416 
FXUS65 KPSR 162011
AFDPSR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
110 PM MST Sun Nov 16 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Another large Pacific weather disturbance will bring the next 
opportunity for rain Tuesday and Wednesday with additional chances 
arriving late in the week.

- Temperatures this week will hover below the seasonal normal with 
readings at least 10 degrees below normal during the middle of the 
week.
  
&&

.SHORT TERM /Today through Monday/... 
Early afternoon WV imagery and objective analysis depicts a deep, 
closed low over southern California accelerating northeast towards 
southern NV as jet energy translates to the eastern periphery of the 
trough axis while expansive, progressive Pacific troughing dislodges 
this previously slow moving feature. The steep cold front associated 
with this system has cleared the Phoenix metro, albeit losing 
definition over the higher terrain as supporting energy becomes 
separated. Although cyclonic vorticity was still passing over SW 
Arizona and forced ascent lingers in the CWA, better quality 
moisture was being shifted east and pinched away from forcing 
mechanisms. In addition, increasing dry westerly sfc-H8 flow was 
scouring mixing ratios closer towards 6 g/kg while jet energy 
quickly lifting north was creating a midtropospheric subsidence 
inversion further capping off any moist ascent. Thus, other than a 
stray shower through orographic processes, confidence is good that a 
period of dry weather will prevail into at least Monday afternoon. 

However, this tranquil weather period will be short lived Monday as 
the aforementioned Pacific wave will dig and intensify into the void 
left by the departing negative height anomaly. Robust H5 height 
falls will enter the forecast area Monday afternoon as strong jet 
energy begins to materialize downstream of the cold core incurring 
broad scale lift juxtaposed with modest sfc-H7 moisture return. Both 
global scale and high resolution modeling have been consistent in 
advertising building theta-e advection with broad scale moist, 
isentropic ascent around the 300K layer. The greatest uncertainty in 
this evolution is obtaining more precise timing and location as 
model spread ranges from Monday afternoon over south-central Arizona 
to late Monday night in western Arizona. NBM POPs appeared shifted 
too far eastward, possibly tied to the influence from global 
ensembles as HREF membership has solidly been focusing better 
chances from the Phoenix metro westward through Monday evening 
before spreading east Tuesday.  

&&

.LONG TERM /Tuesday through Sunday/...
Models remain in good agreement showing the next weather system 
moving into our region Tuesday with the low center moving through 
southern California and Arizona as it weakens on Wednesday. The best 
forcing and moisture is likely to align across central Arizona on 
Tuesday bringing fairly widespread shower activity with chances for 
embedded thunder. This weather system is likely to bring higher 
rainfall amounts to southern and central Arizona than this weekend's 
system with QPF amounts averaging around 0.25-0.50" for Phoenix to 
as high as 0.75-1.00" for higher terrain areas north and east of 
Phoenix. The western lower deserts of southeast California and 
southwest Arizona will mostly miss out on the best rain this time 
with amounts generally less than a tenth of an inch. The slow 
progression of the low should continue to bring some residual shower 
activity across central and eastern Arizona Wednesday before 
eventually coming to an end at some point later Wednesday or 
Wednesday night as the low moves to the northeast of the region. 

Even cooler air is anticipated Wednesday as the second system will 
have a colder source region. Forecast highs begin to lower on 
Tuesday with readings potentially only in the mid 60s before 
bottoming in the lower 60s on Wednesday and/or Thursday. These well 
below normal temperatures should also translate to overnight lows 
well into the 40s across the lower deserts starting Wednesday night. 

The active weather pattern may bring a third weather system at some 
point later in the week or the weekend, but there is much more 
uncertainty with the track of this potential third trough. Model 
trends over the past 24-48 hours have been leaning more toward a 
progressive system which may not end up bringing much additional 
rainfall. The well below normal temperatures during the middle part 
of the week should moderate by next weekend with the latest NBM 
showing readings closer to normal.

&&

.AVIATION...Updated at 1725Z. 

South Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT: 
The main aviation impact during the TAF period will continue to be 
lingering VFR CIGs. Over the course of the afternoon, cloud layers 
will begin to scatter out, but some brief moments of CIGs around 5-
6k ft cannot be ruled out. W'rly winds will prevail through this 
evening, with some occasional gusts around 15-20 kts through sunset, 
before we see our typical E'rly shift tonight. 


Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH: 
No major aviation concerns are expected over the next 24 hours.
Winds at both terminals will contain a W'rly component through much 
of the period, with some periodic gusts near 20 kts, especially at 
KBLH this afternoon. FEW-SCT low and high level clouds will be 
present through the evening with the lowest bases around 8-10k ft.  

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
A weather system will continue to move through the region today 
bringing cooler temperatures, increased humidities, and shower 
activity across the eastern districts. A few isolated thunderstorms 
will be possible for the eastern districts producing isolated 
heavier rainfall amounts. Monday will bring quieter weather 
conditions, but still with a chance of isolated showers. Minimum 
humidity values will range between 40-70% areawide through Monday 
with good to excellent overnight recoveries. Locally gusty winds 
upwards of 25 mph will be possible through this afternoon with 
overall light winds tonight and Monday. The active weather will 
continue for a good portion of the upcoming week with another 
weather system affecting the area  Tuesday into Wednesday and 
another potentially later in the week. Expect below normal 
temperatures and elevated humidities to last all week.

&&

.PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AZ...None.
CA...None.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...18
LONG TERM...Kuhlman
AVIATION...RW
FIRE WEATHER...Kuhlman