A weather disturbance which helped produce locally heavy rainfall over portions of the Greater Phoenix area last night (light rain over a larger area) is expected to linger over central Arizona and keep cloudiness going for a longer portion of the day and in turn reduce the peak 8 hour average ozone values today down to the Moderate category. A gradual increase is anticipated over the next several days approaching the threshold of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups by early next week.

Strong winds are not anticipated today due to reduced thunderstorm activity on the lower deserts and higher terrain and thus blowing dust is not expected. But, weaker showers are still possible. There will be only a slight chance of thunderstorms for the Greater Phoenix area this weekend (better chances over higher terrain) and winds from distant storms are not anticipated to be strong enough to produce dense blowing dust. Storm chances increase Monday and Tuesday for an increased possibility of blowing dust. But, for now Particulates are expected to remain in the Good range for both PM10 and PM2.5.

- A. Jamison
ADEQ Meteorologist