Forecast for Monday, December 18, 2017

‘Twas a week before Christmas and all through the house. The heater was running to keep warm the spouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care to keep them warm and dry because of the anticipated cold air. Yesterday was fun like my days growing up in Oregon. The end of this week looks even colder with each computer model run. It probably won’t snow or even rain, but Santa knows what he is doing from the mountains to the plains. Winter is here southern Arizona style. Prepare your parkas and your firewood pile. A brief warm up the middle of this week, but colder by Friday making happy weather geeks! So keep the parka handy and the hand warmers too. The coldest air of the season is coming for you!
Yesterday was fun! Almost half inch of rain at the airport (.48″) and hopefully at your house. A little less here in southern Oro Valley, but that’s how it goes sometimes. Clearing skies today but on the cool side with a high near 60ish.
Clear and coldish tonight with a low in the upper 30s.
Sunny tomorrow mid 60s. Near 70 Wednesday. Upper 50s Thursday. Mid 50s Friday. Low 60s Saturday. Upper 50s Sunday. Friday morning’s low in the upper 20s!
Almanac for Sunday, December 17, 2017

Forecast for Sunday, December 17, 2017

The showers and thunderstorms have already begun! Rain overnight dropped just .02″ at the airport, but central and east Tucson picking up more than that with snow falling in the Catalinas and Rincons above 6,500 feet. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY remains in effect for the local mountains until 11:00 tonight, so be advised, there will be winter weather in the local mountains! Meanwhile back in the lowlands, look for periods of rain with a few thunderstorms today. Some valley locations could pick up around a half inch of rain. The high of 58ish should be realized later this morning before falling this afternoon as a cold front moves through. Snow levels dropping as low as 5,000 feet as possible periods of thundersnow pulls colder air from the upper atmosphere! As the low rolls through tonight and pulls away tomorrow our rain chances begin to fall with just a slight chance of a lingering shower tomorrow morning. It will remain on the cool side the next couple of days before warming to near 70 by Wednesday. Then our eyes turn to another storm expected to head our way by late into the week and the weekend. This storm will be colder, but it’s still uncertain how much rain and mountain snow it will bring. Stay tuned!
Periods of rain and a few thunderstorms today with a high near 58.
Scattered showers possible tonight with a low near 40.
A slight chance of a lingering shower tomorrow morning otherwise clearing skies with a high near 60.
Sunny Tuesday mid 60s. Near 70 Wednesday. Upper 50s Thursday. Mid 50s Friday. A chance for rain Saturday low 60s.
Almanac for Saturday, December 16, 2017

Forecast for Saturday, December 16, 2017

All systems go for a Winter storm to hit SE Arizona! Clouds should be on the increase later today as the system approacheth. The storm is expected to pull moisture northward from the Gulf of California with slight rain chances starting as early as tonight. The main event will be Sunday with a good chance for showers and maybe a thunderstorm as the low moves through along with a cold front in the afternoon. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY has been issued for 1 to 3 inches of snow between 5,000 and 6,000 feet, 4 to 8 inches above 6,500 feet and 8 to 10 inches is possible in some areas above 7,500 – 8,000 feet. Be advised. Winter weather is expected in the mountains. Valley locations can expect .10″ – .30″ of rain with higher amounts possible with a thunderstorm if that happens, hopefully near you. Good times! The storm exits stage east Monday morning leaving us with sunshine and seasonably cool temperatures for much of next week. We are watching another storm that may arrive in time for Christmas weekend. Stay tuned!
Increasing clouds today with a high in the upper 60s.
A 20% chance for rain showers tonight with a low near 50.
A 50% chance for showers tomorrow with a thunderstorm possible and a high near 58.
Decreasing clouds with a slight chance for a morning shower Monday and a high near 60. Sunny mid 60s Tuesday. Near 70ish Wednesday. Low 60s Thursday. Upper 50s Friday.
Almanac for Friday, December 15, 2017

Forecast for Friday, December 15, 2017

Rain and mountain snow in the forecast?! Yes! A system dropping south along the California coast will turn the corner and head our way for the weekend. Prime time looks to be Sunday with valley rain and snow levels dropping to near 5,000 feet. How much could we get? Maybe a quarter of inch, perhaps more. A few inches of snow in the mountains, especially above 6,000 feet. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Another system may be moving our way by the end of next week. Stay tuned!
Sunny today with a high in the upper 60s.
Mostly clear tonight with a low in the low 40s.
Mostly sunny tomorrow with a high in the upper 60s. Rain showers for Sunday upper 50s. Sunny Monday low 60s. Upper 60s Tuesday. Near 70 Wednesday. Upper 60s Thursday.
Almanac for Thursday, December 14, 2017

Forecast for Thursday, December 14, 2017

“Things” are getting interesting! The computer models aren’t in complete agreement yet, but it looks like we may (may) see some rain perhaps on Sunday. First things first. A system diving out of the northern Rockies will be missing us to the north and east on its way to the Four Corners and into New Mexico. A few more clouds today as a result and cooler temperatures in the upper 60s to near 70. Cooler tomorrow with sunshine mid 60s. More clouds as our next system or systems approacheth Saturday with a high in the upper 60s. Here’s where it gets complicated and the models don’t yet agree. We will see another system moving in from the NW that will bring us cooler air. What isn’t certain is if a low off the Baja Coast will get involved. IF it moves our way and gets pulled into the first system it may bring the moisture we need for some showers on Sunday. Right now the National Weather Service has introduced slight chances into the official forecast. It could be more or none at all. We’ll all just have to stay tuned!
Slight chance for showers Sunday low 60s. Sunny Monday mid 60s. Near 70 Tuesday. Low 70s Wednesday.
Will there be another system by the end of next week? Stay tuned some more again!
