Winter weather
Severe storm conditions surprise Tucson
Wind and rain, even snow, to continue into the weekend
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PK Weis/TucsonSentinel.comSnow covered Mt. Lemmon Friday and the road to the top was closed to traffic. Friday night more snow is expected and Saturday morning we may have a snowy covering from the strongest winter storm to blow into Tucson in seventeen years. -
PK Weis/TucsonSentinel.comNot everyone makes it. This vehicle sitting on the roadside apparently did not make it across the Canyon del Oro Wash and was heavily damaged by the water's flow. -
PK Weis/TucsonSentinel.comA motorist ignores the 'road closed' signs going north across the Canyon del Oro Wash, which is usually closed when water washes across the roadway. -
SearchNetMedia/flickr
Auntie Em! Auntie Em! After a rare tornado watch, Tucson remains under a flood advisory from the National Weather Service until 11:30 a.m.
Last night brought a torrent and a tornado advisory to the city. The weekend promises more rain and wind, with gusts over 30 mph.
A rare tornado watch was in effect last night, and throughout Pima county, there have been reports of extreme conditions and property damage throughout Tucson.
The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard advisory for altitudes over 7000 feet already in effect, and Tucsonans may see a rare snowfall in the metropolitan area as the snow advisory will expand to 3000 feet, and much of Tucson lies at 2500 feet and above.
While Tucson was spared the worst of the storm that hit most of Arizona yesterday, Tucsonans battened down the hatches nonetheless.
The worst of the storm hit the Tohono O’Odham nation near Ajo. Four homes lost their roofs, necessitating emergency evacuation for 10 residents. Winds were reported at 94 mph in the area. The Red Cross has set up emergency shelter for those displaced by the storm.
A tornado touched down near the Arizona/California border, causing downed power poles and overturned semis.
Tucsonans were loosed from the tornado watch in the late evening, though as the storm moved northwest, the watch was extended into Pinal County.
Much of the area remains under a flood advisory. Some areas of eastern Pima County received .15 inches of rain in a single hour this morning.
Mount Lemmon remains closed due to the blizzard warning. At Summerhaven, wind gusts hit 84 mph, and 200 people were left without power last night. At Sabino Canyon, visitors to the Bear Canyon trail were rescued by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
Central and Northern Arizona are also under various storm advisories, particularly near Sedona. Oak Creek have been asked to voluntarily evacuate.
The Flagstaff location of Tucson-based company Bookman’s lost its roof to the storm, along with several other Flagstaff businesses.
