Strong Wind — Central Deserts, Arizona

2013-04-08 · Central Deserts, Arizona

Event narrative

A powerful spring storm moved across the desert southwest during the day on April 8th, and it led to strong, gusty and damaging southwest to west winds across the southwest Arizona deserts. A Wind Advisory was issued for Yuma county beginning at 10 AM and it continued through 8 pm. According to a trained weather spotter, at 5 pm a large ficus tree was blown over and fell onto a home at 19th Street and McKinley in Yuma. Wind gusts were estimated to be near 50 mph.

Wider weather episode

A strong Pacific low pressure system moving through the desert southwest on April 8th led to the development of strong, gusty and damaging southwest to west winds across the lower deserts of Arizona. The strong wind led to the issuance of a variety of products during the afternoon hours, including Wind Advisories and Blowing Dust Advisories. Wind gusts in excess of 40 mph were common and were sufficiently strong to cause isolated damage to trees and weaker structures in local communities such as Yuma. Wind damage was not a result of thunderstorms.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 438631. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.