A trough of low pressure moving across northern with an unstable atmosphere and lots of moisture triggered strong thunderstorms moving across northern Arizona. One of these storms produced a funnel cloud south-southeast of Valle.
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The episode as NWS FGZ wrote it up.
A trough of low pressure moving across northern with an unstable atmosphere and lots of moisture triggered strong thunderstorms moving across northern Arizona. One of these storms produced a funnel cloud south-southeast of Valle.
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 8, 3:53 AM MST, 4 hours 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 353 AM MST Wed May 8 2019 .SYNOPSIS...A series of weather systems will move across Arizona over the next several days. Look for mostly cloudy skies and cooler temperatures with a chance of showers and thunderstorms each day. && .DISCUSSION...A shortwave disturbance moving across the area overnight has produced a band of light showers that is currently stretched from Congress northeast to Tuba City. Elsewhere, there are a few isolated showers across southern Apache and Navajo counties. These showers will continue to move off to the southeast through the morning over southern Apache and Navajo counties. Behind the morning band of showers, expect more widespread showers to develop through the day as another trough swings in from the northwest. Daytime heating will allow for enough instability for isolated to scattered thunderstorms by the afternoon. Expect gusty winds and small hail to be possible with any storms that develop. By Wednesday evening, shower chances decrease east to west as the system exits to the east overnight. Expect breezy west to northwest winds Wednesday afternoon. After the brief break in precipitation for most places overnight Wednesday into early Thursday, another shortwave trough will bring returning showers and thunderstorms to the area on Thursday with the best chances along and north of the Mogollon Rim. Looking into the weekend, the pattern stays active across northern Arizona. Long range models show continued troughing over the southwest with a deepening cutoff low developing off the southern California coast by Saturday morning. This low slowly advances across the area with embedded impulses rotating by through the weekend. This will bring continued periods of widespread chances for showers and afternoon thunderstorms each day through the weekend into early next week. If you have outdoor plans this weekend, you may want to consider alternative plans. && .AVIATION...For the 12Z package...A line of SHRA stretching from SW to NE will progress across the area this morning bringing brief MVFR conditions. Additional SHRA/TSRA will develop this afternoon and last through early evening. Most areas will remain VFR through the day, with local MVFR/IFR in showers and thunderstorms. Winds today W to NW 10-15 kts with gusts around 25 kts. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Expect an active, wet, and cool weather pattern through the remainder of this week. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will bring a good chance of wetting rain to many areas today. Breezy west to northwest winds today will decrease the rest of the week. Additional showers and storms will favor areas along and north of the Mogollon Rim on Thursday. The chance for showers and afternoon storms will continue each day through Sunday. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && PUBLIC...ET AVIATION...MCT FIRE WEATHER...MCT For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 832 AM MST Wed May 8 2019 AZZ007-015-081600- Coconino Plateau-Western Mogollon Rim- 832 AM MST Wed May 8 2019 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT COCONINO COUNTY... At 832 AM MST, a strong thunderstorm was located near Valle, or 35 miles southwest of Desert View at Grand Canyon, moving south at 20 mph. Half inch hail is possible with this storm. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas OF central Coconino Plateau and northwestern Western Mogollon Rim Counties. This includes the following highways... State Route 64 between mile markers 199 and 212. Highway 180 between mile markers 257 and 265. LAT...LON 3558 11226 3568 11207 3544 11187 3536 11212 TIME...MOT...LOC 1532Z 338DEG 18KT 3560 11214 MAS
The Flagstaff radar (KFSX), 133 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:46 UTC.
1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
A picture of a funnel cloud was posted on social media. The location was estimated from radar at that time. The funnel was observed for at least 13 minutes from near Williams.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings 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: 831524.