Southerly winds from thunderstorm outflows have increased moisture in the low deserts, especially in southern Arizona, leading to higher dewpoints and favorable conditions for thunderstorms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
UA WRF forecasts indicate storms in the Tucson area if outflows aid convective initiation, with the possibility of dust storms and high wind gusts. Phoenix is less likely to see storms today due to unfavorable wind patterns. Accumulated precipitation forecasts suggest the most significant rainfall will occur in and around Santa Cruz County today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Into the weekend, storm activity increases, gradually shifting northward towards Phoenix, arriving by Saturday evening and ramping up Sunday afternoon\/evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The atmosphere remains moist and tropical into the middle of next week, keeping the chances of widespread rain high, though there looks to be a drying trend at the end of next week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thunderstorms as of 6 pm were along and east of a line from Globe to Fort Huachuca, then extending south into a larger cluster in Mexico. These storms initiated in the White Mountains, moving mainly southward at first, but outflows forced a more westward motion by evening, with individual storms still moving southward. Strong wind gusts of 60+ mph occurred at Safford, Huachuca City, and the Hopkins RAWS weather stations. A few storms made it into Pima County, associated with the 40+ mph outflows, but little rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n