered showers and slow moving thunderstorms. However, with marginal instability and no notable triggering mechanisms, any flash flood threat will be isolated today. Thus, in collaboration with WPC which has lowered Excessive Rainfall Outlook to MRGL today, we`ve gone ahead and canceled the flash flood watch to better match this scenario. Temperatures will continue to run about 8 to 15 degrees below normal with the coolest temperatures south and east of Tucson where the greatest cloud cover is expected.
For tonight, we can`t rule out nocturnal activity with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Given the moisture in place, a small scale lifting mechanism during the evening or overnight hours will be enough to result in elevated precipitation chances compared to a more typical monsoon nighttime scenario.
For Saturday, with plenty of moisture in place (PWAT`s 120 to 140 percent above normal at 1.1 inches eastern areas to 1.6 inches western deserts), there is certainly potential to interesting from a convective perspective. The CAMs do indeed show more activity compared to today as the combination of greater solar insolation/increased instability and perhaps some weak lifting mechanisms help to initiate greater convective coverage compared to today. With that said, the WPC has lowered our area into MRGL risk for Day 2/Saturday as well. Even though the Flash Flood Watch has been cancelled for both Friday and Saturday, the threat for localized flash flooding still persists Saturday so this is something we`ll continue to keep an eye on. Temperatures on Saturday will be about 8 to 12 degrees below normal.
As westerly flow starts to kick in on Sunday the atmosphere will undergo a drying process. Still a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly in the White Mountains but most locales stay dry. West to southwest flow continues next week as temperatures warm to near or slightly above normal levels. We`re starting to see some hints in the ensembles of a bit of a northward moisture push especially near the AZ/NM border midweek. The current official forecast is still dry Tuesday and Wednesday with slight chances east of Tucson Thursday.
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.AVIATION...Valid through 06/12Z. SCT-BKN 6k-10k feet with pockets down to 4k feet Isold -SHRA mainly near KDUG for much of the forecast period. Otherwise, especially from KTUS and points west and north, expect SCT -SHRA/-TSRA with gusts up to 40 kts this afternoon into evening. Confidence is too low for anything more than a VCSH mention in TAFs. Surface winds less than 10 kts and variable outside any thunderstorm activity. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments.
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.FIRE WEATHER...Minimum relative humidities well above 30 percent through the weekend. Scattered showers and thunderstorm chances each day through Saturday, with drier conditions Sunday onwards. Surface winds mainly light through the forecast period, except gusty and erratic in or near any thunderstorms. High temperatures will be below normal through the weekend then warming back to near to slightly above normal next week.
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.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
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Malarkey
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NWS TWC Office Area Forecast Discussion