Residual moisture over northern Arizona was enough for isolated showers and thunderstorms to develop this afternoon over parts of northern Arizona. One storm produced a brief landspout tornado.
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The episode as NWS FGZ wrote it up.
Residual moisture over northern Arizona was enough for isolated showers and thunderstorms to develop this afternoon over parts of northern Arizona. One storm produced a brief landspout tornado.
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 13, 2:12 PM MST, 1 hour 27 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 212 PM MST Mon May 13 2024 .SYNOPSIS...Look for isolated to scattered afternoon showers/thunderstorms today through at least Thursday. Drier and warmer conditions look to return Friday through the weekend, with winds beginning to increase as well. && .DISCUSSION...Despite a ridge being over much of the desert Southwest, lingering moisture mixed with daytime heating will allow for showers/thunderstorms to be possible today. The main area of focus for precipitation will be across the higher elevations, but accumulation amounts are expected to be minimal. Winds will generally be out of the west around 5-15 mph, with localized areas seeing elevated breezes. Precipitation chances will gradually increase through the middle of the week, as a low looks to push in from off the California coast. The NBM continues to fall behind compared to both the U of A WRF model and SPC HREF guidance in terms of precipitation chances. Heavy blending/manual editing was necessary to bring mentionable showers into the forecast for the next few days. Even with the steady increase in rain chances through the middle of the week, confidence is low for widespread wetting rains. QPF amounts favor this low confidence with only a few areas across higher terrain looking to receive 0.01-0.05" of rainfall between today and tomorrow, and a few spots creeping towards 0.10" on Wednesday. A drying/warming trend looks to return by the end of the week and through the weekend, with afternoon highs ranging 3-10 degrees above normal. Throughout this weekend ridge pattern, model guidance is suggesting a stronger low building off the California Coast. There are not many details to share at this time, with the main impacts likely being a week+ out. On the flip side, elevated winds could return over the weekend ahead of this disturbance, but should remain below any advisory/warning criteria. Outside of rain, wind, and temperatures, prescribed burns are continuing to take place (weather permitting), so do not be surprised by areas of smoke/haze. The Wild Bill Prescribed Burn began today just north of Bellemont. With the forecast west winds for today, smoke may be noticed over/near HWY 180 and the Fort Valley area. The overnight drainage from this burn will likely impact the Bellemont community/Camp Navajo as well as portions of I-40. && .AVIATION...Monday 13/18Z through Tuesday 14/18Z...Mainly VFR conditions expected. W-SW winds 5-15 kts. ISO SHRA 18Z-02Z over the higher terrain, with locally gusty winds near any showers/storms. OUTLOOK...Tuesday 14/18Z through Thursday 16/18Z...Mainly VFR conditions expected through the period. SW-W winds 5-15 kts gusting 20-25 kts. ISO-SCT afternoon SHRA/TSRA over the higher terrain, with locally gusty winds near any showers/storms. && .FIRE WEATHER...Tonight through Wednesday...Isolated to scattered afternoon showers and a few high-based thunderstorms, mainly confined to the higher elevations. Greatest precipitations chances are on Wednesday. West to southwest winds at 5-15 mph gusting 20-25 mph each afternoon, with locally higher gusts near storms. Warm temperatures with minimum RH between 10-25% each day. Thursday through Saturday...Shower and thunderstorm chances continue, decreasing each day through the end of the week. Westerly winds around 5-15 mph gusting 20-25 mph, increasing to 25-30 mph on Saturday. Minimum RH values 15-30% on Thursday, dropping to 10-20% for Friday and Saturday. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && PUBLIC...Konieczny AVIATION...Meola FIRE WEATHER...Meola For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
The Flagstaff radar (KFSX), 120 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:39 UTC.
1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A report with photo from social media of a brief landspout tornado. Time and location estimated from radar.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Arizona, 2024Warnings in Arizona, May 2024
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: 1182950.