Wet Weather on its Way

Staff Writer, Nathaniel Diaz 

Weather / Air Quality
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Welcome February weather this last week of January: 

Forecast Discussion: The trough to the west is bearing down on Arizona bringing the overcast skies that we are currently seeing. We are confident that most of the state will receive a fair amount of precipitation, which will help improve air quality the next couple days. The Phoenix area will likely receive between a quarter to a half inch of rain with some areas getting even more. Rain should begin late tonight and last most of Friday with scattered showers continuing through Saturday as well. Conditions should begin clearing out late on Saturday with mostly sunny skies expected for Super Bowl Sunday. While the weather is looking good for the Super Bowl, the Phoenix Open will have to contend with wet conditions and temperatures in the lower 60's on Friday and Saturday. Remember, with all the festivities going on the next few days there will be more cars than usual on the road, so be safe while driving in the rainy conditions. Check back on Friday for a closer look at the weekend's weather and air quality.

Source: AIRNow

Desert Heat with a Hint of Chicago Wind; Where's Our Spring Rains?

Staff Writer, DB Holmes

Weather / Air Quality
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Phoenix will still have breezy conditions throughout the ten day forecast but Sunday through Tuesday will see the winds kick up again. No precipitation in sight.

Forecast Discussion: Winds out of the east this morning are gusting 30 mph at times. There are no significant visibility reductions being reported at Valley monitoring sites, but there is some haze out there. This is likely a combination of long-range dust transport and wildfire smoke that has entered the Phoenix Metro area from the Skunk Fire, burning about 100

Tomorrow's Air Quality Forecast

miles to the east. Wildfire smoke does contain ozone precursors, so an increase in ozone production today is possible, but the smoke will be well dispersed and be gaining lift with the heating of the day. Overall, the wildfire smoke seems to be having minimal impacts on our current air quality. Wind speeds start to drop off later this afternoon when the pressure gradient relaxes. There have been brief periods of elevated PM-10 at some sites today due to the gusty winds, but generally PM-10 will still range from the upper Good to lower Moderate range today. As high pressure makes its way over us tomorrow and Friday, much lighter winds and above average temps around 100 degrees are expected. Ozone at this time may reach lower Moderate levels under clear skies and light westerly flow, while PM levels register in the Good category.

Southwest U.S. Long Range Weather Forecast
16th-19th. Fair, warmer.
20th-23rd. Scattered showers.
24th-27th. Changeable skies: mixed cloud, sun, possible shower. Cool temperatures.
28th-31st. Possible showers again.

Last year's May 14th Statistics:

High Temp:	101.7F
Low Temp:	69.8F
Average Temp:	87F
Dewpoint:	36.7F
Wind Speed:	4.1 Knots

Source: AIRNow, Weather Channel, Farmer's Almanac,   

Do You Smell Rain?

Staff Writer, DL Mullan

Weather / Air Quality
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Low pressure systems keep passing to the north and creating wind events with lower temperatures. There might be a possibility of precipitation if a cold front strengths and dips into our state over the weekend. Fingers crossed for some rain.

Forecast Discussion: Mostly sunny skies will continue through the middle of the week, even with yet another spring-time disturbance expected to clip Arizona late Tuesday into Wednesday. This system will cool temperatures about 10 degrees, into the middle 80s by Wednesday. It will be dry. However, we do no anticipate any significant dust. Thus, PM10 levels may edge closer to the Moderate range Tuesday, but ultimately should resume good levels Wednesday. Ozone concentrations will move higher through Tuesday ahead of the system, aided by some import from the west. Levels, however, should climb no higher than the middle Moderate range on Tuesday. Conditions overall improve Wednesday afternoon through Friday. Then there is a much colder system waiting to possibly bring rain to our forecast areas on Saturday.

Source: AIRNow