Severe Thunderstorm Warning 59, NWS Phoenix, AZ

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
518 PM MST Mon Sep 23 2019

.UPDATE...Updated Aviation Discussion.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Multiple periods of scattered to widespread showers and
thunderstorms are expected through Tuesday morning across south
central and southwest Arizona. Locally heavy rainfall capable of
producing flash flooding along with isolated severe thunderstorms
capable of producing large hail and damaging winds are expected.
Although rain chances will begin to decrease on Tuesday, elevated
rain chances will linger through Thursday as the upper level
disturbance remains near the region with the best rain chances
Wednesday night into Thursday. This disturbance will move east of
the region Friday, with drier conditions expected this weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Very unusual setup has materialized across the Desert Southwest
today. An anomalous trough continues to dig southward towards Las
Vegas with abundant tropical moisture streaming northeastward
ahead of the vort max across Arizona. Heavy rain with rates of up to
2 inches per hour developed early this morning along essentially what
could be classified as a warm front. Training cells within this area
produced as much as 3 to 7 inches of rain along portions of the Salt
River, near Horse Mesa Dam and Roosevelt Lake.

Latest mesoanalysis depicts a widespread area of 2000+ J/kg of CAPE
with little CIN, particularly across west-central Arizona. However,
lapse rates have been poor due to the lack of insolation, which has
inhibited the coverage of storms. Nevertheless, conditions remain
favorable for additional strong to severe storms into this evening
and a Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect. Models indicate
the upper low to our northwest will close off, with cooler air in
the mid-levels overspreading the region. Synoptic-scale jet-forced
ascent will also be present in the entrance region of a jet streak
near the Four Corners.

CAMs are not completely in agreement though the general consensus
suggests that multicellular activity will gradually migrate west to
east ahead of the closed low and persist late this afternoon into
this evening. Although low-level temperatures have cooled
considerably behind an outflow boundary across central Arizona,
larger-scale forcing for ascent will predominate, tapping into the
elevated instability indicated in the latest ACARS soundings. Main
threats remain strong winds, hail and heavy rain. Meanwhile, high
probabilities of significant updraft helicities suggest that
storm-scale rotation and isolated tornadoes will also remain a threat
into late afternoon, but then diminish this evening. Later tonight,
latest HREF suggests another batch of convection will move through
central Arizona and PoPs of 60-80 near the National Blend
were retained.

&&

.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
Activity should wane in our area by late Tuesday morning although
enough moisture will be present that lingering showers will be
possible. However, given the close proximity of the upper-level
disturbance that should eventually stall over the northern Gulf of
California and uncertainties in when third more linear period of
storms will occur, we elected to keep the Flash Flood Watch in
place through 11 AM MST Tuesday. Some hi-res guidance shows
isolated showers and storms over Gila and eastern Maricopa
Counties Tuesday afternoon as a cutoff low takes shape, but there
is still considerable uncertainty there. Residual moisture and a
second Pacific trough later in the week justify elevated PoPs in
the forecast, primarily for Maricopa County eastward, late
Wednesday and Thursday as the trough finally opens up and ejects
to the east as it is kicked out by a much stronger longwave trough
upstream. As for temperatures, the persistent troughing and
shortwaves will keep a cooler airmass in place resulting in
daytime temperatures below seasonal normal values through the
forecast period.

&&

.AVIATION...Updated at 0016Z

South-Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT:

Latest radar shows scattered showers along with a few
thunderstorms across the Phoenix metro this afternoon. Vicinity
showers and thunderstorms will be possible over the next couple of
hours though can't rule out a few of these directly impacting the
terminals at some point during that time. CIGs look to remain aoa
6 kft for the most part but can't rule CIGs briefly dropping
below that. Thunderstorm activity should mostly diminish by 02Z
with lingering showers possible into late this evening. HiRes
guidance suggests redevelopment early Tuesday morning so have
added VCTS to the TAFs. Thunderstorm activity early Tuesday
morning should wrap up by 12Z with some lingering showers
possible.

Winds should favor an east to northeast component through Tuesday
morning but showers and thunderstorms may result in temporary wind
shifts. Confidence in the directions of those temporary shifts is
low. Winds may gust upwards of 25 kts at times at the terminals.

Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH:

Mostly clear skies continue across much of southeast California
this afternoon. Expect bases to remain aoa 7 kft at the terminals.
Not expecting any shower or thunderstorm activity at the terminals
so have made no mention in the TAFs. Varying amounts of mid and
high level cloud cover with bases aoa 7 kft will be possible
through much of the TAF period. A few gusts upwards of 20-25 kts
will be possible but should taper off over the next couple of
hours. Winds may become light and variable at times during the
early morning hours of Tuesday.

Aviation Discussion not updated for amended TAFs.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Thursday through Monday:
The threat of scattered precipitation will continue into Thursday
as a low pressure system remains situated across the Desert
Southwest. A slight warming and drying trend is then expected
Friday and Saturday as high pressure builds across the region.
Cooler conditions are likely by Sunday as a broad area of low
pressure settles across the intermountain West. Minimum relative
humidities are generally expected to remain above 15 percent
through next week, even across southeastern California. Somewhat
stronger winds are possible Sunday associated with the low
pressure system.

&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotters should follow standard reporting procedures.

&&

.PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AZ...Flash Flood Watch through Tuesday morning for AZZ531-533-534-537-
     538-540>558-560>563.

CA...None.
&&

DISCUSSION...Hirsch
PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...Hopper/Deems
AVIATION...Smith
FIRE WEATHER...Hirsch

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