Updated May 10, 2012 - 7:48 pm
Front collision caused damage to mobile home park
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Print | Originally published: May 10, 2012 - 6:46 pm
Weather experts say two powerful fronts collided creating a ferocious weather system last night.
It caused the destruction of several mobile homes in a community near Ironwood and Germann in San Tan Valley
"We've been analyzing it all day and taking a look at data," said Charlotte Dewey with the National Weather Service. We did actually do a storm survey and went out there to look at the damage."
Meteorologists said a dust storm coming up from the Tucson area collided with an outflow heading northeast. The conditions were perfect for a "gustnado," a term used to describe a whirling columns of air that form on the leading edge of a gust front.
An intense downburst of winds called a microburst also added to the ferocity of this system.
"The colliding air masses and the outflows is very common," said Dewey. "Happens all the time with thunderstorms."
