{"id":408,"date":"2016-07-02T23:30:00","date_gmt":"2016-07-02T23:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/perezmedia.net\/ceruleanarc\/?p=408"},"modified":"2026-01-11T18:33:54","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T18:33:54","slug":"2-july-2016-northern-arizona-storm-chase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/perezmedia.net\/ceruleanarc\/2016\/07\/02\/2-july-2016-northern-arizona-storm-chase\/","title":{"rendered":"2 July 2016 | Northern Arizona | Storm Chase"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Monsoon storms got an early start on July 2nd. The night before, the HRRR model was trending toward an MCS rolling out of southern Nevada and into Flagstaff by around 6 AM. I set my alarm for 5 and sure enough she was right on schedule just west of town. I quickly threw myself and everything else in the car and headed out on east Route 66 to watch it plow through town. I love watching Arizona storm clouds when they\u2019re in high-speed mode.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
Storms looming over Flagstaff as seen from east Route 66 \u2014 1226-1231Z<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Since it looked like it might stay interesting, I headed east to Twin Arrows\u2014and was reminded how much I disliked the view from that exit. So I headed a bit further east to the Buffalo Range Road exit\u2014no real foreground elements to speak of, but at least it wan\u2019t fences, power lines and dumpsters. As the gust front moved in, a northern stretch of it lunged out and sculpted an amazing, terraced shelf.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
Beautifully sculpted shelf cloud between Twin Arrows and Two Guns \u2014 1302Z<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I jumped further east to Two Guns and composed some shots of the ghost town structures with the heavy morning sky. I\u2019ve snagged a few photo ops with the stone structures in the area, but this was my first time working with the buildings on the east side.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
Moody sunrise over Two Guns \u2014 1313-1317Z<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After that, I raced ahead to Holbrook and then southeast on Hwy 180. The line of storms was messier at this point but still had some moments of shelfy goodness to offer.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
Shelf cloud structure southeast of Holbrook \u2014 1451-1458Z<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>As that line weakened and moved off to the east, I had a look at the models again. Indications were that the morning cirrus shield would move on, the atmosphere would recover, and more storms would fire, despite subsidence in the wake of the morning MCS. So I headed back west and decided to explore Homolovi State Park for a little bit while convection slowly got going again.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Receding convection and windmill on Hwy 180, southeast of Holbrook \u2014 1612Z<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
Loggerhead Shrike keeping an eye on parking at Homolovi State Park (left)
Pottery shards at the Homolovi II Archeological Site (right)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
Cumulus bubbling south of Homolovi State Park \u2014 1957-2016Z<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Collared Lizard showing off its colors at Homolovi State Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Storms continued firing west of Leupp while tracking along and north of I-40, so I headed over to Rt 99 northwest of Winslow, then the Meteor Crater Road exit, and then back to Rt 99 south of Winslow. Storms were not as sculpted as they were that morning, but still enjoyable viewing on desolate roads.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
south of Leupp from Rt 99 (left) \u2014 2147Z
north of Meteor Crater Road (center) \u2014 2246Z
I-40\/Rt 99 offramp (right) \u2014 2306Z<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
Remaining storms south of Winslow on Rt 99 and clear creek \u2014 2348-0048Z<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n