Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for South Tucson, AZ

DISCUSSION
Sunny skies across southeast Arizona as ridging is building in aloft. Temperatures this afternoon are topping out about 10 degrees above normal. This ridging will peak Friday before heights gets knocked slightly lower this weekend as a weather system passes through the Rockies. This will result in an uptick in breezes on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon when some gusts of 25 to 35 mph are expected, mainly east of Tucson. The strongest winds will likely be focused in the Upper Gila River Valley near Safford. Even though heights drop slightly this weekend, there won't really be a response in temperatures with highs 10 to 15 degrees above normal with minor HeatRisk for most of southeast Arizona.

Ensembles continue to agree on a very strong area of high pressure building across the southwest as the week progresses next week. In the last 24 hours, there is perhaps a slight delay in the timing of the hottest temperatures which now look like will occur from about next Thursday through Saturday. With heights at record levels for this time of year, we're still on track for temperatures rising to 20 to 25 degrees above normal in spots by late next week. This will result in widespread daily and March monthly temperatures records.
HeatRisk will be moderate to locally major during this time frame.
While this level of heat is more typical of June, we have many visitors, seasonal residents and outdoor events in our region this time of year which typically aren't exposed to are acclimated to such hot temperatures. The time to prepare for the heat is now with heat safety precautions kept top of mind as we head into this heat wave.



AVIATION
Valid through 14/00Z. SKC through the end of the valid period. SFC winds ELY at 10 kts this afternoon will become variable less than 10 kts aft 13/03Z thru 14/20Z with WLY/NWLY winds resuming thereafter thru the end of the valid period. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments.

FIRE WEATHER
High pressure building off the West Coast will result in warmer temperatures, with afternoon high temperatures leveling out 10 to 15 degrees above normal Friday into this weekend.
More significant heat (15 to 25+ degrees above normal) is possible the middle of next week as the high pressure across the Desert Southwest is forecast to strengthen. Easterly 20-foot winds around 10 mph this afternoon. More typical diurnally driven winds less than 15 mph will return Friday. Winds will become slightly stronger this weekend with westerly to northwesterly 20-foot winds 13 to 17 mph with gusts to 25-30 mph across Graham, Greenlee and Cochise counties. Minimum RHs 9-20 percent in the valleys and 20 to 30 percent in the mountains this afternoon will significantly lower Min RHs to 8-15 percent areawide Friday into next week.

TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
None.