Winter Storm and High Wind in Arizona, February 1, 2016

Name: Winter Storm and High Wind in Arizona, February 1, 2016
Start: 2016-02-01T00:00
End: 2016-02-01T09:00
Location: Arizona

February 1, 2016 · NWS TWC · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A strong trough of low pressure moved across Southeast Arizona the night of January 31 into February 1. This produced very strong winds across Southeast Arizona, especially in the mountains with Mt.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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: $40,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 7

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.

A strong trough of low pressure moved across Southeast Arizona the night of January 31 into February 1. This produced very strong winds across Southeast Arizona, especially in the mountains with Mt. Lemmon gusting over 100 MPH. Valley locations across Southeast Arizona generally saw wind gusts of 35 to 55 MPH with a few spots especially near Sierra Vista with gusts over 60 MPH. Snow was also observed in elevations primarily above 4000 feet with the mountains seeing brief blizzard-like conditions.

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 Jan 31, 9:25 PM MST, 2 hours 35 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 31, 9:25 PM MST, 2 hours 35 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
925 PM MST SUN JAN 31 2016

.SYNOPSIS...EXPECT WIDESPREAD VALLEY RAIN...MOUNTAIN SNOW AND VERY
STRONG GUSTY WINDS TONIGHT INTO MONDAY AS A FAST MOVING STORM SYSTEM
MOVES EASTWARD ACROSS THE AREA. A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS CONTINUES
MAINLY ACROSS THE WHITE MOUNTAINS MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY. MUCH
COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL ALSO OCCUR MONDAY INTO TUESDAY...AND A HARD
FREEZE APPEARS LIKELY FOR MUCH OF THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT. DRY
CONDITIONS WITH A PRONOUNCED WARMING TREND WILL THEN PREVAIL LATER
THIS WEEK AND INTO NEXT WEEKEND.

&&

.DISCUSSION...8 PM SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE APPROACHING COLD
FRONT EXTENDED FROM EASTERN CLARK COUNTY IN NEVADA SOUTH ACROSS
MOHAVE...LAPAZ AND YUMA COUNTIES IN ARIZONA. THE 9 PM REGIONAL
RADARS SHOWED THAT SHOWERS HAVE PUSHED INTO MARICOPA AND WRN PIMA
COUNTIES AS OF 9 PM REGIONAL. LATEST HRRR RUNS DEVELOP SHOWERS
ACROSS WESTERN/CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY THRU 10 PM THEN EXPAND IN AREAL
COVERAGE OF SHOWERS ACROSS THE AREA BETWEEN 11 PM AND 1 AM. LOW LEVEL
WIND SPEEDS OUT AHEAD OF THE FRONT...PER YUMA VAD WIND PROFILE...WERE
AS HIGH AS 45 KNOTS EARLIER THIS EVENING. EXPECT THESE WINDS TO
OVERSPREAD THE AREA WITH THEM MIXING DOWN TO THE SURFACE WITH THE
SHOWERS. MOUNTAIN SITES AND WIND PRONE AREAS NEAR MOUNTAIN GAPS WILL
SEE HIGH WIND WARNING TYPE WIND GUSTS WHILE THE REST OF THE EASTERN
TWO THIRDS OF THE AREA WILL HAVE WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA WIND GUSTS.
SNOW LEVELS...PER MOUNTAIN RAWS PLATFORMS...WERE IN THE 8000-9000
FOOT RANGE AS OF 8 PM AND EXPECT THEM TO CRASH DOWN IN THE 3000-4000
RANGE BY MONDAY MORNING. THE STRONG WINDS IN THE MOUNTAINS COMBINED
WITH THE FALLING SNOW WILL CAUSE BRIEF PERIODS OF BLIZZARD LIKE
CONDITIONS. CURRENT WIND AND WINTER TYPE WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES
STILL ON TRACK. BLOWING DUST HAS BEEN A CONCERN THIS EVENING WEST OF
TUCSON WHERE WE CURRENTLY HAVE A BLOWING DUST ADVISORY OUT UNTIL 10
PM. AS WINDS PICK UP ACROSS COCHISE COUNTY...WILL HAVE TO BE
CONCERNED WITH DUST COMING OFF THE WILLCOX PLAYA BEFORE THE RAIN
MOVES IN.

AFTER A BEAUTIFUL WARM WEEKEND...TEMPERATURE SHOCK WILL SETTLE IN ON
MONDAY WITH HIGHS 15-25 COOLER THAN SUNDAY.

&&

.AVIATION...VALID THRU 02/00Z.
SCATTERED -SHRA WILL DEVELOP WEST-TO-NORTH OF KTUS THIS EVENING
FOLLOWED NUMEROUS VALLEY -SHRA AND MOUNTAIN SHSN LATE TONIGHT INTO
MONDAY MORNING. SCATTERED VALLEY -SHRA AND MOUNTAIN -SHSN WILL THEN
OCCUR MAINLY EAST OF KTUS MONDAY AFTERNOON. EXPECT MVFR CONDITIONS
AND OCCASIONAL IFR CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PRECIPITATION.
OTHERWISE...CLOUD DECKS ABOVE 20K FT MSL THIS EVENING WILL LOWER TO
AROUND 5-9K FT MSL LATE TONIGHT AND CONTINUE INTO MONDAY AFTERNOON.
SURFACE WIND WILL GENERALLY BE SWLY/WLY AT 15-30 KTS WITH GUSTS OF
30-45 KTS INTO EARLY MONDAY AFTERNOON...THEN WIND SPEEDS WILL
DECREASE TO 10-20 KTS WITH GUSTS OF 20-30 KTS MONDAY AFTERNOON.
AVIATION DISCUSSION NOT UPDATED FOR TAF AMENDMENTS.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...WIDESPREAD VALLEY RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW WILL OCCUR
INTO MONDAY MORNING...THEN PRECIPITATION WILL DECREASE FROM WEST-TO-
EAST MONDAY AFTERNOON. EXPECT STRONG AND GUSTY SOUTHWEST TO
NORTHWEST WINDS THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SNOW
SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE MAINLY ACROSS THE WHITE MOUNTAINS MONDAY NIGHT
INTO TUESDAY. DRY CONDITIONS WILL THEN PREVAIL AREA-WIDE TUESDAY
NIGHT INTO NEXT WEEKEND. MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL OCCUR MONDAY
INTO WEDNESDAY FOLLOWED BY A PRONOUNCED WARMING TREND THURSDAY INTO
NEXT WEEKEND.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
   WINTER STORM WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 2 PM MST
     MONDAY FOR AZZ510 ABOVE 5000 FEET.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 2 PM MST
     MONDAY FOR AZZ507>509-511>514 ABOVE 4500 FEET.

   HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 2 PM MST MONDAY FOR
     AZZ507-511>514.

   WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 2 PM MST MONDAY FOR
     AZZ503-504-506>510-515.

&&

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

4 winter storm, 2 high wind, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Upper San Pedro River Valley

When: February 1, 12:00 AM MST to 4:00 AM MST
Where: Upper San Pedro River Valley forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 32.109, -110.569 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong wind gusts occurred especially in the Sierra Vista area with a measured gust to 65 MPH near Hereford. There were also numerous gusts of 58 MPH or higher including the Canelo area and Pioneer airfield. These strong wind gusts resulted in seven downed power poles near Sierra Vista along Highway 92 and closed the highway for several hours. One house had a portion of its roof torn off by the wind.

Winter Storm, Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains

When: February 1, 12:00 AM MST to 6:00 AM MST
Where: Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 32.501, -111.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An ultrasonic anemometer on Mt. Lemmon recorded a wind gust to 105 MPH before the instrumentation iced up. In addition, snowfall of 5 inches occurred which resulted in brief blizzard-like conditions. This event began on January 31.

Winter Storm, White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties

When: February 1, 12:00 AM MST to 9:00 AM MST
Where: White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 33.074, -109.563 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The higher elevations of Graham and Greenlee County received 6 to 12 inches of snow combined with wind gusts in excess of 50 MPH, which caused brief blizzard-like conditions. This event began on January 31.

Strong Wind, Tucson Metro Area

When: February 1, 12:00 AM MST to 6:00 AM MST
Where: Tucson Metro Area forecast zone
Measured: 44 kt (51 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 32.097, -111.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong wind in the Tucson area resulted in numerous power outages with power poles and wires down in a few spots across the city.

Winter Storm, Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains

When: February 1, 12:00 AM MST to 6:00 AM MST
Where: Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.834, -110.796 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A wind gust to 75 MPH was recorded with 5 inches of snow on Mt. Hopkins observatory. Power lines were also knocked down near Bisbee. This event began on January 31.

Winter Storm, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains

When: February 1, 12:00 AM MST to 7:00 AM MST
Where: Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 32.572, -110.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind gusts in excess of 40 MPH occurred on Mt. Graham in addition to 7 inches of snow. This event began on January 31.

High Wind, Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet

When: February 1, 3:00 AM MST to 4:00 AM MST
Where: Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 31.880, -109.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The automated surface observation at Douglas-Bisbee airport recorded a wind gust to 58 MPH.

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
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

Every storm in Arizona in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in Arizona, February 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 610018, 610021, 610024, 610027, 611836, 611838, 610019.