A low pressure system brought strong and high winds across Southeast Arizona resulting in roof damage in Willcox and multiple observations of wind gusts greater or equal to 58 mph in the valley floor.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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.
A low pressure system brought strong and high winds across Southeast Arizona resulting in roof damage in Willcox and multiple observations of wind gusts greater or equal to 58 mph in the valley floor.
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 Jan 8, 7:59 AM MST, 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 759 AM MST Wed Jan 8 2025 .UPDATE...Just ran a quick update to add areas of blowing dust into the forecast through 03Z this evening which is the period of strongest winds. We're seeing areas of blowing dust with reduced visibility in spots of 2 to 6 miles. This blowing dust is certainly exacerbated by the antecedent dry conditions. Previous Update 426 AM MST...Quick update to cancel the Cold Weather Advisory early. Increased winds and cloud cover are both working to keep temperatures from dropping enough to pose cold or wind chill threats this morning. && .SYNOPSIS... A low pressure system over the desert southwest will result in colder temperatures, breezy to windy conditions, and chances for precipitation today. Although precipitation amounts are expected to be light, the valley floors east of Tucson may be impacted with light snowfall accumulations. After this system departs, widespread sub-freezing temperatures are expected across Southeast Arizona Thursday and Friday mornings. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 312 AM MST Wed Jan 8 2025/ Early this morning, a closed upper low was centered over the far northern edge of the Gulf of California, while a 100 knot jet streak was over the southwest quadrant and slowly rounding the base of the low. As the low becomes stacked this morning, the pressure gradient will tighten through the surface, with the surface low centered over northwest Sonora and the northern gulf. Water vapor and GOES precipitable water imagery indicates the presence of mid-level dry air still over far southern Arizona. While there have been an increase in modest radar returns aloft early this morning, the jet streak aloft yet to arrive and the antecedent dry air will likely delay more widespread precipitation until around mid- morning. This has been supported by recent high- resolution models, which begin to introduce rain/snow showers by 9 AM. In the meantime, east to southeast winds will increase this morning with the tightening pressure gradient. Areas open to southeasterly flow should reach sustained levels exceeding 30 mph at times, keeping the current Wind Advisory in good standing. Additionally this morning a Cold Weather Advisory is in effect for wind chills into the teens in valleys of Graham and Cochise counties. Winds and cloud cover may be able to keep temperatures in these areas from completely tanking, so the headline may need looking at again as we approach sunrise. Chances for precipitation increase as the upper level jet streak rotates around the low today. Atmospheric moisture content continues to look fairly unimpressive, with forecast liquid precipitation totals through Thursday in the few hundredths to two tenths of an inch range. A very isolated quarter inch can't be ruled out in far southeastern corners of the state or eastern slopes exposed to upslope flow. With snow levels dipping below 3000 feet, areas near and east of Tucson may see light snow mixed with rain, with light accumulating snow possible above 4000 feet today. It's questionable whether or not the Tucson area will see the moisture arrive in time this morning before the wet bulb temperature warms too high for snowflakes, but there may be a brief window of opportunity. Overall highest precipitation and accumulation chances gravitate towards the favorable divergent area of the upper level jet streak, in this case Graham, Greenlee, and Cochise counties. Chances linger here through Thursday, however with very light precipitation potential after this evening. Cold temperatures settling in behind the then exiting upper low should produce well below freezing morning lows in eastern valleys, and near to just below freezing temperatures in the Tucson metro. These cold lows should stick around into the weekend as a dry troughing pattern persists. How cold Tucson becomes Thursday morning may depend on how low level moisture lingers, but there is enough support that at least low lying areas should drop below freezing that the Freeze Watch was upgraded to warning. && .AVIATION...Valid through 09/12Z. Increasing coverage of cigs at 3k-5k feet this morning with isolated to scattered -SHRA/-SHSN, with more coverage in southern areas near KOLS-KDUG. Brief MVFR possible with any -SHSN. East to southeast winds increase and become 15-25 kts with gusts to 45 kts. Periods of LLWS this morning as 1500-2000 ft winds of 45-50 kts. Winds gradually diminish after 09/00Z. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER... A low pressure system moving into the desert southwest will result in much colder temperatures, breezy to windy conditions, and chances for precipitation today. Although precipitation amounts are expected to be light, isolated to scattered rain and snow showers are possible with this low pressure system lingering into Thursday, with some light snow accumulations possible in valleys east of Tucson. After this system departs, widespread sub-freezing temperatures are expected across Southeast Arizona Thursday and Friday mornings. East to southeast winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts 40-50 mph expected into this evening. The colder temperatures will bring minimum relative humidities into the 25 to 35 percent range today and Thursday, then becoming drier again by this weekend. && && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 10 PM MST this evening for AZZ502>509- 511>515. Freeze Warning from 10 PM this evening to 10 AM MST Thursday for AZZ501>509. Freeze Warning from 10 PM Thursday to 10 AM MST Friday for AZZ501>509. && Public...Edwards Aviation...Edwards Fire Weather....Edwards Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 high wind, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Mesonet station AR774 Tucson measured wind gust of 61 mph.
Roof damage due to strong winds. Time estimated based on strongest wind gust of 45 mph on Mesonet.
Mesonet station QMRA3 Muleshoe Ranch measured wind gust of 59 mph.
Mesonet station AZBO Hwy 181/Hwy 186 1 along the Chiricahua Mountain Base measured a wind gust of 61 mph.
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, January 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: 1230103, 1230106, 1230104, 1230105.