High Wind in Arizona, October 4, 2009

Name: High Wind in Arizona, October 4, 2009
Start: 2009-10-04T11:00
End: 2009-10-04T17:30
Location: Arizona

October 4, 2009 · NWS FGZ · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A strong cold front brought strong winds to the Little Colorado River Valley.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $12,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS FGZ wrote it up.

A strong cold front brought strong winds to the Little Colorado River Valley.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Flagstaff, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 4, 9:25 AM MST, 1 hour 35 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 4, 9:25 AM MST, 1 hour 35 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 4, 5:15 AM MST, 5 hours 45 minutes before

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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County

When: October 4, 11:00 AM MST to 5:30 PM MST
Where: Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County forecast zone
Measured: 35 kt (40 mph) measured sustained
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 35.620, -111.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Arizona Department of Transportation weather station at Two Guns recorded sustained winds of 40 MPH or higher from 11 AM through 5 PM. The highest sustained wind was 46 MPH around 5 PM. The highest measured wind gust was 65 MPH.

High Wind, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County

When: October 4, 12:55 PM MST to 4:30 PM MST
Where: Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 35.400, -110.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Winslow ASOS has sustained winds above 32 MPH with estimated gusts above 58 MPH for much of the afternoon. The highest measured wind gust was 60 MPH.

High Wind, Yavapai County Mountains

When: October 4, 1:00 PM MST to 5:00 PM MST
Where: Yavapai County Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 35 kt (40 mph) estimated sustained
Property damage: $12,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 34.600, -112.554 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds knocked down tree limbs and power lines in Prescott, Groom Creek, and Walker. As many as 6,300 customers lost power 5 to 6 times. The downed power lines also caused a several small grass fires. Cable and phone lines were also knocked out.

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Arizona in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in Arizona, October 2009

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 197375, 197372, 197425.