Alert archive / Arizona / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1993

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 13, NWS Phoenix, AZ

August 20, 1993Maricopa County, Arizona

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 20, 1993, 7:06 PM MST for Maricopa County, Arizona. It was in force for 69 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 20, 1993, 7:06 PM MST (02:06 UTC)
Expired
Aug 20, 1993, 8:15 PM MST
In force
69 min
Issued by
NWS Phoenix, AZ
Area
Whole counties

County Maricopa County, AZ

The radar

The Phoenix radar (KIWA), 77 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:06 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Tuscon, AZ (KTUS), launched 00:00Z, 2.1 hours before the alert went out and 198 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 1993-08-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 360 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 1993-08-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 13 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
360 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-23 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2489 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
8 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
13 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
48 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS1 KPHX 210208
SVRPSR
AZC013-210315-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
706 PM MST FRI AUG 20 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  815 PM MST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS......
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL ARIZONA
 
   ...EASTERN MARICOPA COUNTY
 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT 700 PM SHOWED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
WITH INTENSE RAINFALL LOCATED OVER OVER THE FOUNTAIN HILLS AREA. THIS
STORM WAS MOVING TO THE NORTH-NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 20 MPH. THIS STORM WILL
LIKELY AFFECT THE EASTERN PARADISE VALLEY AREA...AS WELL AS FORT
MCDOWELL PARK AND INDIAN RESERVATION. THIS STORM COULD AFFECT THE
CAREFREE AND CAVE CREEK AREAS AS WELL AS IT MOVES TO THE NORTH. THIS IS
A DANGEROUS STORM AND WILL LIKELY PRODUCE STRONG DAMAGING WINDS IN
EXCESS OF 57 MPH AS WELL AS INTENSE RAIN AND MODERATE TO LARGE HAIL.
 
PERSONS IN THE FAR NORTHEASTERN PHOENIX METRO AREA SHOULD KEEP A CLOSE
EYE ON THE SKY AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER SHOULD THREATENING
WEATHER APPROACH.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAUSE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND DEADLY
LIGHTNING. MOVE INSIDE A REINFORCED BUILDING OR STORM SHELTER. GO TO
AN INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.
 
WATCH OUT FOR FLASH FLOODING. STAY AWAY FROM STREAMS AND AVOID NARROW
STEEP WALLED CANYONS. DONT DRIVE ACROSS FLOODED STREAMS OR WASHES...
OR INTO FLOODED CITY STREETS OR UNDERPASSES.
 
BRECKENRIDGE

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, Aug 20, 1:59 PM MST, 5 hours 7 minutes before
AZZALL-202300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
159 PM MST FRI AUG 20 1993

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS FAR NORTHERN YAVAPAI
COUNTY...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE SHOWING UP ON PHOENIX WEATHER RADAR OVER
NORTHERN YAVAPAI COUNTY AT 155 PM MST. THE STRONGEST STORM WAS EAST OF
CHINO VALLEY AND PAULDEN AND WAS MOVING TOWARDS THE NORTHEAST AT ABOUT
20 MPH. THIS STORM WAS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...WIND
GUSTS TO NEAR 45 MPH ALONG WITH SMALL HAIL. DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING IS ALSO A DEFINITE THREAT WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

PERSONS ALONG THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD TAKE SHELTER IF THE
THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. IF IT CONTINUES TO MOVE ALONG ITS PRESENT
COURSE...THE STORM WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHERN COCONINO COUNTY NEAR BILL
WILLIAMS MOUNTAIN BEFORE 245 PM MST. CAMPERS AND HIKERS IN THE AREA
...INCLUDING THE POPULAR SYCAMORE CREEK CANYON...SHOULD KEEP AN EYE
ON THE SKIES AND TAKE COVER UNTIL THE STORM PASSES.

MEANWHILE...THE AIR MASS CONTINUES TO BE VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE THIS
AFTERNOON...WITH THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE. SOME OF
THEM COULD PRODUCE BRIEF VERY HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS. IF OUTDOOR
INTERESTS ARE BEING PLANNED ANYWHERE IN THE STATE THROUGH THIS
EVENING...IT WOULD BE GOOD TO LISTEN TO YOUR FAVORITE WEATHER
INFORMATION SOURCE FOR UP TO THE MINUTE STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

ESTLE
Special weather statement, Aug 20, 2:01 PM MST, 5 hours 5 minutes before
AZZALL-202300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
159 PM MST FRI AUG 20 1993

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS FAR NORTHERN YAVAPAI
COUNTY...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE SHOWING UP ON PHOENIX WEATHER RADAR OVER
NORTHERN YAVAPAI COUNTY AT 155 PM MST. THE STRONGEST STORM WAS EAST OF
CHINO VALLEY AND PAULDEN AND WAS MOVING TOWARDS THE NORTHEAST AT ABOUT
20 MPH. THIS STORM WAS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...WIND
GUSTS TO NEAR 45 MPH ALONG WITH SMALL HAIL. DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING IS ALSO A DEFINITE THREAT WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

PERSONS ALONG THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD TAKE SHELTER IF THE
THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. IF IT CONTINUES TO MOVE ALONG ITS PRESENT
COURSE...THE STORM WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHERN COCONINO COUNTY NEAR BILL
WILLIAMS MOUNTAIN BEFORE 245 PM MST. CAMPERS AND HIKERS IN THE AREA
...INCLUDING THE POPULAR SYCAMORE CREEK CANYON...SHOULD KEEP AN EYE
ON THE SKIES AND TAKE COVER UNTIL THE STORM PASSES.

MEANWHILE...THE AIR MASS CONTINUES TO BE VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE THIS
AFTERNOON...WITH THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE. SOME OF
THEM COULD PRODUCE BRIEF VERY HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS. IF OUTDOOR
INTERESTS ARE BEING PLANNED ANYWHERE IN THE STATE THROUGH THIS
EVENING...IT WOULD BE GOOD TO LISTEN TO YOUR FAVORITE WEATHER
INFORMATION SOURCE FOR UP TO THE MINUTE STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

ESTLE
Special weather statement, Aug 20, 3:45 PM MST, 3 hours 21 minutes before
AZZALL-210015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX ARIZONA
345 PM MST FRI AUG 20 1993

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER PROTIONS OF PINAL AND WESTERN GRAHAM
   COUNTIES...

AT 330 PM MST...WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
WITH HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY WINDS OVER PORTIONS OF EASTERN PINAL
AND WESTERN GRAHAM COUNTIES.  THESE STORMS EXTENDED FROM ABOUT
15 MILES NORTHWEST OF SAFFORD TO NEAR SAN MANUEL.

MOVEMENT WAS GENERALLY TO THE NORTH-NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR.

THESE STORMS WILL BE MOVING OVER SECTIONS OF HIGHWAY 70 FROM SAN CARLOS
LAKE TO SAFFORD BETWEEN 350 PM AND 430 PM MST. MOTORISTS TRAVELING ON
HIGHWAY 70 SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY WINDS.

OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING INTO SOUTH CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY
ABOUT 25 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CASA GRANDE. THESE STORMS WERE ALSO
MOVING TO THE NORTH-NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION
FOR LATER STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

JD
Special weather statement, Aug 20, 3:47 PM MST, 3 hours 19 minutes before
AZZALL-210015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX ARIZONA
345 PM MST FRI AUG 20 1993

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER PROTIONS OF PINAL AND WESTERN GRAHAM
   COUNTIES...

AT 330 PM MST...WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
WITH HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY WINDS OVER PORTIONS OF EASTERN PINAL
AND WESTERN GRAHAM COUNTIES.  THESE STORMS EXTENDED FROM ABOUT
15 MILES NORTHWEST OF SAFFORD TO NEAR SAN MANUEL.

MOVEMENT WAS GENERALLY TO THE NORTH-NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR.

THESE STORMS WILL BE MOVING OVER SECTIONS OF HIGHWAY 70 FROM SAN CARLOS
LAKE TO SAFFORD BETWEEN 350 PM AND 430 PM MST. MOTORISTS TRAVELING ON
HIGHWAY 70 SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY WINDS.

OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING INTO SOUTH CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY
ABOUT 25 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CASA GRANDE. THESE STORMS WERE ALSO
MOVING TO THE NORTH-NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION
FOR LATER STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

JD
Special weather statement, Aug 20, 4:23 PM MST, 2 hours 43 minutes before
AZZALL-210015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX ARIZONA
423 PM MST FRI AUG 20 1993

...THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL OVER ARAVAIPA CREEK
   IN SOUTHWEST GRAHAM COUNTY...

AT 415 PM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE CORONADO NATIONAL FOREST IN SOUTHWEST
GRAHAM COUNTY.  RADAR DERIVED RAINFALL ESTIMATES INDICATED THAT
UP TO NEAR 2.0 INCHES OF RAIN HAD FALLEN DURING THE PAST 3 HOURS
OVER PORTIONS OF ARAVAIPA CREEK AROUND KLONOYKE.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO THE SOUTHWEST OF THE CORONADO NATIONAL FOREST
ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE NORTHEAST OVER THE ARAVAIPA VALLEY...BRINGING
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL.

CAMPERS ALONG THE CREEK SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE FLOODING OF
LOW AREAS. IF RISING WATER IS NOTED ALONG THE CREEK...MOVE TO HIGHER
GROUND.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION
FOR LATER STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

JD
Special weather statement, Aug 20, 4:26 PM MST, 2 hours 40 minutes before
AZZALL-210015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX ARIZONA
423 PM MST FRI AUG 20 1993

...THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL OVER ARAVAIPA CREEK
   IN SOUTHWEST GRAHAM COUNTY...

AT 415 PM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE CORONADO NATIONAL FOREST IN SOUTHWEST
GRAHAM COUNTY.  RADAR DERIVED RAINFALL ESTIMATES INDICATED THAT
UP TO NEAR 2.0 INCHES OF RAIN HAD FALLEN DURING THE PAST 3 HOURS
OVER PORTIONS OF ARAVAIPA CREEK AROUND KLONOYKE.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO THE SOUTHWEST OF THE CORONADO NATIONAL FOREST
ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE NORTHEAST OVER THE ARAVAIPA VALLEY...BRINGING
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL.

CAMPERS ALONG THE CREEK SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE FLOODING OF
LOW AREAS. IF RISING WATER IS NOTED ALONG THE CREEK...MOVE TO HIGHER
GROUND.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION
FOR LATER STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

JD

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 20, 5:45 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa60 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arizona, 1993Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1993

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.