Alert archive / Arizona / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 9, NWS Tucson, AZ

September 14, 1990Pima County, Santa Cruz County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 14, 1990, 5:55 PM MST for Pima County, Santa Cruz County, Arizona. It was in force for 65 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Sep 14, 1990, 5:55 PM MST (00:55 UTC)
Expired
Sep 14, 1990, 7:00 PM MST
In force
65 min
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Whole counties

Counties Pima County, AZ, Santa Cruz County, AZ

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Sep 14, 6:00 PM MSTThunderstorm Wind 0Pima, AZ

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Tuscon, AZ (KTUS), launched 00:00Z, 0.9 hours before the alert went out and 56 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Tuscon, AZ at 00:00Z on 1990-09-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1368 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Tuscon, AZ at 00:00Z on 1990-09-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -25 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1368 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-13 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1990 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-25 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
19 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KTUS 150055
SVRTUS
AZC019-023-150200-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND FLASH FLOOD WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
555 PM MST FRI SEP 14 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
AND FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 700 PM MST FOR PEOPLE 
IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES

   IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL PART OF ARIZONA
      EXTREME SOUTHERN PIMA...

   IN THE EXTREME SOUTH PART OF ARIZONA
      WESTERN SANTA CRUZ...

AT (545 PM MST SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH FLASH FLOOD PRODUCING
RAINFALL WERE LOCATED OVER WESTERN SANTA CRUZ AND EXTREME SOUTHERN
PIMA COUNTY...FROM INTERSTATE 19 WEST TOWARD ARIVACA AND SASABE.
THESE STORMS HAVE CAUSED FLOODING IN NOGALES AND RIO RICO AND ARE
MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST AT 20 MPH.  STRONG DAMAGING WINDS IN
EXCESS OF 60 MPH AND FLOODING OF WASHES AND HIGHWAY DIPS ALONG
COUNTY ROADS WILL CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT HOUR OR SO.

IF YOU ARE IN AN AREA THREATENED BY THE STORM..GO TO A REINFORCED
SHELTER AND PREPARE FOR DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY
RAIN AND LIGHTNING.

INTENSE LIGHTNING IS REPORTED WITH THIS STORM.  IF OUTDOORS...
STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS.  MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE.  WHEN
I;NDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING
TELEPHONES AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.

 WEBER 150054Z

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 14, 12:43 PM MST, 5 hours 12 minutes before
AZZ010-142130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
1240 PM MST FRI SEP 14 1990

TUCSON WEATHER RADAR INDICATES SEVERAL THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE
NORTHERN BORDER OF MEXICO JUST EAST OF NOGALAS TO JUST NORTH OF
DOUGLAS.  THESE STORMS ARE MOVING SOUTHWEST AT ABOUT 20 MPH AND
ARE LIKELY EFFECTING THE DOUGLAS AREA AT THIS TIME.  OTHER
COMMUNITIES TO THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST OF DOUGLAS INCLUDING BISBEE
AND WARREN COULD BE EFFECTED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS.

AS THE AFTERNOON PROGRESSES NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED
ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN COUNTIES IN ARIZONA INCLUDING COCHISE...
SANTA CRUZ AND PIMA.  SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BE QUITE STRONG
AND PERSONS IN THESE AREAS :SHOULD STAY ABREAST OF RAPIDLY CHANGING
WEATHER CONDITIONS.

NORDQUIST
Special weather statement, Sep 14, 12:49 PM MST, 5 hours 6 minutes before
AZZ010-142130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION SPELLING...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
1240 PM MST FRI SEP 14 1990

TUCSON WEATHER RADAR INDICATES SEVERAL THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE
NORTHERN BORDER OF MEXICO JUST EAST OF NOGALES TO JUST NORTH OF
DOUGLAS.  THESE STORMS ARE MOVING SOUTHWEST AT ABOUT 20 MPH AND
ARE LIKELY EFFECTING THE DOUGLAS AREA AT THIS TIME.  OTHER
COMMUNITIES TO THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST OF DOUGLAS INCLUDING BISBEE
AND WARREN COULD BE EFFECTED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS.

AS THE AFTERNOON PROGRESSES NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED
ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN COUNTIES IN ARIZONA INCLUDING COCHISE...
SANTA CRUZ AND PIMA.  SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BE QUITE STRONG=
AND PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD STAY ABREAST OF RAPIDLY CHANGING
WEATHER CONDITIONS.

NORDQUIST
Special weather statement, Sep 14, 3:05 PM MST, 2 hours 50 minutes before
AZZ010-142300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
250 PM MST FRI SEP 14 1990

TUCSON WEATHER RADAR INDICATES SEVERAL THUNDERSTORMS IN CENTRAL
AND WESTERN COCHISE COUNTY AND ALONG THE MEXICAN BORDER FROM
NOGALES TO BISBEE.  A STRONG THUNDERSTORM IS LOCATED 20 MILES
NORTHESAST OF TUCSON.  THIS STORM IS MOVING SOUTHWEST AT ABOUT
15 MPH BUT HAS WEAKENED SOMEWHAT DURING THE LAST 15 MINUTES.
SOME STORMS COULD MOVE IN THE TUCSON METROPOLITAN DURING THE NEXT
FEW HOURS.

ALL PEOPLE OUT AND ABOUT INCLUDING LATE AFTERNOON RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC
ARE URGED TO WATCH FOR ANY APPROACHING STORMS AND USE EXTREME
CAUTION.

MAZUR
Special weather statement, Sep 14, 5:50 PM MST, 5 minutes before
AZZ010-150145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
545 PM MST FRI SEP 14 1990

AT 545 WEATHER RADAR INDICATES SEVERAL THUNDERSTORMS IN EXTREME
EASTERN PIMA COUNTY AND THE WESTERN AREA OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN IS OCCURING IN THE AREA FROM TUMACACORI
TO NOGALES AND WESTWARD.  HEAVY RAIN HAS BEEN REPORTED IN NOGALES
DURING THE LAST HOUR.

ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM IS LOCATED ABOUT 20 MILES NORTHEAST
OF6 TUCSON AND IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE TUCSON METROPOLITAN
THRU THE REDDINGTON PASS DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS.

ALL MOTORIST AND OTHER INTERESTS ARE URGED TO WATCH FOR ANY
APPROACHING STORMS AND USE EXTREME CAUTION.

MAZUR
Special weather statement, Sep 14, 5:54 PM MST, 1 minute before
AZZ010-150145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
545 PM MST FRI SEP 14 1990

AT 545 WEATHER RADAR INDICATES SEVERAL THUNDERSTORMS IN EXTREME
EASTERN PIMA COUNTY AND THE WESTERN AREA OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN IS OCCURING IN THE AREA FROM TUMACACORI
TO NOGALES AND WESTWARD.  HEAVY RAIN HAS BEEN REPORTED IN NOGALES
DURING THE LAST HOUR.

ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM IS LOCATED ABOUT 20 MILES 8NORTHEAST
OF TUCSON AND IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE TUCSON METROPOLITAN
AREA THRU THE REDDINGTON PASS DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS.

ALL MOTORIST AND OTHER INTERESTS ARE URGED TO WATCH FOR ANY
APPROACHING STORMS AND USE EXTREME CAUTION.

MAZUR

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tucson, AZ issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 14, 5:55 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima, Santa Cruz65 min
Sep 14, 6:31 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima59 min
Sep 14, 6:31 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima59 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arizona, 1990Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1990

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.