An upper low off the coast of Baja California and an upper high over Texas resulted in a weak influx of monsoonal moisture into southeast Arizona. Thunderstorms produced gusty outflow winds and kicked up areas of blowing dust across parts of central and eastern Pima County.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS TWC wrote it up.
An upper low off the coast of Baja California and an upper high over Texas resulted in a weak influx of monsoonal moisture into southeast Arizona. Thunderstorms produced gusty outflow winds and kicked up areas of blowing dust across parts of central and eastern Pima County. The outflows merged in Pinal County creating a haboob along Interstate 10 that progressed northwest toward Phoenix. Visibility was reduced to less than a quarter mile.
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 Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 16, 2:00 PM MST, 45 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ 200 PM MST SAT JUN 16 2012 .SYNOPSIS...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND AREAS OF BLOWING DUST POSSIBLE. STILL ENOUGH MOISTURE FOR A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE NEW MEXICO BORDER SUNDAY. DRY CONDITIONS WITH HOTTER TEMPERATURES NEXT WEEK. && .DISCUSSION...AS EXPECTED THE OUTFLOWS HAVE DONE THEIR WORK AND WE HAVE ENOUGH MOISTURE FOR SCATTERED THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. STRONG GUSTY WINDS WITH BLOWING DUST A CONCERN. SHOULD BE DIURNAL AND SHUT DOWN THIS EVENING EXCEPT ALONG POTENTIAL ORGANIZED OUTFLOWS TOWARD THE LOWER DESERTS. THE 12Z UA NAM WRF HAS DONE WELL PICKING OUT MANY KEY FEATURES. FLOW STARTS TO PUSH MOISTURE BACK OUT OF THE AREA SUNDAY AND MONDAY. STRONG RIDGE BUILDING ACROSS THE REGION WILL BRING HOT TEMPERATURES THIS COMING WEEK. PATTERN MAY BECOME VERY FAVORABLE BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK TO IMPORT DEEPER MOISTURE BACK INTO THE PICTURE FOR MORE SUSTAINED THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. && .PREV DISCUSSION...MOISTURE IS CURRENTLY MARGINAL WITH THE MORNING SOUNDING COMING IN AT ONLY ABOUT 1/2 INCH PRECIPITABLE WATER AND SURFACE DEWPTS IN THE 30S TO LOWER 40S. HOWEVER...THIS WILL CHANGE OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS AS MULTIPLE OUTFLOWS PUSH INTO SOUTHEAST ARIZONA FROM THE EARLIER STRONG CONVECTION IN NEW MEXICO. ONE SUCH OUTFLOW HAS REACHED SAFFORD THIS MORNING WITH WINDS NOW OUT OF THE EAST THERE AT 14KTS...2 ADDITIONAL OUTFLOWS VISIBLE ON SATELLITE IMAGERY APPROACHING COCHISE COUNTY. GOES SOUNDER BLENDED TOTAL PW TRENDS ARE UP...SHOWING VALUES NEAR 3/4 OF AN INCH ON THE AZ/NM STATE LINE SPREADING WESTWARD. 12Z NAM SPREAD INFLUENCE OF H7 THETA-E RIDGE INTO SOUTHEAST ARIZONA THIS AFTERNOON AS FAR WEST AS TUCSON. MORNING UPDATES FROM MID SHIFT LOOK GOOD. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM TUCSON EAST. && .AVIATION...SCT-BKN CLOUDS AT 6-12K FT AGL THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ISOLD-SCT -TSRA CONTINUING THRU 17/04Z...THEN PRECIP ENDING BY 17/06Z. WIND GUSTS OF 40-50 KTS PRODUCING AREAS BLDU WITH VSBYS AT OR BELOW 1SM. OTHERWISE...SURFACE WIND MAINLY LESS THAN 10 KTS THRU SUNDAY MORNING. AVIATION DISCUSSION NOT UPDATED FOR TAF AMENDMENTS. && .FIRE WEATHER...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW POSSIBLE THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS...MAINLY FROM NEAR TUCSON EASTWARD. MODERATE RAINFALL WITH THE CORE OF STORMS...BUT THE MAIN CONCERN WILL BE STRONG...GUSTY AND ERRATIC WINDS FROM THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOWS AS WELL AS LIGHTNING STRIKES AWAY FROM RAIN SHAFTS. THUNDERSTORMS WILL DECREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY AFTER SUNSET. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY MAINLY NEAR THE NEW MEXICO BORDER. OTHERWISE...DRY CONDITIONS WITH VERY HOT DAYTIME TEMPERATURES WILL OCCUR DURING THE UPCOMING WEEK. EXPECT NORMAL DIURNAL WIND TRENDS WITH GUSTS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. WEATHER.GOV/TUCSON
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ 557 AM MST SAT JUN 16 2012 AZZ503>515-170600- UPPER SANTA CRUZ RIVER VALLEY/ALTAR VALLEY-TUCSON METRO AREA- SOUTH CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY-SOUTHEAST PINAL COUNTY- UPPER SAN PEDRO RIVER VALLEY- EASTERN COCHISE COUNTY BELOW 5000 FEET-UPPER GILA RIVER VALLEY- WHITE MOUNTAINS OF GRAHAM AND GREENLEE COUNTIES- GALIURO AND PINALENO MOUNTAINS-CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS- DRAGOON AND MULE AND HUACHUCA AND SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS- CATALINA AND RINCON MOUNTAINS-BABOQUIVARI MOUNTAINS- 557 AM MST SAT JUN 16 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ARIZONA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY FROM TUCSON EASTWARD THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. THE MAIN IMPACT WILL BE STRONG WIND GUSTS DUE TO THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOWS. EXPECT AREAS OF BLOWING DUST WHICH COULD REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO LESS THAN A QUARTER OF A MILE IN AREAS PRONE TO DUST STORMS. THUNDERSTORMS WILL WEAKEN IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY AFTER SUNSET THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE NEW MEXICO BORDER SUNDAY. DRY CONDITIONS WITH VERY HOT DAYTIME TEMPERATURES WILL THEN OCCUR MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. AZZ501-502-170600- WESTERN PIMA COUNTY-TOHONO O'ODHAM NATION- 557 AM MST SAT JUN 16 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ARIZONA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT DRY CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY DRY CONDITIONS WITH VERY HOT DAYTIME TEMPERATURES WILL PREVAIL SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. WEATHER.GOV/TUCSON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ 115 PM MST SAT JUN 16 2012 AZZ504-507-514-162100- SANTA CATALINA AND RINCON MOUNTAINS INCLUDING MOUNT LEMMON/SUMMERHAVEN AZ-TUCSON METRO AREA INCLUDING TUCSON/GREEN VALLEY/MARANA/VAIL AZ-UPPER SAN PEDRO RIVER VALLEY INCLUDING SIERRA VISTA/BENSON AZ- 115 PM MST SAT JUN 16 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN PIMA COUNTY UNTIL 200 PM MST... AT 110 PM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR INTERSTATE 10 JUST SOUTH AND EAST OF VAIL...OR 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF TUCSON...MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. AREAS OF BLOWING DUST ARE POSSIBLE AS WELL. LAT...LON 3207 11084 3226 11051 3195 11046 3188 11069 TIME...MOT...LOC 2013Z 158DEG 7KT 3200 11058 MEYER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ 150 PM MST SAT JUN 16 2012 AZZ503-507-513-162115- DRAGOON/MULE/HUACHUCA AND SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS INCLUDING BISBEE/CANELO HILLS/MADERA CANYON AZ-UPPER SAN PEDRO RIVER VALLEY INCLUDING SIERRA VISTA/BENSON AZ-UPPER SANTA CRUZ RIVER AND ALTAR VALLEYS INCLUDING NOGALES AZ- 150 PM MST SAT JUN 16 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY UNTIL 215 PM MST... AT 142 PM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 2 MILES WEST OF SONOITA...MOVING NORTH AT 5 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. AREAS OF BLOWING DUST ARE POSSIBLE AS WELL. AREAS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHERN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY. LAT...LON 3172 11088 3173 11054 3157 11052 3156 11078 TIME...MOT...LOC 2048Z 169DEG 5KT 3168 11070
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ 222 PM MST SAT JUN 16 2012 AZZ502>504-507-513-514-162200- DRAGOON/MULE/HUACHUCA AND SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS INCLUDING BISBEE/CANELO HILLS/MADERA CANYON AZ-SANTA CATALINA AND RINCON MOUNTAINS INCLUDING MOUNT LEMMON/SUMMERHAVEN AZ-TOHONO O'ODHAM NATION INCLUDING SELLS AZ-TUCSON METRO AREA INCLUDING TUCSON/GREEN VALLEY/MARANA/VAIL AZ-UPPER SAN PEDRO RIVER VALLEY INCLUDING SIERRA VISTA/BENSON AZ-UPPER SANTA CRUZ RIVER AND ALTAR VALLEYS INCLUDING NOGALES AZ- 222 PM MST SAT JUN 16 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN PIMA COUNTY UNTIL 300 PM MST FOR BLOWING DUST... STRONG THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW WINDS HAVE GENERATED AREAS OF BLOWING DUST MAINLY SOUTHEAST AND SOUTH OF TUCSON. EXPECT THESE OUTFLOWS TO PUSH UP INTO THE METRO AREA WITH VISIBILITIES FALLING BRIEFLY BELOW 1 MILE IN SOME LOCATIONS. AREAS AFFECTED INCLUDE...INTERSTATE 19 SOUTH OF TUCSON...INTERSTATE 10 BETWEEN MARANA AND BENSON...TUCSON...GREEN VALLEY...SAHUARITA...VAIL...TUCSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...RITA RANCH...DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE...CORONA DE TUCSON...CATALINA FOOTHILLS. LAT...LON 3232 11047 3176 11046 3177 11120 3236 11128 MEYER
The Tucson radar (KEMX), 45 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:45 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds broke off tree limbs as large as 4 inches in diameter and peeled bark off a tree near Pima Street and Sahuara Avenue.
Thunderstorm winds downed tree limbs about a mile west of the Twin Peaks exit of Interstate 10.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, June 2012
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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 383577, 383578.