Alert archive / Arizona / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 25, NWS Tucson, AZ

July 9, 1997Pima County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 9, 1997, 2:16 PM MST for Pima County, Arizona. It was in force for 49 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
Jul 9, 1997, 2:16 PM MST (21:16 UTC)
Expired
Jul 9, 1997, 3:05 PM MST
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Whole counties

County Pima County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 112 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:15 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 9, 3:00 PM MSTThunderstorm Wind 60San Xavier, AZThunderstorm winds were estimated to 60 mph.

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.

The nearest sounding before it

Tuscon, AZ (KTUS), launched 12:00Z, 9.3 hours before the alert went out and 84 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 12:00Z on 1997-07-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 18 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 12:00Z on 1997-07-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 11 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
18 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-333 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3368 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
9 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
11 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
17 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 
TTAA00 KTUS 092118 RRA
SVRTUS
AZC019-092205-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
216 PM MST WED JUL 9 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TUCSON AZ HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 305 PM MST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...

IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA

   ...EASTERN PIMA COUNTY
 
AT 214 PM MST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 10
MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF SOUTHWEST nTUCSON OR 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF
SAHUARITA MOVING NORTH NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
 
MEYER

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.

NWS Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 9, 9:30 AM MST, 4 hours 46 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 9, 9:30 AM MST, 4 hours 46 minutes before
SOUTHEAST ARIZONA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
930 AM MST WED JUL 9 1997

LOW LVLS IN DESERT HAVE SHOW MORE MSTR SINCE TUE. GBN IS UP 6C
AND YUM IS UP 3C. YUM ALSO SHOWING SSE WNDS THROUGH 16K AND THIS
MAY PROMPT MORE SRLY FLOW IN CNTRL AND ERN AZ DURG THE DAY TODAY.
SAT DATA SHOWS H8 DEWPOINTS UP SOME BUT NOT AS MUCH AS SFC. SEEMS
THAT WE HAVE HAD SOME LOW LVL MSTR WORK INTO THE DESERT FROM
TSTMS OR UP GULF OF CA. STILL NOT ENUF MSTR TO GET TSTMS TOO FAR
OFF THE MTNS YET BUT WITH SRLY FLOW ALOFT THERE IS A THREAT OF
GETTING STORMS INTO THE VALLEYS. HOLDING ONLY A 40 DEWPOINT THIS
AFTN GIVES US A CAPE OVR 1000. THE THREAT FOR STORMS SEEMS TO BE
BEST FROM CGZ TO SELLS AND EAST. H2 SHOWS SOME DIVERGENCE ALSO.
COLD AIR ALOFT AND INVERTED V SOUNDINGS POINT TO BOTH DOWNBURST
AND SMALL HAIL EVENT.

MODELS BEGIN PUSHING UPR LOW EWD TONIGHT.  THIS WILL ALSO
KEEP STORMS GOING WELL INTO THE NIGHT. NEW MODEL RUN ALSO DRYS US
OUT AS THIS SYSTEM MOVES NEWD OUT OF AREA AND TROF TO THE NORTH
INCREASES SWRLY FLOW. SO THERE MAY BE A DOWN TREND IN THE MONSOON
FRI AND SAT.

EVERYTHING IS KIND OF IFFY SO WONT CHANGE PRESENT FCST AND WILL
WATCH TRENDS DURING THE DAY. TUS 002. HOLBROOK

TUS...NONE

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 9, 11:45 AM MST, 2 hours 31 minutes before
AZZ019-026>030-100700-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...SOUTHEAST ARIZONA CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
1145 AM MST WED JUL 9 1997

                AREAL    PROBABILITY   RAIN GREATER THAN   STORM
              COVERAGE    OF SEVERE     1.00       2.00    MOTION

COCHISE          25           0           0          0     N10
GRAHAM           20           0           0          0     N10
GREENLEE         20           0           0          0     N10
TUCSON/ERN PIMA  20          10           0          0     N10
TOHONO OODHAM   25          10           0          0     N15
WESTERN PIMA     25          10           0          0     N15
SOUTHEAST PINAL  15          10           0          0     N10
SANTA CRUZ       30          10           0          0     N10

SYNOPSIS...
LOW LEVEL MOISTURE HAS MOVED INTO CENTRAL AND WESTERN PIMA COUNTY
FROM GULF OF CALIFORNIA. THIS MOISTURE COMBINED WITH COLD AIR
ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL LOW NEAR MEXICALI WILL
GENERATE THUNDERSTORMS OVER MOST OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA THIS
AFTERNOON. SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY APPROACH SEVERE LEVELS AND ARE
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. THUNDERSTORMS
MAY LINGER ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH ABOUT MIDNIGHT.
*****************************************************************
KEY...
AREAL COVERAGE - PERCENT OF COUNTY OR AREA THAT WILL EXPERIENCE
                  THUNDERSTORMS
PROB OF SEVERE - THE PROBABILITY THAT ANY ONE OF THE STORMS WILL
                  REACH SEVERE LEVELS (DAMAGING WIND AND/OR
                  LARGE HAIL)
RAIN GRTR THAN - THE PROBABILITY THAT ANY ONE OF THE STORMS WILL
                  PRODUCE RAIN EXCEEDING 1 INCH OR 2 INCHES IN
                  ANY LOCATION
STORM MOTION   - GENERAL DIRECTION FROM WHICH THE STORMS WILL
                  LIKELY MOVE AND SPEED IN MPH

NOTE...
VALID TIME IS FROM 12 NOON TO 12 MIDNIGHT OF THE DAY OF ISSUANCE

THIS PRODUCT IS NOT TO BE USED IN PLACE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR
FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS OR WATCHES. THIS PRODUCT IS ONLY USED FOR
OUTLOOK PURPOSES.

END/VPH
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 11:59 AM MST, 2 hours 17 minutes before
AZZ019-026>030-100700-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...SOUTHEAST ARIZONA CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
1200 AM MST WED JUL 9 1997

                AREAL    PROBABILITY   RAIN GREATER THAN   STORM
              COVERAGE    OF SEVERE     1.00       2.00    MOTION

COCHISE          25           0           0          0     N10
GRAHAM           20           0           0          0     N10
GREENLEE         20           0           0          0     N10
TUCSON/ERN PIMA  20          10           0          0     N10
TOHONO O'ODHAM   25          10           0          0     N15
WESTERN PIMA     25          10           0          0     N15
SOUTHEAST PINAL  15          10           0          0     N10
SANTA CRUZ       30          10           0          0     N10

SYNOPSIS...
LOW LEVEL MOISTURE HAS MOVED INTO CENTRAL AND WESTERN PIMA COUNTY
FROM GULF OF CALIFORNIA. THIS MOISTURE COMBINED WITH COLD AIR
ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL LOW NEAR MEXICALI WILL
GENERATE THUNDERSTORMS OVER MOST OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA THIS
AFTERNOON. SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY APPROACH SEVERE LEVELS AND ARE
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. THUNDERSTORMS
MAY LINGER ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH ABOUT MIDNIGHT.
*****************************************************************
KEY...
AREAL COVERAGE - PERCENT OF COUNTY OR AREA THAT WILL EXPERIENCE
                  THUNDERSTORMS
PROB OF SEVERE - THE PROBABILITY THAT ANY ONE OF THE STORMS WILL
                  REACH SEVERE LEVELS (DAMAGING WIND AND/OR
                  LARGE HAIL)
RAIN GRTR THAN - THE PROBABILITY THAT ANY ONE OF THE STORMS WILL
                  PRODUCE RAIN EXCEEDING 1 INCH OR 2 INCHES IN
                  ANY LOCATION
STORM MOTION   - GENERAL DIRECTION FROM WHICH THE STORMS WILL
                  LIKELY MOVE AND SPEED IN MPH

NOTE...
VALID TIME IS FROM 12 NOON TO 12 MIDNIGHT OF THE DAY OF ISSUANCE

THIS PRODUCT IS NOT TO BE 4USED IN PLACE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR
FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS OR WATCHES. THIS PRODUCT IS ONLY USED FOR
OUTLOOK PURPOSES.

END/VPH
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 12:00 PM MST, 2 hours 16 minutes before
AZZ019-026>030-100700-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...SOUTHEAST ARIZONA CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ...CORRECTION FOR STORM MOTION
1200 PM MST WED JUL 9 1997

                AREAL    PROBABILITY   RAIN GREATER THAN   STORM
              COVERAGE    OF SEVERE     1.00       2.00    MOTION

COCHISE          25           0           0          0     S10
GRAHAM           20           0           0          0     S10
GREENLEE         20           0           0          0     S10
TUCSON/ERN PIMA  20          10           0          0     S10
TOHONO OODHAM   25          10           0          0     S15
WESTERN PIMA     25          10           0          0     S15
SOUTHEAST PINAL  15          10           0          0     S10
SANTA CRUZ       30          10           0          0     S10

SYNOPSIS...
LOW LEVEL MOISTURE HAS MOVED INTO CENTRAL AND WESTERN PIMA COUNTY
FROM GULF OF CALIFORNIA. THIS MOISTURE COMBINED WITH COLD AIR
ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL LOW NEAR MEXICALI WILL
GENERATE THUNDERSTORMS OVER MOST OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA THIS
AFTERNOON. SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY APPROACH SEVERE LEVELS AND ARE
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. THUNDERSTORMS
MAY LINGER ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH ABOUT MIDNIGHT.
*****************************************************************
KEY...
AREAL COVERAGE - PERCENT OF COUNTY OR AREA THAT WILL EXPERIENCE
                  THUNDERSTORMS
PROB OF SEVERE - THE PROBABILITY THAT ANY ONE OF THE STORMS WILL
                  REACH SEVERE LEVELS (DAMAGING WIND AND/OR
                  LARGE HAIL)
RAIN GRTR THAN - THE PROBABILITY THAT ANY ONE OF THE STORMS WILL
                  PRODUCE RAIN EXCEEDING 1 INCH OR 2 INCHES IN
                  ANY LOCATION
STORM MOTION   - GENERAL DIRECTION FROM WHICH THE STORMS WILL
                  LIKELY MOVE AND SPEED IN MPH

NOTE...
VALID TIME IS FROM 12 NOON TO 12 MIDNIGHT OF THE DAY OF ISSUANCE

THIS PRODUCT IS NOT TO BE USED IN PLACE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR
FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS OR WATCHES. THIS PRODUCT IS ONLY USED FOR
OUTLOOK PURPOSES.

END/VPH
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 12:15 PM MST, 2 hours 1 minute before
AZZ019-026>030-100700-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...SOUTHEAST ARIZONA CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
1145 AM MST WED JUL 9 1997

                AREAL    PROBABILITY   RAIN GREATER THAN   STORM
              COVERAGE    OF SEVERE     1.00       2.00    MOTION

COCHISE          25           0           0          0     N10
GRAHAM           20           0           0          0     N10
GREENLEE         20           0           0          0     N10
TUCSON/ERN PIMA  20          10           0          0     N10
TOHONO O'ODHAM   25          10           0          0     N15
WESTERN PIMA     25          10           0          0     N15
SOUTHEAST PINAL  15          10           0          0     N10
SANTA CRUZ       30          10           0          0     N10

SYNOPSIS...
LOW LEVEL MOISTURE HAS MOVED INTO CENTRAL AND WESTERN PIMA COUNTY
FROM GULF OF CALIFORNIA. THIS MOISTURE COMBINED WITH COLD AIR
ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL LOW NEAR MEXICALI WILL
GENERATE THUNDERSTORMS OVER MOST OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA THIS
AFTERNOON. SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY APPROACH SEVERE LEVELS AND ARE
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. THUNDERSTORMS
MAY LINGER ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH ABOUT MIDNIGHT.
*****************************************************************
KEY...
AREAL COVERAGE - PERCENT OF COUNTY OR AREA THAT WILL EXPERIENCE
                  THUNDERSTORMS
PROB OF SEVERE - THE PROBABILITY THAT ANY ONE OF THE STORMS WILL
                  REACH SEVERE LEVELS (DAMAGING WIND AND/OR
                  LARGE HAIL)
RAIN GRTR THAN - THE PROBABILITY THAT ANY ONE OF THE STORMS WILL
                  PRODUCE RAIN EXCEEDING 1 INCH OR 2 INCHES IN
                  ANY LOCATION
STORM MOTION   - GENERAL DIRECTION FROM WHICH THE STORMS WILL
                  LIKELY MOVE AND SPEED IN MPH

NOTE...
VALID TIME IS FROM 12 NOON TO 12 MIDNIGHT OF THE DAY OF ISSUANCE

THIS PRODUCT IS NOT TO BE \USED IN PLACE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR
FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS OR WATCHES. THIS PRODUCT IS ONLY USED FOR
OUTLOOK PURPOSES.

END/VPH
Special weather statement, Jul 9, 12:26 PM MST, 1 hour 50 minutes before
AZZ019-026>030-100700-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...SOUTHEAST ARIZONA CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ...CORRECTION FOR STORM MOTION
1200 PM MST WED JUL 9 1997

                AREAL    PROBABILITY   RAIN GREATER THAN   STORM
              COVERAGE    OF SEVERE     1.00       2.00    MOTION

COCHISE          25           0           0          0     S10
GRAHAM           20           0           0          0     S10
GREENLEE         20           0           0          0     S10
TUCSON/ERN PIMA  20          10           0          0     S10
TOHONO O'ODHAM   25          10           0          0     S15
WESTERN PIMA     25          10           0          0     S15
SOUTHEAST PINAL  15          10           0          0     S10
SANTA CRUZ       30          10           0          0     S10

SYNOPSIS...
LOW LEVEL MOISTURE HAS MOVED INTO CENTRAL AND WESTERN PIMA COUNTY
FROM GULF OF CALIFORNIA. THIS MOISTURE COMBINED WITH COLD AIR
ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL LOW NEAR MEXICALI WILL
GENERATE THUNDERSTORMS OVER MOST OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA THIS
AFTERNOON. SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY APPROACH SEVERE LEVELS AND ARE
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. THUNDERSTORMS
MAY LINGER ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH ABOUT MIDNIGHT.
*****************************************************************
KEY...
AREAL COVERAGE - PERCENT OF COUNTY OR AREA THAT WILL EXPERIENCE
                  THUNDERSTORMS
PROB OF SEVERE - THE PROBABILITY THAT ANY ONE OF THE STORMS WILL
                  REACH SEVERE LEVELS (DAMAGING WIND AND/OR
                  LARGE HAIL)
RAIN GRTR THAN - THE PROBABILITY THAT ANY ONE OF THE STORMS WILL
                  PRODUCE RAIN EXCEEDING 1 INCH OR 2 INCHES IN
                  ANY LOCATION
STORM MOTION   - GENERAL DIRECTION FROM WHICH THE STORMS WILL
                  LIKELY MOVE AND SPEED IN MPH

NOTE...
VALID TIME IS FROM 12 NOON TO 12 MIDNIGHT OF THE DAY OF ISSUvANCE

THIS PRODUCT IS NOT TO BE USED IN PLACE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR
FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS OR WATCHES. THIS PRODUCT IS ONLY USED FOR
OUTLOOK PURPOSES.

END/VPH

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arizona, 1997Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.