Alert archive / Arizona / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2002

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 22, NWS Flagstaff, AZ

July 14, 2002Gila County, Navajo County, Arizona

NWS Flagstaff, AZ issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 14, 2002, 2:54 PM MST for Gila County, Navajo County, Arizona. It was in force for 36 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jul 14, 2002, 2:54 PM MST (21:54 UTC)
Expired
Jul 14, 2002, 3:30 PM MST
In force
36 min
Issued by
NWS Flagstaff, AZ
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Gila County, AZ, Navajo County, AZ

The radar

The Flagstaff radar (KFSX), 83 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:57 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Phoenix, AZ (KPSR), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 151 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, Phoenix, AZ at 12:00Z on 2002-07-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 689 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, Phoenix, AZ at 12:00Z on 2002-07-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -24 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
689 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-479 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2438 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-24 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-47 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.

450 
WUUS55 KFGZ 142154
SVRFGZ
AZC007-017-142230-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLAGSTAFF AZ
252 PM MST SUN JUL 14 2002

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL GILA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ARIZONA
  SOUTH CENTRAL NAVAJO COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ARIZONA

* UNTIL 330 PM MST

* AT 252 PM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 5 MILES NORTH OF CIBECUE...MOVING   
  SOUTH AT 10 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT THE CIBECUE AREA THROUGH 320   
   PM MST.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH YOU SHOULD PREPARE
FOR DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MPH...LARGE HAIL...AND DEADLY
LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...PREFERABLY
INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. THEY
WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST
OFFICE.

LAT...LON 3413 11063 3390 11055 3397 11039 3421 11046

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 Flagstaff, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 14, 2:10 PM MST, 44 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 14, 2:10 PM MST, 44 minutes before
NORTHERN ARIZONA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLAGSTAFF AZ
210 PM MST SUN JUL 14 2002

.SYNOPSIS...HIGH PRESSURE WILL GRADUALLY WEAKEN OVER THE AREA
ALLOWING DAYTIME TEMPERATURES TO SETTLE BACK CLOSER TO NORMAL. THE
DAILY PATTERN OF AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE
WELL INTO THE COMING WEEK. THE MAJORITY OF SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM
ACTIVITY WILL BE SOUTH AND WEST OF THE MOGOLLON RIM EARLY IN THE
WEEK...SPREADING NORTHWARD OVER MOST OF NORTHERN ARIZONA BY
WEDNESDAY.

.DISCUSSION...HIGH PRESSURE WILL WEAKEN OVER THE AREA...AS IT DOES A
PORTION OF THE HIGH WILL MOVE INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS WITH ANOTHER
HIGH PRESSURE CIRCULATION OVER NORTHWEST PART OF THE STATE ON
MONDAY. NORTHERLY FLOW WILL KEEP NORTHERN PARTS OF THE STATE A
LITTLE DRIER MONDAY...AS THE HIGH SHIFTS EAST ACROSS THE STATE
DURING THE WEEK...INCREASES OF MOISTURE ON A SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL
BRING INCREASES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FARTHER NORTH BY
MID-WEEK.

.EXTENDED...THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT AS A WEAK TROUGH IN THE WESTERLIES
APPROACHES...THAT DRIER AIR WILL MOVE INTO WESTERN SECTIONS OF THE
FORECAST AREA LATE IN THE EXTENDED. NOW TO PREDICT THE TIMING OF
THIS IS QUESTIONABLE AND THERE IS AMPLE MOISTURE OVER NORTHERN NEW
MEXICO THAT COULD GET PULLED NORTHWARD ON SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST
FLOW...SO WE WILL KEEP CHANCES OF SHOWERS IN THE EXTENDED FOR NOW.
TC
.FGZ...NONE.

.CODED TEMPERATURES/POPS FOR SELECTED CITIES IN NORTHERN ARIZONA

CITY             TEMPERATURES LO/HI           PROBABILITY OF PRECIP
                 TON MON   TUE     WED        TON MON   TUE     WED
FLAGSTAFF        058/086 057/084 054/084      030 030 020 030 020 040
WINSLOW          068/097 067/095 066/095      030 020 000 020 000 030
PRESCOTT         065/093 065/092 066/092      020 030 020 030 020 040
PAGE             079/102 077/099 077/099      010 000 000 020 000 030
WINDOW ROCK      052/086 053/084 053/085      030 030 020 030 020 040
CANYON DE CHELLY 058/097 059/095 059/095      020 020 010 020 020 040
COTTONWOOD       070/103 070/101 071/101      020 020 020 020 020 030
GRAND CANYON     055/091 054/089 052/089      030 020 010 030 020 040
GREER            052/080 051/078 049/078      040 030 020 040 020 040
HEBER            057/089 056/087 053/087      040 030 020 030 020 040
JACOB LAKE       058/084 057/082 054/082      030 020 010 030 020 040
NAVAJO N.M.      064/091 065/089 065/089      030 020 010 020 020 030
PAYSON           066/093 066/092 065/092      020 020 020 030 020 040
SEDONA           070/100 070/100 069/099      020 020 020 020 020 040
SELIGMAN         060/096 060/095 061/095      020 020 010 020 010 030
SHOW LOW         061/092 060/090 057/090      040 030 020 030 020 040
ST. JOHNS        063/093 062/091 061/091      030 030 020 030 020 040
WUPATKI N.M.     076/100 075/098 074/098      030 020 010 020 020 030

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 14, 9:50 AM MST, 5 hours 4 minutes before
AZZ004>018-037>040-141930-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLAGSTAFF AZ
950 AM MST SUN JUL 14 2002

...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TODAY MAINLY FROM
THE CHUSKA MOUNTAINS SOUTH INTO THE WHITE MOUNTAINS AND ALONG AND
SOUTH OF THE MOGOLLON RIM...

DRIER AIR OVER THE NORTHEAST PLATEAUS WILL LIMIT STORM DEVELOP
TODAY. THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BE MORE FAVORABLE FOR STORM DEVELOPMENT
FROM THE CHUSKA MOUNTAINS...SOUTHWARD INTO THE WHITE MOUNTAINS AND
FROM THE MOGOLLON RIM SOUTH AND WEST. EXPECT MORE ACTIVITY OVER THE
KAIBAB PLATEAU AS MOISTURE FROM YESTERDAYS STORMS MOVES NORTHWARD UP
THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN. THESE AREAS WILL SEE ISOLATED STRONGER
STORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE NEW
MEXICO BORDER...SMALL HAIL AND RAIN RATES NEAR AN INCH PER HOUR.
STORMS WILL INITIALLY DEVELOP TODAY OVER THE RIM...WHITE MOUNTAINS
AND CHUSKA MOUNTAINS. THREAT FOR FLASH FLOODING TODAY WILL BE
LOW...MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE RIM.

BURNED AREA RAIN OUTLOOK...
SMALL AMOUNTS OF RAIN CAN CAUSE FLASH FLOODING IN BURNED OUT AREAS.
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP NEAR THE
CHEDISKI-RODEO BURN AREA BY THIS AFTERNOON. THE ACTIVITY NEAR THIS
FIRE IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE HEAVY. AS THE SHOWERS MOVE WEST DURING
THE AFTERNOON...THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAINS OVER THE INDIAN FIRE
BURN AREA NEAR PRESCOTT WILL BE MORE LIKELY.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 13, 5:18 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGZYavapai27 min
Jul 13, 5:48 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGZYavapai27 min
Jul 14, 1:14 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGZCoconino31 min
Jul 14, 2:35 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGZApache, Navajo25 min
Jul 14, 3:16 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGZCoconino, Gila29 min
Jul 14, 3:34 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGZGila, Navajo41 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arizona, 2002Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2002

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.