Topic: NWS forecast zone changes for Phoenix WFO, April 4, 2017

[saratogaWX]

The notice at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/notification/scn17-02psrzonechanges.htm shows the upcoming changes for Forecast zones

Effective Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at 1000 AM Pacific Standard
Time, 1100 AM Mountain Standard Time, 1800 Coordinated Universal
Time (UTC), the NWS WFO in Phoenix, Arizona (WFO PSR), will
change all public forecast zone names and boundaries. Upon
implementation of this change, all public forecasts and related
products will use the zone numbers and names shown below.
 
The zone changes will improve services by allowing more fine-
tuned warnings and advisories for hazards such as dust, fog, and
winter weather and reflect changes in transportation and
population growth throughout the area.
 
The new zone numbers and names are listed below:
 
WFO Phoenix, Arizona, Public Weather Forecast Zones
 
Zone Number             Zone Name
---------------         --------------------
AZ530                   Parker Valley
AZ531                   Kofa
AZ532                   Yuma
AZ533                   Central La Paz
AZ534                   Aguila Valley
AZ535                   Southeast Yuma County
AZ536                   Gila River Valley
AZ537                   Northwest Valley
AZ538                   Tonopah Desert
AZ539                   Gila Bend
AZ540                   Buckeye/Avondale
AZ541                   Cave Creek/New River
AZ542                   Deer Valley
AZ543                   Central Phoenix
AZ544                   North Phoenix/Glendale
AZ545                   New River Mesa
AZ546                   Scottsdale/Paradise Valley
AZ547                   Rio Verde/Salt River
AZ548                   East Valley
AZ549                   Fountain Hills/East Mesa
AZ550                   South Mountain/Ahwatukee
AZ551                   Southeast Valley/Queen Creek
AZ552                   Superior
AZ553                   Northwest Pinal County
AZ554                   West Pinal County
AZ555                   Apache Junction/Gold Canyon
AZ556                   Tonto Basin
AZ557                   Mazatzal Mountains
AZ558                   Pinal/Superstition Mountains
AZ559                   Sonoran Desert Natl Monument
AZ560                   San Carlos
AZ561                   Dripping Springs
AZ562                   Globe/Miami
AZ563                   Southeast Gila County
CA560                   Joshua Tree NP West
CA561                   Joshua Tree NP East
CA562                   Imperial County Southwest
CA563                   Salton Sea
CA564                   Chuckwalla Mountains
CA565                   Imperial County Southeast
CA566                   Imperial County West
CA567                   Imperial Valley
CA568                   Chiriaco Summit
CA569                   Palo Verde Valley
CA570                   Chuckwalla Valley
 
These zones will be replacing existing zones:
 
Zone Number             Zone Name
---------------         --------------------
AZ027                   Southwest Maricopa County
AZ023                   Greater Phoenix Area
AZ022                   Northwest Maricopa County
AZ020                   Lower Colorado River Valley AZ
AZ021                   West Central Deserts
AZ028                   Northwest and North Central Pinal County
AZ025                   Yuma/Martinez Lake and Vicinity
CA032                   Riverside County/Eastern Deserts
CA033                   Imperial County
AZ024                   Southern Gila/Tonto NF Foothills
AZ026                   Southwest Deserts
CA030                   Joshua Tree National Park
CA031                   Lower Colorado River Valley CA
 
The zone changes are described at the following two links.
 
Updated public zone shapefiles are online at:
 
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/geodata/catalog/wsom/html/pubzone.htm
A graphical depiction of this change is online at:
 
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/psr/general/zones/psr-zones04-17.html
 
For more information, please contact:
 
Ken Waters
Warning Coordination Meteorologist