


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Flagstaff, AZ
Issued by NWS Flagstaff, AZ
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605 FXUS65 KFGZ 201127 AFDFGZ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 427 AM MST Sun Jul 20 2025 .SYNOPSIS...Scattered shower and thunderstorm activity is forecast to bring some localized, heavy rainfall today. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms will continue Monday and Tuesday, followed by a declining trend in precipitation chances around the middle of next week. && .DISCUSSION...Northern Arizona remains sandwiched between a 500 mb low centered over southern California and an elongated subtropical high pressure system draped across the central and southeast United States. Southerly flow between these features continues to draw monsoon moisture into the state, with the deepest moisture over eastern Arizona and drier air to the west. Overnight satellite imagery shows an MCS over the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range in northern Mexico that is slowly pushing northward into southern Arizona. Moisture associated with this system is expected to continue its northward trajectory, eventually interacting with the mountains of northern Arizona to serve as a focus for shower and thunderstorm development this afternoon and evening. It`s hard to say exactly how far west the remnant moisture will spread, but it will likely impact portions of Yavapai and Coconino Counties. For today, the existing monsoon moisture plume and influences from the aforementioned MCS will bring a round of isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms to northern Arizona, primarily along and south of the Mogollon Rim, with shower activity expanding to include the Grand Canyon country later in the afternoon and evening. Similar to yesterday, a mid-level cap and a general lack of instability due to cloud cover should inhibit vigorous convective activity, except perhaps on the periphery of the monsoon plume where we see better surface heating. Today`s storms will bring a low risk of localized flash flooding due to slow storm motion. The severe threat is minimal given the overall lack of instability. Overnight, the Southern California low will begin to fill and lift to the northeast. As it does so, shower activity may continue through the overnight hours over portions of Yavapai and Coconino Counties as it interacts with lingering moisture there. The filling low swings across the area as an open wave on Monday. As a result, more widespread shower and thunderstorm activity is forecast due to influences from the passing trough. Another round of scattered showers and thunderstorms is forecast on Tuesday, followed by a decline in monsoon activity beginning Wednesday as a deep, West Coast low pushes the monsoon plume east of the state. && .AVIATION...Sunday 20/12Z through Monday 21/12Z...Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms AFTER 20/18Z. Brief MVFR visibilities and gusty winds possible near thunderstorms. Otherwise winds light and variable or terrain driven overnight, SW-W 5-15kts, gusts 20kts daytime. OUTLOOK...Monday 21/06Z through Wednesday 23/06Z...VFR conditions, Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms each afternoon between 18Z and 03Z. Brief MVFR and gusty winds possible near thunderstorms. Otherwise winds SW-W 5-15kts, gusts 20kts daytime, light and variable or terrain driven overnight. && .FIRE WEATHER...Sunday and Monday...Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected each afternoon and evening, with the potential for showers to continue across Yavapai and Coconino Counties tonight. Mainly southwest winds in the daytime, 10 to 15 mph on Sunday, increasing to 10 to 20 mph on Monday. Winds may be highly erratic near storms and around outflow boundaries. Tuesday through Thursday...Scattered showers and thunderstorms Tuesday, becoming more isolated Wednesday and Thursday. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph each day. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && $$ PUBLIC...RR AVIATION...RR FIRE WEATHER...RR For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff