Alert archive / Arizona / Excessive Heat Warnings in 2020

Excessive Heat Warning 9, NWS Tucson, AZ

August 23, 20204 counties in Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this excessive heat warning at Aug 23, 2020, 2:19 AM MST for 4 counties in Arizona. It took effect at Aug 24, 2020, 10:00 AM MST. It was in force for 3 days. 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 23, 2020, 2:19 AM MST (09:19 UTC)
In effect from
Aug 24, 2020, 10:00 AM MST
Expired
Aug 27, 2020, 8:00 PM MST
In force
3 days
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ

Counties Graham County, AZ, Greenlee County, AZ, Pima County, AZ, Pinal County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 100 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:19 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

Tuscon, AZ (KTUS), launched 00:00Z, 9.3 hours before the alert went out and 75 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, Tuscon, AZ at 00:00Z on 2020-08-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1754 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, Tuscon, AZ at 00:00Z on 2020-08-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -42 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
1754 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-94 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2340 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-42 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
27 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 excessive heat 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 excessive heat warning went out at Aug 22, 3:31 PM MST, 10 hours 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 22, 3:31 PM MST, 10 hours 48 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
331 PM MST Sat Aug 22 2020

.SYNOPSIS...A chance of thunderstorms through the weekend, with
temperatures closer to average for late August. High pressure
building back through Arizona will tend to limit thunderstorm
coverage and push temperatures back up next week. Excessive heat
is possible with near record high temperatures Monday and Tuesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...The mid morning discussion remains valid for the
rest of today regarding storm activity. For storms in the Tucson
Metro, a strong outflow will be needed to break the cap. Best
chance for that to happen would be in the evening. Elsewhere,
storms developing across the higher terrain will work south and
west through the evening, with the greatest coverage south and
east of Tucson.

Did not make any changes to the Excessive Heat Watch at this time.
There is just enough uncertainty in regards to moisture/storm
chances Monday into Tuesday, which could keep temperatures down a
degree or two from forecast. The way this Monsoon has gone, an
upgrade to a warning is probably coming.

Sunday remains on track for an active day across most of SE AZ,
including the Tucson Metro. Storms will once again fire off the
higher terrain north and east of Tucson and work into the lower
deserts to the south and west through the late afternoon and into
the evening. Main threats will be heavy rain and gusty winds. Some
localized blowing dust cannot be ruled out for portions of Pima
and Pinal Counties if outflows are organized and strong.

Activity continues Monday and potentially into Tuesday with the
main focus for areas west of Tucson. We will have to wait and see
how Sunday works out. If we have a big day, this could be tempered
a bit.

Still expecting a downward trend in activity mid to late week as
high pressure strengthens in the region and meanders south. This
will provide a less than optimal pattern for storm activity. By
next weekend, there are hints another upswing in activity is
possible. Confidence is marginal at this time as the pattern
appears to be a little messy across the west.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid through 24/00Z. FEW-BKN clouds 7k-12k ft MSL
much of the period. ISOLD-SCT TSRA/SHRA this afternoon into this
evening. Some +TSRA will be possible with brief reductions in
CIGS/VIS and MTN obscurations. Expect another round of ISOLD-SCT
TSRA/SHRA Sunday afternoon into the evening, especially for KTUS
and KOLS. +TSRA with aviation impacts once again possible. Wind
gusts over 40 kts possible with any TS. SFC winds generally less
than 10 kts this evening and Sunday morning becoming NWLY 5-10 kts
with gusts to 20 kts. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF
amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Moisture remains in place with isolated to
scattered afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms into
Monday. Greatest coverage appears to be Sunday. Min RH 25-30
percent across the valleys and 30-45 percent in the mountains
through Sunday along with good/excellent overnight RH recoveries.
20-foot winds generally remain less than 15 mph outside of any
thunderstorm gusts which could reach 40+ mph. Drier conditions and
hotter temperatures next week slightly reduces shower/thunderstorm
coverage and daytime humidity values by 5 to 10 percent.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Excessive Heat Watch from Monday morning through Tuesday evening
for AZZ501-502-504>506-509.

&&

Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 22, 8:28 PM MST, 5 hours 51 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
828 PM MST Sat Aug 22 2020

AZZ504-506-507-511-513-514-230415-
Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains including Mount
Lemmon/Summerhaven-Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra
Vista/Benson-Southeast Pinal County including
Kearny/Mammoth/Oracle-Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains
including Bisbee/Canelo Hills/Madera Canyon-Galiuro and Pinaleno
Mountains including Mount Graham-Tucson Metro Area including
Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail-
828 PM MST Sat Aug 22 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN PIMA...SOUTHWESTERN
GRAHAM...NORTHWESTERN COCHISE AND SOUTHEASTERN PINAL COUNTIES UNTIL
915 PM MST...

At 827 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 20 miles southeast of San Manuel to near
Dragoon. Movement was southwest at 25 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Benson, St. David, Kartchner Caverns State Park, Saguaro National
Park East, Mescal, Redington and Cascabel.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Heavy rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3251 11067 3176 11038 3193 11008 3257 11032
TIME...MOT...LOC 0327Z 067DEG 22KT 3250 11032 3200 11013
Special weather statement, Aug 22, 10:14 PM MST, 4 hours 5 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 22, 5:46 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise, Graham59 min
Aug 22, 5:55 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCGraham, Pinal37 min
Aug 22, 6:21 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCGraham54 min
Aug 22, 6:26 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise, Graham2 hr
Aug 22, 6:46 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise, Graham59 min
Aug 22, 6:57 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise2 hr
Aug 22, 7:46 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementTWCCochise44 min
Aug 22, 8:17 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatTWCCochise118 min
Aug 22, 8:28 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementTWC47 min
Aug 22, 9:14 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise, Pima46 min
Aug 22, 9:25 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise, Pima2 hr
Aug 22, 10:14 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementTWCSanta Cruz31 min

Nearby

Excessive Heat Warnings in Arizona, 2020Every excessive heat warning in 2020

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.