Alert archive / Arizona / Special Weather Statements in 2020

Special Weather Statement, NWS Tucson, AZ

August 20, 2020Pima County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this special weather statement at Aug 20, 2020, 11:08 PM MST for Pima County, Arizona. It was in force for 37 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
Aug 20, 2020, 11:08 PM MST (06:08 UTC)
Expired
Aug 20, 2020, 11:45 PM MST
In force
37 min
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ

County Pima County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 110 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:10 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, 6.1 hours before the alert went out and 83 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 2020-08-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 739 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 2020-08-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -32 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
739 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-63 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3458 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
14 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-32 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
35 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

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What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this special weather statement 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 special weather statement went out at Aug 20, 8:00 PM MST, 3 hours 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 20, 8:00 PM MST, 3 hours 8 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
800 PM MST Thu Aug 20 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
Expect storm coverage and chances to increase into the weekend.
High temperatures will moderate through the weekend, but will
still be 2-5 degrees above normal. Next week storm chances
decrease and temperatures climb back up to near record levels.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
An active monsoon pattern brought several thunderstorms across the
forecast area this afternoon and evening. A few of these
thunderstorms were severe, with a few reports of wind damage in
Drexel Heights and Rio Rico. There were also multiple reports of
visibility reductions related to dust in Tucson...before the
complex transitioned to more of a hydrologic concern. As of this
writing, flood advisories and warnings have been posted across
much of Tucson with slow-moving thunderstorms moving across the
city. Showers and thunderstorms could continue into early morning
before dissipating.

&&

.AVIATION...
FEW-SCT clouds 10k-15k ft MSL increasing in coverage through this
afternoon as SCT TSRA/SHRA develops. This activity continues into
the evening hours, dissipating overnight. Surface wind gusts to 40
kts with strongest TSRA along with MVFR CIGS/VSBYS and mountain
obscurations. Otherwise, winds WLY-NWLY this afternoon 10-15 kts
with gusts to 25 kts, becoming light and variable later in the
evening. Similar wind regime returns tomorrow afternoon with another
round of SCT TSRA/SHRA. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF
amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 245 PM MST Thu Aug 20 2020/

.SYNOPSIS...Expect storm coverage and chances to increase today
into the weekend. High temperatures will moderate through the
weekend, but will still be 2-5 degrees above normal. Next week
storm chances decrease and temperatures climb back up to near
record levels.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Gulf surge continues this afternoon, thanks to
Tropical storm Genevieve, with Yuma Vad wind profile showing
southerly winds up to 5k deep with dewpoints in the 60s to lower
70s across Yuma county. Closer to home dewpoints were in the 40s
to lower 60s. PW values ranges from 0.90" near the AZ/NM border
to 1.5" over far western Pima county.

Interesting CAM solutions with the 20/12z UofA WRFNAM the most
active with line of thunderstorms, some severe, producing areas
of blowing dust, moving propagating W-SW across the area this
evening and continuing into the overnight hours out west while the
WRFGFS was the least active. The most recent runs of the HRRR was
in between, still active but not like the WRFNAM. SPC has most of
the area under marginal risk of severe storms for strong gusty
winds. Localized heavy rain also a threat.

Friday: Tropical Storm Genevieve will be weakening as it moving
west of the Baja Spur. For southern Arizona, enough moisture will
be around for isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms
under easterly flow aloft with upper high near the 4 corners.

Weekend: Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms in the
afternoon and evening. What will be noticeable will be the cooler
daytime temperatures, especially Saturday, versus what has been
occurring this month. Enjoy it for it won't last long. There is
chance, around 33%, that the Tucson airport could record the first
sub-triple digit high of the month. Fingers crossed.

Next week: We heat up again with record or near record highs with
heat risk issues raising its ugly head once again. Likely will
need another round of Excessive Heat Warnings for most of the
week. Thunderstorm activity each day will be isolated at best.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid through 22/00Z.
FEW-SCT clouds 10k-15k ft MSL increasing in coverage through this
afternoon as SCT TSRA/SHRA develops. This activity continues into
the evening hours, dissipating overnight. Surface wind gusts to 40
kts with strongest TSRA along with MVFR CIGS/VSBYS and mountain
obscurations. Otherwise, winds WLY-NWLY this afternoon 10-15 kts
with gusts to 25 kts, becoming light and variable later in the
evening. Similar wind regime returns tomorrow afternoon with another
round of SCT TSRA/SHRA. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF
amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Due to a surge of moisture, expect broader
coverage of afternoon/evening showers and thunderstorms starting
today into early next week. The best chance for widespread
precipitation occurs this weekend. 20-foot winds generally remain
less than 15 mph outside of any thunderstorm gusts which could reach
upwards of 40 mph. Minimum relative humidities increase to 25-30
percent across the valleys Friday through Sunday along with good
overnight recoveries.

&&

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

Public...Dang
Aviation...Dang
Fire Weather....Zell

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

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 20, 5:39 PM MST, 5 hours 29 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
539 PM MST THU AUG 20 2020

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

0448 PM     TSTM WND DMG     10 NNW RIO RICO         31.61N 111.05W
08/20/2020                   SANTA CRUZ         AZ   PUBLIC

            GUSTY WINDS DOWNED A LARGE TREE.

&&

TGD
Special weather statement, Aug 20, 6:11 PM MST, 4 hours 57 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
611 PM MST Thu Aug 20 2020

AZZ504-507-513-514-210200-
Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains including Mount
Lemmon/Summerhaven-Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra
Vista/Benson-Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains including
Bisbee/Canelo Hills/Madera Canyon-Tucson Metro Area including
Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail-
611 PM MST Thu Aug 20 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY UNTIL
700 PM MST...

At 610 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Vail, or 17 miles west of Benson, moving west at 10 mph.

Dime size hail and wind gusts of 50 mph and blowing dust will be
possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Tucson, Vail, Corona De Tucson, Saguaro National Park East and Rita
Ranch.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3211 11050 3192 11048 3186 11084 3218 11083
TIME...MOT...LOC 0110Z 091DEG 9KT 3201 11061

TGD
Special weather statement, Aug 20, 7:22 PM MST, 3 hours 46 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
722 PM MST Thu Aug 20 2020

AZZ504>506-514-210300-
Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains including Mount
Lemmon/Summerhaven-Southeast Pinal County including
Kearny/Mammoth/Oracle-Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green
Valley/Marana/Vail-South Central Pinal County including Eloy/Picacho
Peak State Park-
722 PM MST Thu Aug 20 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN PIMA AND SOUTH
CENTRAL PINAL COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM MST...

At 720 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking an area of strong
thunderstorms stretching from the Catalina Foothills through
Oro Vally into Marana and Avra Valley. Movement was southwest
at 10 mph.

Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana, Casas Adobes, Flowing Wells, Avra Valley,
Tortolita, Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, Catalina State Park,
Catalina Foothills, Saguaro National Park West, Picture Rocks, Red
Rock and Dove Mountain.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3259 11149 3270 11114 3231 11080 3223 11099
      3239 11136
TIME...MOT...LOC 0220Z 046DEG 9KT 3242 11111

Zell
Local storm report, Aug 20, 7:26 PM MST, 3 hours 42 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
726 PM MST THU AUG 20 2020

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

0724 PM     FLASH FLOOD      9 SW TUCSON             32.12N 111.02W
08/20/2020                   PIMA               AZ   PUBLIC

            0.25 INCHES TO 0.5 INCHES OF RAIN CAUSING
            STAGNANT FLOODING IN THE STREETS IN THE LAST
            HOUR. INTERSECTION OF CARDINAL LANE AND LOS
            REALES ROAD, DREXEL HEIGHTS.

&&

KJS
Local storm report, Aug 20, 7:29 PM MST, 3 hours 39 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
729 PM MST THU AUG 20 2020

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

0724 PM     FLASH FLOOD      9 SW TUCSON             32.12N 111.02W
08/20/2020                   PIMA               AZ   PUBLIC

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS FLASH FLOOD REPORT FROM 9
            SW TUCSON. HEAVY RAINFALL CAUSING STAGNANT
            FLOODING IN THE STREETS IN THE LAST HOUR.
            INTERSECTION OF CARDINAL LANE AND LOS REALES
            ROAD, DREXEL HEIGHTS.

&&

KJS
Special weather statement, Aug 20, 11:08 PM MST, 0 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 20, 5:07 PM MSTDust Storm AdvisoryTWCPima36 min
Aug 20, 5:31 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise44 min
Aug 20, 6:00 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise, Pima3 hr
Aug 20, 6:11 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementTWC49 min
Aug 20, 6:18 PM MSTDust Storm AdvisoryTWCPima57 min
Aug 20, 6:31 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima44 min
Aug 20, 6:38 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima3 hr
Aug 20, 6:51 PM MSTDust Storm AdvisoryTWCPima, Pinal54 min
Aug 20, 6:57 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatTWCPima2 hr
Aug 20, 7:22 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementTWCPinal38 min
Aug 20, 7:39 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima111 min
Aug 20, 7:50 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima115 min
Aug 20, 8:05 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatTWCPima85 min
Aug 20, 8:21 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima92 min
Aug 20, 9:17 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima, Pinal28 min
Aug 20, 10:30 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima60 min
Aug 21, 3:42 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementTWCGreenlee48 min
Aug 21, 4:38 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCGraham, Greenlee37 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Arizona, 2020Every special weather statement 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.