


Prognostic Meteorological Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
Versions:
1
2
867 FXUS21 KWNC 031831 PMDTHR US Hazards Outlook NWS Climate Prediction Center College Park MD 300 PM EDT October 03 2025 SYNOPSIS: Prior to week-2, a tropical cyclone (TC) is likely to develop offshore of southwestern Mexico with a subsequent track northwestward near the Baja Peninsula. Due to this potential TC in the East Pacific, there is an increased chance of heavy rainfall across the Four Corners region and Desert Southwest through the middle of the forecast period. A Rapid Onset Drought risk remains for parts of the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley where above-normal temperatures and limited precipitation is forecast over the next 2 weeks. Over Alaska, a strong low pressure system may bring high winds to portions of the Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea coasts. HAZARDS Moderate risk of heavy precipitation for portions of the Desert Southwest and southern Great Basin, Sat-Mon, Oct 11-13. Slight risk of heavy precipitation for much of the Desert Southwest as well as portions of the Southern and Central Rockies and southern Great Basin, Sat-Wed, Oct 11-15. Slight risk of high winds for coastal areas of western Mainland Alaska, the Alaska Peninsula, and the Aleutians, Sat-Sun, Oct 11-12. Flooding possible across portions of the Southwest and Four Corners Region. Rapid Onset Drought (ROD) possible for parts of Texas and Louisiana. DETAILED SUMMARY FOR MONDAY OCTOBER 06 - FRIDAY OCTOBER 10: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/threats/threats.php FOR SATURDAY OCTOBER 11 - FRIDAY OCTOBER 17: As of 11am PDT on October 3, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is continuing to monitor a broad area of disturbed weather offshore of southwestern Mexico and states that there is a 90 percent chance of a TC forming in this area during the next 7 days. Model guidance remains consistent indicating this potential TC tracking northwestward near the Baja Peninsula. The NHC is also monitoring a second disturbance south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec, which currently has a lower chance of forming into a TC (30% in the next 7 days) while moving northwestward parallel to the Mexican coast. Todays model solutions from the 0z ECMWF and GEFS are quite bullish with respect to TC formation associated with the second disturbance in week-2, as well as tracking both disturbances toward the Gulf of California. This scenario would transport copious amounts of tropical moisture into the Desert Southwest and generate potentially hazardous heavy precipitation. This is well-supported by the ECMWF and GEFS Probabilistic Extremes Tools (PETs) which both indicate at least a 40% chance of 3-day total precipitation to exceed the 85th climatological percentile and at least 1 inch early in week-2. This signal drops off as the forecast period progresses but still indicates at least a 20% chance of 3-day precipitation exceeding hazardous thresholds through the middle of the week extending further north into the Great Basin and Rocky Mountains. A moderate risk of heavy precipitation is posted for much of central and northern Arizona as well as adjacent areas of Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico for Oct. 11-13, as well as a slight risk of heavy precipitation extending further inland to cover the western slope of the Southern and Central Rockies as well as much of the Wasatch and Uinta Mountains, for Oct 11-15. A flooding possible hazard is also posted for portions of the Southwest and Four Corners Region associated with the moderate risk of heavy precipitation and the potential for localized flooding and flash flooding, particularly in canyons and creeks where topography can focus runoff resulting in quickly rising water levels. An amplified 500-hPa trough over the Bering Sea is forecast to result in a deep surface low pressure system affecting western Mainland Alaska, the Alaska Peninsula, and Aleutians during early to mid-October. Based on pattern recognition with good model agreement on moderately strong low pressure systems and support from the GEFS and ECENS PETs, a slight risk of episodic high winds is posted for western Mainland Alaska along the Bering and Chukchi Sea coasts along with the Aleutians and Alaska Peninsula. This wind hazard is valid over the first two days of the period (October 11-12), after which surface pressure gradients are favored to ease. Across portions of Texas, Louisiana, and central Mississippi, 30-day precipitation deficits range from 2 to 5 inches. This antecedent dryness along with little to no precipitation anticipated during the next week to ten days and increased likelihood of above-normal temperatures (highs in the mid 80s to low 90s) results in a rapid onset drought risk for portions of southeastern Texas, much of Louisiana, and central Mississippi. FORECASTER: Danny Barandiaran $$