Sunday, September 13, 2026

Bit Of Rain

Pre-sunrise color looking east toward the Rincons this morning.


Rainfall was scattered across the ALERT Network during the 24-hours ending at 9:00 am MST this morning (above). There were some heavy amounts mixed in, with one site reporting over two inches. Here we had some afternoon sprinkles, with only 0.02" left in the gauge. The NWS forecast for the airport (below) continues to call for increased storm activity during the next few days.

Saturday, September 12, 2026

Mostly Suppressed Again

Bit of color over the Catalinas about 6:00 am MST this morning.


Plot of detected CG flashes (above - from Atmo for 24-hours ending at 0233 am) shows only a few flashes over the Catalinas in eastern Pima County. Only six sites across entire ALERT Network reported rain (below for 24-hours ending at 7:00 am), all far removed from main metro area. Nothing here again.



Graphic from the NWS (above) shows POPs for today. The morning forecast for the airport is shown below through Monday night, with chances for showers picking up as new week begins.

Friday, September 11, 2026

Another Dry Day

Pre-dawn color over Redington Pass at about 5:30 am this morning.


There were very few lightning CG flashes detected over Arizona yesterday - above plot from Atmo is for 24-hours ending at 0903 UTC (2:03 am MST). No ALERT sites recorded rainfall - below for 24-hours ending at 8:00 am this morning.



NBM 12 UTC runs (above) forecast a swath of precipitation from Mexico to the Dakotas through 12 UTC on Monday morning. Current morning forecast from the NWS for the airport through the weekend (below), indicating fairly low POPs.

Thursday, September 10, 2026

Sprinkles

Views of the Catalinas and Rincons (top and bottom) at about 6:00 am MST this morning.


ALERT data for 24-hours ending at 7:00 am this morning. Only isolated reports mostly in or near the mountains - nothing in the metro area again. Although it does appear that we had a Trace here yesterday.

Wednesday, September 09, 2026

Dry Here

Struggling cumulus over the Catalinas around 2:00 pm MST yesterday afternoon (8 September). Down at bottom is view of Rincons this morning a bit before 6:00 am.


Plot of detected CG flashes for 24-hours ending at 1403 UTC (7:03 am) shows Pima County storm-free. In fact, there has yet to be any rainfall here at house during September. - Quick Correction - I neglected to post on Labor Day when there was 0.03" during light, pre-dawn showers.


The 06 UTC GFS 500 mb forecast (above - valid at 18 UTC on Sept 16th) shows Arizona west of a huge anticyclone centered over the Southeast. There is an elongated trough over the Northwest. The GFS forecast of precipitation through this same period is shown below, with decent amounts stretching north through western New Mexico and eastern Arizona.


Monday, September 07, 2026

AM Showers Labor Day

Heavy cloud cover at 7:15 am MST Labor Day morning. 


There were scattered light showers around the area as per NWS radar 2nd tilt scan at 7:15 am (above).  There were no CG flashes detected across Pima Count yesterday.

Rainfall plot from CSU (below - thru 7:30 am our time) shows numerous reports of light amounts across eastern Pima County - 0.03" in the gauge here. TUS noted 0.01"; while DM had a Trace and Atmo reported no amount.




Outlook for the week for Tucson and Sierra Vista (above - from NWS webpage). Current morning forecast for the airport below.

Friday, September 04, 2026

Isolated Showers Yesterday

View a bit after sunrise this morning, looking toward Redington Pass at about 6:15 am MST.


Only isolated, light showers yesterday here and there across the ALERT Network - plot above for 24-hours ending at 8:00 am this morning. Nothing here at the house.


The current NWS forecast for the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend.


TPW analysis at 15 UTC this morning, showing the three Pacific hurricanes - from west to east - Lowell, Karina, and Marie. Note that the very high PW contents east of Marie did not make it into southern Arizona. Image below shows moonrise last evening at 11:15 pm.