Alert archive / Arizona / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2015

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 63, NWS Las Vegas, NV

October 18, 2015Mohave County, Arizona

NWS Las Vegas, NV issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Oct 18, 2015, 8:59 PM MST for Mohave County, Arizona. It was in force for 46 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: Oct 18, 2015, 8:59 PM MST (03:59 UTC)
Expired: Oct 18, 2015, 9:45 PM MST
In force: 46 min
Issued by: NWS Las Vegas, NV
Area: Storm-based polygon

County Mohave County, AZ

The radar

The Las Vegas radar (KESX), 146 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:02 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

Flgstf/Belemont, AZ (KFGZ), launched 00:00Z, 4.0 hours before the alert went out and 163 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 223 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -70 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1028 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 83 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 88 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 1.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

176 
WUUS55 KVEF 190359
SVRVEF
AZC015-190445-
/O.NEW.KVEF.SV.W.0063.151019T0359Z-151019T0445Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
859 PM MST SUN OCT 18 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAS VEGAS  HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL MOHAVE COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN ARIZONA...

* UNTIL 945 PM MST

* AT 858 PM MST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS 
  CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN 
  EXCESS OF 70 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 16 MILES NORTHWEST OF 
  VALENTINE...OR 28 MILES NORTHEAST OF KINGMAN...AND MOVING 
  NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  GRAND CANYON SKYWALK...PIERCE FERRY AND ANTARES ROADS...TOROWEAP
  CAMPGROUND...BAR TEN RANCH...DIAMOND CREEK CAMPGROUND...GRAND
  CANYON RANCH AND TUWEEP.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE HIGH WINDS WHICH CAN BRING DOWN TREES AND
POWER LINES AND CAUSE BLOWING DUST. ALSO...LIGHTNING CAN KILL! TAKE
COVER IN A STURDY BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM
PASSES. REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE LAS VEGAS NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE VIA FACEBOOK OR TWITTER.

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DESTRUCTIVE WINDS AND LARGE
HAIL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK SHELTER NOW INSIDE A
STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

&&

LAT...LON 3624 11302 3617 11313 3618 11316 3616 11319
      3609 11323 3610 11331 3605 11335 3599 11334
      3597 11332 3591 11334 3589 11331 3582 11333
      3561 11334 3537 11380 3583 11422 3617 11363
      3634 11303 3623 11298
TIME...MOT...LOC 0358Z 223DEG 33KT 3559 11383 

$$

PULLIN

2 follow-up statements

156 
WWUS55 KVEF 190418
SVSVEF

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
918 PM MST SUN OCT 18 2015

AZC015-190445-
/O.CON.KVEF.SV.W.0063.000000T0000Z-151019T0445Z/
MOHAVE AZ-
918 PM MST SUN OCT 18 2015

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM MST
FOR CENTRAL MOHAVE COUNTY...

AT 918 PM MST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE
OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70
MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 19 MILES WEST OF DIAMOND CREEK
CAMPGROUND...OR 38 MILES NORTHEAST OF KINGMAN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
40 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
DIAMOND CREEK CAMPGROUND...GRAND CANYON SKYWALK...GRAND CANYON
RANCH...TOROWEAP CAMPGROUND...BAR TEN RANCH AND TUWEEP.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DESTRUCTIVE WINDS AND LARGE
HAIL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK SHELTER NOW INSIDE A
STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

&&

LAT...LON 3624 11302 3617 11313 3618 11316 3616 11319
      3609 11323 3610 11331 3605 11335 3599 11334
      3597 11332 3591 11334 3589 11331 3582 11333
      3561 11334 3547 11361 3591 11408 3617 11363
      3634 11303 3623 11298
TIME...MOT...LOC 0418Z 223DEG 33KT 3570 11370 

$$

PULLIN

506 
WWUS55 KVEF 190433
SVSVEF

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
933 PM MST SUN OCT 18 2015

AZC015-190445-
/O.CON.KVEF.SV.W.0063.000000T0000Z-151019T0445Z/
MOHAVE AZ-
933 PM MST SUN OCT 18 2015

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM MST
FOR CENTRAL MOHAVE COUNTY...

AT 933 PM MST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE
OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70
MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 13 MILES WEST OF DIAMOND CREEK
CAMPGROUND...OR 46 MILES NORTHEAST OF KINGMAN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
40 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
DIAMOND CREEK CAMPGROUND...GRAND CANYON SKYWALK...TOROWEAP
CAMPGROUND...BAR TEN RANCH AND TUWEEP.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DESTRUCTIVE WINDS AND LARGE
HAIL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK SHELTER NOW INSIDE A
STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

&&

LAT...LON 3624 11302 3617 11313 3618 11316 3616 11319
      3609 11323 3610 11331 3605 11335 3599 11334
      3597 11332 3591 11334 3589 11331 3582 11333
      3561 11334 3555 11346 3598 11396 3617 11363
      3634 11303 3623 11298
TIME...MOT...LOC 0433Z 223DEG 33KT 3578 11361 

$$

PULLIN

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 Las Vegas, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Oct 18, 8:10 PM MST, 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 18, 8:10 PM MST, 49 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
810 PM PDT SUN OCT 18 2015

.SYNOPSIS...A BROAD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING ACROSS CALIFORNIA AND
NEVADA WILL BRING NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE REGION
THROUGH THIS EVENING...ALONG WITH A THREAT OF FLASH FLOODING. STORM
COVERAGE WILL DIMINISH OVERNIGHT. ADDITIONAL UPPER LEVEL
DISTURBANCES WILL PROVIDE UNSETTLED AND COOL CONDITIONS INTO THE
MIDDLE OF THE COMING WEEK.
&&

.UPDATE...QUICK UPDATE THROUGH 06Z THIS EVENING. REDUCED PRECIP
CHANCES TO THE WEST OF THE COLORADO RIVER AS THE MAIN BAND OF
PRECIPITATION HAS MOVED INTO ARIZONA. OVER MOHAVE
COUNTY...SPECIFICALLY THE SOUTHERN HALF OF MOHAVE COUNTY...I HAVE
INCREASED POPS SUBSTANTIALLY AND MENTIONED HAIL AND VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL. A VERY WELL ORGANIZED COMPLEX OF STRONG-SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS IS CURRENTLY APPROACHING THE KINGMAN AREA. HAIL UP TO
PING PONG BALL SIZE HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THESE STORMS. WILL BE
TAKING A LOOK AT THE FORECAST FOR THE REST OF TONIGHT SHORTLY.
&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...
335 PM PDT SUN OCT 18 2015

.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

A WIDE BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM EASTERN SAN BERNARDINO UP
THROUGH CLARK INTO LINCOLN COUNTIES THIS AFTERNOON. A SECONDARY BAND
EXTENDED FROM CENTRAL INYO COUNTY UP THROUGH CENTRAL NYE COUNTY.
THIS WAS GENERALLY PLAYING OUT AS FORECAST AND ONLY MINOR
ADJUSTMENTS WERE NEEDED TO THE INHERITED POP/WX GRIDS. FOR THOSE
TRYING TO FOLLOW THE SITUATION USING THE NWS LAS VEGAS RADAR...THE
INTERMITTENT DATA OUTAGES ARE DUE TO A TELCO ISSUE AND THIS PROBLEM
WILL NOT BE FIXED UNTIL MONDAY. THESE BANDS WILL CONTINUE PUSHING TO
THE EAST THIS EVENING AHEAD OF VORT MAX EJECTING INLAND ASSOCIATED
WITH THE BROAD INCOMING LOW WHICH WAS CENTERED OVER CENTRAL AND
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. CONVECTION WILL DIMINISH OVERNIGHT BEHIND THIS
VORT MAX.

A SHORTWAVE TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC NEAR 45N/135W WILL THEN
DIVE DOWN THE BACK SIDE OF THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MONDAY AND DIG IT
TOWARD YUMA ARIZONA AS IT SPINS UP INTO A CLOSED LOW. THE SYSTEM
WILL THEN CIRCULATE OVER THAT AREA THROUGH WEDNESDAY LEADING TO A
CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER MOHAVE...CLARK...LINCOLN
AND EASTERN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES EACH DAY. TEMPERATURES WILL HOLD
CLOSE TO CURRENT LEVELS...REMAINING A LITTLE BELOW NORMAL THROUGH
THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.

.LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

PATTERN SHOULD BECOME FAVORABLE FOR DRIER NORTHWEST FLOW...WHICH
SHOULD HELP BRING RELIEF FROM A PROLONGED PERIOD OF UNSETTLED AND
WET WEATHER. SHORTWAVES MOVING THROUGH THE FLOW COULD BRING ENHANCED
WINDS TO THE REGION AT TIMES. OTHERWISE EXPECT CALMER AND SLIGHTLY
WARMER CONDITIONS THAN THE FIRST HALF OF THE WEEK.
&&

.AVIATION...FOR MCCARRAN...SOUTHWEST WINDS 12-16KTS WITH GUSTS TO
25. SHRA/TSRA WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE LAS VEGAS VALLEY...INCLUDING
IN AND AROUND THE KLAS TERMINAL THROUGH AT LEAST 01Z...PERSISTING A
COUPLE EXTRA HOURS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE VALLEY. CIGS OF 3-5K FEET
ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS ACTIVITY ALONG WITH MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS.
STORMS COULD BRING GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 35 KTS...AS WELL AS
REDUCED VSBY...3 SM OR LESS...DUE TO HEAVY RAIN. SLIGHT CHANCES FOR
SHRA/TSRA WILL CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY...MAINLY IN THE MOUNTAINS
SURROUNDING THE VALLEY AND IN THE EASTERN CORRIDORS.

FOR THE REST OF SOUTHERN NEVADA...NORTHWEST ARIZONA...AND SOUTHEAST
CALIFORNIA...MULTIPLE BANDS OF SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS
HAVE DEVELOPED AND WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH TO THE EAST FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON AND INTO EVENING...PARTICULARLY IN
SOUTHERN NEVADA. ONE OR TWO OF THESE BANDS WILL PUSH INTO NORTHWEST
ARIZONA DURING THE EVENING HOURS. GUSTS EXCEEDING 35 KTS ARE
POSSIBLE WITH THUNDERSTORMS. CIGS WILL MAINLY BE 3K-6K FEET IN AND
NEAR SHRA/TSRA OTHERWISE 6K-10K FEET. VSBY MAY BE REDUCED TO MVFR OR
LOWER AND MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS ARE LIKELY IN AND NEAR ANY
SHRA/TSRA. OUTSIDE OF TSRA EXPECT SOUTHWEST WINDS TO INCREASE TO 10-
20 KTS WITH GUSTS 20-30 KTS INTO THE EVENING. WINDS WILL BE LIGHTER
ON MONDAY...AND MAINLY DIURNALLY DRIVE. CHANCES FOR SHRA/TSRA WILL
CONTINUE INTO MID WEEK...MAINLY FROM LAS VEGAS EAST. &&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED
ALTHOUGH SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
&&

UPDATE...WOLCOTT

SHORT TERM...ADAIR
LONG TERM...WOLCOTT
AVIATION...CZYZYK

FOR MORE FORECAST INFORMATION...SEE US ON OUR WEBPAGE:

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS OR FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER

In the hours before

Local storm report, Oct 18, 6:33 PM MST, 2 hours 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
633 PM PDT SUN OCT 18 2015

...TIME...  ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
...DATE...  ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0630 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 SSW MOAPA             36.65N 114.61W
10/18/2015                   CLARK              NV   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTS HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD CLOSED
            1.5 TO 2 MILES N/W OF I-15 DUE TO 4.5 FEET
            OF WATER FLOWING OVER ROAD

&&

CFS

Local storm report, Oct 18, 8:11 PM MST, 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
811 PM PDT SUN OCT 18 2015

...TIME...  ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
...DATE...  ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0806 PM     HAIL             2 W GOLDEN VALLEY       35.22N 114.26W
10/18/2015  E1.50 INCH       MOHAVE             AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED PING-PONG BALL
            SIZED HAIL IN GOLDEN VALLEY

&&

CFS

Local storm report, Oct 18, 8:17 PM MST, 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
817 PM PDT SUN OCT 18 2015

...TIME...  ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
...DATE...  ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0816 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 S OVERTON             36.53N 114.44W
10/18/2015                   CLARK              NV   STORM CHASER

            SPOTTER REPORTS 3 FEET OF WATER FROM OVERTON
            WASH FLOWING OVER SR 169/MOAPA VALLEY BLVD

&&

CFS

Local storm report, Oct 18, 8:18 PM MST, 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
818 PM PDT SUN OCT 18 2015

...TIME...  ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
...DATE...  ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0816 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 S OVERTON             36.53N 114.44W
10/18/2015                   CLARK              NV   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTS 3 FEET OF WATER FROM OVERTON
            WASH FLOWING OVER SR 169/MOAPA VALLEY BLVD

&&

CFS

Local storm report, Oct 18, 8:21 PM MST, 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
821 PM PDT SUN OCT 18 2015

...TIME...  ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
...DATE...  ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0810 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 E GOLDEN VALLEY       35.22N 114.14W
10/18/2015  E70 MPH          MOHAVE             AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WIND GUST ESTIMATED.

&&

NWS LAS VEGAS NV
IRIS SYSTEM

Local storm report, Oct 18, 8:23 PM MST, 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
823 PM PDT SUN OCT 18 2015

...TIME...  ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
...DATE...  ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0810 PM     HAIL             5 E GOLDEN VALLEY       35.22N 114.14W
10/18/2015  E1.00 INCH       MOHAVE             AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

NWS LAS VEGAS NV
IRIS SYSTEM

The office that day

Everything else NWS Las Vegas, NV issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Oct 18, 6:44 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	VEF	Mohave	3 hr
Oct 18, 6:58 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	VEF	Mohave	3 hr
Oct 18, 7:28 PM MST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	VEF	Mohave	47 min
Oct 18, 7:45 PM MST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	VEF	Mohave	30 min
Oct 18, 7:56 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	VEF	Mohave	3 hr
Oct 18, 8:13 PM MST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	VEF	Mohave	47 min
Oct 18, 8:33 PM MST	Areal Flood Warning	VEF	Mohave	24 hr
Oct 18, 9:45 PM MST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	VEF	Mohave	60 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arizona, 2015 Every 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.