8/5/2023 0 Comments Local weather phoenix arizonaA technical schematic of weather data obtained from a routine weather balloon release at 5 PM on Aug. A large area of 2,500 J/kg was analyzed, indicating the potential for explosive thunderstorm development.įig. (Right) Objective analysis of mixed layer convective available potential energy (MLCAPE), a measure of atmospheric instability, across the Southwest at 5 PM on Aug. Note the pocket of colder air (-8C contour near Flagstaff) and enhanced northerly winds moving toward central Arizona. (Left) Wind barbs, temperature contours, and height contours at 500 mb across the Southwest at 8 PM on Aug. Almost no capping inversion (an inhibitor to rising air) was observed, indicating explosive thunderstorm development was possible given a mechanism to release the energy.įig. 16, 2021, which measured a whopping 3,000 J/kg - one of the highest levels ever measured in Phoenix. This was confirmed by the routine weather balloon sounding conducted at NWS Phoenix at 5 PM on Aug. Based on objective analysis, air parcels across the lower elevations within the boundary layer (lowest ~8,000 ft of the atmosphere) contained over 2500 J/kg of buoyant energy. Eventually the thunderstorms drifted into lower elevations, where considerable amounts of unstable air were present. Thunderstorms initially formed over the mountains north and east of the Phoenix area during the afternoon and evening hours. Mosaic radar imagery from 1 PM on Friday Aug. Also note that the radar beam increases as height as it moves away from the radar, thus the highest speeds observed are a few thousand feet above the ground.įig. Note the second outflow that moves in from the southwest from earlier thunderstorms south of Gila Bend. Widespread 50+ mph winds are observed at the lowest elevations, moving east-to-west across the Phoenix area. Green (red) indicates air and rain moving towards (away from) the radar. Wind velocity data from the FAA Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR), located southwest of downtown Phoenix. Peak wind gusts for this event included 73 mph in Queen Creek and 69 mph at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.įig. The storms then continued southward, generating moderate to heavy rain. Strong to severe thunderstorms generated widespread winds of 50+ mph (with areas of 65-75 mph) across Maricopa and Pinal Counties during the late evening hours of August 16, 2021. Impacts: Widespread wind damage, localized flash flooding
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