East Pacific Storms 2023

View looking toward the Rincons at 6:30 am MST this morning, showing some subtle pink colors. Shown at bottom is view of Catalinas at 7:05 am, with similar cloud colors.

Chart above (from the NHC webpage - where the graphic is easier to view) shows Eastern Pacfic Tropical Storms and Hurricanes that have occurred so far this season. Hilary (shown below in visible image from 2240 UTC on 17 August) was the only storm that came north of 25 degrees north, moving into southern California far to our west. During its life Hilary reached Category 4 strength (130 to 156 mph maximum wind speeds). 

Thus, our summer was not very active this year, wrt to tropical events - which helps explain why this was second driest summer here since 1999, when my records begin.

Fall Summary 2023

View of light, morning showers on morning of September 12th. Bottom shows golden, early morning skies toward the Rincons on the morning of September 23rd.

During September we had rain here at house on only three days, with a total amount of 0.31".

During October we had rain on only one day that amounted to 0.69".

During November we had rain on five days, but amount added to only 0.48".

Thus, Fall rain total was 1.48", which is the 10th driest Fall since 1999. In my dailey log I don't mention that there were any thunderstorm days. However, the CG flash plots indicate that there was likely thunder here on four days that I did not hear.

I noted east winds of 35 to 40 mph on November 21st.

Widespread Showers Yesterday

Skies are very clear this morning; view above looks north to the Catalinas at 7:30 am MST.

Coverage of precipitation across the ALERT network was essentially 100 percent for 24 hours ending at 8:00 am this morning (above and below). Amounts were light - generally a quarter of an inch or less. Here at house we had 0.13", as did Atmo, DM recorded 0.11", and the airport reported 0.20".

Plumes from the 06 UTC runs of the GEFS (above and below) indicate almost no precipitation at the airport through Saturday the 9th. Temperatures warm mid-week and then cool off again by next weekend. Graphic at bottom shows precipitation forecast from the 00 UTC WRF-GFS run at Atmo out through 5:00 am on Saturday December 9th - basically a mild and dry week ahead.

Showers Likely Today

Both sun and clouda at 8:30 am MST this morning - the first day of December.

There was only a bit of rainfall yesterday across the ALERT network (above), with another skiff of snow at high elevations.

At 500 mb (above) there is a broad trough over the Southwest, moving eastward.

Morning TWC/TUS sounding continues moist in low levels, with some CAPE, and strong west winds in the upper troposphere.

The 12 UTC run of the WRF-RR at Atmo forecasts some rainfall over parts of eastern Pima County today. Forecast above shows precipitation through midnight tonight. Current NWS morning forecast is shown below.

Waiting For Showers

Clouds hanging on the Catalinas at 8:00 am MST this morning.

There has been a bit of light precipitation on the north sides of the Catalinas and Rincons during 24 hours ending at 8:00 am this morning (as per plot above - note that there was also 0.04 down at Elephant Head Butte on the northwest side of the Santa Ritas). Summerhaven webcams show that there was a skiff of snow up there overnight.

The TWC/TUS sounding this morning (above) has essentially no CAPE but is moist in middle levels, with strong, westerly winds above 500 mb. The 500 mb forecast (below from the 06 UTC GFS run and valid at 5:00 pm today) shows last night's shortwave to the east, but with another entering Arizona to the west.

The 12 UTC run of the WRF-RR (above) indicates continued dry conditions for southeastern Arizona, but earlier runs had considerable precipitation across our area - one needs to peruse the various runs to get a better feel for the WRF forecasts for this event. The current NWS forecast (below) calls for high POPs at the airport tonight and tomorrow - NWS also has out alerts for heavy snows at higher elevations - see the NWS webpage for TUS.

Chance Of Showers As December Begins

View of clear skies over the Catalinas at 7:30 am MST this morning.

Complicated situation this morning. The morning sounding for TWC/TUS (above) is dry and stable, with moderate westerly winds aloft. At 500 mb several, weak short waves will be crossing Arizona during next couple of days. The GFS forecast below shows 500 mb analysis valid at 06 UTC on December 1st.

The 06 UTC GEFS plumes for QPF at the airport (above) indicate several periods with chances for showers, with best chances centered on Friday. Current NWS graphic (below) calls for showers tonight. The morning forecast for the airport (second below) has 40 percent POPs for tonight and then again Thursday night and Friday.

The 12 UTC WRF-RR forecast from Atmo (above) shows dry conditions for all of southwestern Arizona through noon tomorrow - quite different than NWS forecast (second above). The 09 UTC WRF-HRRR forecast for precipitation through 2:00 am on Saturday the second of December (below) indicates light amounts across portions of eastern Pima County. Will be interesting to watch how all this evolves, as we head toward first weekend of December.

Chilly Morning

Mostly clear this morning, but with a bit of cloud over Catalinas, perhaps an old contrail off to north of the mountains.

Yesterday morning's rain amounts across northern portion of the ALERT network (as reported in previous post - 0.20" here). Graphic below (from MesoWest) shows morning low temperatures across the metro area, with some readings into the 30s F here and there. Low at house was 35 F - making this the coldest morning for the Fall so far.

Light Showers Across Metro - Updated

Skies have cleared at noon here and the morning showers have totaled 0.20".

Catalinas obscured by rain at 7:45 am MST this morning. View at bottom shows Summerhaven at 7:25 am, with light snow occurring.

ALERT data (above for 24 hours ending at 8:30 am) shows rain amounts of 0.04", and more, have occurred only over the northern part of the network. Here at the house there was 0.08" in the gauge at 8:30 am, but light rain was still falling.

The 500 mb analysis this morning (above) shows that yesterday's closed low has opened up and moved eastward. There is a primary shortwave from eastern Montana southward across central Arizona, with a trailing shortwave from northern Utah westward across central California. Features are expected to continue moving eastward during day today.

The morning sounding (above) from TWC/TUS shows moisture below about 650 mb, with dry air above. Winds continue strong and from the west. The GEFS 06 UTC plumes for QPF (below) end rain at the airport around noon today, but also show possiblity of a more signifcant event at the end of the month, continuing into first couple of days of December.

Unsettled Weekend

Colorful skies (purple to yellow/green) over the Rincons at 6:40 am MST this morning, as the long Thanksgiving weekend continues.

At 500 mb (above) there is a large, closed low over the Great Basin. This feature will move east-southeastward during coming two days and weaken markedly. The morning sounding from TWC/TUS (below) is very dry and stable, with strong winds aloft.

The 06 UTC GEFS plumes for QPF at the airport (above) indicate very slight chance for light showers at the airport tomorrow.

The current NWS forecast (above) indicates 30 percent POPS at the airport late today into Saturday morning. However, the 06 UTC run of the WRF-GFS at Atmo (below) keeps southeastern Arizona very dry through next Monday night, which certainly fits with the morning sounding. Regardless, our very dry November continues.

Windy

View of the Catalinas and deep blue, clear skies is from 9:00 am MST this morning.

It was a windy day yesterday and current NWS forecast for today calls for gusts as high as 34 mph at the airport.

Yesterday wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph were common across southeast Arizona. Pioneer Air Field, near Ft. Huachuca, reported gusts to 43 mph and the RAWS at Mt. Hopkins hit 78 mph. Here at the house, I estimated gusts from the east in the 35 to 40 mph range.

Event Summary

Hard to see, but this image from 3:00 pm MST yesterday captures a partial rainbow.

ALERT rainfall reports for 24-hours ending at 7:30 am this morning. There were a couple of heavy reports north part of Catalinas, but most amounts were quite light. For the entire event, which started before 7:30 am yesterday, we had 0.10"; as did the airport and DM; Atmo reported 0.15".

Looks like we now will have a dry spell that could extend through the end of the month. Forecast below (from the 06 UTC run of the GFS) shows rainfall through 12 UTC on Friday, December 1st.