Arizona, 2024Drought in Arizona, April 1 to 22, 2024
April 1 to 22, 2024 · NWS TWC · 3 events in 3 counties and zones
The extreme (D3) drought category across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona ended on April 22. This area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains.
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
Open the live radar over this ground
- 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.
The extreme (D3) drought category across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona ended on April 22. This area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains.
A storm system resulted in rain across the region on April 1 and this rain in combination with winter rainfall was enough to move the area from extreme (D3) drought category to severe (D2) drought category.
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 31, 7:38 PM MST, 4 hours 22 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 31, 7:38 PM MST, 4 hours 22 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
738 PM MST Sun Mar 31 2024
.SYNOPSIS...Widespread showers and some thunderstorms will
continue across the area this evening into Monday and possibly a
few into Tuesday. Much colder temperatures are expected through
Tuesday with warmer afternoons Wednesday through Friday.
&&
.UPDATE...
Winds have diminished for areas east of Tucson therefore have
cancelled the wind advisory. Precipitation will continue through
the overnight hours and tomorrow.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION /issued 150 PM MST Sun Mar 31 2024/...A strong
weather system will continue to bring periods of valley rain and
mountain snow showers through at least Monday. Initial FROPA
through Tucson now, but still west/north of Santa Cruz and Cochise
counties early this afternoon. Strongest winds ahead of the front
where a wind advisory remains in place into the early evening
hours. Initial snow levels near 8k feet dropping to 7k over the
next few hours as rain/snow mix turns over to snow at Summerhaven.
This system has dropped into a position to draw up considerable
moisture with GEFS and ECMWF ensembles supporting the marginal
excessive rainfall risk from WPC. Latest QPF forecast bumps storm
totals (through Monday evening) to around 1/2 to 1 inch in valleys
and 1 to 2 inches in the mountains, with isolated higher amounts.
Went ahead and upgraded the winter weather advisory to a winter
storm warning with 8 to 15 inches expected in some mountain
locations above 7k ft, and isolated amounts to 18 inches above 8k
ft.
As the low shifts slowly overhead Monday afternoon, considerable
mid level cooling will combine with solid available moisture and
shear for a chance of thunderstorms embedded in the more
widespread shower activity. Some storms could get on the strong
side Monday afternoon.
Still probably seeing some residual and wrap-around shower
activity Tuesday. Strong high pressure will drive a rapid warming
trend Wednesday and Thursday before another system impacts the
region next weekend. Trajectories suggest a wind maker with lower
shower chances this far south.
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 02/00Z.
SCT-BKN 3-7k ft AGL with BKN- OVC layers above. SHRA/mountain
SHSN. An approaching cold front will keep winds elevated at 15-30
kts and gusts to 40 kts, especially at KOLS and KDUG, through the
late afternoon or early evening, before diminishing aft 01/02Z to
around 10 kts. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF
amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...A weather system will lead to strong winds today
mainly east of Tucson with speeds 20 to 25 mph and locally 30 mph
in some spots. Gusts will be higher and locally as high as 50 mph,
primarily over higher terrain or favored locations like near
Sierra Vista. Widespread precipitation arriving with a cold front
move in from the west today and continuing off and on through
Monday evening, with possible lingering showers Tuesday. Isolated
embedded thunderstorms are possible throughout the event with a
bit of emphasis on Monday afternoon. Much cooler after the frontal
passage. Dry and warming up Wednesday onward.
&&
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Storm Warning until 9 PM MST Monday for AZZ510>514.
&&
Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
Drought, Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 22, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
- Coordinates
- 31.880, -109.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The extreme (D3) drought category across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona ended on April 22. This area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains.
A storm system resulted in rain across the region on April 1 and this rain in combination with winter rainfall was enough to move the area from extreme (D3) drought category to severe (D2) drought category.
Drought, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 22, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
- Coordinates
- 33.074, -109.563 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The extreme (D3) drought category across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona ended on April 22. This area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains.
A storm system resulted in rain across the region on April 1 and this rain in combination with winter rainfall was enough to move the area from extreme (D3) drought category to severe (D2) drought category.
Drought, Chiricahua Mountains
- When
- April 1, 12:00 AM MST to April 22, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Chiricahua Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
- Coordinates
- 31.880, -109.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The extreme (D3) drought category across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona ended on April 22. This area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains.
A storm system resulted in rain across the region on April 1 and this rain in combination with winter rainfall was enough to move the area from extreme (D3) drought category to severe (D2) drought category.
- Drought
- A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Tornadoes and Flood in Oklahoma, April 1 to 2, 20241 death · 1 injured · $345,000 · EF1 · 12 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Missouri, April 1 to 2, 2024$11 million · EF1 · 92 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, April 1, 2024$4.1 million · 4.5 in hail · 46 events
- Tornado and Flash Flood in Missouri, April 1 to 2, 2024$1.2 million · EF0 · 17 events
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Arkansas, April 1 to 2, 2024$220,000 · EF1 · 12 events
- Lightning Strike in Illinois, April 1, 2024$50,000 · 1 event
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in South Atlantic Coastal Waters, April 1 to 3, 202433 events
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, April 1 to 2, 2024$5,000 · 2 in hail · 31 events
- Drought in New Mexico, April 1 to 30, 202424 events
- Drought in Iowa, April 1 to 30, 202421 events
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in South Dakota, April 1, 202420 events
- Drought in New Mexico, April 1 to 30, 202417 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: 1171433, 1171434, 1171435.