December 22-23, 2006 Storm Statistics

Readings From Weather Bus.com:

Rain Start Time: December 22, 2006 at 5:20pm
Rain End Time: December 23, 2006 at 4:30am
Storm Total: 0.07in.
Max Rain Rate: 0.08in/hr

Comments:
Originally, this storm system was forecasted to be rather weak giving the area only a very slight chance of showers, however, as the system moved into the valley the storm dynamics became stronger allowing for a fairly large area of light to moderate showers to form and move across most of the valley. Most locations received under a quarter inch of rain (0.25in.) but some location across the valley received over a quarter inch. Phoenix Sky Harbor officially received 0.26in. of rainfall with this storm system. In Papago park, which was one of the higher rain totals, received 0.35in.. We have rated this storm in the "Moderate" category due to the very dense fog that formed as a result of this storm system.

At our location we received 0.07in. of rain, which is the first time we have received measurable precipitation since October 17th when we recorded 0.01in. of rainfall. As the area of showers moved toward the Gold Canyon area things began to slow down and the heavier showers moved to the south of the area, which is why our rainfall totals were not quite as high as some location across the Phoenix area.

In Northwest Gold Canyon, Al reported 0.08in. of rain. Thank you for your rain reports! The above rain totals were reported to us by private individuals. The accuracy of these reports is unknown. If it rained at your location, let us know by clicking on the link at the top of the page titled "Rainfall Report Form". You report will be added to this page.

With the moisture left behind from the rainfall on December 22nd dense fog formed over most of the valley during the morning hours of December 23rd. The National Weather Service in Phoenix issued a Dense Fog Advisory until 10:00am. The visibility at our location was the lowest around 7:00am, when the visibility dropped to less then 200 feet! By 10:00am the fog started to lift and the visibility rose to above a quarter mile. Toward the end of this storm report, there are two pictures of the foggy conditions along with a visible satellite image of the fog. Below are fog reports received by the National Weather Service in Phoenix. 
 PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
 
 ..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
 ..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
             ..REMARKS..
 
 0500 AM     DENSE FOG        FLORENCE                33.04N 111.37W
 12/23/2006                   PINAL              AZ   LAW ENFORCEMENT 
 
             VISIBILITY NEAR ZERO.
 
 0500 AM     DENSE FOG        CASA GRANDE             32.89N 111.74W
 12/23/2006                   PINAL              AZ   LAW ENFORCEMENT 
 
             VISIBILITY NEAR ZERO.
 
 0500 AM     DENSE FOG        CHANDLER                33.29N 111.87W
 12/23/2006                   MARICOPA           AZ   LAW ENFORCEMENT 
 
             VISIBILITY NEAR ZERO /SAN TAN AND PRICE FREEWAY 
             INTERCHANGE/.
 
 0600 AM     DENSE FOG        PHOENIX                 33.54N 112.07W
 12/23/2006                   MARICOPA           AZ   ASOS            
 
             VISBILITY OF ZERO AT SKY HARBOR.
 
 0615 AM     DENSE FOG        APACHE JUNCTION         33.40N 111.55W
 12/23/2006                   PINAL              AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER 
 
             VISIBILITY EST. 100 FEET.
 
 0642 AM     DENSE FOG        LITCHFIELD PARK         33.50N 112.36W
 12/23/2006                   MARICOPA           AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER 
 
             VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE.

 0700 AM     DENSE FOG        5 E APACHE JUNCTION     33.40N 111.46W
 12/23/2006                   PINAL              AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER 
 
             VISIBILITY LESS THAN 200 FEET.
 
 0730 AM     DENSE FOG        GILBERT                 33.33N 111.76W
 12/23/2006                   MARICOPA           AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER 
 
             VISIBILITY 1/8 MILE AT COOPER AND BASELINE FROM 615 AM TO
             730 AM.
 
 0840 AM     DENSE FOG        GILBERT                 33.33N 111.76W
 12/23/2006                   MARICOPA           AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER 
 
             VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/8 MILE FROM COOPER AND BASELINE TO
             WARNER AND VAL VISTA.
 
 0855 AM     DENSE FOG        5 E APACHE JUNCTION     33.40N 111.46W
 12/23/2006                   PINAL              AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER 
 
             VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE.
 
 0900 AM     DENSE FOG        QUEEN CREEK             33.24N 111.64W
 12/23/2006                   MARICOPA           AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER 
 
             VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE.
Below, are two radar images. The first is a loop from 12:59pm to 1:33pm and it shows the first band of light showers that moved through the area and then slowly dissipates. With this band we only recorded a trace amount of rain at our location. The second loop is from 5:04pm to 5:39pm and shows the second "wave" come through the area. Notice the more intense area of showers moved/developed south of the Apache Junction/Gold Canyon area. However, if you look closely a small area of moderate showers formed over the Gold Canyon area around 5:30 and then drifted south-southeast. Also below, is a visible satellite image taken on the morning of December 23rd, showing the large area of dense fog in the valley and snow in the high country. (We have drawn arrows to the points of interest on this satellite image.)


Storm Pictures Taken on December 22-23, 2006: (Click Pictures To Enlarge)

Radar Loop From 12:59pm to 1:33pm
Radar Loop From 5:04pm to 5:39pm

Taken on December 22, 2006 @ 11:49am
Taken on December 22, 2006 @ 11:50am

Visible Satellite Taken On December 23, 2006 at 9:30am



Rainfall Totals Released From The NWS: 

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
 600 PM MST FRI DEC 22 2006
 
 ...24 HOUR PRECIPITATION FOR THE PHOENIX METRO AREA ENDING
 AT 6 PM...
 
                                6 HR PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
                                OLDEST  >>>>>>>>>>>  NEWEST
 
   ID     STATION NAME           6 PM   MDNT   6 AM   NOON   24 HR
                                -MDNT  -6 AM  -NOON  -6 PM   TOTAL
 
 
 
 AHWATUKEE
 MAHA3    AHWATUKEE              0.00   0.00   0.00   0.28    0.28
 
 APACHE JUNCTION
 PMDA3    USERY MOUNTAIN PARK    0.00   0.00   0.00   0.04    0.04
 KNGA3    KINGS RANCH            0.00   0.00   0.00     M       M
 
 AVONDALE
 AVOA3    AGUA FRIA @ BUCKEYE    0.00   0.00   0.00   0.00    0.00
 
 BUCKEYE
 MBUA3    BUCKEYE FRS #2         0.00   0.00   0.00   0.00    0.00
 
 CAREFREE
 ZCAA3    FRAESFIELD MOUNTAIN    0.00   0.00   0.00   0.12    0.12
 CRFA3    CAREFREE RANCH         0.00   0.00   0.00   0.04    0.04
 
 CAVECREEK
 HMBA3    HUMBOLDT MOUNTAIN      0.00   0.00   0.00   0.00    0.00
 CBTA3    CAVE BUTTES DAM        0.00   0.00   0.00   0.00    0.00
 
 CHANDLER
 ZCHA3    EMF @ ARIZONA AVE      0.00   0.00   0.00   0.04    0.04
 
 GILBERT
 ZGIA3    MESA TOWER             0.00   0.00   0.00   0.20    0.20
 ZCPA3    CROSSROADS PARK        0.00   0.00   0.00   0.20    0.20
 
 GLENDALE
 MGLA3    CITY OF GLENDALE       0.00   0.00   0.00   0.00    0.00
 MMDA3    MARYLAND @ 27TH AVE    0.00   0.00   0.00   0.00    0.00
 MSXA3    ACDC @ 67TH AVE        0.00   0.00   0.00   0.08    0.08
 
 GOODYEAR
 ZGYA3    TUTHILL @ RAY RD       0.00   0.00   0.00   0.00    0.00
 
 GUADALUPE
 ZGAA3    GUADALUPE FRS          0.00   0.00   0.00   0.12    0.12
 
 MESA
 MBDA3    BROADWAY @ DOBSON      0.00   0.00   0.00   0.24    0.24
 ZBLA3    BROADWAY @ LINDSAY     0.00   0.00   0.00   0.20    0.20
 MBHA3    BROWN RD. @ HORNE      0.00   0.00   0.00   0.20    0.20
 MEEA3    KLEINMAN PARK          0.00   0.00   0.00   0.24    0.24
 FALA3    THUNDER MOUNTAIN       0.00   0.00   0.00   0.08    0.08
 MLAA3    MOUNTAIN VIEW PARK     0.00   0.00   0.00   0.20    0.20
 WMSA3    QUEEN CREEK RD         0.00   0.00   0.00   0.12    0.12
 ZUPA3    USERY PARK WS          0.00   0.00   0.00   0.08    0.08
 
 NEW RIVER
 NEWA3    SUNUP RANCH            0.00   0.00   0.00   0.00    0.00
 
 PARADISE VALLEY
 MCLA3    CAVE CREEK LANDFILL    0.00   0.00   0.00   0.04    0.04
 MCCA3    E FORK CC #1           0.00   0.00   0.00   0.12    0.12
 MLDA3    LOST DOG WASH          0.00   0.00   0.00   0.08    0.08
 MRPA3    REATA PASS DAMSITE     0.00   0.00   0.00   0.16    0.16
 
 PEORIA
 NRDA3    NEW RIVER DAM          0.00   0.00   0.00   0.00    0.00
 MBLA3    NEW RIVER @ BELL RD    0.00   0.00   0.00   0.00    0.00
 
 PHOENIX
 MBTA3    CESAR CHAVEZ PARK      0.00   0.00   0.00   0.24    0.24
 MMIA3    MISSOURI @ 16TH ST     0.00   0.00   0.00   0.20    0.20
 MOXA3    OLD XCUT @ MCDOWELL    0.00   0.00   0.00   0.28    0.28
 MPAA3    PAPAGO PARK            0.00   0.00   0.00   0.35    0.35
 MPPA3    PERRY PARK             0.00   0.00   0.00   0.24    0.24
 ADBA3    ADOBE DAM              0.00   0.00   0.00   0.04    0.04
 MPHA3    SKUNK CREEK @ I-17     0.00   0.00   0.00   0.00    0.04
 MPMA3    JEFFERSON @ 4TH AVE    0.00   0.00   0.00   0.24    0.24
 MROA3    ROESER @ 2ND ST        0.00   0.00   0.00   0.20    0.20
          UNDEFINED                M      M      M      M       M
 ZSFA3    SOUTH MOUNTAIN FAN     0.00   0.00   0.00   0.20    0.20
 MTHA3    THOMAS & 16TH ST       0.00   0.00   0.00   0.20    0.20
 MTQA3    THOMAS @ 48TH ST       0.00   0.00   0.00   0.20    0.20
 
 QUEEN CREEK
 ZQRA3    QUEEN CR @ RITTENHO    0.00   0.00   0.00   0.08    0.08
 ZQCA3    QUEEN CREEK LANDFIL    0.00   0.00   0.00   0.12    0.12
 QNCA3    EMF @ QUEEN CREEK R    0.00   0.00   0.00   0.12    0.12
 
 SCOTTSDALE
 SDLA3    INDIAN BEND WASH @     0.00   0.00   0.00   0.20    0.20
 ZMDA3    MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN P    0.00   0.00   0.00   0.12    0.12
 MPJA3    PIMA @ JOMAX           0.00   0.00   0.00   0.16    0.16
 
 SUN CITY
 MSWA3    SUN CITY WEST          0.00   0.00   0.00   0.04    0.04
 
 SURPRISE
 MDYA3    DYSART @ BELL RD       0.00   0.00   0.00   0.04    0.04
 MCFA3    MCMICKEN FLOODWAY      0.00   0.00   0.00   0.00    0.00
 
 TEMPE
 MSPA3    SALT RIVER @ PRIEST    0.00   0.00   0.00   0.28    0.28
 MTEA3    ASU SOUTH              0.00   0.00   0.00   0.28    0.28