Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Characteristics of Sonoran Desert Microbursts

Katherine M. Willingham Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, and NOAA/OAR/National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma

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Elizabeth J. Thompson Department of Geography and Meteorology, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana

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Kenneth W. Howard NOAA/OAR/National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma

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Charles L. Dempsey Salt River Project, Scottsdale, Arizona

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Print Publication:
01 Feb 2011
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2010WAF2222388.1
Page(s):
94–108
Restricted access

Abstract

During the 2008 North American monsoon season, 140 microburst events were identified in Phoenix, Arizona, and the surrounding Sonoran Desert. The Sonoran microbursts were studied and examined for their frequency and characteristics, as observed from data collected from three Doppler radars and electrical power infrastructure damage reports. Sonoran microburst events were wet microbursts and occurred most frequently in the evening hours (1900–2100 local time). Stronger maximum differential velocities (20–25 m s−1) were observed more frequently in Sonoran microbursts than in many previously documented microbursts. Alignment of Doppler radar data to reports of wind-related damage to electrical power infrastructure in Phoenix allowed a comparison of microburst wind damage versus gust-front wind damage. For these damage reports, microburst winds caused more significant damage than gust-front winds.

Corresponding author address: Katherine M. Willingham, National Severe Storms Laboratory, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Norman, OK 73072. Email: katherine.willingham@noaa.gov

Abstract

During the 2008 North American monsoon season, 140 microburst events were identified in Phoenix, Arizona, and the surrounding Sonoran Desert. The Sonoran microbursts were studied and examined for their frequency and characteristics, as observed from data collected from three Doppler radars and electrical power infrastructure damage reports. Sonoran microburst events were wet microbursts and occurred most frequently in the evening hours (1900–2100 local time). Stronger maximum differential velocities (20–25 m s−1) were observed more frequently in Sonoran microbursts than in many previously documented microbursts. Alignment of Doppler radar data to reports of wind-related damage to electrical power infrastructure in Phoenix allowed a comparison of microburst wind damage versus gust-front wind damage. For these damage reports, microburst winds caused more significant damage than gust-front winds.

Corresponding author address: Katherine M. Willingham, National Severe Storms Laboratory, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Norman, OK 73072. Email: katherine.willingham@noaa.gov

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