Tuesday, July 14, 2026

More Rain Here


Nice color looking toward the Rincons about 5:00 am MST this morning.


Some CG flashes across eastern Pima County yesterday afternoon. There were two reports of severe wind gusts in southeast Arizona yesterday afternoon - gusts to 59 mph near Marana and gusts to 62 mph near Bisbee. I didn't get an estimate made here, and I'm not sure whether there was thunder here.


Another day with widespread rain observed across the ALERT Network (above and below). We did have brief, heavy showers around 5 pm here, with 0.29" in the gauge this morning.



The 06 UTC plumes from the GEFS runs for QPF at the airport (above) start out slow, but ramp things up Thursday night into Friday. The airport POPs from same runs below reach over 60 percent on Thursday night. Current NWS forecast for the airport reaches up to 90 percent on Friday (bottom).


Monday, July 13, 2026

Another Severe Storm Day


Heavy storms over the Catalinas and eastern foothills at about 4:45 pm MST yesterday.


Numerous CG flashes detected yesterday across all of southeast Arizona and the Rim country as per above plot (from Atmo) for 24-hours ending at 0833 UTC this morning.


Most ALERT sites reported 0.04" or more during the 24-hours ending at 8:00 am this morning (above and below). Atmo reported 0.17" of rain; here we had gusty winds and 0.06"; TUS had thunder with gust to 59 mph and 0.09"; while DM had thunder, gust to 48 mph, but no reported total rainfall.


There were 8 reports of severe wind gusts in southeast Arizona yesterday, as well as 1 report of large hail (below). Here at the house we had gusty winds around 4:30 pm



Plumes for QPF from 06 UTC runs of the GEFS (above) show wet period continuing, with POPs at the airport (below) running about 30 to 60 percent. Current morning forecast for the airport is at bottom.


Sunday, July 12, 2026

Severe Storms Yesterday

Storms with rain and blowing dust moving westward across metro area at 5:50 pm MST yesterday.


Rain was widespread across the ALERT Network yesterday as per above and below plots ending at 11:00 am this morning.  We had storms here around 6:00 pm with gusts of 40 to 50 mph. Only got 0.17" in the gauge, along with a brief power outage. Atmo reported 0.31" with gusts to 50 mph; TUS had 0.02" and gusts to 56 mph; while DM reported gusts of 81 mph with just a Trace. One very heavy amount reported east of metro can not be discounted.



Today's outlook (above) and forecast for the airport from NWS (below) indicate high POPs continuing through Tuesday.

Friday, July 10, 2026

Isolated Showers Yesterday

Sunrise colors over the eastern Catalinas at about 5:30 am MST this morning.


Light rain reports at only 4 southern sites across the ALERT Network - above shows 24-hour rain ending at 9:00 am this morning. Morning graphic from the NWS re today's outlook (below), with main focus to east of Pima County.


GEFS plumes for QPF at airport from 06 UTC runs (above) continue to indicate very active week - operational GFS (blue trace) continues to be a seriously heavy outlier.


The 06 UTC GFS forecast for 500 mb valid 00 UTC on the 13th (5:00 pm Sunday evening) shows the anticyclone centered over northwestern Colorado, with weak troughs impacting the Arizona/Mexico borderlands. Forecast for 6-hour rainfall ending at same time (below) indicates a wet afternoon Sunday. Current NWS forecast for the airport through Sunday is shown at bottom.


Thursday, July 09, 2026

Limited Shower Activity Yesterday

Some color to the east this morning before sunrise at 4:40 am MST.


Plot of detected CG flashes during the 24-hours ending at 1003 UTC (03:03 am). Note that there were two reports of wind damage in our area yesterday: light tree damage east of the airport and a mesonet station gust to 70 mph out at Sells.


Rain amounts from the ALERT Network for 24-hours ending at 9:00 am this morning. Heaviest rains were over the eastern Catalinas (above) extending east and southeast to the foothills and Redington Pass. There was also rainfall over the southern part of the Network (below).



Plumes for rainfall at TUS from the 06 UTC GEFS runs (above) continue to indicate an active week. There has not yet been any rain here at the house during July. The POPs from same runs (below) indicate a max of 60 percent this evening extending into the night. Current forecast for the airport from the NWS Office is at bottom.


Wednesday, July 08, 2026

Scattered Showers Yesterday


Hazy skies overhead at 11 am MST this morning.

ALERT data for 24-hours ending at 11 am (below) show reports northeastern and southern parts of network, with over half an inch at two sites. There was a rumble of thunder here late afternoon, but no rain.



Plumes from the 06 UTC runs shown here: QPF at airport (above) continue to indicate an active week, with POPs (below) reaching 70 percent next Monday. Current NWS forecast for today and tomorrow is at bottom.


Tuesday, July 07, 2026

Storms Forecast Today


Half moon over northern Rincons just after midnight last night. Other object is a police or hospital helicopter over the city.


Plumes for QPF at the airport (above from 06 UTC runs of the GEFS) indicate chances for light showers most days of coming week. Note that the operational GFS (blue trace) is a seriously heavy outlier. The POPs at the airport (from same runs - below) reach toward 60 percent next Sunday night.



Morning NWS graphic above re storm chance today and current morning forecast for the airport (below). Note the continuing extreme heat warning for our area.



Interesting there was a report of a landspout tornado just south of Joseph City (SPC reports map above), Arizona yesterday afternoon from a motorist on I-40. Joseph City is just west of Holbrook and is most famous for the Jack Rabbit Trading Post (sign below). Note that the trading post is actually six miles west of Joseph City.