765 FXUS65 KTWC 090926 AFDTWCArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 225 AM MST Tue Sep 9 2025
.SYNOPSIS...Modest drying will allow a reduction in shower and thunderstorm activity this week. Still just enough moisture for isolated showers and thunderstorms each day, generally in the higher terrain and to the south and east of Tucson. Expect some breezes Wednesday and Thursday. Slightly above normal temperatures through Wednesday then seasonable temperatures thereafter.
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.DISCUSSION...Clear skies across southeast Arizona with ridging centered to our south across Sonora. While the mid and upper levels have dried out considerably, there is still lower level moisture hanging around and that is reflected in the PWATs that are around 1 inch. Generally dry conditions today, though some cloud build-ups will be capable of producing very isolated showers and thunderstorms. This will be similar to what we saw yesterday with any shower activity short-lived and small in areal size. Certainly the overall theme of today will be dry conditions with PoPs only around 10 percent mainly in the higher terrain and for locales south and east of Tucson. High temperatures will be about 5 degrees above normal.
During the Wednesday through Friday period, our forecast area will be under southerly to southwesterly flow between upper level ridging across Texas and longwave troughing moving into the west coast and Great Basin. This setup will help transport a ribbon of moisture northward into SE Arizona, focused on Graham/Greenlee/Cochise Counties. The combination of this additional moisture (PWAT`s 1 to 1.2 inches) and some weak lifting on the southeast periphery of the mid/upper level trough will help support a few more showers and thunderstorms (PoPs 10-30 pct) with Tucson being on the western edge of this activity. Meanwhile, the influence of the trough will result in some breezy southwesterly afternoon winds on Wednesday and Thursday with gusts up to around 25-35 mph. Temperatures 3 to 5 degrees above normal Wednesday will drop back down to seasonable levels Thursday and Friday.
Dry conditions are expected to prevail this weekend as the flow will become westerly enough to shunt the bulk of the moisture just to our south and east. However, this will be short lived as the flow becomes a bit more southerly again next week, which would bring moisture back in with thunderstorm chances returning again next week. This is the ebb and flow of the moisture we typically expect to see as the monsoon wanes in September but often takes time before a true autumnal pattern sets in.
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.AVIATION...Valid through 10/12Z. Very isolated showers and thunderstorms (-SHRA/-TSRA) today between 09/19Z thru 10/02Z with less than 10% probabilities that this activity would impact the terminals. With any storms expect variable and gusty winds up to around 35 knots. Otherwise, SFC winds should remain fairly light less than 10-12 knots, with WLY/SWLY conditions prevailing from 09/20Z thru 10/03Z and SE/ELY winds at other times. Sfc winds Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments.
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.FIRE WEATHER...Minimum relative humidities 15 to 30 percent much of this week. Today will be the driest of the next few days with slight (~10 pct) chances of showers and thunderstorms mainly south and east of Tucson. Isolated showers and thunderstorms (10-30 pct) are then expected Wednesday through Friday, mainly from the Tucson area eastward. Expect gusty and erratic winds in or near any thunderstorms. Otherwise, surface winds will be mostly light today, with breezy to gusty winds Wednesday through Thursday, bringing gusts to around 25-35 mph. High temperatures slightly above normal through Wednesday then seasonable thereafter.
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.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None.
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NWS TWC Office Area Forecast Discussion