Arizona Weather Force has issued a Thunderstorm Watch effective today, February 2, 2024 – for the following areas;
All Mogollon Rim Communities –
Prescott –
North and Eastern half of Maricopa County –
Pinal County –
Eastern half of Pima County –
Western and Northern half of Cochise County –
All Greenlee and Graham Counties –
Discussion: A system that is coming out of Southern California that produced thunderstorms will move across Arizona today, right behind the main frontal zone that moved through overnight. This will bring elevated instability values, which will work with the cold air aloft to produce the risk of convective cells capable of producing thunderstorms.
Storms today will move from west to east across the watch area.
Given the snow-level is on the rim, any thunderstorm crossing that area will produce what is called thundersnow, or thunder while snow is falling, a rare but interesting phenomenon.
Storms today can produce hail, strong winds, and even funnels.
These storms will vacate later this evening with the last of the dynamics pushing through.