Staff Writer, DB Holmes
Weather / Air Quality_________________________________
The start of the weekend looks good but there is the possibility of a dust storm from dry thunderstorms coming in from the west and southwest. Then Phoenix will be headed into the triple digits once again. A tropical storm is ramping up in the southwestern waters off Mexico. What will happen? Nothing so far in the forecast seems to indicate any problems from this tropical depression as it strengthens.
Still for those people with respiratory problems, stay inside with filtered air at any signs of dusty air.
Forecast Discussion: The lingering area of low pressure to the west finally opens up and and catches a ride on the main jet stream over the weekend. Before this happens, however, Arizona will see an influx of moisture into the eastern half of the state. Models also show possible dry thunderstorms developing in southwestern Arizona Friday afternoon near Yuma and Gila Bend. The outflow could generate some dust moving in all directions. The first PM10 monitor that would impacted in the Valley would be the Buckeye monitor. Models have the wind field (and possible dust) moving east across the Valley between 6 and 8 pm. This is the second consecutive day the models have had this solution. We have raised the PM10 forecast to reflect this possibility. Ozone levels may also increase on Saturday in response to Friday's outflow. The same model shows possible thunderstorm outflow moving south from Prescott into north Phoenix Saturday afternoon on the back side of the eastward-moving low pressure system. This would potentially affect the Surprise/Dysart/Sun City/north Peoria area the most. It's going to be a very active, interesting couple of days weather-wise which increase air quality uncertainty.
Saturday's Air Quality Forecast
Source: AIRNow, Weather Channel
