A weak trough moved through northern Arizona bringing gusty winds and a couple light showers. A strong wind gust was recorded in Window Rock on the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona.
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The episode as NWS FGZ wrote it up.
A weak trough moved through northern Arizona bringing gusty winds and a couple light showers. A strong wind gust was recorded in Window Rock on the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona.
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, 4:05 PM MST, 1 hour 1 minute earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 405 PM MST Wed May 13 2026 .SYNOPSIS...Warm and mainly dry conditions continue through the end of the work week. Winder and cooler conditions then return over the weekend. && .DISCUSSION...Today...Warm conditions and mainly dry conditions are expected for today as a trough moves through to the north. The main story for this afternoon is gusty southwest winds and dry conditions, leading to areas of critical fire weather conditions across portions of northern Arizona. Peak gusts this afternoon look to largely be within the 40-45 mph range, especially over western Arizona, with some potentially higher gusts downwind of terrain features. With some mid-level moisture in place, a few showers and possibly a thunderstorm will be possible mainly north of the Mogollon Rim. However, with a very dry sub-cloud layer, it will be difficult for any precipitation to actually reach the surface. Thus, much of the activity will be virga outside of possible a couple of sprinkles over the higher terrain of Navajo Nation. Brief periods of gusty, erratic winds will be possible around any areas of virga this afternoon. Thursday and Friday...In the wake of the trough, zonal flow looks to set in for the end of the work week. Continued dry conditions and lighter winds return as a result. Temperatures look to remain about 5-10F above normal through the period. Saturday through Tuesday...A trough looks to move through the Inner Mountain West this weekend. As a result, gustier winds and cooler temperatures look to return to northern Arizona. Gusts upwards of 45 mph look probable by Sunday as winds aloft look to peak. Given that dry air is still in place, additional fire weather concerns are expected over the weekend. Moisture remains fairly sparse with the trough, thus precipitation chances look slim to none through the period. EPS ensembles do show a slight chance, maybe around Monday or Tuesday as some mid-level moisture increases however the GEFS looks less optimistic on this potential. For now, chances will remain below mentionable, especially given the still very dry surface layer. && .AVIATION...Thursday 14/00Z through Friday 15/00Z...VFR conditions. Scattered -SHRA/TS or virga until 03Z northeast of a KSJN-KPGA line. Winds SW 15-25 kts with gusts 25-35 kts, gradually decreasing after 03Z. Gusty/erratic winds near virga or showers through this evening. SW-W winds 10-15 kts with gusts around 20 kts after 17Z Thursday. OUTLOOK...Friday 15/00Z through Sunday 17/00Z...VFR conditions. Winds SW-W 10-15 kts with gusts to 20 kts Friday afternoon, increasing to 15-20 kts gusting to 25-30 kts Saturday. && .FIRE WEATHER...Tonight Through Friday...A Red Flag Warning remains in effect through this evening for much of northern Arizona due to strong winds and low RHs. Expect southwest winds 15-25 mph with gusts 30-40 mph, along with minimum RH 7-15%. Isolated showers and dry thunderstorms remain possible through this evening, mainly along the Arizona/New Mexico border. Winds become southwest to west 10-15 mph with gusts 20-25 mph on Thursday and Friday, along with minimum RH between 5-15% each day. Saturday through Monday...Warm, dry, and breezy conditions through the period. Winds are southwest 10-20 mph with gusts 25-35 mph on Saturday, increasing to 15-30 mph with gusts 30-40 mph on Sunday. Winds decrease to 10-20 mph with gusts 25-35 on Monday. Minimum afternoon RH 5-15% on Saturday, then 10-20% on Sunday and Monday. Chances for near-critical to critical fire weather on Saturday and Sunday. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MST /9 PM MDT/ this evening for AZZ104-106-107-109-112-113-115-116-139-140. && PUBLIC...Humphreys AVIATION...JJ FIRE WEATHER...Lewandowski For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A 60 mph wind gust was recorded at the Window Rock Airport ASOS (KRQE). The cause was a possible dry microburst or downburst from nearby showers.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, May 2026
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: 1337805.