Arizona, 2019

High Wind in Arizona, March 2, 2019

March 2, 2019 · NWS FGZ · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A strong cold front brought windy conditions to northern Arizona. One location did have a wind gust over 60 MPH.

Where it happened

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.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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 FGZ wrote it up.

A strong cold front brought windy conditions to northern Arizona. One location did have a wind gust over 60 MPH.

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 Flagstaff, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 2, 9:02 AM MST, 3 hours 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 2, 9:02 AM MST, 3 hours 41 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ
902 AM MST Sat Mar 2 2019

.SYNOPSIS...A Pacific storm system moving across Arizona will
bring a good chance of showers through this evening, along with
windy conditions and cooler temperatures. Drier weather and
lighter winds look to return for at least the early part of next
week. Another round of showers and windy conditions is possible by
Wednesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Precipitation was observed spreading across western
Arizona during the morning hours. For the remainder of the day
this area of precipitation will move eastward making it to the
New Mexico border by nightfall. This is consistent with the
current forecast package and no changes have been made at this
time.

A Pacific low will move across Arizona with precipitation
starting over northwest Arizona this morning then spreading
eastward to the New Mexico border by the afternoon. From around
noon through early evening, there will also be a few
thunderstorms. Showers will linger into early Sunday morning
before coming to an end. This system is bringing a moisture plume
with precipitable water values in the 0.50 to 0.80 range (which is
about as high as it gets for early March) and upslope
southwesterly winds of 25 to 45 mph. The result, precipitation
will be very terrain driven with southwest facing mountains/slopes
receiving 0.50-1.00 inch of rain (or melted snow for the highest
elevations). Away from southwest facing terrain features
precipitation amounts will range from 0.10-0.25 inches. The White
Mountains will also see reduced precipitation amounts because the
storm will be weakening as it reaches that area. This will be mild
system with snow levels generally remaining above 8000 feet and
not affecting any highly populated locations. Even though we are
not expecting excessive amounts of rain, snowmelt will also come
into play with the mild temperatures and high dewpoints. The
combination of rain and melting snow at higher elevations will
cause stream rises, especially across Yavapai and Gila Counties.
Specifically, from tonight into Sunday low water crossings will
become impassable on portions of Oak Creek from Oak Creek Canyon
to Cornville and also potentially along Wet Beaver Creek and West
Clear Creek. Flow in these creeks is already elevated due to
ongoing snowmelt, so it won't take much to cause low water
crossings to be impassable. Wind gusts to 45 mph are expected to
start by late this morning and last through the early evening from
near Flagstaff eastward to the New Mexico border and a Wind
Advisory is in effect.

High pressure will bring generally fair weather and warming
temperatures on Monday and Tuesday. There will be a slight chance
of showers over the Kaibab Plateau and along the Arizona/Utah
border. Starting Wednesday another series of systems will take aim
at Arizona with unsettled weather through the end of next week.

&&

.AVIATION...For the 18Z Package...Widespread -SHRA developing across
NW Arizona and spreading southeastward through the day, with
isolated afternoon -TSRA possible. MVFR/IFR conditions likely with
heavier showers. Surface winds SW increasing to 15-30 kts gusts to
45 kts through 02Z Sun. Most shower activity will end by 06Z with a
few lingering through 12Z Sun. Aviation discussion not updated for
TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Southwest winds increase today, gusting from 35 to
45 mph. Widespread showers will spread eastward through the day with
isolated thunderstorms possible. Showers decrease in coverage by
Sunday afternoon.

Monday through Wednesday...Isolated showers are possible near the
AZ/UT border and along the Kaibab Plateau Monday. Expect dry
conditions and light winds Tuesday. Chances for rain and mountain
snow return Wednesday.

&&

.FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...Wind Advisory until 7 PM MST this evening FOR AZZ012>017.

&&

PUBLIC...McCollum/JJ
AVIATION...MCT/RR
FIRE WEATHER...RR

For Northern Arizona weather information visit
weather.gov/flagstaff

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County

When
March 2, 12:43 PM MST
Where
Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County forecast zone
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
35.620, -111.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The ADOT wind sensor at Two Guns along Interstate 40 recorded a peak wind gust of 65 MPH at 1243 PM MST on March 2.

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, March 2019

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: 814678.