Alert archive / Arizona / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 9, NWS Flagstaff, AZ

September 15, 2011Navajo County, Arizona

NWS Flagstaff, AZ issued this tornado warning at Sep 15, 2011, 12:43 PM MDT for Navajo County, Arizona. It was in force for 32 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Sep 15, 2011, 12:43 PM MDT (18:43 UTC)
Expired
Sep 15, 2011, 1:15 PM MDT
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Flagstaff, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Navajo County, AZ

The radar

The Flagstaff radar (KFSX), 120 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:45 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
Sep 15, 12:45 PM MDTFUNNEL CLOUD4 Wsw Dilkon, AZBRIEF FUNNEL CLOUD...POSSIBLE TORNADO
Sep 15, 1:00 PM MDTHAIL 23 Wsw Dilkon, AZ

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Flgstf/Belemont, AZ (KFGZ), launched 12:00Z, 6.7 hours before the alert went out and 132 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, Flgstf/Belemont, AZ at 12:00Z on 2011-09-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 154 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Flgstf/Belemont, AZ at 12:00Z on 2011-09-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 113 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
154 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
763 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
113 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
160 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

776 
WFUS55 KFGZ 151843
TORFGZ
AZC017-151915-
/O.NEW.KFGZ.TO.W.0009.110915T1843Z-110915T1915Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLAGSTAFF AZ
1143 AM MST THU SEP 15 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FLAGSTAFF HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL NAVAJO COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ARIZONA...

* UNTIL 1215 PM MST

* AT 1140 AM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 9 MILES WEST OF
  CASTLE BUTTE...OR 24 MILES NORTHEAST OF WINSLOW...MOVING EAST AT 15
  MPH.  THIS STORM MAY ALSO PRODUCE QUARTER SIZE HAIL.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CEDAR
  SPRINGS AND DILKON

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

&&

LAT...LON 3551 11024 3531 11023 3529 11053 3542 11056
TIME...MOT...LOC 1843Z 257DEG 15KT 3534 11049

$$

OUTLER
3 follow-up statements
918 
WWUS55 KFGZ 151857
SVSFGZ

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLAGSTAFF AZ
1157 AM MST THU SEP 15 2011

AZC017-151915-
/O.CON.KFGZ.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-110915T1915Z/
NAVAJO AZ-
1157 AM MST THU SEP 15 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1215 PM MST FOR CENTRAL
NAVAJO COUNTY...

AT 1154 AM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A POSSIBLE TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MILEPOST 
375 ON SR 87...OR 27 MILES NORTHEAST OF WINSLOW...MOVING EAST AT 15 
MPH.  THIS STORM IS ALSO CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZED HAIL AND 
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES PER HOUR. 

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
MILEPOST 380 ON SR 87...CEDAR SPRINGS AND DILKON

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

&&

LAT...LON 3551 11024 3531 11023 3531 11048 3544 11048
TIME...MOT...LOC 1857Z 257DEG 15KT 3535 11042

$$

OUTLER
072 
WWUS55 KFGZ 151905
SVSFGZ

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLAGSTAFF AZ
1205 PM MST THU SEP 15 2011

AZC017-151915-
/O.CON.KFGZ.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-110915T1915Z/
NAVAJO AZ-
1205 PM MST THU SEP 15 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1215 PM MST FOR CENTRAL
NAVAJO COUNTY...

AT 1159 AM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MILEPOST 375 ON SR
87...OR 28 MILES NORTHEAST OF WINSLOW...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.  AT 
12 PM...LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED TWO INCH DIAMETER HAIL IN THE CITY 
OF DILKON.


OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO DILKON

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

&&

LAT...LON 3532 11043 3544 11044 3547 11024 3531 11023
TIME...MOT...LOC 1904Z 257DEG 15KT 3536 11038

$$

OUTLER
610 
WWUS55 KFGZ 151913
SVSFGZ

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLAGSTAFF AZ
1213 PM MST THU SEP 15 2011

AZC017-151923-
/O.EXP.KFGZ.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-110915T1915Z/
NAVAJO AZ-
1213 PM MST THU SEP 15 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL NAVAJO COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 1215 
PM MST...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED. 
HOWEVER THE STORM IS STILL PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND HEAVY RAIN. 
REPORT OBSERVED SEVERE WEATHER TO US AT 1-888-745-1637.

LAT...LON 3532 11043 3544 11044 3547 11024 3531 11023
TIME...MOT...LOC 1913Z 257DEG 15KT 3537 11033

$$

OUTLER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 14, 6:45 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGZApache, Gila, Navajo30 min
Sep 14, 7:23 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryFGZCoconino, Yavapai3 hr
Sep 14, 10:45 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryFGZCoconino, Yavapai105 min
Sep 15, 9:59 AM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryFGZCoconino3 hr
Sep 15, 12:18 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningFGZApache57 min
Sep 15, 1:41 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementFGZNavajo19 min
Sep 15, 4:05 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementFGZCoconino10 min
Sep 15, 4:22 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementFGZCoconino8 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Arizona, 2011Every tornado warning in 2011Tornadoes in 2011

Sources

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