Arizona, 2020Dust Storm in Arizona, November 7, 2020
November 7, 2020 · NWS PSR · 2 events in 1 county or zone
A strong area of low pressure and an associated cold front moving through Arizona on November 7th combined to produce strong and gusty winds across the central deserts. Gradient wind gusts were observed up to 35-40 mph.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
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.
A strong area of low pressure and an associated cold front moving through Arizona on November 7th combined to produce strong and gusty winds across the central deserts. Gradient wind gusts were observed up to 35-40 mph. As a result of the gusty wind, areas of dense blowing dust/dust channels developed during the afternoon hours over desert areas to the southeast of Phoenix. The dense blowing dust lowered visibility to one quarter mile or less between Florence and Casa Grande and resulted in the issuance of a Dust Storm Warning. The strong winds and reduction in visibility impacted travel between Phoenix and Tucson, but there were no reports of accidents or injuries.
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 Phoenix, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 6, 3:14 PM MST, 22 hours 36 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Nov 6, 3:14 PM MST, 22 hours 36 minutes before
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</html>Dust Storm, Northwest Pinal County
- When
- November 7, 1:50 PM MST to 2:08 PM MST
- Where
- Northwest Pinal County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 32.904, -111.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Gradient wind gusts were observed up to 35-40 mph and resulted in some areas of dense blowing dust or dust channels southeast of Phoenix, especially in the areas around Casa Grande, during afternoon hours. At 1351MST, dust storm conditions with visibility down to near zero at times along SR-287, between SR-87 and I-10, were reported by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. There were no reports of accidents due to the sharply reduced visibility.
Dust Storm, Northwest Pinal County
- When
- November 7, 3:51 PM MST to 5:15 PM MST
- Where
- Northwest Pinal County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 32.904, -111.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Gradient wind gusts were observed up to 35-40 mph and resulted in some areas of dense blowing dust or dust channels southeast of Phoenix, especially in the areas around Casa Grande, during afternoon hours. According to local law enforcement, at 1551MST dust storm conditions occurred about 7 miles east of Casa Grande; Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported visibility near zero miles along State Route 287 between State Route 87 and Interstate 10. This was the second report of the afternoon from DPS for this area. According to a trained spotter near the town of Florence, at 1554MST a dust storm occurred as visibility fell to one quarter of a mile in near State Route 79 and Gila River. There were no reports of accidents due to the sharply reduced visibility. There were no reports of accidents due to the sharply reduced visibility.
- Dust Storm
- Blowing dust that reduced visibility to a quarter mile or less.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Winter Storm and Flood in California, November 7 to 10, 2020$2.0 million · 63 kt wind · 10 events
- Tropical Storm and Storm Surge in Florida, November 7 to 9, 20201 injured · $603,000 · 5 events
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Puerto Rico, November 7 to 12, 202026 events
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, November 7 to 9, 202024 events
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in Colorado, November 7 to 8, 202066 kt wind · 23 events
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in California, November 7 to 8, 202066 kt wind · 13 events
- Strong Wind in California, November 7 to 8, 202013 events
- Damaging Wind and High Wind in New Mexico, November 7 to 9, 2020$10,000 · 58 kt wind · 10 events
- High Wind in Wyoming, November 7 to 8, 202059 kt wind · 7 events
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, November 7 to 8, 20207 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Colorado, November 7 to 9, 20206 events
- Heavy Snow in Montana, November 7 to 9, 20206 events
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: 932464, 930383.