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Mesoscale Convective Vortex migrates from southern Arizona to southeast California

By Scott Bachmeier •

5-minute GOES-18 daytime True Color RGB and Nighttime Microphysics RGB images, from 0901 UTC on 16 July to 2301 UTC on 18 July [click to play MP4 animation]

5-minute PACUS Sector GOES-18 (GOES-West) daytime True Color RGB and Nighttime Microphysics RGB images created using Geo2Grid (above) revealed the cyclonic circulation of a Mesoscale Convective Vortex (MCV) that migrated west-northwestward across southern Arizona into southeast California during the 2-day period from 16 July to 18 July 2025. This MCV emerged from a dissipating  cluster of thunderstorms over far southeast Arizona after about 0900 UTC on 16 July — and was moving through an environment of moisture and instability that was favorable for additional convective development.

This MCV was highlighted in NWS/WPC Mesoscale Precipitation Discussions on 16 July, 17 July and 18 July — since these middle-tropospheric features were helping to force the development of new thunderstorms, further enhancing flash flooding risks in the vicinity of the MCV.

Categories: Geo2Grid, GOES-18, Heavy rain / flooding, Red-Green-Blue (RGB) images