Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Rain blesses Phoenix

Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 17:16 GMT le 12 Mars 2006

Rain finally blessed Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, after a record 143 straight days without precipitation. The rains were part of a large and intense weather system that spawned tornadoes that killed two people in southern Missouri, about 80 miles south of St. Louis. The storm also brought snow to the San Francisco Bay area, creating a 28-car pile up on Highway 101 just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The stormy weather is expected to continue today, with the potential for a large tornado outbreak over the Midwest. Violent, long-track F3 or stronger tornadoes are very possible today and tomorrow in association with this powerful weather system.

At Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport, 1.4" of rain was recorded, and other areas of the city received up to three inches. Some mountain areas received up to six inches of precipitation, much of it falling as snow. Flagstaff, Arizona, which had recorded only about three inches of snow for the entire winter, had nearly 20 inches of snow fall. Numerous road closures and hundreds of traffic accidents accompanied the storm, but not many residents are complaining. The big rains and snow will help delay the start of Arizona's fire season, which was widely feared to be the worst on record due to the long dry spell. Phoenix's normal rainfall for this the year ending March 12 is 2.0 inches, so the 1.4 inches from Saturday's storm puts them close to normal precipitation for the year. Organizers of the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Chandler Ostrich Festival must have bee cursing their bad luck, though, since their events happened on a rainy, cold Saturday with 25 mph winds--after 20 straight Saturdays with near perfect weather!

Figure 1. Radar estimated precipitation for the Phoenix area for Saturday, March 12, 2006. The sharp radiating lines pointing towards the radar are due to the effect of mountains blocking the radar beam.

What is the all-time record for dry spells?
Phoenix's 143 day-long dry spell may seem like a long one, but it doesn't compare to the U.S. record of 767 days, set in Bagdad, California, from October 3, 1912, through November 8, 1914. The town, on old Route 66 in the Mojave Desert in southern California, is the setting of the popular book and movie, Bagdad Cafe. The town has been nearly abandoned since 1991. Of course, neither Bagdad nor Phoenix can hold a candle to some regions of the Atacama Desert in Chile, where rain has not been recorded in the past century.

Monday's blog: Probably on the severe weather expected for today.

Jeff Masters

OMG Snow in Phoenix!!! (Snowdrop)

After 143 days without rain, we have had 1.5 inches at our house, and snow! Yes, this is Phoenix :) First for me in the 2.5 years I have lived here. Caught a few pics before the superstitions disappeared again behind the clouds. Now I hear thunder. Very unique weather for us :)

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151. arcturus 07:50 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Yep, jumping around all over the place looking at radars after I couldn't sleep.

152. snowboy 07:52 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
fair enough lou - be glad you're in a quiet corner.. Member Since: 21 septembre 2005 Posts: 10 Comments: 2546

153. louastu 08:00 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
It won't be quiet here around rush hour.

154. louastu 08:06 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
I really want to see some good storms. Don't want to see damage to property, or deaths though.

155. snowboy 08:12 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
This system is now trailing a nasty line of storms from Michigan all the way to Texas - unbelievable! It is pounding Michigan in particular just now, and we're next (here in Ontario). I have phone-line internet which often goes down in heavy winds, so may be gone soon. Member Since: 21 septembre 2005 Posts: 10 Comments: 2546

156. louastu 08:20 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
It is 59�F here, and the forecast high is 63�F.

157. louastu 08:24 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Forget what I just said. I was going by what it was an hour ago. The temperature now is 66�F. That is a big jump considering it is 3:23 in the morning.

158. louastu 08:24 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Gonna have to check out what the new forecast high is.

159. snowboy 08:39 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
It's 37 degrees here and rain just starting with lightning flickering on the horizon. North of Michigan in northern Ontario it's 10 degrees Fahrenheit and they're expecting at least a foot of snow.. Wild storm for sure. Member Since: 21 septembre 2005 Posts: 10 Comments: 2546

160. louastu 08:47 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
On Tuesday it will only be in the 40's here. That is a drop of about 20 degrees.

161. louastu 08:49 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
I guess i shouldn't say only in the 40's. It is March after all. Guess I have been a little spoiled lately.

162. snowboy 08:49 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
thunder is starting to rattle the windows and lightning is flashing, so with great regret I have to sign off to protect my equipment (and go watch the show) ... - a good night to all and lets hope no one else gets hurt by this MAJOR storm Member Since: 21 septembre 2005 Posts: 10 Comments: 2546

163. louastu 08:51 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Definitely hope no one else gets hurt.

164. louastu 08:56 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Well, Detroit area is now under tornado watch.

165. louastu 08:59 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Also, won't be long before Eastern Arkansas is under a tornado watch.

166. louastu 09:10 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
67�F now. I sure am getting bored waiting for these storms.

167. louastu 09:18 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Eastern Arkansas now under a tornado watch.

168. louastu 09:31 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
It is 70�F now and the sun hasn't even come up yet.

169. louastu 09:44 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
I should finally be in a tornado watch in 15-20 minutes.

170. louastu 09:53 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
100 tornado reports.

171. louastu 09:57 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Central Indiana now under a tornado watch.

172. louastu 11:14 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Looks like the line of storms is breaking up. Indianapolis might not get much, if anything.

173. louastu 11:54 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Well, now it looks like there could be some redevelopment.

174. ForecasterColby 12:09 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Well, it was nighttime - hardly favorable for tornadic development. Over the next few hours the storms should refire.

175. louastu 12:16 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
I think there is a reasonable chance of tornadoes in Indiana, as I believe that we are at maximum temperature for today.

176. louastu 12:20 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Yesterday there were 107 tornado reports.

177. louastu 12:56 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Storms are getting close.

178. Carbo04 13:10 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Link Back to the tropics. We now have had official 4 cat 5's in the 2005 season. Emily's report is in the link.

179. louastu 13:12 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
It is about time. I happy to know they decided to upgrade it.

180. louastu 14:00 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Starting to rain here now.

181. louastu 14:05 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Well, I guess I will be back later.

182. KatrinaRitaWilmaZeta 14:10 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Hurricane Emily update is out by the nhc whats all see if they update her to a cat 5 i be the frist to see it

183. haydn 14:46 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
KRWZ, I just read the report on Emily and by now you have too. The NHC got this one right. Another one for the record books. There's a line of storms in KY right now. None are as strong as yesterday. We'll have to wait to see what the afternoon holds. By the time this front reaches SC, the system is predicted to weaken. I checked forecasts for the southeast. We need a little rain. The front is supposed to pass through tue.

184. haydn 14:49 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
I am going to check back later to see how the storms are coming.

185. sayhuh 14:50 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Alas, I survived the outbreak! Living in the SE burbs of KC, I am familiar with many of the areas in KS/MO that got hit. I thought the last one in May 04 was bad..but this seemed more widespread all the way out from Topeka to Columbia and seemingly non stop from when I woke up at 8am to 11PM when I fell asleep exhausted. Such an odd paridigm to be so passionate about the weather phenom itself, but also to know of the tragic loss of so many people. What a kickoff to Spring!

186. SBKaren 14:50 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Jeff - Enjoyed reading your entry about Arizona and especially the Bagdad Cafe. We watched that movie a number of years ago and then on a trip out that way stopped at the Bagdad Cafe to have lunch. It is truly out in the middle of nowhere, and probably still is! I can imagine that they have very long periods of no rain, but 767 day! Wow - I can't imagine! Karen Member Since: 21 février 2005 Posts: 191 Comments: 14182

187. atmosweather 15:14 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Emily Cat 5!!!!! They got something right!!!!! Member Since: 24 septembre 2005 Posts: 33 Comments: 9255

188. ForecasterColby 15:38 GMT le 13 Mars 2006
Wheeeee...last season gets more insane with every report they release.

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