Outflows from strong thunderstorms lofted areas of blowing dust that caused a formation of a dust storm. This dust storm began in the White Mountains and New Mexico and moved south-southwest into Greenlee County, then moved across Cochise County.
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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.
Outflows from strong thunderstorms lofted areas of blowing dust that caused a formation of a dust storm. This dust storm began in the White Mountains and New Mexico and moved south-southwest into Greenlee County, then moved across Cochise County. This dust storm reduced visibilities to less than 0.25 miles with no injury, fatality, or damage to property.
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 Aug 12, 2:11 PM MST, 2 hours 54 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 211 PM MST Tue Aug 12 2025 .SYNOPSIS...Isolated to scattered thunderstorms generally east and south of Tucson this afternoon will be capable of strong thunderstorm outflow winds with the potential for blowing dust along the Arizona and New Mexico border. Storms will increase in strength and coverage Wednesday through Friday across the majority of Southeast Arizona. Otherwise, expect daily shower and thunderstorm chances into next week with day to day variability in chances. High temperatures will generally remain above normal this week, cooling Friday into this weekend. && .DISCUSSION...Our synoptic pattern, as of this writing, has a high pressure center over northern Arizona with a trough located to the west over the Pacific Ocean. Northerly to northeasterly winds aloft has started convection in the White Mountains and this will continue through the rest of the afternoon. We have 1.04 inches of precipitable water, that is slightly less than normal precipitable for this time of year. Still, it is enough to aid in storm development because of our steep lapse rates, CAPE values above 1000 J/kg, and DCAPE of 1600-1800 j/kg, especially in Cochise to the International Border. Good indicators for severe wind threat for the day. 12Z HREF has 70 percent probability of greater than 30 kts from Duncan to Sierra Vista with pockets of stronger gusts this afternoon. Therefore, thunderstorms will continue to develop and expand south and west, getting close the edge of Tucson Metro, with the main threats of strong gusty winds, blowing dust, and moderate brief heavy rainfall. Thunderstorms and rain showers will diminish in the late evening. A few model guidances has shown a late night shower in Tucson, but that is low confidence. An thunderstorm outflow will likely be needed to get that late night shower. The upper pattern will shift into a better position to continue the northeasterly flow and the moisture will stay elevated for the week. Our dew points will trend up each day with the highest values on Thursday and Friday. This will bring daily chances for thunderstorms and rain showers for the region. Model guidance show the uptick in activity and expanded coverage starting Wednesday. One thing to keep an eye out (a monsoon tidbit) with the high dew points and atmospheric moisture, there is potential for storm development will be delay. Just like kicking the can down the road. The typical monsoon variability of the up and down days. With that in mind, Wednesday through Friday will have the highest chances for rain showers and thunderstorms. This weekend, the Pacific trough will have moved inland, pushing the high pressure center to the east. We will start to see southerly to southwesterly flow. Moisture will lingering around, but be a tad lower than the previous days. Ensembles models have mixed solutions on the exact amounts, but they do show the slight decrease. Thus, daily chances for thunderstorms. On a different note, temperatures will be trending down to near normal by the weekend due to the increase thunderstorm activity and lower thickness values. && .AVIATION...Valid through 14/00Z. SCT-BKN clouds at or around 8-12k ft AGL with ISOLD-SCT -SHRA/-TSRA mainly E-NE of KSAD and S-SE of KTUS through 13/05Z. Lingering -SHRA will be possible in the overnight through 13/10Z. -SHRA/-TSRA will expand in coverage after 13/19Z through the end of the period. Gusty erratic winds up to 45 kts near any TS, especially along the AZ/NM border and the International border in Cochise county (near KDUG). Otherwise, surface winds should remain below 15 knots with the occasional afternoon gusts up to 20 kts. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...High temperatures will remain several degrees above normal for the first half of the week and then near normal this weekend. Daily chances for thunderstorms and wetting rains through the week with daily variability in coverage and intensity. Wednesday through Friday will have the highest chances and coverage for wetting rain showers and thunderstorms. Min RHs will generally be around 15-25 percent in the lower elevations and 20-35+ percent in the mountains through Thursday, increasing Friday and Saturday as deeper moisture tracks across the area. Winds will generally be less than 15 mph with typical afternoon gusts up to 20 mph into next week. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Post on social media showed dust storm reducing visibilities to less than 0.25 miles near Portal, AZ.
Arizona DOT web camera showed dust storm reducing visibilities to less than 0.25 miles.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, August 2025
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: 1291593, 1291590.