Arizona, 2016

Dust Storm and Strong Wind in Arizona, April 28, 2016

April 28, 2016 · NWS TWC · 2 events in 1 county or zone

Low pressure creating a tight pressure gradient across southeast Arizona was located near the northwest corner of the state. This resulted in gusty west to southwest winds, which produced blowing dust, several collisions and a subsequent closure of Interstate 10 in Cochise County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
3
Property damage
$550,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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.

Low pressure creating a tight pressure gradient across southeast Arizona was located near the northwest corner of the state. This resulted in gusty west to southwest winds, which produced blowing dust, several collisions and a subsequent closure of Interstate 10 in Cochise County. Wind damage also occurred in Douglas.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 dust storm, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Dust Storm, Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet

When
April 28, 2:00 PM MST to 7:00 PM MST
Where
Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet forecast zone
Injuries
0 direct, 3 indirect
Property damage
$500,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
31.880, -109.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blowing dust once again originating from an non-maintained parcel of land adjacent to Interstate 10 caused near-zero visibility during the early afternoon hours. This resulted in 3 collisions involving a total of 12 vehicles within a mile of Mile Post 376. The vehicles involved included a San Simon fire truck as well as a DPS SUV. No serious injuries were reported, as the DPS officer was 50 ft away from his vehicle when it was struck by a semi, and the fire chief had also exited his vehicle when impact occurred. The interstate was closed, from Lordsburg, NM to Willcox, AZ from 2 pm through 7 pm in both directions for a total of 60 miles. Traffic was rerouted along State Route 191/70 through Safford, AZ, a detour of approximately 110 miles. Winds were from the southwest with gusts to between 35 and 40 mph at the time of the collisions.

Strong Wind, Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet

When
April 28, 2:00 PM MST to 2:15 PM MST
Where
Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet forecast zone
Measured
48 kt (55 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
31.880, -109.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong southwest winds of 45 to 55 mph damaged the roofs of several apartments in the 800 block of Eighth Street between C and D Avenues in Douglas. The units were determined unsafe to live in until repairs could be made.

What these are

Dust Storm
Blowing dust that reduced visibility to a quarter mile or less.
Strong Wind
Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, April 2016

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 632531, 632574.