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.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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 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 Mar 31, 5:05 AM MST, 4 hours 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
505 AM MST Fri Mar 31 2017
.UPDATE...The Wind Advisory for AZZ503-514-515 (Upper Santa Cruz
River
Valley/Altar Valley/Catalina and Rincon Mountains) was allowed to
expire at 5 AM MST early this morning.
&&
.SYNOPSIS...A low pressure system moving into the Four Corners
region will bring gusty winds and much cooler temperatures today.
Expect a slight chance of showers from Tucson eastward today, and a
better chance of showers with a few thunderstorms mostly east of
Tucson Saturday. Dry conditions with above normal daytime
temperatures will then prevail Sunday through next Thursday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...Deep low pressure aloft centered over northwest
Arizona early this morning. Meanwhile, surface cold front extended
from roughly a Show Low-Marana-Sells line. Strong and gusty
southwest winds were occurring ahead of the front, and KFHU measured
a gust of 49 kts (56 mph) at 248 AM MST. Mostly clear skies
prevailed southeast of Tucson and across far western Pima County.
However, low-level clouds were near and behind the cold front,
especially across southern Pinal County and the northern/central
portion of the Tohono O'odham Nation.
The upper low is progged via the 31/00Z NAM/GFS/ECMWF to slowly move
eastward to near the Four Corners region this afternoon, then move
southeastward into west-central New Mexico by Saturday evening.
Several HRRR solutions have been consistent with developing a few
showers shortly after sunrise this morning just southeast-to-south
of Tucson followed by potential additional light showers further
east across portions of Cochise County later this morning. Most
measurable rainfall amounts should be just a few hundredths of an
inch.
Of more consequence will be the gusty winds, especially this
morning, then much cooler temperatures this afternoon versus
Thursday. Various Wind Advisories and a Blowing Dust Advisory remain
in effect into this afternoon. Much less wind will then occur later
tonight.
Have noted that the Univ of AZ WRF-GFS depicted measurable precip to
occur across the Tucson metro area late tonight. The Univ of AZ WRF-
NAM delays this scenario until midday Saturday into Saturday
afternoon. There is a chance of showers mainly across the White
Mountains this evening, then have opted for a slight chance of
showers as far southwest as Tucson late tonight. Expect isolated to
scattered showers Saturday from Tucson eastward to the New Mexico
border.
There is also enough progged instability to merit a slight chance of
thunderstorms Saturday afternoon. The GFS/ECMWF were quite similar
with depicting a vort lobe/weak upper low to move southward across
far eastern sections Saturday evening. A slight chance of showers
continues Saturday evening mostly near the New Mexico border, then
strong subsidence should occur across much of the area late Saturday
night. For this forecast issuance, have maintained a slight chance
of snow showers across the White Mountains Saturday night with dry
conditions elsewhere.
Dry conditions will then prevail Sunday into next Thursday. Appears
that any precip associated with a shortwave trough will remain well
north of the area Monday night into Tuesday, then an amplifying
upper ridge west of the area will move eastward into southern
Arizona next Thursday. After much cooler temperatures today versus
Thursday expect no significant change in daytime temps Saturday. A
warming trend will then occur Sunday into next Thursday, with high
temperatures at the end of this forecast period to average about 10
degrees or so above normal.
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 01/12Z.
Expect isolated -SHRA from KTUS vicinity east to the New Mexico
border into this afternoon, then isolated -SHRA KTUS vicinity
NEWD to the White Mountains NE of KSAD tonight into early Saturday
morning. Otherwise, SCT-BKN clouds around 4k-8k ft AGL this morning
followed by FEW-BKN clouds around 6k-10k ft AGL this afternoon and
evening. SCT-OVC clouds around 4k-8k ft AGL 01/06Z - 01/12Z
Saturday. Surface wind swly/wly 15-30 kts with gusts near 40 kts
this morning, then surface wind wly/nwly 12-25 kts with gusts near
35 kts this afternoon/evening. Surface wind diminishing to less than
10 kts late tonight. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF
amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...A Red Flag Warning remains in effect from 11 AM this
morning to 7 PM MST this evening the southern portions of Fire
Weather Zones 151 and 152. The combination of strong and gusty west
winds, low relative humidity and a high fire danger will produce
critical fire weather conditions.
Otherwise, there is a slight chance of showers today from Tucson
eastward to the New Mexico border. There is a chance of showers
across the White Mountains this evening, then a slight chance to
chance of showers exists from Tucson eastward late tonight into
Saturday evening. A few thunderstorms may also occur Saturday
afternoon. Dry conditions will then prevail Sunday into next
Thursday.
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory until 11 AM MST this morning for AZZ507-509>511-
513.
Blowing Dust Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 5 PM MST this
afternoon for AZZ508.
Red Flag Warning from 11 AM this morning to 7 PM MST this
evening for AZZ151-152.
Wind Advisory until 5 PM MST this afternoon for AZZ508-512.
&&
Francis
Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/TucsonThe 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 three hours 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, March 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: 688340.