A shortwave trough rotating around a large trough of low pressure over the western United States brought windy conditions to northern Arizona. Several areas north of the Mogollon Rim saw high wind gusts.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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 shortwave trough rotating around a large trough of low pressure over the western United States brought windy conditions to northern Arizona. Several areas north of the Mogollon Rim saw high wind gusts.
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 May 8, 2:50 PM MST, 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 250 PM MST Sun May 8 2022 .SYNOPSIS...Strong southwest winds and low humidity will produce critical fire weather conditions today and Monday. Expect a bit less wind Tuesday, with winds ramping again on Wednesday. A warming trend arrives Thursday, with summer-like temperatures and less wind heading into next weekend. && .DISCUSSION...Mean trough over the western United States will bring windy conditions to our area through Wednesday. Currently, a s/wv shearing through southern Nevada will bring very windy conditions to our area through this evening. Behind the s/wv, only about a 15 percent reduction in speeds for Monday, which prompted an expansion of the headlines already issued for Monday. Tuesday is poised to be the lightest wind day, but then speeds ramp back up again on Wednesday, as a deep low quickly shears through western Arizona. Conditions Wednesday, with the trajectory and depth of the low, may equal or exceed what we are seeing today. Additional headlines seem likely at this time. Good news and bad news after Wednesday, less wind, but a significant warming trend and continued very dry conditions. && .AVIATION...For the 00Z TAF package...VFR conditions persist for the next 24 hours with a mostly clear sky. The gusty to strong southwest winds, with gusts of 40-50 kts, continue this evening. Wind speeds gradually begin to decrease after 06Z, however localized gusts near 35 kts will remain downwind of mountainous terrain. Moderate turbulence is likely during this time. Blowing dust remains possible for KPGA & KINW through the evening hours. Another round of gusty southwest winds is anticipated for Monday afternoon. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...The widespread critical fire weather conditions continue through this evening due to strong southwest winds and low RH. Expect wind speeds to decrease overnight, however remaining gusty up to 40 mph for locations downwind of higher terrain. Another round of gusty southwest winds, 35-45 mph, is anticipated for Monday with even lower RH. Monday's Red Flag Warning has been expanded to include much of northern Arizona, along and east of the Mogollon Rim. The windy conditions persist into Tuesday, however, not looking as strong at this time. Wednesday through Friday...The strong southwest winds look to return for Wednesday, with dry conditions remaining in place. Widespread critical fire weather conditions are likely again during this time. Much lighter northwest winds arrive for Thursday and Friday, however, remaining very dry, with warming temperatures. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning until 11 PM MST this evening for AZZ104>118-137>140. Red Flag Warning from 10 AM to 8 PM MST Monday for AZZ104-106-107- 109>117-139-140. Wind Advisory until 11 PM MST this evening for AZZ004>017-038>040. Wind Advisory from 10 AM to 8 PM MST Monday for AZZ004-006-007- 009>017-039-040. && PUBLIC...Peterson AVIATION...LaGuardia FIRE WEATHER...LaGuardia For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The peak wind gust at Happy Jack was 61 MPH at 306 PM.
The peak wind gust at Lupton was 66 MPH at 333 PM MST. The wind at Springerville Airport gusted to 58 MPH or higher from 630 PM to 1040 PM MST. The peak wind gust was 64 MPH at 755 PM MST.
The peak wind gust in the Page area was 59 MPH at 348 PM MST.
The peak wind gust at the Window Rock Airport was 58 MPH at 346 PM MST.
The peak wind gust at the Taylor Airport was 61 MPH at 355 PM MST. The peak wind gusts near Woodruff (14 Mile Hill on Highway 377) was 58 MPH at 450 PM MST.
The strongest wind gust at Greens Peak was 59 MPH at 441 PM.
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, May 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: 1018196, 1018190, 1018193, 1018194, 1018191, 1018195.