Special Weather Statement, NWS Tucson, AZ

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
913 AM MST Fri Jul 2 2021

.SYNOPSIS...We'll have plenty of moisture for a daily chance of
showers and thunderstorms through the weekend. Some drying is
expected early next week, with fewer storms by the middle of the
week. As this happens, temperatures will climb a few degrees.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Satellite imagery shows abundant cloud cover across
much of southeast Arizona this morning, with a small amount of
clearing along the NM/AZ border. Might even be a few sprinkles mixed
in as evident on radar, but nothing of great consequence. Our 12Z
sounding was wet, setting a daily record for PW with 1.75". Decent
instability as well, but this is where things get tricky as too much
moisture can inhibit development. We need enough solar insolation to
help break the low-level cap.

An inverted trough over northern Sonora will help enhance vertical
motion. HREF and other convective allowing models are quite active
with widespread showers and thunderstorms today. It's possible for
more organization due to a better wind profile with easterly
steering flow between 700-500mb. Due to the abundant moisture,
storms will be capable of putting down decent rainfall rates. WPC
has a portion of our forecast area in a slight risk of excessive
rainfall. Early initiation should be out east where there's more
blue sky, propagating west from there.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid through 03/18Z.
SCT-BKN clouds 10k-14k ft MSL through the period with layers above
at times. Expect another round of scattered SHRA/TSRA this afternoon
and evening with the possibility of some storms overnight. In the
vicnity of thunderstorms wind gusts to 45 mph will be possible.
Otherwise expect wind speeds 5-10 kts out of the west/southwest this
afternoon and east/southeast at other times. Aviation discussion not
updated for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Monsoonal moisture will remain across the area
allowing for varying amounts of daily showers and thunderstorms into
next week. Humidity levels will remain elevated with afternoon mins
about 25-35% in the valleys and 45-55% in the mountains with very
good overnight recoveries. General winds will be light through the
week and following normal daily trends when not influenced by
storms. Any thunderstorm from here forward, especially during the
afternoon or early evening hours will have the potential to produce
strong, gusty outflows.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...Deep moisture is in place across most of the area
with a weak high over west Texas and a fully engaged Monsoon through
Mexico and into our area. An impulse on the western flank of the
high is located over northern Sonora and far southern Arizona this
morning, and should help focus thunderstorm development today and
Saturday. Watch for some organization with strong outflows.
Precipitable water values will generally range between 1.35 to 1.45
inches east, to 1.50 to 1.65 inches west. More moisture is not
always better, as we tend to inhibit insolation and keep these areas
of elevated convective potential waiting until the push from an
outflow. At any rate, locally heavy rainfall a concern with storms,
as steering level flow remains modest.

Ensembles are consistently building the ridge northward back into
the southern Great Basin with our mid level flow backing around to
the northeast once again early next week. With less upstream
moisture around the high, that will tend to dry things out a bit.
Ensemble means suggest we drop PW toward the 1.10 to 1.35 range next
Tuesday and Wednesday, with correspondingly lower thunderstorm
coverage. With a bit less moisture and cloud cover, and the ridge
strengthening just north of us that should bring several degrees of
heating for the second half of the week.

We'll keep bringing in lower level moisture from the south with
periodic shallow surge activity, but it will probably lose ground
until the ridge shifts back a little to the east. When the high
center is over the Great Basin instead of 4 corners or New
Mexico/Texas, it isn't good for the short term, but it does tend to
focus easterly wave activity across Mexico for a very quick increase
in storms when the high breaks.

Bottom line is we should have an active convective period through
the weekend before temporarily backing off a little by the middle of
next week.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

Discussion...Howlett
Previous Discussion...Meyer/Hardin

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Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
134 PM MST Fri Jul 2 2021

AZZ509-022100-
Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys including Clifton/Safford-
134 PM MST Fri Jul 2 2021

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL GRAHAM AND SOUTHERN
GREENLEE COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM MST...

At 132 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 17
miles east of Solomon, or 18 miles south of Clifton, moving northwest
at 5 to 10 mph.

Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.

This still will cross United States Highway 70 between Duncan and
Solomon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3274 10922 3267 10929 3274 10951 3289 10939
TIME...MOT...LOC 2032Z 132DEG 6KT 3276 10932

JRM