A strong low pressure and associated cold front moved across the Southwest and brought strong winds and blowing dust to much of northern Arizona.
Every event with a place to put it; 14 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 FGZ wrote it up.
A strong low pressure and associated cold front moved across the Southwest and brought strong winds and blowing dust to much of northern Arizona.
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 Apr 8, 4:37 AM MST, 2 hours 42 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLAGSTAFF AZ 437 AM MST MON APR 8 2013 .SYNOPSIS... A STRONG AND COLD STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO NORTHERN ARIZONA TODAY. EXPECT WIND GUSTS OF OVER 40 MPH ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA DURING THE DAY MONDAY...WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH FROM WINSLOW EASTWARD. OTHERWISE...SHOWERS WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP BY THIS AFTERNOON. SOME ACCUMULATING SNOW IS EXPECTED AT ELEVATIONS ABOVE 6000 FEET BY MONDAY NIGHT...WITH THE CHANCE FOR SHOWERS CONTINUING ON TUESDAY. && .DISCUSSION... A STORM SYSTEM...PRIMARILY SITUATED ACROSS CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA AT THE CURRENT TIME...WILL MOVE INTO AND ACROSS THE STATE LATER TODAY AND INTO TUESDAY. VERY GUSTY WINDS ARE LIKELY TO INCREASE AS TODAY PROGRESSES...WITH NUMEROUS WIND HEADLINE PRODUCTS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN ARIZONA. MUCH OF THE AREA WILL EXPERIENCE WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH BUT THE VALLEYS OF EAST-CENTRAL ARIZONA AND ON THE DOWNSLOPE TERRAIN NORTHEAST OF THE MOGOLLON RIM AND WHITE MOUNTAINS ARE LIKELY TO SEE GUSTS APPROACHING 60 TO 70 MPH. AS SUCH...TRAVELERS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD ALSO BE WARY OF BLOWING DUST. THIS SYSTEM IS NOT JUST WIND HOWEVER...AND SUBSTANTIALLY COOLER DAYTIME TEMPS ALONG WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO EXPECTED ACROSS THE NORTHLAND WITH THIS SYSTEM. SNOW LEVELS ARE FORECAST TO DROP TO AROUND 5500 FEET TONIGHT AND TUESDAY...WITH LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE FOR THE HIGHER TERRAIN...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE. PLEASE SEE OUR POINT-SPECIFIC FORECASTS FOR SNOW AMOUNTS EXPECTED AT A GIVEN LOCATION. A SHIFT TO INCREASING TEMPS AND GENERALLY DRY CONDITIONS IS THEN ANTICIPATED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 7-DAY FORECAST INTO NEXT WEEKEND. && .AVIATION... FOR THE 12Z PACKAGE...A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL BRING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS TO THE AREA TODAY AND TONIGHT. EXPECT SW SFC WINDS TO INCREASE TO 20-30G45KTS FROM 18Z-02Z TODAY. WINDS WILL DECREASE FROM WEST TO EAST AFT 02Z...AND WILL TURN SLIGHTLY MORE WESTWARD. THE FRONTAL BAND CONTAINING SHRA/SHSN WILL BRING MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS TO AREAS WEST OF KGCN BY 16Z-18Z...INTO KFLG BY 18Z- 20Z...AND KSJN BY 02Z-04Z. POOR CONDITIONS IN THE FRONTAL BAND WILL LAST 3-5 HOURS AT EACH LOCATION. EXPECT IMPROVING CONDITIONS FROM WEST TO EAST AFT 06Z...ALTHOUGH LOWER SNOW LEVELS WILL CAUSE LOCALIZED IFR/LIFR CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT. AVIATION DISCUSSION NOT UPDATED FOR AMENDMENTS. && .FIRE WEATHER... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL BRING VERY WINDY AND MUCH COLDER CONDITIONS TO THE REGION TODAY AND TONIGHT. AREAS OF RAIN AND SNOW ALONG THE FRONT WILL MOVE FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGH THE DAY AND INTO THE EVENING. LOWER SNOW LEVELS WITH COLD AND SHOWERY CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST TUESDAY...AS WELL AS A WIND SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST AND THEN NORTH. WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...COLD...BUT DRY CONDITIONS WITH NORTH THROUGH NORTHEAST WINDS WILL CONTINUE ON WEDNESDAY. WARMER...DRY AND LESS WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR AZZ013-014-016-017-040. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR AZZ004>007. WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR AZZ008>012-015-018-037>039. && PUBLIC.........KD AVIATION.......PETERSON FIRE WEATHER...PETERSON FOR NORTHERN ARIZONA WEATHER INFORMATION VISIT WEATHER.GOV/FLAGSTAFF
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLAGSTAFF AZ 610 AM MST MON APR 8 2013 AZZ004>018-037>040-090400- KAIBAB PLATEAU-MARBLE AND GLEN CANYONS-GRAND CANYON COUNTRY- COCONINO PLATEAU-YAVAPAI COUNTY MOUNTAINS- NORTHEAST PLATEAUS AND MESAS HWY 264 NORTHWARD-CHINLE VALLEY- CHUSKA MOUNTAINS AND DEFIANCE PLATEAU- LITTLE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY IN COCONINO COUNTY- LITTLE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY IN NAVAJO COUNTY- LITTLE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY IN APACHE COUNTY- WESTERN MOGOLLON RIM-EASTERN MOGOLLON RIM-WHITE MOUNTAINS- NORTHERN GILA COUNTY-YAVAPAI COUNTY VALLEYS AND BASINS- OAK CREEK AND SYCAMORE CANYONS-BLACK MESA AREA- NORTHEAST PLATEAUS AND MESAS SOUTH OF HWY 264- 610 AM MST MON APR 8 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR APACHE...COCONINO... NORTHERN GILA...NAVAJO...AND YAVAPAI COUNTIES IN NORTHERN ARIZONA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH NORTHERN ARIZONA LATER TODAY AND INTO TUESDAY. STRONG SOUTHWEST WIND GUSTS WILL DEVELOP THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY. A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR EAST-CENTRAL ARIZONA INCLUDING THE EASTERN MOGOLLON RIM...WHITE MOUNTAINS...AND LITTLE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY FOR WIND GUSTS OF 60 TO 70 MPH. ELSEWHERE...A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT WITH WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH EXPECTED. BLOWING DUST MAY ALSO PRODUCE VERY LOW VISIBILITIES ON AREA ROADWAYS IN THE LITTLE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY. SUBSTANTIALLY COOLER DAYTIME TEMPS ALONG WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO EXPECTED ACROSS THE NORTHLAND WITH THIS SYSTEM. SNOW LEVELS ARE FORECAST TO DROP TO AROUND 5500 FEET TONIGHT AND TUESDAY...WITH LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE FOR THE HIGHER TERRAIN. PLEASE SEE POINT-SPECIFIC FORECASTS AT WEATHER.GOV/FLAGSTAFF FOR SNOW AMOUNTS EXPECTED AT A GIVEN LOCATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY CHANCES FOR RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW SHOWERS WILL PERSIST THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING. SEE WEATHER.GOV/FLAGSTAFF FOR DETAILS.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 high wind, 3 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The Four Springs RAWS reported a peak wind gust of 58 MPH at the 719 AM observation. The wind gusts were 50 MPH or higher between 419 AM and 819 AM.
The Limestone RAWS reported wind gusts 58 MPH and higher from 924 AM to 524 PM. The peak wind gust was 80 MPH at 1224 PM. This RAWS is in an exposed location near the south side of the Mogollon Rim and my measure higher winds than are experienced in much of the rest of the zone.
The Grand Canyon ASOS recorded a peak wind gust of 58 MPH at 928 AM. The wind gusts were above 40 MPH between 854 AM and 1128 AM when it started to snow.
The Winslow ASOS reported wind gusts over 58 MPH from 932 AM to 156 PM. The peak wind gust was 66 MPH at 1222 PM. A power line snapped on the east side of town around 1218 PM. The police department in Holbrook reported that part of a roof blew off and took out a power line, a tree was blown down, and a trailer home skirting peeled off by the wind.
The Winslow ASOS reported blowing dust that reduced the visibility down to 1.5 miles at times between 1056 AM and 156 PM.
The Flagstaff ASOS reported wind gusts of 58 MPH or higher from 1108 AM to 1257 PM. The peak wind gust was 63 MPH at 1157 AM.
The Sedona AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 58 MPH at 1135 AM. Wind gusts over 50 MPH were recorded from 1055 AM to 1235 PM.
The Show Low Airport AWOS reported a peak wind gust of 64 MPH at 1255 PM. The wind gusts were above 58 MPH from 1135 to 255 PM. Police reported that a large tree snapped and a light pole was blown down in a parking log in Show Low at 215 PM.
The Humbug Creek RAWS reported a peak wind gust of 62 MPH at 1148 AM. The wind gusts were over 58 MPH from 1148 AM to 148 PM.
Strong wind caused blowing dust to reduce the visibility to near zero at times all afternoon in Chinle. The visibility dropped down to 1/2 mile in Kayenta and 1/4 mile in Many Farms.
Strong wind caused blowing dust to reduce the visibility to near zero at times all afternoon in Chinle. The southwest winds blew this dust from Chinle into the Chuska Mountains. The Window Rock ASOS reported reduced visibility in haze (dust) down to 2.5 miles at times between 100 PM to 4 PM MST.
The Window Rock Airport reported a peak wind gust of 60 MPH at 253 PM. Wind gusts of at least 58 MPH were reported at times from 153 PM to 438 PM.
The Co-Op observer at Petrified Forest National Park reported a peak wind gust of 67 MPH. The peak wind gust at the St Johns Airport was 58 MPH at 131 PM.
The Co-Op observer at Petrified Forest National Park reported a peak wind gust of 67 MPH within 10 miles of the edge of AZ-Z040.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, April 2013
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: 458691, 458710, 458692, 458699, 458698, 458705, 458711, 458724, 458734, 458739, 458740, 458756, 458758, 458759.