An upper-level trough moving across the region created a strong pressure gradient across southeast California. Strong northerly wind gusts of up to 60 mph as well as dense blowing dust that dropped visibilities to less than 1/4 of a mile were observed.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 PSR wrote it up.
An upper-level trough moving across the region created a strong pressure gradient across southeast California. Strong northerly wind gusts of up to 60 mph as well as dense blowing dust that dropped visibilities to less than 1/4 of a mile were observed.
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 Phoenix, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 2, 10:00 AM PST, 45 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
Issued by National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1100 AM MST Wed Feb 2 2022
.UPDATE...Updated Aviation Discussion...
&&
.SYNOPSIS...
A weather system will move through today leading to windy
conditions across the Lower Colorado River Valley and breezy
conditions elsewhere, while bringing chances for light
precipitation in Gila county. Colder temperatures will also move
into the region with below normal temperatures lasting into this
weekend and the possibility of freezing morning temperatures
Thursday through at least Saturday. Temperatures then return to
seasonal levels by next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Water vapor satellite shows the strong trough, that has been
talked about the past several days, digging into the region early
this morning with a notable drier airmass. The little mid level
moisture that has led to the scattered clouds and virga is already
being pushed out of the area. Clouds are beginning to scatter out
in south-central AZ and the Phoenix area could have mostly clear
skies by, or shortly after, sunrise. A surface cold front has
already made its way south down the Lower Colorado River Valley.
The front has weakened the surface inversion resulting in some
breezy conditions already.
Strong winds will be the primary weather impact today with a
strong pressure gradient along the Lower Colorado River. Forecast
soundings are showing the core of the low level gradient in the
925-850 mb layer. Winds in this layer up to 50-60 mph are likely.
Mountain peaks and ridgelines could see wind gusts reach these
magnitudes, while most lower desert locations commonly reach up
to 35-45 mph. Brief higher gusts up to and above 50 mph are still
possible for the lower elevations as well.
The strong gusts will become more widespread after sunrise this
morning, mainly after 9-10 AM MST. Windy conditions are likely to
persist through this evening and into the overnight hours across
Southwest AZ and Southeast CA. The HREF and global models even
show a re-intensification of the pressure gradient and 925-850 mb
winds again tonight, mainly after sunset through midnight. This
could lead to another surge of strong surface gusts tonight, but
with mixing toning down after sunset the strong winds may be
mostly limited to higher terrain areas. Still, it is important to
be vigilant and cautious on the roads this morning through
tonight, as strong crosswinds will make for difficult driving
conditions, especially for high profile vehicles. Loose items and
shallow rooted trees and power poles could also be blown around or
toppled. Blowing dust as a result of the strong winds is also
expected and another driving hazard, with sudden drops in
visibility possible. A preemptive Blowing Dust Advisory has been
issue in addition to the Wind Advisory.
Winds will decrease east toward South-central AZ, with most
models depicting a low level cyclonic circulation slowly dropping
south over Phoenix through this afternoon and keeping the strong
pressure gradient west of the area. Breezy conditions are still
anticipated with gusts up to 15-25 mph through the afternoon. As
the circulation drifts south this evening/tonight, stronger
northeasterly gradient winds are anticipated to spread across the
Valley and areas to the east. Wind gusts could briefly reach 25-35
mph as a result, especially near high terrain features and in the
foothills north and east of Phoenix.
Rain and snow (above 4500') chances remain focused to the high
terrain north and east of Phoenix today with less than 5% chance
in the Phoenix area. Afternoon convection in parts of Gila county
will be possible as the vort max and steeper mid level lapse
rates coincide with afternoon peak mixing. PoPs are still upwards
of 40-50% near San Carlos and increase toward the White mountains.
There will be a slight chance (10-15%) for a brief storm, with
lightning, graupel/hail, and briefly heavier precip, but precip
accumulation will be minimal and most will not see measurable
precip. HREF shows a few hundredths and up to a few tenths of an
inch of rain will be possible in Gila county with generally a
dusting or snow at best.
The shortwave trough remains on track to push east of AZ by
midnight tonight, while a fast-moving follow-on shortwave dips
through the area Thursday into Friday. The cold airmass will
result in much cooler surface temperatures, beginning today with
highs several degrees below normal. The next few mornings will see
lows dip into the 30s across most of the lower deserts and some of
the coldest spots will fall into the upper 20s. Freeze Warnings
have been issued for Thursday morning.
CPC clusters support an amplification and intensification of a
blocking high over the eastern Pacific this weekend into next
week. The positioning of the ridge will still keep the Southwest
mostly under troughing and open to shortwaves digging in from the
north. One such shortwave is projected to dig down into the region
late in the weekend and there is some uncertainty in the depth of
this wave and how far west it will dig. Regardless, this looks to
mostly be a wind impact while only 5% of global ensemble members
support precip chances. By the early to middle of next week, CPC
clusters support the blocking high drifting a little closer to the
coast, if not briefly inland, and temperatures are anticipated to
climb. NBM highs next week are mostly in the mid to upper 70s
across the lower deserts.
&&
.AVIATION...Updated 1800Z.
South-Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT:
The main aviation concern today will be increasing westerly winds
late this morning/early afternoon and gusts to around 20-25 kts.
Wind gusts will start to subside after about 03/01Z at all TAF
sites. in the early evening wind directions will start to veer
becoming north northeast at KDVT and KSDL, and northeast to east
at KPHX and KIWA. Sustained winds will remain slightly elevated at
KDVT through the overnight hours. KPHX wind direction will become
westerly starting late Thursday morning. Skies will be SKC for
the entire period.
Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH:
Strong northerly winds will be an aviation concern today, and
possibly restricted VSBYs due to blowing or lofted dust. Visible
satellite is already showing areas of blowing dust. For KBLH,
expect northerly winds this afternoon with sustained winds 25-30
kts and gusts up to 40kts. Blowing dust and subsequent lowering of
VSBYs may impact KBLH with 6SM currently in the TAF for this
afternoon, but even MVFR VSBYs will be possible for short period
or two. In the evening and overnight winds decrease some but gusts
25-30 kts will still be possible. For KIPL, northerly winds will
be gusty through the afternoon with peak winds 25-30kts. Winds
will begin to subside in the early evening and be around 10 kts
for the remainder of the period. Skies will remain clear through
the period.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Friday through Tuesday:
Breezy conditions are expected most days with afternoon gusts
commonly upwards of 15-25 mph. Below normal temperatures are
forecast early in the period with gradual warming and recovering
back to near normal temperatures by Sunday and above normal early
next week. Min RHs through much of the period will mostly be
between 10-20% over the lower deserts, while overnight max RHs are
mostly between 30-50%.
&&
.PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AZ...Freeze Warning from 11 PM this evening to 9 AM MST Thursday for
AZZ533-553-556-559-560-562.
Blowing Dust Advisory until 8 PM MST this evening for AZZ530>533-
535-536.
Wind Advisory until 11 PM MST this evening for AZZ530.
Wind Advisory until 8 PM MST this evening for AZZ531>533-535-536.
CA...Blowing Dust Advisory until 7 PM PST this evening for CAZ560-561-
564-565-568>570.
Wind Advisory until 10 PM PST this evening for CAZ569.
Wind Advisory until 7 PM PST this evening for CAZ560-561-564-565-
568-570.
&&
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DISCUSSION...Benedict
AVIATION...Hardin
FIRE WEATHER...BenedictThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 dust storm, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Localized pockets of under 1/4 mile visibility with blowing dust reported on I-10 near Mile Marker 210, which slowed/stopped traffic in the area. Lofted dust also visible on Caltrans Camera near Desert Center looking east. No damages or injuries reported.
A 58 mph gust measured at the Imperial County Airport (KIPL).
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 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: 995136, 995139.