A strong jet stream wrapping around the southern end of an upper level low moved overhead of Northern Arizona. The strong winds mixed down to the surface and resulted in high wind gusts across the area.
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 FGZ wrote it up.
A strong jet stream wrapping around the southern end of an upper level low moved overhead of Northern Arizona. The strong winds mixed down to the surface and resulted in high wind gusts across the area.
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, 10:40 AM MST, 3 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 1040 AM MST Tue May 13 2025 .SYNOPSIS...A dry weather system will continue to bring strong winds across northern Arizona today. Expect winds gusting from 45 to 55 mph with some areas exceeding 60 mph. Cooler temperatures arrive today and continue Wednesday before recovering through the end of the week. && .UPDATE...Winds have already started to blow this morning and will continue into these evening. By around sunset, we should see the winds dropping off and becoming fairly light through the night. It will be breezy again on Wednesday but the winds will not be nearly as strong as they are today. Forecast is in good shape with no changes to the headlines needed. && .PREV DISCUSSION /438 AM MST/...A strong Pacific mid-latitude cyclone is evident over northern California in mid-level WV imagery. This system will continue eastward and skirt to the north of Arizona keeping precipitation away from the state. Cooler temperatures will creep from west to east today, with most of northern AZ 5-10 degrees below normal by Wednesday. However the primary hazard with this system will be winds. Gusts as high as 45-55 mph were observed on Monday as mid-level winds began to ramp up ahead of the trough. The boundary layer will stay somewhat mixed through the night, and elevated gusts up to 25- 35 mph are being observed as of 2:45 AM MST with higher gusts possible along/downwind of terrain features. A strong middle to upper level jet riding the southern periphery of the trough will peak over Arizona by this afternoon bringing the highest threat for strong surface winds. Widespread gusts 45-55 mph are expected today with a few areas 60+ mph by tomorrow afternoon especially in the Little Colorado River Valley (LCR). A High Wind Warning will be in effect today for the LCR, with a Wind Advisory in effect for most else of northern Arizona. Low humidity and dry fuels in the LCR and far eastern AZ combined with strong winds will lead to Critical fire weather concerns, and a Red Flag Advisory will be in effect today for these regions. Winds remain elevated in far eastern AZ on Wednesday, then lighter winds return with temperatures warming to near normal by Friday. Ensembles are in better agreement for another deep Pacific trough moving through bringing cooler temps and elevated winds this weekend. Current trends indicate that this system will dive deep enough to carry some moisture into northern AZ. The best chance for showers looks to be Sunday at this time. && .AVIATION...Tuesday 13/18Z through Wednesday 14/18Z...Sfc winds S-SW20-30g35-55kts through 02Z then decreasing to 10-20kts AFT 04Z Wednesday. Most areas VFR, except localized MVFR/IFR in BLDU downwind of the Mogollon Rim this afternoon. OUTLOOK...Wednesday 14/18Z through Friday 16/18Z...Expect VFR conditions. Sfc winds SW-W 10 to 20Kt gusting to 30kts on Wednesday and southwest 10-15 kts gusting to 25kts. && .FIRE WEATHER...Today and Wednesday...Very windy conditions today, with southwest winds 20 to 35 mph and gusting from 45 to 60 mph. Red Flag Warnings in effect for the Little Colorado River Valley, the White Mountains, and the Chuska Mountains. Winds decrease dramatically tonight, with less wind expected for Wednesday. Most areas west-southwest 15 to 25 mph, with a few higher gusts possible east of Show low and into the White Mountains. Thursday through Saturday...Dry with west-southwest winds 15 to 25 mph Thursday, turning southwesterly Friday and then increasing to 15 to 30 mph on Saturday. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 7 PM MST /8 PM MDT/ this evening for AZZ004>011-015>017-037>040. Red Flag Warning until 7 PM MST /8 PM MDT/ this evening for AZZ111>114-117. High Wind Warning until 7 PM MST /8 PM MDT/ this evening for AZZ012>014. && PUBLIC...Meola/Lewandowski AVIATION...MAS FIRE WEATHER...MAS For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Sustained winds of 40 mph were common between 10:43 AM and 6:43 PM at the I-40 at Two Guns DOT Site (AZT09). A peak wind gust of 67 mph was measured at 3:13 PM.
A peak wind gust of 60 mph was measured at the Petrified Forest National Park Near Holbrook 17ESE mesonet site (HPFA3).
A peak wind gust of 58 mph was recorded at the Winslow Airport ASOS (KINW).
A peak wind gust of 60 mph was measured at 11:42 AM at the Flagstaff Airport ASOS (KFLG).
A peak wind gust of 69 mph was measured at 12:15 PM at the Mogollon Airpark AWOS (AZ82).
A peak wind gust of 59 mph was measured at the GW0679 Page mesonet site (G0679).
Sustained wind of over 40 mph was common between 1:35 PM and 6:15 PM at the Springerville Airport AWOS (KJTC). Peak wind gusts of 67 mph were recorded at 2:35 PM, 2:55 PM, 3:15 PM, and 4:35 PM.
A peak wind gust of 59 mph was measured at 1:41 PM at the Window Rock Airport ASOS (KRQE).
A peak wind gust of 62 mph was measured at the Limestone Canyon RAWS site (QLCA3).
A peak wind gust of 61 mph was measured at 2:31 PM at the WX7FGZ Snowbowl mesonet site (AU373).
A peak wind gust of 58 mph was measured at the I-40 at Painted Desert National Park HQ DOT Site (AZT13).
A peak wind gust of 69 mph was measured at 3:38 PM at the Pinedale RAWS site (TT857). Wind gusts of 63 mph were measured at 11:38 AM and 12:38 PM. Wind gusts of 62 mph were measured at 1:38 PM and 2:38 PM.
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, May 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: 1254512, 1254639, 1254640, 1254540, 1254557, 1254547, 1254494, 1254500, 1254636, 1254518, 1254508, 1254560.