A potent low pressure system and associated cold front moving across The Western States brought high winds to parts of northern Arizona.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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 potent low pressure system and associated cold front moving across The Western States 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 Apr 11, 9:13 AM MST, 4 hours 30 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 913 AM MST Mon Apr 11 2022 .SYNOPSIS...A storm system moving across the western states will deliver very strong, and potentially damaging, winds to northern Arizona later today through Tuesday. Look for a chance of mountain snow and valley rain on Tuesday, along with a blast of colder temperatures. After a hard freeze Wednesday morning, warmer temperatures will return from Thursday into the weekend. Breezy conditions are forecast each afternoon. && .DISCUSSION...Current satellite imagery shows a deep low centered over northern Oregon. This low will move southwestward today, and will push a cold front through the area late tonight. The main impact from the low and associated cold front will be a round of VERY strong winds, but much colder temperatures will occur behind the front as well. Precipitation is forecast to be fairly light, and with relatively warm road surfaces as the front pushes through, travel impacts due to icy roadways should be minimal. Current observations already show strong winds developing across portions of northern Arizona this morning. We are already seeing wind gusts above 30 mph along the Mogollon Rim, and within the Little Colorado River Valley. These winds are going to make for difficult travel conditions along Interstate 40, especially for high profile vehicles. In addition, winds this strong can loft dust that limit visibility along Interstate 40 east of Flagstaff and within the Chinle Valley on the Navajo Nation. The current forecast captures these trends well, so no forecast updates are anticipated this morning. For greater detail with regards to the wind and temperature forecast, please see the attached forecast discussion below. && .PREV DISCUSSION /341 AM MST/...A potent low pressure system and associated cold front will dive across the western states today and Tuesday. The main impact of this system over the next 24 to 36 hours will be high winds with widespread wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph. Localized gusts as high as 80 mph are forecast for tonight! Behind this low a hard freeze is anticipated for Wednesday morning. Details follow. For today and Tuesday...A potent low moves across the western states. Pressure gradients will quickly strengthen today maxing out tonight into Tuesday. The result will be widespread strong winds. As the low approaches southwesterly winds will rapidly strengthen through this morning with wind gusts of 60+ mph developing during the afternoon. By tonight, as the cold front approaches, winds will achieve their peak strength. Locations along and downwind of the Kaibab Plateau, the Mogollon Rim, Black Mesa, the Chuska Mountains and White Mountains could see wind gusts of 70 to 80 mph between 6 PM (7 PM Navajo Nation) this evening through 8 AM (9 AM Navajo Nation) Tuesday morning. Locations such as Doney Park, Kayenta, Meteor Crater, House Rock, Teec Nos Pos and Concho could see such gusts. The result, a High Wind Warning is in effect for much of northern Arizona. Go to weather.gov/flagstaff for further details. In addition, as the cold front passes across the area on Tuesday there will be a decent shot at some showers, especially from the Mogollon Rim northward. Accumulating snow will be possible down to 5500 feet but due to limited moisture and the fast moving nature of the low only a dusting to 1 inch of snow is anticipated. The highest mountain peaks which could see a few additional inches. On Wednesday...The low pressure system moves eastward with a dry and cold air mass punching from north to south across Arizona. The main impact of this drier air will be strong radiational cooling before sunrise Wednesday resulting in a widespread hard freeze. Locations above 6500 feet are likely to see low temperatures in the teens with temperatures mainly in the 20s at lower elevations. Consider protection any of your more sensitive plants. From Thursday onward...A mild westerly flow will develop across the southwestern states. Look for warmer temperatures under this mild air mass with pressure gradients and daytime vertical mixing nearly guaranteeing breezy conditions each afternoon. Passing weak shortwave disturbances could throw a few windy days into the mix with the next best chance for stronger winds Saturday and Sunday. && .AVIATION...For the 18Z package...Strong, gusty southwest winds will continue to increase through the afternoon and overnight with speeds of 30-40 kts, gusting 45-55 kts across the high terrain. Locally higher gusts up to 70 kts are possible along and downwind of the Mogollon Rim. Isolated IFR/LIFR conditions will be possible in blowing dust and sand, mainly north and east of a KPGA-T03-KINW-KSJN line. Areas of MVFR conditions will be possible in areas of rain/snow showers after 00-09Z Tue. VFR conditions are otherwise expected. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Strong, gusty southwest winds develop this afternoon, lasting overnight. Winds become a bit lighter from the west on Tuesday, though still remain strong and gusty. Cooling temperatures are also expected as chances for rain/snow showers increase late tonight into Tuesday. Wednesday through Friday...Warming temperatures are expected from Wednesday onward, along with dry conditions. Winds lighten a bit, but remain gusty from the west/southwest. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...High Wind Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 5 PM MST Tuesday FOR AZZ013-014-016-017-040. High Wind Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 8 AM MST Tuesday FOR AZZ004>007-009>012-015-039. Wind Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 8 AM MST Tuesday FOR AZZ008. && PUBLIC...RR/McCollum 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.
4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The anemometer on top of Greens Peak measured a peak wind gust of 58 MPH at 143 PM MST.
The wind sensor at Two Guns along Interstate 40 measured sustained winds of 40 MPH or higher and/or wind gusts above 58 MPH between Midnight ant 500 AM. The peak wind gust of 74 MPH was at 343 AM MST.
A wind sensor at 9379 feet elevation on Agassiz Peak measured a peak wind gust of 64 MPH at 400 AM. Other wind gusts 58 MPH or higher were recoded between 250 AM and 415 AM.
The wind sensor at the intersection of Highways 277 and 377 measured wind gusts of 58 MPH or higher between 530 AM and 830 AM. The peak wind gust of 60 MPH was at 543 AM.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, April 2022
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: 1017833, 1018004, 1018034, 1018014.