A plot of land along Interstate 10 near San Simon, which was disturbed back in February, was the cause of another closure of the roadway when southwest winds kicked up blowing dust and reduced visibility to near zero. Interstate traffic was rerouted for 110 miles to circumvent the road closure.
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The episode as NWS TWC wrote it up.
A plot of land along Interstate 10 near San Simon, which was disturbed back in February, was the cause of another closure of the roadway when southwest winds kicked up blowing dust and reduced visibility to near zero. Interstate traffic was rerouted for 110 miles to circumvent the road closure.
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 Apr 25, 9:28 AM MST, 1 hour 17 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 928 AM MST Tue Apr 25 2017 .SYNOPSIS...Expect strong and gusty winds today as a weather system moves north of the area. This system may also bring a few showers and thunderstorms to the White Mountains. Otherwise, dry conditions will prevail through Thursday. Strong and gusty winds will return Friday into Saturday along with a chance of showers east of Tucson. Cooler Saturday followed by dry conditions with a warming trend early next week. && .DISCUSSION...Wind is the main story for SE AZ, with windy conditions leading to an Advisory and Red Flag warning today. An active spring pattern with enough pattern amplification to bring systems in on perfect wind trajectories (but not much else this far south). Already seeing wind gusts to 40+ mph out there. Watching for dust this afternoon. Of particular concern is the reaction of the Sawmill fire south of Tucson. It's in a position to potentially threaten KEMX (radar in the Empire mountains) with at least a precautionary shut-down. Otherwise, only minor updates required from 12z model trends and latest analysis. Current forecast package looks good. Please see the previous discussion below for details. && .AVIATION...Valid through 26/18Z. Enhanced surface winds with systems brushing by to our north. W-SW 15-30 kts with gusts up to 40 kts. SFC wind diminishing to less than 10 kts after 26/03z with direction terrain driven. Otherwise, VFR with SCT-BKN clouds above 12k ft AGL, followed by partial clearing from the west. There will be FEW/SCT -TSRA/-SHRA across the White Mountains northeast of KSAD through 26/04z. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...A Red Flag Warning will be in effect from 11 AM to 8 PM MST Today for the southeastern half of fire weather zone 152. Further west a Red Flag Warning will be in effect from 2 PM to 8 PM for mainly the northern portions of fire weather zone 150 and 151. The combination of strong and gusty winds, low relative humidity and a high fire danger will create critical fire weather conditions. Critical fire weather conditions should occur again Friday across a fairly large portion of southeast Arizona. Field crews are strongly encouraged to monitor subsequent forecasts for additional Fire Weather Watch and/or Red Flag Warning issuances. Otherwise, dry conditions through Thursday except for a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms near the White Mountains Tuesday. There is a chance of showers across the White Mountains Friday, then a chance of showers east of Tucson Friday night into Saturday. Cooler temperatures will occur Saturday followed by dry conditions with a warming trend Sunday into next Monday. && .PREV DISCUSSION...Windy day across southeast Arizona will result in various advisory and warning products to be in effect later today into early this evening. The wind advisory and Red Flag warning area were expanded further west. Hoisted Blowing Dust advisory for the dust prone areas of NE Cochise county. The storm system responsible for the wind, which is moving through the Great Basin, will also bring a slight chance showers or thunderstorms to the White Mountains this afternoon and evening. Highs today will be 4-10 degrees cooler than Monday. Gradient relaxes on Wednesday for much less wind with highs at or slightly warmer than today. Dry NW flow aloft will continue across the area on Thursday with highs being 2-6 degrees warmer than Wed. Wind kicking up into the breezy category on Thursday with strongest wind speeds east of Tucson, especially in NW to SE oriented valleys. Stronger winds area wide on Friday as upper level trof strengthens over the intermountain west. This system will bring a chance of showers or thunderstorms NE of Tucson. Highs a few degrees cooler than Thursday. Much cooler with continued gusty winds on Saturday as upper level trof axis starts to move into New Mexico. Enough moisture around across the eastern areas for a continued slight chance of showers and high elevation snow showers. A few spots in the normally cold spots east and south of Tucson will be near freezing Saturday morning and once again Sunday morning. Dry and warmer Sunday and Monday with gusty winds returning to the area next Tuesday. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 8 PM MST this evening for AZZ503>515. Blowing Dust Advisory until 8 PM MST this evening for AZZ508. Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MST this evening for AZZ152. Red Flag Warning from 2 PM this afternoon to 8 PM MST this evening for AZZ150-151. && Meyer/French Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Interstate 10 near San Simon was closed for about seven hours due to very low visibility in blowing dust.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, April 2017
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: 696787.