An anomalously intense low pressure system for February caused very strong winds across southeast Arizona resulting in damage such as roof damage, downed trees, power poles and communication antennas. The Tucson International Airport recorded its strongest February wind gust (51 MPH) in at least the past 50 years.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 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 TWC wrote it up.
An anomalously intense low pressure system for February caused very strong winds across southeast Arizona resulting in damage such as roof damage, downed trees, power poles and communication antennas. The Tucson International Airport recorded its strongest February wind gust (51 MPH) in at least the past 50 years. Elsewhere, especially across Cochise, Santa Cruz, Graham and Greenlee Counties, wind gusts in excess of 60 mph were common in valleys with gusts higher than 70 mph at higher elevations. A 92 mph gust was recorded at the Guthrie RAWS. The combination of the strong winds and snow (6 to 12 in the mountains) resulted in blizzard-like conditions at times above 7000 feet.
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 Feb 21, 2:34 PM MST, 9 hours 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 234 PM MST Tue Feb 21 2023 .SYNOPSIS...Unsettled weather can be expected through early next week as a series of storm systems impact the region. These systems will bring periods of strong winds, along with valley rain and mountain snow and cooler temperatures. The strongest storm is expected to be Wednesday with high winds, and significant snow in the mountains. && .DISCUSSION...A system tracking through northern Mexico was bringing some scattered light showers and a few embedded thunderstorms to the area today. This system will track farther east of the region tonight before the next, more signfciant, storm impacts the area late tonight and Wednesday. The system passing to our south today was priming the air mass, in terms of increased moisture, for the second storm which will bring more valley rain and heavy mountain snow. The initial concern will be very strong and gusty winds later tonight and tomorrow. The ECMWF Extreme Forecast Index (EFI) continued to show a noteworthy signal in sustained speeds and wind gusts, much more anomalous and widespread compared to the system that impacted the area last Tuesday. The high winds will be followed by and/or coincide with increasing precipitation chances as the storm passes through the region. Heavy snowfall in the mountains combined with strong winds will be a concern as near blizzard conditions could develop in the Winter Storm Warning areas. Additional headlines for the very strong winds have been posted as well. Blowing dust with reduced visibilities could also be a problem tomorrow, especially in dust prone spots. Otherwise, ensembles were still continuing a trend where another strong impulse carves down the back side of the mean trough position the second half of the week to a position near the central and southern California coast Saturday. Another kicker system in this very active and high amplitude pattern would then be in a position to boost the storm through from the west around next Sunday or so. Meanwhile, we could continue to see a breezy to locally windy southwest gradient ahead of this feature. && .AVIATION...Valid through 23/00Z. CIGS 3-6kft with SCT -SHRA, ISOLD TSRA and -SHSN above 8kft MSL thru 22/06Z. Thereafter, another storm system will impact the region with strong southwest to west winds developing tonight and more so on Wednesday. SFC winds SWLY 12-24kts with gusts to 35kts through 22/06Z becoming SWLY-WLY 25-35kts with gusts to near 48kts by 22/16Z at area terminals. CIGS becoming 2-4kft tonight and Wednesday with numerous areas of rain and mountain snow. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...A series of storm systems will impact the region through early next week. These systems will bring periods of strong winds along with valley rain and mountain snow and cooler temperatures. The first system was move slowly across northern Mexico today, with the second system due to arrive on tomorrow into Thursday. Both of these systems will result in increasing south to southwest winds and a chance of precipitation, along with cooler temperatures. The winds will be especially strong and gusty on tomorrow. Moisture levels will continue to increase with min RH values well above critical thresholds through at least the weekend. There is the potential for yet another storm system late in the weekend into early next week. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory from 11 PM this evening to 8 PM MST Wednesday for AZZ501>505-515. High Wind Warning from 5 AM to 8 PM MST Wednesday for AZZ506-507- 512-513. Winter Storm Warning from 11 PM this evening to 8 PM MST Wednesday for AZZ511-514. Winter Storm Warning from 11 PM this evening to 11 PM MST Wednesday for AZZ510. Wind Advisory from 5 AM to 8 PM MST Wednesday for AZZ508-509. && Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 high wind, 3 winter storm, 2 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Wind gusts in excess of 60 mph were common across the White Mountains along with a storm total of 6 to 12 inches of snow with blizzard-like conditions at times. Portions of Highway 191 were closed.
Wind gusts in excess of 60 mph were common across the Gailuro Mountains including Mount Graham along with a storm total of 6 to 12 inches of snow with blizzard-like conditions at times. Route 366 was closed.
Wind gusts in excess of 60 mph were common across the Santa Catalina Mountains along with a storm total of 12 to 14 inches of snow with blizzard-like conditions at times. Several trees and power poles were down on Mt, Lemmon prompting Ski Valley to close down their slopes the following day to assess repairs.
Several trees were uprooted in Sierra Vista where at least one home sustained moderate roof damage. Winds peeled shingles off a garage near Benson. A peak wind gust of 68 mph was recorded at KALK Pioneer Airfield ASOS at 1006MST and 64 mph at KFHU Libby Field ASOS at 1009MST. Sustained winds between 40 and 45 mph were measured at KALK and KFHU ASOS locations.
Guthrie RAWS at 6300 ft MSL recorded several gusts higher than 65 mph and a peak gust of 92 mph at 1203MST. A portable RAWS at 4800 ft MSL near the Galiuro Mountains recorded a gust to 65 mph at 1128MST.
Strong winds downed power lines near Interstate 19 and Pima Mine Road south of Tucson, causing a closure of the northbound lanes for more than 2 hours.
Strong winds downed a tree in Sells. The tree fell on a house causing minor damage.
High winds bent and downed a commercial radio communication tower 90 degrees at Juniper Flats (7700 ft MSL) in the Mule Mountains. A weather station at about 5400 ft MSL near Bisbee measured a peak gust of 71 mph at 1048MST.
A peak wind gust of 61 mph was recorded at Horse Camp Canyon RAWS at 1002MST.
A peak wind gust of 62 mph was recorded at a private weather station at 4000 ft MSL near Patagonia at 1030MST and the KOLS Nogales ASOS measured a peak gust to 59 mph at 1053MST.
Sustained winds between 40 and 45 mph were recorded at several DOT weather stations along I-10 with a peak gust of 70 mph measured at San Simon at 1133MST. Blowing dust reduced visibilities to less than a quarter mile at times. KDUG ASOS near Douglas recorded a peak wind gust of 63 mph at 1337MST. At a farm near Willcox, winds pulled a large, anchored canopy tent out of the ground, destroying it and damaging a nearby house deck to which it was fastened. Winds downed power lines in the Sunizona area.
A Desert Research Institute station at 6800 ft MSL in the Chiricahua Mountains measured a gust to 65 mph at 1020MST and 66 mph at 1410MST.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, February 2023
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: 1071316, 1071322, 1071325, 1084009, 1084028, 1084043, 1084044, 1084041, 1084002, 1084042, 1084011, 1084029.