Alert archive / Arizona / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2013

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 54, NWS Phoenix, AZ

September 6, 2013Maricopa County, Arizona

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 6, 2013, 2:29 PM MST for Maricopa County, Arizona. It was in force for 61 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, 2013, 2:29 PM MST (21:29 UTC)
Expired
Sep 6, 2013, 3:30 PM MST
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Phoenix, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Maricopa County, AZ

The radar

The Phoenix radar (KIWA), 77 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:31 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

Phoenix, AZ (KPSR), launched 12:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 49 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 2013-09-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 16 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 2013-09-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -14 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
16 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-295 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3078 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
10 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-14 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
4 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Phoenix, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Sep 6, 2:20 PM MST, 9 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 6, 2:20 PM MST, 9 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
220 PM MST FRI SEP 6 2013

.SYNOPSIS...
THE HOT TEMPERATURES WILL FINALLY BE ON THE DECREASE THIS WEEKEND AS
A DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TO THE SOUTHWEST ALLOWS FOR
INCREASED MONSOONAL MOISTURE THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. THIS WILL ALSO
RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM
ACTIVITY...ESPECIALLY SUNDAY AND MONDAY. CLOUDY SKIES IN COMBINATION
WITH THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL KEEP HIGHS WELL BELOW NORMAL
SUNDAY THROUGH NEXT TUESDAY.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
THIS AFTERNOON IS BECOMING FAIRLY ACTIVE WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION. MOISTURE WILL STILL BE
SOMEWHAT OF A LIMITING FACTOR FOR THE REST OF TODAY AS PWATS ACROSS
EASTERN ARIZONA REMAIN IN THE 1-1.3 INCH RANGE WITH HIGHEST PWATS OF
AROUND 1.5 INCHES FOCUSED ACROSS SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA. THE THREAT
TODAY WILL MAINLY BE LOCALIZED GUSTY WINDS FROM DRY MICROBURSTS
ALONG WITH AREAS OF BLOWING DUST. EXPECTING THE BEST CHANCES OF
STORMS TODAY TO BE MAINLY SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST OF THE METRO PHOENIX
AREA AND ACROSS SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA. SOME ENHANCEMENT IS LIKELY
SOUTH OF PHOENIX INTO SOUTHWEST ARIZONA DUE TO A WEAK VORTICITY MAX
SHOWN ON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY NEAR TUCSON MOVING TO THE WEST. THE
HEAT IS ALSO STILL A FACTOR TODAY AS MANY LOWER DESERT LOCATIONS
HAVE ALREADY SURPASSED 106 WITH SKY HARBOR AIRPORT IN PHOENIX
HITTING 110 LAST HOUR. HOWEVER...EXPECTING TODAY TO BE THE LAST DAY
OF WELL ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AS INCREASING MONSOONAL MOISTURE
THIS WEEKEND COOLS THINGS DOWN.

THIS WEEKEND WILL SEE A SHIFT IN THE WEATHER PATTERN AS A MORE
SOUTHERLY MOIST FLOW SETS UP WITH WHAT SHOULD BE SOME REMNANTS OF
TROPICAL STORM LORENA MAKING ITS WAY UP THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA THIS
WEEKEND AND LIKELY INTO ARIZONA ON MONDAY. FORECAST PWATS OF 1.5-2.0
INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE REGION FROM SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.
MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT THAT A DIVING PACIFIC JET STREAK OFF
THE CALIFORNIA COAST TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY WILL LEAD TO A DEEPENING
TROUGH OFF OF THE SOUTHWEST UNITED STATES. THIS TROUGH IS FORECAST
TO DEEPEN AND VIRTUALLY REMAIN STATIONARY FROM SUNDAY THROUGH
WEDNESDAY. FAIRLY PERSISTENT BROAD UPPER DIVERGENCE IS LIKELY ACROSS
OUR ENTIRE CWA FROM SUNDAY INTO TUESDAY AS A WEAK 30-40 KNOT UPPER
JET SITS ACROSS SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHWEST ARIZONA...ALONG
WITH MODELS SHOWING DIFFLUENCE ALOFT IN THE WIND FIELDS.

THE FORECAST SHOWS A RAMP UP OF POPS THIS WEEKEND WITH AREAWIDE
CHANCE TO LIKELY POPS SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY WITH HIGHEST CHANCES ON
MONDAY. THERE IS STILL A DECENT AMOUNT OF UNCERTAINTY WITH THIS
UPCOMING STORM SYSTEM AS FAR AS TIMING AND PIN-POINTING FOCUSED
AREAS OF THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL. HOWEVER...THE PAST SEVERAL
MODEL RUNS HAVE INDICATED THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL AMOUNTS SHOULD FALL
ACROSS OUR ARIZONA ZONES AND MOST LIKELY FOCUSING ACROSS HIGHER
TERRAIN AREAS NORTH AND EAST OF PHOENIX. CURRENT THINKING IS FOR THE
THREE DAY EVENT...WIDESPREAD QPF AMOUNTS OF 0.75-1.25 INCHES IS A
GOOD POSSIBILITY WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS. TEMPERATURES WILL
DEFINITELY BE ON THE DOWN TREND WITH EXPECTED LOWER DESERT HIGHS IN
THE 90S STARTING SUNDAY AND LIKELY LASTING THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF
NEXT WEEK.

&&

.AVIATION...
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA...INCLUDING KPHX...KIWA AND KSDL...AND
SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHWEST ARIZONA INCLUDING KIPL AND KBLH...

ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE LOWER
DESERTS THIS AFTERNOON. THE PROBABILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS DIRECTLY
AFFECTING ANY TAF SITE IS GENERALLY LOW. HOWEVER...AN OUTFLOW
BOUNDARY CONTAINING GUSTY WINDS AND BLOWING DUST WITH REDUCED VSBYS
IS POSSIBLE AGAIN FOR THE PHOENIX AREA THIS EVENING. LATEST TAFS
HINT AT THIS POSSIBILITY...THOUGH WINDS MAY BE CONSIDERABLY STRONGER
FOR A BRIEF PERIOD IF THE BOUNDARY DOES INDEED MATERIALIZE.

AVIATION DISCUSSION NOT UPDATED FOR AMENDED TAFS.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...
MOISTURE WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE PERIOD...
BRINGING GREATER CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE
LOWER DESERTS...ALONG WITH INCREASED HUMIDITY LEVELS. WINDS THROUGH
MOST OF THE PERIOD WILL BE LIGHT. STRONGER AND MORE ERRATIC WINDS
ARE POSSIBLE NEAR THUNDERSTORMS.

&&

.PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

AZ...NONE.

CA...NONE.

&&

VISIT US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...AND AT WEATHER.GOV/PHOENIX

DISCUSSION...KUHLMAN
AVIATION...HIRSCH
FIRE WEATHER...MCLANE
Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 6, 5:55 AM MST, 8 hours 34 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
555 AM MST FRI SEP 6 2013

AZZ020>028-CAZ030>033-071300-
LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY AZ-WEST CENTRAL DESERTS-
NORTHWEST MARICOPA COUNTY-GREATER PHOENIX AREA-
SOUTHERN GILA COUNTY/TONTO NATIONAL FOREST FOOTHILLS-
YUMA/MARTINEZ LAKE AND VICINITY-SOUTHWEST DESERTS-
SOUTHWEST MARICOPA COUNTY-NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY-
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY CA-
RIVERSIDE COUNTY/EASTERN DESERTS-IMPERIAL COUNTY-
555 AM MST FRI SEP 6 2013 /555 AM PDT FRI SEP 6 2013/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST-CENTRAL
ARIZONA...EXTREME SOUTHWEST ARIZONA...EXTREME WEST-CENTRAL
ARIZONA...SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA...SOUTHWEST ARIZONA...WEST-CENTRAL
ARIZONA...EXTREME SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY
RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. STRONG GUSTY
THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW WINDS CAN CREATE AREAS OF BLOWING DUST AND
RAPIDLY REDUCE VISIBILITY FOR MOTORISTS...ESPECIALLY IN DUST PRONE
LOWER DESERT ELEVATIONS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

MOISTURE WILL BE ON THE INCREASE THIS WEEKEND THROUGH EARLY NEXT
WEEK. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE A POSSIBILITY FROM SATURDAY
THROUGH AT LEAST TUESDAY. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN AND LOCALIZED FLOODING...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND
FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX IS ON THE INTERNET AT

WEATHER.GOV/PHOENIX

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 6, 1:04 PM MST, 1 hour 25 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Sep 6, 1:14 PM MST, 1 hour 15 minutes before
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    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
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Special weather statement, Sep 6, 1:39 PM MST, 50 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
139 PM MST FRI SEP 6 2013

AZZ021-062130-
LA PAZ AZ-
139 PM MST FRI SEP 6 2013

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
  CENTRAL LA PAZ COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ARIZONA

UNTIL 230 PM MST

AT 137 PM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR BRENDA...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 10 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
   BRENDA...

SOME UNSECURED OBJECTS WILL BE BLOWN AROUND...TREE LIMBS COULD BE
SNAPPED OFF...AND ISOLATED POWER OUTAGES WILL BE POSSIBLE. SEEK
SHELTER INDOORS UNTIL THE STORM PASSES.

LAT...LON 3375 11420 3387 11391 3361 11378 3353 11398
TIME...MOT...LOC 2039Z 141DEG 7KT 3365 11393

WOODALL

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 5, 10:08 PM MSTBlowing Dust AdvisoryPSR52 min
Sep 6, 1:04 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRMaricopa41 min
Sep 6, 1:14 PM MSTBlowing Dust AdvisoryPSR3 hr
Sep 6, 1:14 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRMaricopa31 min
Sep 6, 1:27 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa63 min
Sep 6, 1:39 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRLa Paz51 min
Sep 6, 1:53 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRMaricopa112 min
Sep 6, 3:04 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRMaricopa116 min
Sep 6, 3:11 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRMaricopa49 min
Sep 6, 3:34 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR41 min
Sep 6, 3:57 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR48 min
Sep 6, 4:06 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR39 min
Sep 6, 4:30 PM MSTDust Storm WarningPSR107 min
Sep 5, 5:22 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRRiverside38 min
Sep 6, 3:29 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRRiverside46 min
Sep 6, 4:18 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRRiverside3 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arizona, 2013Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2013

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.