Environment

Arizona Tornado Warning: Scottsdale And Phoenix, AZ

by amyellensoden | January 22, 2010 at 12:20 pm

5695 views | 0 Recommendations | 4 comments

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning yesterday for both Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona yesterday which was in effect until 9:00pm. Severe flooding and storms in and around Arizona were predicted and occurred. Damaging winds of up to 70mph were a critical part of the warning in effect for the area 17 miles north of Mammoth to 33 miles south to Marana. Thus far, flooding has occurred and many high electricity pulls have been destroyed from the moving tornado.

The Arizona tornado warning was issued on Thursday night after the detection of a thunderstorm that could produce a Northeast moving tornado 8 miles west of Scottsdale. People living in the area of a predicted tornado are urged to retreat to the lowest level or basement level of their residences, and to avoid windows or doors as they wait out the storm.

The national weather service has issued a tornado warning for Scottsdale, Arizona. The Tornado was headed towards Loop 101. Arizona has been experiencing severe weather and it’s expected to continue throughout the night. A Tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted or has shown up on radar. If a tornado warning has been issued for your area seeks shelter now.

While yesterday's warning expired at 9:00pm, there is still a remaining possibility that more tornados could hit southwestern Arizona and Southern California. The tornado reached the Arizona state line hitting high voltage electricity poles and nearby cars on Arizona State Route 78. This press release from the National Weather Service gives some more detailed information on the nature of the Arizona tornado warning:

In a press release the National Weather Service said, “National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. These storms were located along a line extending from 17 miles north of Mammoth to Marana to 33 miles south of three points...moving east at 20 mph”.

4 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend Sign In or Join to post comments

Kris S. (not verified)

at 14:20 on January 22nd, 2010

A tornado warning is when there is either confirmed spotter identification of a funnel cloud, or a compact rotation on doppler radar. A tornado "watch" is issued when conditions are favorable for the formation of a funnel cloud. To claim that "the tornado warnings will remain in effect until the storm subsides" may be a technically incorrect statement. Did the NWS issue a tornado watch instead?

amyellensoden

at 14:57 on January 22nd, 2010

Hi there, the sources I've quoted from in this story claim that it was in fact a tornado warning. The information on the NWS website has changed because the "warning" was only valid until 9pm last night. Basically, the warning was valid yesterday. I will clarify this in the story. Thanks for your input.

Concerned Az (not verified)

at 17:55 on January 22nd, 2010

I was there, and am still here in the Desert Ridge location. A tornado never actually touched down anywhere here although there was concern. You can't say "Dangerous storms have continued in the area since the tornado reached Desert Ridge Marketplace at Loop-1-1 and Tatum".... first of all, it is 101 that the loop is and there was no tornado reaching the marketplace if there was none toched down here. Thank you. The storm was extremely severe knocking down trees, posts, things such as that.

amyellensoden

at 14:04 on January 23rd, 2010

Thanks for your info, my computer clearly made a typo with "1-1" I had meant to put 101. It has now been corrected. Thanks for sharing your news with us.