A late season upper low pressure system slowly moved across northern Arizona. This brought showers, thunderstorms, and snow down to the 6,000-7,000 foot elevation range.
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 FGZ wrote it up.
A late season upper low pressure system slowly moved across northern Arizona. This brought showers, thunderstorms, and snow down to the 6,000-7,000 foot elevation range. |One thunderstorm produced a tornado.
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 May 19, 3:17 PM MST, 58 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 317 PM MST Sun May 19 2019 .SYNOPSIS...A strong late season low pressure system will continue to bring periods of rain and high elevation snow to northern Arizona through Monday. Another low is forecast to impact the area by late Tuesday, with more cold, wet and windy weather through much of next work week. && .DISCUSSION...Current satellite imagery shows an upper-low centered over Lake County, CA. This low will continue to dive southeastward today, making it into far northwest Arizona by early Monday morning. Ahead of the low, strong winds have occurred across northern Arizona this afternoon. Frequent southwest wind gusts into the 40 to 50 mph range have been observed for areas along and north for the Mogollon Rim from Flagstaff eastward. A Wind Advisory remains in effect for most areas through 6 PM MST. In addition, radar shows showers across portions of Coconino and Yavapai Counties. Some of the stronger showers are producing graupel, which may produce hazardous driving conditions if they accumulate on area roadways. These showers will slowly expand eastward through the evening and overnight hours. For tonight, wind speeds will decrease at most places, but gusty downslope winds will persist at areas to the northeast of higher terrain. Snow levels will drop as cold air filters into the area with the advancing low. By Monday morning, snow levels are forecast to be around 6000 feet at most places. Snow accumulations are expected to be light, although an inch or two of accumulating snow is possible from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to Jacob Lake. On Monday, the low moves across the state. Current model data suggests 700mb temps within the core of this unusually cold low will be between -6C to -7C. This will lead to significant instability and numerous convective showers. Some areas will likely see temporary snow accumulations with the passing of the heavier snow showers, down to about 6000 feet or so. The greatest impact on Monday will be locally limited visibility in snow showers, and the possibility of hazardous driving if the snow is heavy enough to accumulate. The low moves east on Tuesday, which may bring a brief downtrend in shower activity. However, another round of strong southwest wind gusts into the 40 to 50 mph range is forecast ahead of a second weather system due to sweep across the area beginning late Tuesday. More rain and mountain snow is possible, especially on Wednesday. Some shower activity may continue into Thursday. From Friday into next weekend, northern Arizona remains in an active weather pattern, but model guidance is trending drier. && .AVIATION...For the 00Z package... Expect gusty south to southwest winds at 20-30G35-45 kts decreasing after 03Z Mon. Conditions will remain gusty through the overnight for areas to the northeast of high terrain. Thunderstorms and mountain snow showers remain possible, mainly west of a line from KPRC to KPGA through 02z. Showers and thunderstorms will then gradually spread to the east through the evening and into the overnight. Expect MVFR/IFR conditions with gusty and erratic winds possible near thunderstorms and heavier showers. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Showers, mountain snow, and scattered thunderstorms will continue through Monday evening. Snow levels decrease to around 6000 ft by Monday morning. Winds will remain breezy northeast of high terrain overnight Sunday into Monday. Chance for showers mainly north of I-40 and gusty southwest winds return on Tuesday. Wednesday through Friday...The trend of below normal temperatures, gusty winds and additional chances of precipitation each day will continue through Thursday. Dry conditions will return Friday with cool temperatures remaining. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...Wind Advisory until 6 PM MST this evening FOR AZZ004>017-038>040. && PUBLIC...RR AVIATION...ET FIRE WEATHER...ET For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
The Flagstaff radar (KFSX), 150 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:51 UTC.
1 heavy snow, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy late season snow began to fall around 415 PM until around 730 PM. Four inches of snow fell at 8000 feet elevation.
A tornado was reported by the public southwest of Tuba City. The time and location was estimated by the report, video, and radar.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Arizona, 2019Warnings in Arizona, May 2019
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: 831569, 831550.