NOAA US Public Statements
NOAA Public Statements
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000 NOUS45 KPSR 101925 PNSPSR AZZ023-028-110030- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ 1225 PM MST THU MAY 10 2012 ...DAMAGE SURVEY RESULTS FROM EAST OF QUEEN CREEK... ON THE MORNING OF MAY 10...STAFF FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX SURVEYED THE DAMAGE IN NORTHERN SAN TAN VALLEY...EAST OF QUEEN CREEK. BASED ON THE DAMAGE...IT APPEARS A DOWNBURST /POSSIBLY ENHANCED BY A GUSTNADO/ WAS RESPONSIBLE. DAMAGE OCCURRED TO APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MOBILE HOMES IN THE PLEASANT VALLEY MOBILE HOME PARK. SIX OF THE DAMAGED MOBILE HOMES HAD THEIR NORTHEAST-FACING AWNINGS REMOVED. IT APPEARED THAT THE WIND GOT UNDER THE OVERHANGS...PEELED THE OVERHANGS UP... AND IN SOME CASES REMOVED PORTIONS OF THE ROOFS. MANY OF THE DAMAGED MOBILE HOMES WERE ALSO PUSHED TO THE WEST OFF OF THEIR PIERS. WHILE THE DAMAGE INDICATED WINDS MAINLY FROM A SINGLE DIRECTION... STORM PHOTOS AND VIDEOS ALSO SHOWED THE PRESENCE OF GUSTNADOES IN THE VALLEY. A GUSTNADO IS A GROUND-BASED CIRCULATION THAT SOMETIMES FORMS ALONG STRONG GUST FRONTS AND OUTFLOW AREAS. GUSTNADOES CAN EXTEND SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET INTO THE AIR AND CAN LAST FOR UP TO SEVERAL MINUTES. A GUSTNADO CAN PRODUCE A ROTATING DUST CLOUD THAT MOVES ALONG THE GROUND. HOWEVER...GUSTNADOES ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE BASE OF THE THUNDERSTORM CLOUD...AND THEREFORE ARE NOT CONSIDERED TRUE TORNADOES. GUSTNADOES CAN PRODUCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...AND CAN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOCALLY-ENHANCED AREAS OF DAMAGE. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A GUSTNADO LOCALLY ENHANCED THE WINDS AND THE DAMAGE IN THE PLEASANT VALLEY PARK. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX IS ON THE INTERNET AT WEATHER.GOV/PHOENIX $$ WOODALL/DEWEY |