Alert archive / Arizona / Dust Storm Advisories in 2021

Dust Storm Advisory 41, NWS Phoenix, AZ

August 15, 2021Maricopa County, Pinal County, Arizona

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this dust storm advisory at Aug 15, 2021, 10:55 PM MST for Maricopa County, Pinal County, Arizona. It was in force for 65 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 15, 2021, 10:55 PM MST (05:55 UTC)
Expired
Aug 16, 2021, 12:00 AM MST
In force
65 min
Issued by
NWS Phoenix, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Maricopa County, AZ, Pinal County, AZ

The radar

The Phoenix radar (KIWA), 29 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:58 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, 5.9 hours before the alert went out and 34 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 00:00Z on 2021-08-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1548 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 00:00Z on 2021-08-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -22 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
1548 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-94 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2123 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-22 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
56 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this dust storm advisory 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 dust storm advisory went out at Aug 15, 4:59 PM MST, 5 hours 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 15, 4:59 PM MST, 5 hours 56 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
459 PM MST Sun Aug 15 2021

.UPDATE...
Updated 00Z aviation discussion.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Abundant monsoon moisture will remain entrenched across the Desert
Southwest into the middle part of the week maintaining daily
chances for showers and thunderstorms. The primary threats with
any storms will be localized heavy rainfall that may cause flash
flooding. Localized strong winds and some blowing dust will also
be possible for desert locations. A gradual decrease in moisture
during the latter half of the week should reduce rain chances
across the lower deserts as early as Thursday night. Temperatures
will remain below normal for most of Arizona, while near normal
temperatures are mostly expected for southeast California.

&&

An anomalously moist airmass continues to dominate the region today.
This morning's PSR 12Z sounding registered an anomalously high PW of
2.19" and mean W of 16.5 gm/kg. The objective analysis shows the UL
high centered over the NE CA/NW NV border with pronounced mid level
ENE flow along its S flank which is introducing some moderate mid
level drying, with an area of mid-level elevated mean RH sliding
into S AZ/N MX. Vort max's and inverted troughs are over this same
borderland NW MX/N Baja area with an additional connected trough
over NW Chihuahua/SSW NM. The disturbances were supporting a
small area of rain/showers over Imperial Cty and modest isolated
thunderstorms over S-SE AZ. On the NE flank of the high was
another shortwave trough pushing SSEwrd into N CO/N UT. An area of
isolated thunderstorms was developing ahead of this trough in N
AZ and CO. The midday ACARs mean sounding confirmed some
pronounced mid level drying centered at H5 with PW down to 1.11",
although elevated lower mid level and BL moisture were still
supporting SB-MU CAPE in the low 1000s with modest CIN. The
slight-moderate instability was held in check with a strong CAP
just below H7.

Early afternoon METSAT showed decreasing cloudiness with partly-
mostly sunny conditions across much of the deserts with mostly
fair weather CU. The HREF members are in much better agreement for
this afternoon and evening's storm prospects. They are picking up
on the short term drying and decreasing instability trend by
agreeing on keeping storms rather isolated this afternoon and
evening and confined mainly to the high terrain of N-E AZ, due to
the approaching shortwave to the N, and the deserts of S-SE AZ due
to the inverted troughs. The NBM has also locked onto the trend
as well with only 10-20% POPs depicted for this afternoon and into
Monday. Some isolated storms to the north may try to impact the
far N portions of La Paz Cty from near Parker to Alamo Lake/State
Park. Any isolated thunderstorms that manage to form later today
will still be capable of producing localized flash flooding across
the deserts or near Phoenix due to the wet soils.

Beginning later tomorrow and through the middle of the week the
shortwave trough and associated vort max's up north will push Swrd
into NM and E-AZ as PW once again recovers and inversion CAPS are
weakened through the column. The HREF members are now fairly
bullish on either a scattered, or scattered to numerous, line of
organized thunderstorms forming along the Rim on Monday afternoon
and descending S into Phoenix and the lower deserts Monday
evening. These storms will be capable of producing strong winds,
heavy rainfall, and localized flooding as potential threats. HREF
also calls for a >70% chance of 35 mph wind gusts Monday evening
in and around Phoenix. In preparation for this system the Flash
Flood Watch for S-Cent AZ has been extended through 2 AM MST on
Monday night.

The active weather pattern should continue into at least
Wednesday as the inverted trough that will exit to our southwest
today, likely comes back around into our region on Wednesday. This
weak cut off low (what was the inverted trough) looks to get
picked up in the flow as an anomalously strong trough dives
through the Pacific Northwest into the Great Basin. There is good
model evidence of a fairly strong upper level jet entering
Arizona from the south Tuesday night into early Wednesday while
there may also be increasing jet forced ascent from the trough
diving into the Great Basin. With plenty of moisture likely still
in place across our region, Tuesday night into Wednesday could end
up being another fairly widespread (modest) rain event across
south-central and eastern Arizona.

For the late week and weekend model uncertainty increases, but
the majority of the ensembles show the deep trough to our north
and then to our northeast becoming the dominant feature. With
broad troughing likely taking over our region, we should be under
a drying westerly flow by Thursday, likely lasting through next
weekend. Models are in better agreement showing this drier air
working into our region Thursday into Friday, likely ending or
significantly reducing our rain chances over the lower deserts on
Thursday with only very limited rain chances over the Arizona
high terrain.

Temperatures this week are likely to be fairly stable with the
western deserts mostly around seasonal normals each day. For the
south-central Arizona deserts, including the Phoenix area, below
normal temperatures are likely to continue with highs mostly in
the mid 90s to around 100 degrees.

&&

.AVIATION...Updated at 2359Z.

South-Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT:

Aside from a 20% chance of convective outflows this evening,
minimal aviation impacts are expected until early Monday evening
when another round of strong to severe thunderstorms are possible.
Light and variable or south-southwest winds below 10 knots will
persist at the Phoenix TAF sites until easterly flow returns
around 05-06Z. There is only about a 10% chance of storms at any
terminal tonight if any weak northeasterly outflows push into the
lower deserts due to a low-level stable layer. Westerly flow
should return by late Monday morning through the afternoon hours,
with a 40% chance of strong to severe thunderstorms during the
evening. The best timing of outflows and storms is between 01-04Z
Tuesday, with a 70% chance of winds exceeding 35 knots and at
least a 10% chance of winds exceeding 50 knots. BKN-OVC ceilings
in these storms should generally remain above 6-8 kft.

Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH:

Minimal aviation concerns are expected through Monday morning,
with gusty south-southeast winds expected on Monday afternoon.
Winds will generally favor a southeast component at KIPL with
speeds generally remaining below 10 knots aside from gusts up to
20 knots on Monday afternoon. At KBLH, winds will generally favor
a southeast to southerly component with speeds below 10 knots
aside from gusts up to 25 knots on Monday afternoon. FEW-SCT
ceilings should remain above 10 kft.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Tuesday through Saturday:
Elevated moisture levels and a threat of showers and thunderstorms
will continue through at least Wednesday. A drying trend should
then set in late in the week with dwindling chances for wetting
rains on Thursday and likely little if any rain chances by Friday.
The strongest storms early in the week will be capable of
producing localized flash flooding, particularly in the higher
terrain north and east of Phoenix. Minimum humidities mostly
between 30-45% early in the period will gradually lower to 20-30%
late in the period. Temperatures will remain below normal across
much of Arizona through the period, while the western deserts see
near normal readings.

&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotters should follow standard reporting procedures.

&&

.PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AZ...Flash Flood Watch through late Monday night for AZZ534-537>563.

CA...None.
&&

DISCUSSION...Sawtelle/Kuhlman
AVIATION...Hopper
FIRE WEATHER...Kuhlman

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 15, 6:54 PM MST, 4 hours 1 minute before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
654 PM MST SUN AUG 15 2021

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

1055 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 E EAST MESA           33.42N 111.63W
08/13/2021                   MARICOPA           AZ   PUBLIC

            ***DELAYED REPORT*** 40 FOOT TREE FELL
            THROUGH A 5 FOOT CINDERBLOCK WALL AND ONTO A
            CHICKEN COOP. NO INJURIES REPORTED. WINDS
            ESTIMATED 55 TO 65 MPH. TIME ESTIMATED FROM
            RADAR.

&&

SDB
Special weather statement, Aug 15, 7:49 PM MST, 3 hours 6 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
749 PM MST Sun Aug 15 2021

AZZ560-563-160345-
Southeast Gila County AZ-San Carlos AZ-
749 PM MST Sun Aug 15 2021

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Gila County through
845 PM MST...

At 749 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 8 miles south of Cedar Creek to 12 miles
southwest of Fort Apache to 15 miles south of Seven Mile. Movement
was west at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Hilltop and Sawmill.

This includes US Highway 60 between mile markers 269 and 297.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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

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

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 3347 11017 3344 11020 3344 11032 3340 11035
      3340 11042 3354 11064 3379 11069 3381 11066
      3383 11032 3360 11004 3360 10999 3347 11000
TIME...MOT...LOC 0249Z 077DEG 21KT 3377 11014 3365 11012 3357 11001

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

SDB
Special weather statement, Aug 15, 9:18 PM MST, 1 hour 37 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
918 PM MST Sun Aug 15 2021

AZZ552-558-560>563-160500-
Southeast Gila County AZ-San Carlos AZ-Dripping Springs AZ-
Globe/Miami AZ-Superior AZ-Pinal/Superstition Mountains AZ-
918 PM MST Sun Aug 15 2021

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Gila and Pinal
Counties through 1000 PM MST...

At 917 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Cutter, or near Globe, moving southwest at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Globe, Superior, Miami, Cutter, Central Heights-Midland City,
Top-Of-The-World and Claypool.

This includes the following highways...
US Highway 60 between mile markers 225 and 245, and between mile
markers 248 and 256.
AZ Route 70 between mile markers 253 and 268.
AZ Route 77 between mile markers 152 and 170.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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

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 3328 11049 3312 11077 3310 11086 3324 11094
      3316 11106 3316 11108 3332 11115 3348 11061
TIME...MOT...LOC 0417Z 066DEG 23KT 3333 11072

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

SDB
Special weather statement, Aug 15, 10:45 PM MST, 10 minutes before
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Local storm report, Aug 15, 10:51 PM MST, 4 minutes before
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Local storm report, Aug 15, 10:54 PM MST, 1 minute before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 15, 7:49 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRGila56 min
Aug 15, 8:26 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRGila49 min
Aug 15, 9:14 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRGila, Maricopa, Pinal46 min
Aug 15, 9:18 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRGila42 min
Aug 15, 9:58 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatPSRGila, Maricopa, Pinal47 min
Aug 15, 10:14 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRGila4 hr
Aug 15, 10:31 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa, Pinal44 min
Aug 15, 10:45 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRPinal45 min
Aug 15, 10:50 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRGila, Maricopa, Pinal6 hr
Aug 15, 10:58 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRMaricopa, Pinal3 hr
Aug 15, 11:14 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa46 min
Aug 15, 11:31 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRMaricopa44 min
Aug 15, 11:37 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa38 min
Aug 15, 11:44 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa32 min
Aug 15, 11:45 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRMaricopa3 hr
Aug 16, 12:18 AM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR42 min
Aug 16, 12:49 AM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRLa Paz, Maricopa56 min
Aug 16, 1:33 AM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRLa Paz, Maricopa6 hr
Aug 16, 1:47 AM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRLa Paz58 min
Aug 16, 1:54 AM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRLa Paz66 min
Aug 16, 2:22 AM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRLa Paz68 min
Aug 16, 2:53 AM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRLa Paz5 hr
Aug 16, 3:08 AM MSTDust Storm AdvisoryPSRLa Paz, Yuma2 hr

Nearby

Dust Storm Advisories in Arizona, 2021Every dust storm advisory in 2021

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.