Alert archive / Arizona / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 84, NWS Tucson, AZ

September 6, 1998Pima County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 6, 1998, 4:10 PM MST for Pima County, Arizona. It was in force for 50 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Sep 6, 1998, 4:10 PM MST (23:10 UTC)
Expired
Sep 6, 1998, 5:00 PM MST
In force
50 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 23:12 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 12:00Z, 11.2 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 1998-09-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 21 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 1998-09-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 16 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
21 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-359 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2503 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
14 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
16 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
97 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.

121 
WUUS1 KTUS 062311 RRA
SVRTUS
AZC019-062355-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
410 PM MST SUN SEP 6 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TUCSON HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN PIMA COUNTY IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA
  INCLUDING ARIVACA JUNCTION AND GREEN VALLEY

* UNTIL 500 PM MST

* AT 408 PM MST... DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 10
  MILES SOUTH OF GREEN VALLEY OR 2 MILES NORTHWEST OF ARIVACA
  JUNCTION MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH.

WINDS TO 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM ALONG WITH FREQUENT
LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN.

WJM

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 Sep 6, 2:30 PM MST, 1 hour 40 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 6, 2:30 PM MST, 1 hour 40 minutes before
SOUTHEAST ARIZONA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
230 PM MST SUN SEP 6 1998

SYNOPSIS...DRIER AIR WORKING ITS WAY INTO SOUTHEAST ARIZONA FROM THE
EAST WILL BRING A DECREASE IN THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY FOR THE NEXT
COUPLE OF DAYS.

DISCUSSION...THUNDERSTORMS FIRING OFF THIS AFTERNOON ALONG RESIDUAL
MOISTURE BOUNDRY FROM ABOUT TUCSON WESTWARD. DRIER AIR HAS WORKED
ITS WAY INTO THE EASTERN AREAS...IE GRAHAM AND COCHISE COUNTIES
EASTWARD...WHERE ONLY A FEW FLAT CUMULUS HAVE DEVELOPED SO FAR. EVEN
FARTHER EAST IN NEW MEXICO SKIES ARE CLOUD FREE. SO NOT EXPECTING
MUCH IN THE EAST THIS EVENING.

THIS DRIER AIR WILL ADVECT INTO ALL OF SOUTHEAST ARIZONA ON LABOR
DAY RESULTING IN LITTLE IF ANY THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. GUT FEELING IS
THAT THE EASTERN HALF WILL SEE NO THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WITH A
SLIGHT CHANCE AT BEST OUT WEST WHERE ENOUGH RESIDUAL MOISTURE COULD
STILL EXIST FOR A THUNDERSTORM. BUT WILL KEEP MINIMAL 10 PERCENT
POPS IN ALL AREAS BUT MAINLY OVER THE MOUNTAINS AS ITS HARD TO RULE
THUNDERSTORMS OUT COMPLETELY THIS TIME OF YEAR. NOT MUCH CHANGE ON
TUESDAY AS DRIER AIR CONTINUES OVER SOUTHEAST ARIZONA ACCORDING TO
THE MODELS.

IN THE 3-5 DAY PERIOD WILL GO WITH STANDARD MONSOON FORECAST OF A
CHANCE OF AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS AS MRF MODEL TRIES TO
BRING TROPICAL STORM UP ALONG THE WEST COAST OF BAJA AND WITH UPPER
TROUGH PASSING THROUGH THE GREAT BASIN ON WEDNESDAY IT COULD SUCK
SOME OF THIS MOISTURE INTO SOUTHEAST ARIZONA THEN FOUR-CORNERS HIGH
REESTABLISHES ITSELF ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

TUS 2111. COLLINS

.TWC...NONE.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 6, 12:45 PM MST, 3 hours 25 minutes before
AZZ019-029>035-070700-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...SOUTHEAST ARIZONA CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
1245 PM MST SUN SEP 6 1998...THIS PRODUCT IS NOT UPDATED

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

COCHISE          10          10          10          0    NW 15
GRAHAM           10          10          10          0    NW 15
GREENLEE         15          10          10          0    NW 15
TUCSON/ERN PIMA  20          15          20          5     N 15
TOHONO OODHAM   25          20          30         10     N 15
WESTERN PIMA     25          20          30         10    NE 15
SOUTHEAST PINAL  25          20          30         10     N 15
SANTA CRUZ       20          15          20          5     N 15

SYNOPSIS...DRIER AIR MOVING IN FROM THE EAST WILL BRING A DOWNTURN
IN ACTIVITY FROM TUCSON EASTWARD. GREATER MOISTURE AND LIFT WEST OF
TUCSON WILL BRING BETTER CHANCES OF THUNDERSTORMS THAT AREA.

*****************************************************************
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 TO WHICH THE STORMS WILL
                  LIKELY MOVE AND SPEED IN MPH

NOTE...
VALID TIME IS FROM 12:45 PM 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. CORRESPONDING GRAPHICS MAY BE FOUND ON THE NWS
TUCSON INTERNET PAGE AT
HTTP://NIMBO.WRH.NOAA.GOV/TUCSON/SWO/SWO.SHTML

END/CEC
Special weather statement, Sep 6, 12:45 PM MST, 3 hours 25 minutes before
AZZ019-029>035-070700-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...SOUTHEAST ARIZONA CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
1245 PM MST SUN SEP 6 1998...THIS PRODUCT IS NOT UPDATED

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

COCHISE          10          10          10          0    NW 15
GRAHAM           10          10          10          0    NW 15
GREENLEE         15          10          10          0    NW 15
TUCSON/ERN PIMA  20          15          20          5     N 15
TOHONO OODHAM   25          20          30         10     N 15
WESTERN PIMA     25          20          30         10    NE 15
SOUTHEAST PINAL  25          20          30         10     N 15
SANTA CRUZ       20          15          20          5     N 15

SYNOPSIS...DRIER AIR MOVING IN FROM THE EAST WILL BRING A DOWNTURN
IN ACTIVITY FROM TUCSON EASTWARD. GREATER MOISTURE AND LIFT WEST OF
TUCSON WILL BRING BETTER CHANCES OF THUNDERSTORMS THAT AREA.

*****************************************************************
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 TO WHICH THE STORMS WILL
                  LIKELY MOVE AND SPEED IN MPH

NOTE...
VALID TIME IS FROM 12:45 PM 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. CORRESPONDING GRAPHICS MAY BE FOUND ON THE NWS
TUCSON INTERNET PAGE AT
HTTP://NIMBO.WRH.NOAA.GOV/TUCSON/SWO/SWO.SHTML

END/CEC

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arizona, 1998Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1998

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.