Alert archive / Arizona / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2015
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 57, NWS Phoenix, AZ
NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 31, 2015, 7:10 PM MST for Maricopa County, Arizona. It was in force for 35 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
- Aug 31, 2015, 7:10 PM MST (02:10 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 31, 2015, 7:45 PM MST
- In force
- 35 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 02:14 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.
The nearest sounding before it
Phoenix, AZ (KPSR), launched 00:00Z, 2.2 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 438 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -89 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2659 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 12 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 12 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 32 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
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 Aug 31, 2:33 PM MST, 4 hours 37 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 31, 2:33 PM MST, 4 hours 37 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ 233 PM MST MON AUG 31 2015 .SYNOPSIS... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE AGAIN TONIGHT ACROSS THE PHOENIX AREA AND POINTS EAST...ALTHOUGH A SLIGHT DRYING TREND IS EXPECTED BY THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. MOISTURE IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TO THE AREA LATE IN THE WEEK WITH ADDITIONAL SHOWERS/STORMS POSSIBLE FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND. A GRADUAL COOLING TREND IS ALSO ANTICIPATED THIS WEEK THROUGH THURSDAY. && .DISCUSSION... LATEST STREAMLINE ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT THE RIDGE HAS DRIFTED SLIGHTLY TO THE EAST...BUT OVERALL VERY LITTLE HAS CHANGED SYNOPTICALLY OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS. INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE NCAR ENSEMBLE PICKED UP ON THE MORNING ACTIVITY ACROSS GILA COUNTY AND CONSEQUENTLY MORE WEIGHT WAS ASSIGNED TO THIS GUIDANCE THROUGH THE EVENING. OTHER CONVECTIVE ALLOWING GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO SUGGEST THAT ISOLATED/SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL AGAIN DEVELOP ACROSS THE PHOENIX AREA AND POINTS EASTWARD THIS EVENING...AIDED BY SUFFICIENT LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE...BOUNDARY PROPAGATION FROM THE SOUTH AND RELATIVELY COOL TEMPERATURES ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH A TROUGH TO THE WEST. LATEST ACARS SOUNDINGS SHOW THAT STEERING FLOW HAS VEERED SLIGHTLY TO THE SOUTHWEST...WHICH AT LEAST CONCEPTUALLY SHOULD FOCUS ACTIVITY SOMEWHAT FURTHER EAST THAN IN PREVIOUS NIGHTS. A WARM LAYER NEAR 700 MB IS ALSO EVIDENT...WHICH IS LIKELY RESULTING IN CONSIDERABLE CONVECTIVE INHIBITION AND MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES ACROSS THE PHOENIX AREA. U OF A WRFS HAVE PERFORMED WELL THE PAST FEW EVENINGS AND AGAIN INDICATE THAT SCATTERED ACTIVITY IS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE PHOENIX AREA. FORECAST POPS WERE INCREASED TO 20-30 PERCENT ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTH-CENTRAL AZ FOR TONIGHT. MOST AREAS WILL NOT SEE MEASURABLERAINFALL...THOUGH LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS AND AREAS OF BLOWING DUST ARE MORE PROBABLE. && .PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... FORECAST CONFIDENCE TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY IS LOW. DETERMINISTIC GUIDANCE TAKEN AT FACE VALUE WOULD SUGGEST A DOWNWARD TREND IN STORMS THROUGH MID WEEK...HOWEVER PROBABILISTIC TOOLS SUGGEST THE BL WILL REMAIN MOIST WITH MODEST INSTABILITY ACROSS THE REGION. OF COURSE THE MISSING INGREDIENT IS A TRIGGER TO KICK OFF STORMS IN THE FIRST PLACE AND NONE OF THE DETERMINISTIC GUIDANCE INDICATE MUCH IN THE WAY OF INVERTED TROUGHS OR LARGER SCALE FEATURES. WILL HANG ONTO SOMEWHAT ELEVATED POPS /HIGHER THAN CLIMO/ THROUGH MID WEEK ON THE PREMISE THAT STORMS WILL BE TRIGGERED BY COLLIDING OUTFLOWS. FORECAST CONFIDENCE ISN'T MUCH HIGHER LATER IN THE FORECAST PERIOD. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT MOISTURE WILL BE DRAWN INTO THE REGION FROM THE TROPICS LATE IN THE WEEK /FRIDAY-SATURDAY/ ALTHOUGH EXACTLY WHERE THIS AXIS OF DEEPEST MOISTURE RESIDES IS STILL UP FOR DEBATE. 00Z DETERMINISTIC GFS AND ECMWF SUGGEST ANOMALOUSLY HIGH PWATS AND MIXING RATIOS WILL OVERSPREAD MUCH OF THE DESERT SOUTHWEST WHEREAS GEFS AND NAEFS KEEP THIS MOISTURE SOUTH OF THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER AND SHIFT IT TOWARD THE AZ/NM BORDER. GIVEN THE MAGNITUDE OF THE 700-300MB FLOW DURING THIS TIME PERIOD /AROUND 30-40KTS/...I'M SKEPTICAL THE MOISTURE WILL REMAIN CONFINED TO THE BORDER AND POINTS SOUTH. DEWPOINTS HAVE BEEN BUMPED UP LATE IN THE WEEK AND POPS HAVE ALSO BEEN ELEVATED A BIT OVER INHERITED VALUES /MORE IN LINE WITH CLIMO/. COULD END UP SEEING ELEVATED RAIN CHANCES LATE IN THE WEEK INTO THE WEEKEND...BUT COULD JUST AS EASILY SEE INCREASE CLOUD COVER AND DRY CONDITIONS DEPENDING ON WHERE THE MOISTURE AXIS POSITIONS ITSELF. THUS CONFIDENCE IN PRECIP CHANCES IS LOW. FAIRLY HIGH CONFIDENCE IN LOWER TEMPERATURES LATE IN THE WEEK WITH SOME OF THE RAW UN-CORRECTED GUIDANCE POINTING TO HIGHS IN THE UPPER 90S. LOWERED TEMPERATURES A FEW DEGREES FROM FRIDAY ONWARD ACCORDINGLY. && .AVIATION... SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA INCLUDING KPHX...KIWA...AND KSDL... WEATHER CONDITIONS SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED OVER THE WEEKEND ONLY SLIGHTLY SHIFTED A LITTLE FURTHER TO THE EAST. SO RESULTING FORECAST FOR THE PHOENIX AREA TERMINALS WILL BE AGAIN FOR AT LEAST VCTS FOR A PERIOD THIS EVENING...WITH OUTFLOW INTRUSIONS TO COME BEFORE ANY THUNDER DEVELOPMENT. THINKING THAT ANY OUTFLOW WIND SHIFTS COULD OCCUR AROUND 01/02Z OR SO...WITH CB AND TS/RA DEVELOPMENT POSSIBLY FOLLOWING OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE EVENING HOURS. DEBRIS CLOUDINESS AND A STRAY SHOWER COULD LINGER BEYOND MIDNIGHT BEFORE CONDITIONS SCATTER OUT TOWARDS THE AM HOURS. SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA/SOUTHWEST ARIZONA INCLUDING KIPL AND KBLH... PASSING MID AND HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS WILL CONTINUE TO DRIFT NORTHEASTWARD AS SUBTLE TROUGHING ALOFT REMAINS OVER SOUTHEAST CA. DAYTIME WINDS FOR KIPL TO STAY MOSTLY VRB BEFORE TAKING UP TYPICAL SUNDOWNER WESTERLIES IN THE EVENING. ELEVATED SOUTHERLY BREEZES TO PERSIST FOR KBLH WITH SOME AFTN GUSTINESS JUST SHY OF 20KTS OR SO. AVIATION DISCUSSION NOT UPDATED FOR AMENDED TAFS. && .FIRE WEATHER... WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILL DISPLACE THE MONSOON HIGH SLIGHTLY TO THE SOUTH AND EAST THROUGH THE WEEK. THE TREND WILL BE TOWARDS COOLER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE DESERT SOUTHWEST WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES NEAR OR SLIGHTLY BELOW SEASONAL NORMALS EACH DAY. HOWEVER SUFFICIENT MOISTURE WILL LINGER ACROSS EASTERN ARIZONA TO KEEP AT LEAST A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS FROM PHOENIX EAST WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY. MINIMUM RH VALUES WILL FALL BELOW 15 PERCENT WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY ACROSS SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA WITH VALUES ABOVE 15 PERCENT EXPECTED EAST OF THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER. FOR FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND...LATEST GUIDANCE MORE INSISTENT UPON A RETURN TO DEEPER MOISTURE...HIGHER HUMIDITY AND BETTER RAIN CHANCES...PARTICULARLY ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL ARIZONA. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. && .PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AZ...NONE. CA...NONE. && VISIT US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...AND AT WEATHER.GOV/PHOENIX DISCUSSION...HIRSCH PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...LEINS AVIATION...NOLTE FIRE WEATHER...CB/HIRSCH
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 4:20 PM MST, 2 hours 50 minutes before
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</html>Special weather statement, Aug 31, 4:23 PM MST, 2 hours 47 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
423 PM MST MON AUG 31 2015
AZZ024-010015-
SOUTHERN GILA/TONTO NF FOOTHILLS AZ-
423 PM MST MON AUG 31 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
CENTRAL GILA COUNTY
UNTIL 515 PM MST
AT 423 PM MST...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10
MILES EAST OF TONTO NATIONAL MONUMENT...OR 12 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
ROOSEVELT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH.
SMALL HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
THIS STORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF CENTRAL GILA
COUNTY.
LAT...LON 3364 11092 3369 11083 3366 11080 3361 11071
3351 11098 3356 11104 3374 11097
TIME...MOT...LOC 2323Z 228DEG 6KT 3359 11094
18Special weather statement, Aug 31, 6:23 PM MST, 47 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
623 PM MST MON AUG 31 2015
AZZ028-010200-
NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY AZ-
623 PM MST MON AUG 31 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
EAST CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY
UNTIL 700 PM MST
AT 622 PM MST...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
SOUTH OF FLORENCE...MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND LOCALLY DENSE BLOWING DUST WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FLORENCE...COOLIDGE AIRPORT AND VALLEY FARMS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
LOCALLY DENSE BLOWING DUST IS POSSIBLE. IF YOU ENCOUNTER BLOWING
DUST WHILE DRIVING...PULL OVER AS FAR OFF THE ROADWAY AS POSSIBLE AND
PARK. TURN OFF YOUR HEADLIGHTS AND KEEP YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE.
&&
LAT...LON 3305 11151 3317 11120 3307 11120 3290 11144
3290 11145
TIME...MOT...LOC 0122Z 176DEG 9KT 3297 11131
18Special weather statement, Aug 31, 6:57 PM MST, 13 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ 657 PM MST MON AUG 31 2015 AZZ023-028-010230- GREATER PHOENIX AREA AZ-NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY AZ- 657 PM MST MON AUG 31 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... CENTRAL MARICOPA AND NORTHWESTERN PINAL COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM MST AT 657 PM MST...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR LAVEEN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... PHOENIX...AVONDALE...TOLLESON...LAVEEN...PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY...SOUTH MOUNTAIN PARK...DOWNTOWN PHOENIX...SOUTH PHOENIX AND KOMATKE. LAT...LON 3325 11217 3334 11234 3352 11223 3341 11199 TIME...MOT...LOC 0157Z 214DEG 16KT 3337 11220 18
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 6:59 PM MST, 11 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
659 PM MST MON AUG 31 2015
AZZ024-028-010230-
NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY AZ-
SOUTHERN GILA/TONTO NF FOOTHILLS AZ-
659 PM MST MON AUG 31 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
EAST CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY
UNTIL 730 PM MST
AT 659 PM MST...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
FLORENCE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND LOCALLY DENSE BLOWING DUST WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FLORENCE...COOLIDGE...MAGMA...COOLIDGE AIRPORT AND VALLEY FARMS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
LOCALLY DENSE BLOWING DUST IS POSSIBLE. IF YOU ENCOUNTER BLOWING
DUST WHILE DRIVING...PULL OVER AS FAR OFF THE ROADWAY AS POSSIBLE AND
PARK. TURN OFF YOUR HEADLIGHTS AND KEEP YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE.
&&
LAT...LON 3302 11157 3328 11145 3313 11111 3304 11123
3292 11142
TIME...MOT...LOC 0159Z 222DEG 15KT 3306 11141
18Special weather statement, Aug 31, 7:01 PM MST, 9 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ 701 PM MST MON AUG 31 2015 AZZ024-010230- SOUTHERN GILA/TONTO NF FOOTHILLS AZ- 701 PM MST MON AUG 31 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... CENTRAL GILA COUNTY UNTIL 730 PM MST AT 701 PM MST...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR GLOBE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... GLOBE...CENTRAL HEIGHTS-MIDLAND CITY AND CUTTER. LAT...LON 3324 11072 3330 11086 3346 11079 3336 11053 TIME...MOT...LOC 0201Z 222DEG 6KT 3332 11075 18
The office that day
Everything else NWS Phoenix, AZ issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 6:01 PM MST | Blowing Dust Advisory | PSR | 59 min | |
| Aug 31, 6:23 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | Pinal | 37 min |
| Aug 31, 6:57 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | Maricopa | 33 min |
| Aug 31, 6:59 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | Pinal | 31 min |
| Aug 31, 7:01 PM MST | Blowing Dust Advisory | PSR | 59 min | |
| Aug 31, 7:01 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | Gila | 29 min |
| Aug 31, 7:23 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | Pinal | 37 min |
| Aug 31, 7:29 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | PSR | Maricopa | 3 hr |
| Aug 31, 7:31 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | PSR | Maricopa | 3 hr |
| Aug 31, 7:37 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | Maricopa | 23 min |
| Aug 31, 7:44 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | PSR | Maricopa | 3 hr |
| Aug 31, 7:46 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PSR | Maricopa | 29 min |
| Aug 31, 7:49 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PSR | Maricopa | 26 min |
| Aug 31, 7:55 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | PSR | Maricopa | 3 hr |
| Aug 31, 8:02 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | Pinal | 43 min |
| Aug 31, 8:08 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | PSR | Maricopa | 3 hr |
| Aug 31, 8:17 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PSR | Maricopa, Pinal | 28 min |
| Aug 31, 8:31 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | PSR | Maricopa | 119 min |
| Aug 31, 8:34 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | Maricopa | 41 min |
| Aug 31, 8:40 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PSR | Maricopa | 35 min |
| Aug 31, 8:43 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | 47 min | |
| Aug 31, 8:53 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | PSR | Maricopa | 3 hr |
| Aug 31, 9:10 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | 50 min | |
| Aug 31, 9:14 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | Pinal | 31 min |
| Aug 31, 9:32 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | PSR | Pinal | 118 min |
| Aug 31, 9:38 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | 52 min | |
| Aug 31, 9:58 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | PSR | Pinal | 3 hr |
| Aug 31, 10:42 PM MST | Areal Flood Warning | PSR | Maricopa | 3 hr |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arizona, 2015Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2015
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.