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AQD | Mcdust Forecast

Tuesday

Low_gauge
Stagnation: Morning and evening stagnation

Wind: Mostly light winds

Wednesday

Low_gauge
Stagnation: Morning stagnation

Wind: Northerly winds of 10-15 mph

Thursday

Low_gauge
Stagnation: No stagnation

Wind: Northerly winds of 10-15 mph

Friday

Low_gauge
Stagnation: Evening stagnation

Wind: Northerly winds of 5-10

Saturday

Low_gauge
Stagnation: Morning and evening stagnation

Wind: Mostly light winds

Discussion

It was a nice change weather-wise in Phoenix this weekend! While Sky Harbor officially only got a trace of rain, other locations across the Valley saw measurable rain, with the big rainfall winners being around the McDowell Mountains, where several gauges saw over a half inch of rain. If you didn't get rain, everyone is feeling the cooler air this morning, with most locations in the 40s.

The system that brought this active weather to the region will move east out of the state today, with a weak area of high pressure building in behind it. This pattern will be short-lived as another system drops into Arizona from the north Wednesday into Thursday. Due to this system dropping down from the north, it will have very little moisture, so the main impact will be an increase in northerly winds on Wednesday and Thursday with no chance of rain. This system will also bring more cool air with it, with afternoon high temperatures forecast to be in the upper 60s to low 70s all week, well below the average of around 82 degrees.

Regarding air quality, the active weather really helped to clear the airshed, with PM-10 (dust) and PM-2.5 (smoke) levels running nice and low this morning. As a result, expecting all pollutants to be in the Good AQI category today. With cool morning temperatures and lighter winds tomorrow morning and again Wednesday morning, expecting values to increase quickly starting tomorrow.

Have a great Monday!

- M. Pace
ADEQ Meteorologist