Name: Drought in Arizona, April 1 to 30, 2014
Start: 2014-04-01T00:00
End: 2014-04-30T23:59
Location: Arizona

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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 TWC wrote it up.

Extreme drought conditions persisted in parts of southeast Arizona through April. Meager precipitation amounts caused the area of extreme (D3) drought to expand farther northward in Graham County and westward in Pinal County.

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 Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 31, 8:57 PM MST, 3 hours 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 31, 8:57 PM MST, 3 hours 3 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
857 PM MST MON MAR 31 2014

.SYNOPSIS...DRY CONDITIONS WITH ABOVE NORMAL DAYTIME TEMPERATURES
WILL OCCUR AGAIN TODAY. A STRONGER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL THEN
BRING GUSTY WINDS AND COOLER TEMPERATURES TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.
VIRGA ALONG WITH A FEW SHOWERS MAY ALSO OCCUR WITH THIS SYSTEM
MAINLY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. A GRADUAL WARMING TREND WILL THEN OCCUR
HEADING INTO NEXT WEEKEND.

&&

.DISCUSSION...WINDS CONTINUED TO DIMINISH IN SPEED THIS EVENING.
THEREFORE...THE RED FLAG WARNING WAS ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 7 PM MST
THIS EVENING. STRONG WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
THE CURRENT FORECAST WAS IN GOOD SHAPE WITH WIND TRENDS...SO PLEASE
REFER TO THE ADDITIONAL SECTIONS FOR MORE DETAILS. NO UPDATES
ANTICIPATED THIS EVENING.

&&

.AVIATION...SKC-SCT CLOUDS ABOVE 20K FT AGL THRU TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
SURFACE WIND WILL DIMINISH ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA THIS EVENING AND
WILL MOSTLY BE LESS THAN 10 KTS INTO TUESDAY MORNING. THE EXCEPTION
WILL LIKELY BE KFHU WHERE SWLY WINDS OF 10-15 KTS WILL OCCUR THRU
TONIGHT. EXPECT INCREASING WIND MID TO LATE MORNING TUESDAY WITH
STRONGER WIND SPEEDS TUESDAY VERSUS THIS AFTERNOON. SURFACE WIND
TUESDAY AFTERNOON GENERALLY WLY 12-25 KTS WITH GUSTS OF 35-40 KTS.
THE STRONGEST WIND WILL SE OF KTUS AND ESPECIALLY IN THE VICINITY OF
THE KDUG TERMINAL. AVIATION DISCUSSION NOT UPDATED FOR TAF
AMENDMENTS.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING INTO THE WESTERN STATES
WILL BRING GUSTY WINDS TO MUCH OF SOUTHEAST ARIZONA TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY. CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS MUCH
OF FIRE WEATHER ZONES 146 AND 148. THUS...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN
EFFECT FOR THESE AREAS FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MST TUESDAY.

MOISTURE IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE WEDNESDAY AND TEMPERATURES WILL BE
COOLER VERSUS TUESDAY. HOWEVER...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE STILL FORECAST TO OCCUR EAST OF A CLIFTON TO BISBEE LINE.
THUS...A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR THIS AREA.

THE BEST CHANCE FOR SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL OCCUR
FROM LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THURSDAY MORNING...MAINLY
NORTHEAST OF TUCSON. DRY CONDITIONS WILL THEN PREVAIL THURSDAY
INTO MONDAY. THE EXCEPTION WILL BE A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS ACROSS
THE WHITE MOUNTAINS FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NEW FIRE WEATHER ZONES WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE
ON TUESDAY APRIL 1ST. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PLEASE REFER TO
THIS URL:

HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIFICATION/SCN14-09TWC_FIRE_ZONES.HTM

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...MAIN FOCUS OF THE FORECAST IS ON THE NEXT COUPLE
DAYS DUE TO THE UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM ALONG THE WEST COAST DIGGING
SOUTHWARD AND SLIDING EASTWARD THRU THE AREA. THIS SYSTEM WILL USHER
IN BREEZY TO LOCALIZED WINDY CONDITIONS DUE TO THE TIGHTENING OF THE
GRADIENT TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR
TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND EVENING SOUTHEASTERN HALF OF COCHISE COUNTY
AND THE EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN PORTION OF GRAHAM COUNTY WHERE WINDS
ARE EXPECTED TO BE THE STRONGEST. THESE WINDS WILL ALSO BRING
ANOTHER DAY OF RED FLAG CRITERIA...SEE FIRE WEATHER DISCUSSION BELOW
FOR DETAILS.

WEDNESDAY AS THE BASE OF THE TROF DIGS INTO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
EXPECT TO SEE SOME MID/HIGH LEVEL MOISTURE ADVECT INTO THE AREA.
THOUGH AT THIS TIME DON'T FORESEE MUCH IN THE WAY OF PRECIP. THAT
BEING SAID A VIRGA SHOWER OR TWO WILL BE POSSIBLE. AS THE SYSTEM
SLIDES EAST DURING THE AFTERNOON PRECIP CHANCES WILL INCREASE
THOUGH WILL BE LIMITED TO THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE
CWA...ESPECIALLY THE WHITE MOUNTAINS WHERE BETTER MOISTENING
EXIST. DID ADD IN A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDER LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
WITH RESPECT TO THE WINDS...EXPECT ANOTHER ROUND OF BREEZY TO
WINDY CONDITIONS...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE BORDER FROM NOGALES
EASTWARD WHERE CLOUD COVER WILL HAVE LESS OF HAMPERING ON THE
MIXING.

THURSDAY WITH THE SYSTEM ALMOST COMPLETELY EJECTED OUT OF THE
FORECAST AREA HAVE TRENDED POPS TO ZERO OUTSIDE OF THE WHITE'S
WHERE SOME LINGERING MOISTURE WILL BE POSSIBLE. THIS WILL ALLOW
FOR SOME SHORTWAVE RIDGING BUILDING OVER THE FORECAST AREA FRIDAY
AHEAD OF A WEAKER SYSTEM SATURDAY. MOISTURE WITH THIS SYSTEM LOOKS
LIMITED THOUGH HAVE CONTINUED THE LOW END SLIGHT CHANCE POPS FOR
SATURDAY.

THEREAFTER...MID RANGE GUIDANCE HAS COME TO AGREEMENT ON A RIDGE
SETTING IN ALONG THE WEST COAST...THOUGH STRENGTH OF IT DIFFERS.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

RED FLAG WARNING FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MST TUESDAY FOR AZZ146-148.

FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY
EVENING FOR AZZ148.

WIND ADVISORY FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MST TUESDAY FOR AZZ507>509-512-
513.

&&

VISIT US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...YOUTUBE...AND AT WEATHER.GOV/TUCSON

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Southeast Pinal County

When: April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Southeast Pinal County forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 32.904, -111.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3) category persisted and actually expanded slightly in eastern Pinal, western Graham, extreme northeastern Pima and much of northern Cochise counties through April. Two meager precipitation events occurred on the 19th and 26th of the month but only managed to produce between 10 and 50 percent of the monthly average rainfall in the majority of the drought area. These two light rain events did produce lightning strikes that sparked a number of wildfires, including the Skunk Fire in northwest Graham County. Soil moisture conditions were generally less than 20 percent of normal and San Carlos Reservoir was at less than 9 percent of capacity.

Drought, Upper San Pedro River Valley

When: April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Upper San Pedro River Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 32.109, -110.569 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3) category persisted and actually expanded slightly in eastern Pinal, western Graham, extreme northeastern Pima and much of northern Cochise counties through April. Two meager precipitation events occurred on the 19th and 26th of the month but only managed to produce between 10 and 50 percent of the monthly average rainfall in the majority of the drought area. These two light rain events did produce lightning strikes that sparked a number of wildfires, including the Skunk Fire in northwest Graham County. Soil moisture conditions were generally less than 20 percent of normal and San Carlos Reservoir was at less than 9 percent of capacity.

Drought, Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet

When: April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 31.880, -109.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3) category persisted and actually expanded slightly in eastern Pinal, western Graham, extreme northeastern Pima and much of northern Cochise counties through April. Two meager precipitation events occurred on the 19th and 26th of the month but only managed to produce between 10 and 50 percent of the monthly average rainfall in the majority of the drought area. These two light rain events did produce lightning strikes that sparked a number of wildfires, including the Skunk Fire in northwest Graham County. Soil moisture conditions were generally less than 20 percent of normal and San Carlos Reservoir was at less than 9 percent of capacity.

Drought, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys

When: April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 33.074, -109.563 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3) category persisted and actually expanded slightly in eastern Pinal, western Graham, extreme northeastern Pima and much of northern Cochise counties through April. Two meager precipitation events occurred on the 19th and 26th of the month but only managed to produce between 10 and 50 percent of the monthly average rainfall in the majority of the drought area. These two light rain events did produce lightning strikes that sparked a number of wildfires, including the Skunk Fire in northwest Graham County. Soil moisture conditions were generally less than 20 percent of normal and San Carlos Reservoir was at less than 9 percent of capacity.

Drought, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains

When: April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 32.572, -110.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3) category persisted and actually expanded slightly in eastern Pinal, western Graham, extreme northeastern Pima and much of northern Cochise counties through April. Two meager precipitation events occurred on the 19th and 26th of the month but only managed to produce between 10 and 50 percent of the monthly average rainfall in the majority of the drought area. These two light rain events did produce lightning strikes that sparked a number of wildfires, including the Skunk Fire in northwest Graham County. Soil moisture conditions were generally less than 20 percent of normal and San Carlos Reservoir was at less than 9 percent of capacity.

Drought, Chiricahua Mountains

When: April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 30, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Chiricahua Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 31.880, -109.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme drought (D3) category persisted and actually expanded slightly in eastern Pinal, western Graham, extreme northeastern Pima and much of northern Cochise counties through April. Two meager precipitation events occurred on the 19th and 26th of the month but only managed to produce between 10 and 50 percent of the monthly average rainfall in the majority of the drought area. These two light rain events did produce lightning strikes that sparked a number of wildfires, including the Skunk Fire in northwest Graham County. Soil moisture conditions were generally less than 20 percent of normal and San Carlos Reservoir was at less than 9 percent of capacity.

What these are

Drought: A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in Arizona, April 2014

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 514478, 514479, 514480, 514481, 514483, 514484.