It appears that the large-scale setting here in the Southwest will be changing rapidly during the coming three days as very warm air in middle levels pushes into the Great Basin. Note the very warm 500 mb temperatures of only -4C at Medford OR and -3C at Desert Rock NV this morning. This warm intrusion builds the anticyclone back to our north and helps setup a more typical late summer flow regime.
Pressures have fallen and are quite low over the interior Southwest and may drop another couple of mb over the next 36 hours. There is also a weak inverted trough over the lower end of the GoC that has widespread convection associated with it. As this first disturbance shifts westward, there should be a low-level surge of moisture back into the lower Colorado River Basin. This moisture surge could begin as early as morning tomorrow but should be quite pronounced by mid-day Saturday.
The NAM forecasts that a tropical storm will develop just southwest of the tip of Baja and this feature, if it materializes, would deepen the moisture inflow to Arizona on Sunday and Monday. The NAM also forecasts very favorable wind shear profiles for organized convective storms in southeastern AZ both on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Thus, both days could be very active if there is CAPE available.
It appears that the crucial aspect of the weekend synoptic setting will the temperatures in the middle levels. If the very warm air to the north and northwest spreads over southern Arizona and northern Mexico there would be little CAPE to realize, and it would likely be fighting an inversion aloft. However, if the easterly flow that develops at 500 mb has a fetch from the central and southern Plains by Saturday afternoon, the 500 mb temperatures would be much cooler and supportive of storms.
I think that the more favorable situation will evolve and, depending on the details, either Saturday or Sunday afternoon and evening should be quite active with strong and organized storms.
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