Alert archive / Arizona / Tornado Warnings in 2024

Tornado Warning 3, NWS Tucson, AZ

August 16, 2024Pima County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this tornado warning at Aug 16, 2024, 5:54 PM MST for Pima County, Arizona. It was in force for 36 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 16, 2024, 5:54 PM MST (00:54 UTC)
Expired
Aug 16, 2024, 6:30 PM MST
In force
36 min
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.0 in

County Pima County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 87 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:54 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, 0.9 hours before the alert went out and 78 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 2024-08-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 571 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Tuscon, AZ at 00:00Z on 2024-08-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -23 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
571 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-69 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3283 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-23 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
59 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

484 
WFUS55 KTWC 170054
TORTWC
AZC019-170130-
/O.NEW.KTWC.TO.W.0003.240817T0054Z-240817T0130Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
554 PM MST Fri Aug 16 2024

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  South central Pima County in southeastern Arizona...

* Until 630 PM MST.

* At 554 PM MST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 12 miles northwest of Arivaca, or 27 miles west of
  Tubac, moving northwest at 20 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly remote areas of
  south central Pima County, including the following locations...
  Fresnal Canyon, Choulic, and Coldfields.

This includes Route 286 between mile markers 7 and 21.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3173 11135 3154 11145 3166 11179 3187 11166
TIME...MOT...LOC 0054Z 115DEG 16KT 3168 11151 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

KM
3 follow-up statements
593 
WWUS55 KTWC 170107
SVSTWC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
607 PM MST Fri Aug 16 2024

AZC019-170130-
/O.CON.KTWC.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-240817T0130Z/
Pima-
607 PM MST Fri Aug 16 2024

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM MST FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY...

At 606 PM MST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 13 miles northeast of San Miguel, or 23 miles southeast
of Sells, moving northwest at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Choulic, Coldfields, and Fresnal Canyon.

This includes Route 286 between mile markers 7 and 21.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3173 11135 3154 11145 3166 11179 3187 11166
TIME...MOT...LOC 0106Z 115DEG 16KT 3170 11157 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

KM
354 
WWUS55 KTWC 170119
SVSTWC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
619 PM MST Fri Aug 16 2024

AZC019-170130-
/O.CON.KTWC.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-240817T0130Z/
Pima-
619 PM MST Fri Aug 16 2024

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM MST FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY...

At 619 PM MST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 12 miles northeast of San Miguel, or 23 miles southeast
of Sells, moving northwest at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Choulic, Coldfields, and Fresnal Canyon.

This includes Route 286 between mile markers 7 and 21.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3173 11135 3154 11145 3166 11179 3187 11166
TIME...MOT...LOC 0119Z 128DEG 20KT 3169 11158 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

KM
822 
WWUS55 KTWC 170128
SVSTWC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
628 PM MST Fri Aug 16 2024

AZC019-170137-
/O.EXP.KTWC.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-240817T0130Z/
Pima-
628 PM MST Fri Aug 16 2024

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
630 PM MST...

The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been
cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.  However,
gusty winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.

Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for 
Fresnal Canyon, Coldfield, Topawa, and South Komelik. 


&&

LAT...LON 3173 11135 3154 11145 3166 11179 3187 11166
TIME...MOT...LOC 0127Z 115DEG 16KT 3170 11161 

$$

KM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 16, 5:48 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima42 min
Aug 16, 6:24 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima51 min
Aug 16, 7:14 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima46 min
Aug 16, 7:55 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise50 min
Aug 16, 8:22 PM MSTTornado WarningTWCCochise24 min
Aug 16, 8:31 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatTWCCochise3 hr
Aug 16, 8:43 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise, Pima47 min
Aug 17, 1:33 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCSanta Cruz42 min
Aug 17, 2:10 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima39 min
Aug 17, 2:19 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCSanta Cruz41 min
Aug 17, 2:43 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima, Santa Cruz47 min
Aug 17, 2:50 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCSanta Cruz3 hr
Aug 17, 3:04 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCSanta Cruz28 min
Aug 17, 3:29 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima61 min
Aug 17, 3:40 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima, Santa Cruz50 min
Aug 17, 3:48 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima3 hr
Aug 17, 3:59 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima46 min
Aug 17, 4:38 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima52 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Arizona, 2024Every tornado warning in 2024Tornadoes in 2024

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.