A strong cold front brought high winds to parts of northern Arizona.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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 parts of northern Arizona.
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 Nov 7, 9:42 AM MST, 1 hour 48 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 942 AM MST Sat Nov 7 2020 .SYNOPSIS...Two weather systems will bring a dramatic change in the weather across northern Arizona this weekend. Expect periods of wind, rain, and mountain snow through Monday morning. Significant snow accumulation over the higher terrain is expected. Dry and cool conditions return Tuesday. && .UPDATE...Winds have already increased this morning, with a few gusts to 40+ mph reported over higher terrain areas. Expect winds to continue increasing through the day, with gusts of 40-55 mph for most of northern Arizona. The first disturbance in our 2-part storm system is over central California at 9 AM. Showers and a few t-storms have been numerous over eastern Gila, and southern Apache/Navajo counties with a band of moisture, and these will persist there until late afternoon or early evening. Elsewhere, a lull in precipitation is observed this morning. As the first disturbance approaches later this afternoon and evening, showers are forecast to develop over the Mogollon Rim and much of Coconino County and spread east overnight. For the Flagstaff region, looks like the changeover to snow will be in the 4-6 PM range, with areas farther east being later (Show Low closer to midnight). The bulk of the precip with this first round should end around midnight or shortly thereafter for Coconino County, and before sunrise in eastern Arizona. All of these trends are covered well in our current forecasts, and no updates are expected this morning. && .PREV DISCUSSION /335 AM MST/...Active weather including the first widespread significant snowfall of the season set to take place in northern Arizona over the next 48-60 hours. Very good model agreement has led to little change in the forecast this morning. No changes have been made to the previously issued Wind Advisory and Winter Weather Advisory products. In advance of system number one, we are seeing a fairly large area of rain showers early this morning, mainly along and south of the Mogollon Rim. Some of the embedded heavier showers have produced brief periods of moderate rainfall. Expect shower activity to expand in coverage through the day as the associated cold front draws closer to the region. Precipitation through mid afternoon will be in the form of rain below 9000 feet. Strengthening south to southwest winds aloft will mix down to the surface through the morning and into the afternoon resulting in gusts of 40-55 mph across a large portion of northern Arizona. The cold front will push from west to east late this afternoon, reaching the New Mexico border by late tonight. Snow levels will rapidly fall behind the front, to between 5000-6000 feet. The most impactful snow accumulations tonight will likely be limited to areas above 6500 feet where a general 2-4 inches is anticipated. Locally higher amounts are expected above 8000 feet. Travel may become hazardous at times tonight across the High Country. The first system will depart on Sunday morning with latest model guidance consistent in showing a break in precipitation for the area. The break will be short-lived as a system number 2 drops southeast toward the state Sunday afternoon. This system will be stronger, colder, and also will have a bit more moisture to work with. Widespread precipitation will develop Sunday evening and continue through early Monday. A reinforcing shot of cold air with this system will cause snow levels to tumble below 5000 feet on Sunday night. 5-10 inches of snow are forecast along the higher elevations (above 6500 feet) of the Mogollon Rim with 1-4 inches possible as low as 5000 feet. This system does have the potential to produce banded precipitation along the Rim so locally higher amounts are a definite possibility. Best advice is to avoid travel on Sunday night and early Monday if at all possible. Precipitation will end from west to east on Monday morning with clearing skies and chilly temperatures. Expect very cold temperatures Monday night and Tuesday morning with lighter winds and fresh snowpack. Single digits are forecast across some of our colder high elevation spots. Cool weather looks to persist through much of next week. && .AVIATION...For the 18Z package...A strong cold front will move from west to east across northern Arizona starting this afternoon. S-SW winds 20-30 with gusts of 35-45kts through 00Z then decreasing. Winds of 10 to 20kts with gusts up to 30kts could persist through the night. BKN-OVC CIGS at and above 130 MSL to lower through the day, with areas of MVFR ceilings later this morning over higher terrain. KINW should be VFR but have strong downslope winds. -SHRA coverage to increase and and change over to -SHSN from west to east this afternoon and evening. MVFR and IFR conditions are likely in SHSN, and along SW facing terrain after 06z due to upslope stratus. Showers will decrease from west to east after 10Z. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Strong south to southwest winds will continue today across as a cold front cross northern Arizona from west to east. Expect a sharp drop in temperatures and scattered rain and snow showers across much of the region. A second and stronger storm system will move across the area Sunday night, with additional rain and snow. Many locations will record wetting precipitation. Monday through Wednesday...Snow and valley rain will continue Monday morning, then clearing from west to east through the day. Lighter winds and dry weather return starting Tuesday. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...Winter Weather Advisory from 5 PM Sunday to 8 AM MST Monday FOR AZZ004-006-007-015-016-038. Wind Advisory until 6 PM MST this evening FOR AZZ004>017-038>040. Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM Sunday to 11 AM MST Monday FOR AZZ011-017-039. && PUBLIC...JJ AVIATION...MAS FIRE WEATHER...MAS For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Winds of at least 60 MPH were reported in Diamond Valley. Small branches up to one inch in diameter were broken off trees and large trees were swaying.
The wind at the Flagstaff Airport gusted over 58 MPH between around 1 PM and 4 PM MST. Wind gusts of 60 MPH were reported at 158 and 352 PM MST.
The Mesonet wind sensor at Two Guns reported wind gust over 58 MPH between around 225 PM and 315 PM MST. The peak wind gust of 68 MPH was recorded at 233 PM MST.
The wind sensor on Greens Peak (10,118 feet MSO) reported wind gust 58 MPH or higher between 702 and 722 PM MST. The peak wind of 59 MPH was reported at 722 PM MST.
Springerville Airport reported wind gust over 58 MPH between 1015 PM and 1115 PM MST. The peak wind gust of 61 MPH was recorded at 1030 PM MST.
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, November 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: 927847, 927844, 927845, 927843, 927545.