A strong cold front brought high winds to portions of northern Arizona on February 3rd.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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 strong cold front brought high winds to portions of northern Arizona on February 3rd.
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 Feb 3, 3:24 AM MST, 6 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 324 AM MST Mon Feb 3 2020 .SYNOPSIS...A cold front will move across northern Arizona today delivering wind gusts in excess of 60 mph at some locations from the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains northward. Along with the front will come cold temperatures and a chance of snow showers today. Expect lighter winds on Tuesday and Wednesday but with cold temperatures continuing. Mild weather will return toward the end of the week. && .DISCUSSION...Satellite and surface obs show the cold front has entered Mohave county at 2 am. A SW-NE oriented band of light showers is along the front, and liquid accumlations in southeast Nevada and SW Utah are generally a tenth inch or less. It's worth noting that surface temps have dropped 10-15 degrees after the frontal passage in SW Utah, and this trend will continue here through the day. Strong southwest winds have developed as expected across the high terrain of northern Arizona, peak gusts so far this morning include 58 mph on the Vermilion Cliffs, 57 mph at Greens Peak, 53 mph at the Flagstaff Airport. Very gusty winds to be the main issue today, and the fastest winds still look to be across southern Navajo and Apache counties later this morning. The High Wind Warning (with gusts from 60 to 75 mph in the Show Low and Springerville areas) to remain in effect through this afternoon. The High Wind Warning in effect until 5 AM Monday for the Flagstaff and Wupatki areas will likely be replaced with a Wind Advisory with SW-W gusts from 40 to 50 mph continuing through the afternoon. The Wind Advisory to remain in effect for locations north of Interstate-40 through today, with with SW-W gusts to 55 mph. Todays high temperatures to be 20-30 degrees colder than Sunday, and likely to be reached this morning for areas north of Interstate-40. Afternoon wind chills will range from the teens to in the 20s for the mountains of northern Arizona. While we still are forecasting a period of snow along and just behind the front, model QPF and resultant snow accumulations are trending downward. Snow levels will lower to below 4000 feet. In general any snow accumulations will range from just a dusting to 1 inch through Monday evening. The highest elevations of the White Mountains, San Francisco Peaks, and Chuska Mountains could see 2 inches. Snow showers should impact the morning commute across much of Coconino County. The band of precip is progressive, with decreasing shower activity across western AZ while it increases across Navajo and Apache counties. Precip chances are slight in the White Mountains and none elsewhere from midnight tonight through noon Tuesday. TUESDAY...Morning low temperatures could be the coldest so far this season for some locations. kept the slight chance of afternoon snow flurries across the high country with the cold pool overhead. Daytime temperatures Tuesday will be 15-20 degrees below average for early February. WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY... A dry northwesterly flow through this period. Models show cold air holding firm on Wednesday but then transitioning to milder temperatures by Friday and Saturday. && .AVIATION...For the 12Z package...Strong southwest winds with gusts of 35-50 kts will continue this morning. Locally higher gusts up to 60 kts are possible just north of the higher terrain. Winds will shift to a northerly direction behind the front later this afternoon into tonight. There will be a chance of light snow showers along the front, affecting KGCN and KFLG this morning and shifting into eastern AZ during the afternoon. Some blowing dust is possible for lower elevations north of the Mogollon Rim. Aside from brief MVFR conditions in snow showers, VFR conditions will prevail through the period. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Strong southwest winds will gradually weaken and shift to a northerly direction by tonight. Much colder temperatures and light snow showers will occur as a cold front crosses the state. Very cold conditions persist on Tuesday with gusty northeast winds. Wednesday through Friday...Well below normal temperatures continue Wednesday with breezy northerly winds. Much warmer temperatures are expected Thursday and Friday. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...High Wind Warning until 4 PM MST this afternoon FOR AZZ013-014- 016-017. Wind Advisory until 4 PM MST this afternoon FOR AZZ005-009>011- 039-040. High Wind Warning until 5 AM MST early this morning FOR AZZ004- 006-007-012-015. && PUBLIC...DL AVIATION...TPS FIRE WEATHER...TPS For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The ADOT wind sensor at Two Guns reported a peak wind gust of 64 MPH at 353 AM. Wind gusts exceeded 58 MPH from 330 AM to 220 PM.
Very strong winds were felt across the Little Colorado River Valley Apache County. Sustained winds over 40 MPH were felt for over 9 hours in St Johns and Springerville. Peak wind gusts include Springervile 78 MPH at 135 PM, St Johns 70 MPH at 243 PM, and Lupton 60 MPH at 212 PM. There were multiple reports of downed power poles in Springerville and Eagar. Trees were blown down in Concho and Show Low.
The Winslow Airport ASOS recorded frequent sustained winds of 40 MPH or higher from 900 AM to 220 PM. The peak wind gusts of 60 MPH were recorded from 1135 to 1140 AM. The Taylor Airport reported a peak wind gust of 68 MPH at 1055 AM.
The peak wind gust at the Show Low Airport Show Low was 64 MPH at 1035 AM. The winds gusted over 58 MPH between 1015 AM and 3 PM. The sustained winds were above 40 MPH between 930 AM and 430 PM.
The peak wind gust at the Window Rock Airport was 58 MPH between 113 PM and 153 PM.
The wind sensor at the Mogollon Airpark near Heber reported a peak wind gust of 58 MPH at 155 PM.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, February 2020
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: 870080, 870079, 870077, 870081, 870075, 870078.