Arizona, 2022High Wind and Strong Wind in Arizona, March 4, 2022
March 4, 2022 · NWS TWC · 4 events in 4 counties and zones
An upper level low pressure system moved across northern Arizona bringing strong southwest winds to southeast Arizona. The winds reduced visibility to between a quarter and a half mile along I-10 from Willcox eastward.
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.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
Open the live radar over this ground
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $500
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 4
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.
An upper level low pressure system moved across northern Arizona bringing strong southwest winds to southeast Arizona. The winds reduced visibility to between a quarter and a half mile along I-10 from Willcox eastward.
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 Mar 4, 2:47 AM MST, 8 hours 13 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 4, 2:47 AM MST, 8 hours 13 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
247 AM MST Fri Mar 4 2022
.SYNOPSIS...
Windy conditions will develop today as a weather system
approaches from the west. A series of weather systems will bring
gusty winds over the weekend along with cooler temperatures. A few
showers are possible, mainly north and northeast of Tucson.
Temperatures will recover to near seasonal averages again by the
middle of next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
An increasing southwesterly flow has drawn in a modest moisture
increase above 15k ft, but lower levels remain on the dry side.
Gusty winds already setting up as some locations stay mixed to the
surface. The gradient will continue to tighten as the low near
the southern California coast shears into northern Arizona this
afternoon. Wind advisory for eastern areas with critical fire
weather concerns as outlined in the Fire Weather section below.
Potential areas of blowing dust, especially in eastern areas
closer to New Mexico.
Another system will dig into the state Saturday night into Sunday.
This will reinforce the cooler air and continue our blustery wind
trends over the weekend, however not much more than virga for our
area as we keep a relatively dry subcloud layer. Best valley rain
and mountain snow chances will be north of Tucson.
It still looks like the third system will keep temperatures
around 10 degrees below climo early in the new week, but continues
to only warrant modest precip chances this far south.
Ensembles suggest broad troughiness across much of the country
next week. Storm tracks will remain north of our area, however we
should manage to keep temperatures within a few degrees of climo
with gusty winds at times.
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 05/12Z.
Mostly clear, with SCT-BKN 100-150 AGL spreading in from the west
after 04/22Z. ISOLD -SHRA possible N of KTUS after 05/02Z. Windy
conditions developing today. South to Southwest winds will
increase through the morning, peaking 04/20z-05/00z at 20-30 kts
gusting 35-40 kts. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF
amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
A series of storms will bring strong gusty winds through the
weekend, with strongest winds expected this afternoon. Critical
fire weather conditions are expected today with a Red Flag Warning
for much of southeast Arizona. Winds will be slightly reduced
Saturday along with a modest moisture increase, however brief
localized critical fire weather conditions will again be possible
mainly in Cochise County. Sunday expect breezy winds mainly along
the AZ/NM border, but below critical thresholds. The passing storm
systems will also lead to a few mainly light showers north of
Tucson and in Graham and Greenlee Counties. After that, expect dry
conditions with a warming trend by the middle of next week.
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning from 10 AM this morning to 7 PM MST this
evening for AZZ151-152-154.
Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 7 PM MST this evening
for AZZ503-507>514.
&&
Meyer
Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
High Wind, Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet
- When
- March 4, 11:00 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
- Where
- Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 31.880, -109.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A DOT sensor along I-10 near San Simon measured sustained winds at 41 mph at 1133MST and a gust to 58 mph at 1143MST. Visibilities in blowing dust were reduced to between a quarter and a half mile causing I-10 to be closed east of Willcox to the New Mexico line for several hours.
High Wind, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys
- When
- March 4, 1:30 PM MST to 2:30 PM MST
- Where
- Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys forecast zone
- Measured
- 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- RAWS
- Coordinates
- 33.074, -109.563 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Guthrie RAWS at elevation 6340ft measured a peak gust of 70 mph at 1400MST.
Strong Wind, Tucson Metro Area
- When
- March 4, 2:00 PM MST to 3:00 PM MST
- Where
- Tucson Metro Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $500
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 32.097, -111.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Strong winds blew down a 20-year old Acacia tree in Oro Valley.
High Wind, Upper San Pedro River Valley
- When
- March 4, 3:00 PM MST to 4:00 PM MST
- Where
- Upper San Pedro River Valley forecast zone
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 32.109, -110.569 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
KALK Pioneer Field measured a wind gust of 60 mph at 1529MST.
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
- Strong Wind
- Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Wildfire in Texas, March 4 to 5, 2022$800,000 · 1 event
- Winter Weather in South Dakota, March 4 to 7, 202218 events
- Winter Weather in Colorado, March 4 to 7, 202210 events
- Winter Weather in Colorado, March 4 to 7, 20229 events
- Heavy Snow in Wyoming, March 4 to 6, 20227 events
- Winter Storm in California, March 4 to 5, 20226 events
- Heavy Snow in California, March 4 to 5, 20223 events
- High Wind in New Mexico, March 4, 202256 kt wind · 3 events
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Alaska, March 4 to 6, 20223 events
- Heavy Snow and Sleet in Nebraska, March 4 to 5, 20223 events
- Heavy Snow in Nevada, March 4 to 5, 20222 events
- Strong Wind in California, March 4, 20222 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: 1015949, 1015950, 1015947, 1015948.