High Wind — Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau, Arizona

2018-04-12 · Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau, Arizona

Event narrative

The peak wind gust at Window Rock Airport was 66 MPH 254 PM. Blowing dust/sand reduced the visibility below 3 miles between 1225 PM and 500 PM. The visibility dropped down to a mile at around 300 PM. The ASOS stopped transmitting just after 335 PM. The peak wind gust at Lupton was 66 MPH at 233 PM. The winds gusted over 58 MPH between 150 PM and 345 PM. The Navajo Times Newspaper reported that a roof was blown off a mobile home in Kinlichee (7 miles northeast of Ganado) at 339 PM.

Wider weather episode

A low pressure system and associated cold front will moved across Arizona on April 12th. General southwest winds of 25 to 35 MPH gusting to 45 MPH were observed. However, the area extending from Winslow to Show Low to Springerville and northward saw higher winds.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 743539. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.