Alert archive / Arizona / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2002

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 67, NWS Tucson, AZ

September 10, 2002Pima County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 10, 2002, 8:13 PM MST for Pima County, Arizona. It was in force for 47 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
Sep 10, 2002, 8:13 PM MST (03:13 UTC)
Expired
Sep 10, 2002, 9:00 PM MST
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Pima County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 113 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:14 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 00:00Z, 3.2 hours before the alert went out and 158 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 00:00Z on 2002-09-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1379 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Phoenix, AZ at 00:00Z on 2002-09-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 40 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1379 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-35 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1734 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
40 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
157 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
4.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

695 
WUUS55 KTWC 110313
SVRTWC
AZC019-110400-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
812 PM MST TUE SEP 10 2002

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TUCSON HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY IN ARIZONA
    THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF SELLS

* UNTIL 900 PM MST

* AT 810 PM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES EAST OF SELLS...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 20
  MPH.

GO INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING. DAMAGING WINDS...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND
HEAVY RAINS ARE LIKELY.

LAT...LON 3184 11182 3191 11163 3234 11165 3213 11216

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 10, 2:30 PM MST, 5 hours 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 10, 2:30 PM MST, 5 hours 43 minutes before
SOUTHEAST ARIZONA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
230 PM MST TUE SEP 10 2002

.SYNOPSIS...THE SLOW MOVING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM NEAR SAN DIEGO WILL
FINALLY MOVE NORTHEAST AND OUT OF THE AREA BY FRIDAY. THE LOW
PRESSURE WILL PRODUCE THUNDERSTORMS STATEWIDE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.
ON THURSDAY...THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOVING EASTWARD AND THEN OUT OF
THE STATE BY THE WEEKEND. THIS WILL ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO WARM TO
SEASONAL NORMALS AND HUMIDITY TO DROP.

.DISCUSSION...ACTIVE THUNDERSTORM DAY...WITH UNIDIRECTIONAL FLOW
SHOULD GET SOME SPLITTING STORMS...BUT ITS IFFY ALOFT FOR LARGE
HAIL SINCE H5 TEMPS ARE ONLY -7C...ALTHOUGH THEY MAY GET COLDER THIS
AFTERNOON. UPPER LEVEL DRY AIR WILL RESULT IN A LOT OF ENTRAINMENT
OF DRY AIR SO THERE SHOULD BE SOME VIGOROUS VERTICAL MOTIONS...ALL
SAID PRESENT WORDING FOR AFTERNOON CONVECTION OF NEAR SEVERE LOOKS
PRETTY GOOD. THERE WILL PROBABLY BE SOME CONVECTION ALL NIGHT LONG
AS UPPER LOW SWINGS OUT AND DRAWS ELEVATED CAPE INTO THE AREA. HARD
TO TELL WHERE THAT WILL BE. QUICK MOTION OF THE STORMS LOWERS ANY
POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING.

TOMORROW IT WILL BE WARMER ALOFT WITH LESS DYNAMICS ALTHOUGH STILL
ENOUGH MOISTURE FOR STORMS. STORMS SHOULD ALSO MOVE A TAD SLOWER SO
POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING GOES BACK UP A LITTLE. BY THURSDAY DRY
AIR WILL CONFINE MOST STORMS TO THE MOUNTAINS AND EASTERN ZONES.
THEN ONLY ISOLATED ON FRIDAY. NORTHWEST FLOW FOR THE WEEKEND WILL
CONTINUE THE DRYING BUT NOT LET US GET TOO HOT...JUST NEAR NORMAL.

.TWC...NONE.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 10, 2:33 PM MST, 5 hours 40 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON ARIZONA
0233 PM MST TUE SEP 10 2002

TIME (MST) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0230 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   1.50 INCH HAIL
09/10/02   PIMA                           AT UNIV OF ARIZONA

0230 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   .75 INCH HAIL
09/10/02   PIMA                           DOWNTOWN TUCSON
Local storm report, Sep 10, 6:30 PM MST, 1 hour 43 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON ARIZONA
0630 PM MST TUE SEP 10 2002

TIME (MST) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0327 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   60 MPH TSTM GUST
09/10/02   PIMA

0230 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   1.5 INCH HAIL
09/10/02   PIMA                           UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

0240 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   .75 INCH HAIL
09/10/02   PIMA                           TUCSON MALL

0329 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   1 INCH HAIL
09/10/02   PIMA                           WITH 50 MPH WIND GUST

0315 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   1 INCH HAIL
09/10/02   PIMA                           BROADWAY AND CAMPBELL

0415 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   WIND DAMAGE
09/10/02   PIMA                           NUMEROUS POWER LINES AND TRAFFIC
                                          SIGNALS DOWN

0356 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   FLASH FLOOD
09/10/02   PIMA                           STREET FLOODING ON SOUTH AND
                                          SOUTHWEST SIDE

0430 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   FLASH FLOOD
09/10/02   PIMA                           WIDESPREAD STREET FLOODING WITH
                                          NUMEROUS ROADS AND INTERSECTIONS
                                          CLOSED

0300 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   WIND DAMAGE
09/10/02   PIMA                           MOBILE HOME OVERTURNED NEAR OLD
                                          VAIL ROAD

0245 PM    CORONA DE TUCSON          AZ   FLASH FLOOD
09/10/02   PIMA                           STREET FLOODING

0320 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   80 MPH TSTM GUST
09/10/02   PIMA                           UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA ROOF
Local storm report, Sep 10, 6:30 PM MST, 1 hour 43 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON ARIZONA
0630 PM MST TUE SEP 10 2002

TIME (MST) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0230 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   1.5 INCH HAIL
09/10/02   PIMA                           UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

0240 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   .75 INCH HAIL
09/10/02   PIMA                           TUCSON MALL

0245 PM    CORONA DE TUCSON          AZ   FLASH FLOOD
09/10/02   PIMA                           STREET FLOODING

0300 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   WIND DAMAGE
09/10/02   PIMA                           MOBILE HOME OVERTURNED NEAR OLD
                                          VAIL ROAD

0315 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   1 INCH HAIL
09/10/02   PIMA                           BROADWAY AND CAMPBELL

0320 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   80 MPH TSTM GUST
09/10/02   PIMA                           UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA ROOF

0327 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   60 MPH TSTM GUST
09/10/02   PIMA

0329 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   1 INCH HAIL
09/10/02   PIMA                           WITH 50 MPH WIND GUST

0356 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   FLASH FLOOD
09/10/02   PIMA                           STREET FLOODING ON SOUTH AND
                                          SOUTHWEST SIDE

0415 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   WIND DAMAGE
09/10/02   PIMA                           NUMEROUS POWER LINES AND TRAFFIC
                                          SIGNALS DOWN

0430 PM    TUCSON                    AZ   FLASH FLOOD
09/10/02   PIMA                           WIDESPREAD STREET FLOODING WITH
                                          NUMEROUS ROADS AND INTERSECTIONS
                                          CLOSED

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 10, 5:00 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima60 min
Sep 10, 5:02 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima118 min
Sep 10, 7:25 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCSanta Cruz35 min
Sep 10, 7:27 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCSanta Cruz93 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.