Arizona, 2022High Wind in Arizona, April 22, 2022
April 22, 2022 · NWS TWC · 3 events in 3 counties and zones
A upper level trough moved across the Great Basin which resulted in high winds out of the southwest in southeast Arizona near the New Mexico line. While no wind damage was reported, blowing dust did reduce visibility to less than a half mile along Interstate 10.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
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 upper level trough moved across the Great Basin which resulted in high winds out of the southwest in southeast Arizona near the New Mexico line. While no wind damage was reported, blowing dust did reduce visibility to less than a half mile along Interstate 10.
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 Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 22, 2:37 AM MST, 9 hours 53 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 22, 2:37 AM MST, 9 hours 53 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
237 AM MST Fri Apr 22 2022
.SYNOPSIS...A passing storm system will bring strong winds today and
push temperatures back down to near or below average to end the
week. Dry and warmer again early next week with temperatures back
into the 90s for most of the area Tuesday and Wednesday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...A weather system passing through the region will bring
strong and gusty winds to the area today. These strong winds coupled
with very dry conditions will result in critical fire weather
conditions this afternoon and early this evening. Please refer to
the Fire Weather section in this product for more details. Areas of
blowing dust, especially east of Willcox, can also be anticipated.
The system will usher in noticeably cooler air with daytime
temperatures peaking about 4 to 8 degrees below normal on Saturday.
Ensembles favored a ridge of high pressure over the region early
next week which will help temperatures to rebound to well above
average by Wednesday.
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 23/12Z.
FEW-SCT clouds (locally BKN) AOA 20k ft MSL thru the forecast
period. SFC wind increasing sharply between 22/15Z and 22/18Z. SFC
wind SWLY/WLY at 18-28 kts and gusts to 35-45 kts between 22/18Z and
23/03Z, with the strongest SFC wind east of KTUS in the vicinity of
KDUG, KALK and KSAD. Slowly diminishing SFC wind aft 23/03Z and SFC
wind generally less than 12 kts by 23/07Z. Aviation discussion not
updated for TAF amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Southwest to west winds are expected to increase
sharply mid to late morning today, with sustained winds of 15-25 mph
and gusts to 35-45 mph during the afternoon. Minimum RH values will
fall into the 10-15 percent range east of Tucson, with RH values
west of Tucson and in far northern portions of the forecast area in
the 15-20 percent range. Critical fire conditions are expected in an
area roughly south and east of a Clifton, to Safford, to Oracle, to
Tucson to Nogales line, where a Red Flag Warning is in effect from
11am to 8pm. While a Red Flag Warning is not in effect north and
west of this area due to RH values slightly above criteria levels,
expect strong and gusty winds in those areas this afternoon and
evening.
Breezy afternoon conditions persist southeast of Tucson on Saturday,
with lighter winds Sunday and Monday. Wind speeds then pick up again
mid to late next week. Overnight RH recoveries will improve tonight,
then dry out again with poor recoveries through late next week.
Afternoon minimum RH values drop back down into the single digits
areawide on Sunday and continue through next week. High temperatures
will fall below normal today into Sunday, then warm back above
normal levels next week.
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning from 11 AM to 8 PM MST today for AZZ150>154.
Wind Advisory from 11 AM to 8 PM MST today for AZZ505>513.
&&
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High Wind, Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet
- When
- April 22, 12:30 PM MST to 3:30 PM MST
- Where
- Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet forecast zone
- Measured
- 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 31.880, -109.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
ADOT road weather sensor at San Simon measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph at 1303MST and a sustained wind speed of 42 mph at 1503MST. Visibility was reduced to between one quarter and one half mile in blowing dust at times.
High Wind, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys
- When
- April 22, 12:30 PM MST to 3:30 PM MST
- Where
- Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys forecast zone
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- RAWS
- Coordinates
- 33.074, -109.563 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Guthrie RAWS, at 6340ft, measured a peak wind gust of 69 mph at 1303MST.
High Wind, Chiricahua Mountains
- When
- April 22, 12:30 PM MST to 3:30 PM MST
- Where
- Chiricahua Mountains forecast zone
- Measured
- 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 31.880, -109.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A Desert Research Institute weather station, at 6850ft in the Chiricahua Mountains, measured a peak wind gust of 67 mph at 1450MST.
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Wildfire and Dust Storm in Nebraska, April 22 to 29, 20221 death · 5 injured · 71 kt wind · 8 events
- Wildfire and Dust Storm in New Mexico, April 22 to 30, 2022$11 million · 81 kt wind · 51 events
- Tornadoes and Wildfire in Kansas, April 22 to 29, 20221 injured · $347,000 · EF1 · 61 events
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Nebraska, April 22 to 23, 2022$500,000 · 72 kt wind · 12 events
- Flash Flooding and Hail in North Dakota, April 22 to 23, 2022$100,000 · 1.25 in hail · 11 events
- Tornado and Wildfire in South Dakota, April 22 to 23, 2022$47,000 · 2.5 in hail · 25 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, April 22 to 23, 20222 in hail · 48 events
- Wildfire and Hail in Nebraska, April 22 to 29, 20221.75 in hail · 39 events
- Tornado and Hail in South Dakota, April 22 to 23, 2022EF0 · 38 events
- Wildfire and Dust Storm in Colorado, April 22, 2022$33,000 · 78 kt wind · 6 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, April 22 to 23, 20222.5 in hail · 22 events
- High Wind in Colorado, April 22 to 23, 202270 kt wind · 19 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: 1024964, 1024967, 1024970.