Severe Weather Hits Southwest/Central Arizona
Updated: 6:10 AM MST July 11, 2008
Precipitatble water values for Phoenix from the morning of July 7 through the morning of July 10.
Leading up to July 10th, a low pressure system had been slowly moving north along the mountains of central and northern Mexico and toward Arizona. As the system moved closer, moisture levels in the atmosphere continued to steadily increase. By the morning of July 10th, the precipitable water (a measure of how much water is in a column of air) was nearly two inches - considered exceedingly moist. As temperatures warmed to near 100 degrees during the afternoon of the 10th, instability levels in the atmosphere became high.
Thunderstorms erupted across the southern half of Arizona by mid-afternoon. A cluster of severe thunderstorms moved across La Paz, northern Yuma, and northwest Maricopa counties, causing strong winds and dense blowing dust. Meanwhile, a second cluster of severe thunderstorms developed over west-central Gila county and moved to the west. The stage was set for these systems to collide over the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. The colliding storms, fueled by the unusually moist and unstable airmass, produced widespread heavy rain and strong/damaging winds. The National Weather Service in Phoenix fielded well over 100 calls from local trained NWS spotters of either strong winds, thunderstorm damage, or flash flooding. Click here to see some of the reports. Click here for a RADAR loop of the event (1.4MB).
Several areas across Phoenix experienced flash flooding due to the high rainfall amounts. (Click here to see rainfall reports from the Flood Control District of Maricopa County, or here for reports from NWS Cooperative Observers. RADAR-derived rainfall totalsand Data courtesy of the Flood Control District of Maricopa County (see maps below) indicate that four areas were hit particularily hard by this event. They included the Wickenburg area (1 to 3 inches), central Phoenix (1 to 3 inches), northeast Mesa (1 to 3 inches), and the area southeast of Queen Creek (2 to 4 inches).
Did you receive damage or see flash flooding and get a picture of it? Send us a copy, along with your permission to post it, and we'll add it here!
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ 400 AM MST FRI JUL 11 2008 ...24 HOUR PRECIPITATION FOR THE PHOENIX METRO AREA ENDING AT 4 AM... NOTE...IF IT RAINED AT A LOCATION...THE AMOUNT WILL BE SHOWN ONLY IF IT IS AT LEAST 0.04...4 HUNDRETHS OF AN INCH. ANY RAIN AMOUNT LESS THAN 0.04 IS NOT REGISTERED AND IS SHOWN AS 0.00 6 HR PRECIPITATION (INCHES) OLDEST >>>>>>>>>>> NEWEST ID STATION NAME 4 AM 10 AM 4 PM 10 PM 24 HR -10 AM -4 PM -10 PM -4 AM TOTAL AHWATUKEE MAHA3 AHWATUKEE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.51 0.51 APACHE JUNCTION PMDA3 USERY MOUNTAIN PARK 0.00 0.00 1.22 0.24 1.46 KNGA3 KINGS RANCH 0.00 0.00 0.67 0.43 1.10 AVONDALE AVOA3 AGUA FRIA @ BUCKEYE 0.00 0.00 0.24 0.24 0.47 BUCKEYE MBUA3 BUCKEYE FRS #2 0.00 0.00 0.51 0.08 0.59 CAREFREE ZCAA3 FRAESFIELD MOUNTAIN 0.00 0.00 0.59 0.39 0.98 CRFA3 CAREFREE RANCH 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.31 0.31 CAVECREEK HMBA3 HUMBOLDT MOUNTAIN 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.16 0.24 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 1.34 1.34 GILBERT ZGIA3 MESA TOWER 0.00 0.00 0.71 0.00 0.71 ZCPA3 CROSSROADS PARK 0.00 0.00 0.35 0.31 0.67 GLENDALE MGLA3 CITY OF GLENDALE M 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 MMDA3 MARYLAND @ 27TH AVE 0.00 0.00 0.20 0.00 0.20 MSXA3 ACDC @ 67TH AVE 0.00 0.00 0.12 0.08 0.20 GOODYEAR ZGYA3 TUTHILL @ RAY RD 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.12 0.20 GUADALUPE ZGAA3 GUADALUPE FRS 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.16 0.24 MESA MBDA3 BROADWAY @ DOBSON 0.00 0.00 0.55 0.35 0.91 ZBLA3 BROADWAY @ LINDSAY 0.00 0.00 0.87 0.31 1.18 MBHA3 BROWN RD. @ HORNE 0.00 0.00 1.14 0.28 1.42 MEEA3 KLEINMAN PARK 0.00 0.00 0.51 0.28 0.79 FALA3 THUNDER MOUNTAIN 0.00 0.00 1.42 0.28 1.69 MLAA3 MOUNTAIN VIEW PARK 0.00 0.00 0.75 0.35 1.10 WMSA3 QUEEN CREEK RD 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.67 0.67 ZUPA3 USERY PARK WS 0.00 0.00 1.22 0.28 1.54 NEW RIVER NEWA3 SUNUP RANCH 0.00 0.00 0.59 0.00 0.59 PARADISE VALLEY MCLA3 CAVE CREEK LANDFILL 0.00 0.00 0.12 0.12 0.24 MCCA3 E FORK CC #1 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.04 0.12 MLDA3 LOST DOG WASH 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.43 0.43 MRPA3 REATA PASS DAMSITE 0.00 0.00 0.51 0.31 0.83 PEORIA NRDA3 NEW RIVER DAM 0.00 0.00 0.12 0.00 0.12 MBLA3 NEW RIVER @ BELL RD 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.08 0.12 PHOENIX MBTA3 CESAR CHAVEZ PARK 0.00 0.00 0.94 0.35 1.30 MMIA3 MISSOURI @ 16TH ST 0.00 0.00 0.31 0.31 0.63 MOXA3 OLD XCUT @ MCDOWELL 0.00 0.00 0.28 0.24 0.51 MPAA3 PAPAGO PARK 0.00 0.00 0.39 0.20 0.59 MPPA3 PERRY PARK 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.35 0.39 ADBA3 ADOBE DAM 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.04 0.08 MPHA3 SKUNK CREEK @ I-17 0.00 0.00 0.63 0.08 0.71 MPMA3 JEFFERSON @ 4TH AVE 0.00 0.00 0.31 0.28 0.59 MROA3 ROESER @ 2ND ST 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.35 0.43 SOMA3 SOUTH MOUNTAIN 0.00 0.00 0.31 0.83 1.14 ZSFA3 SOUTH MOUNTAIN FAN 0.00 0.00 0.28 0.04 0.31 MTHA3 THOMAS & 16TH ST 0.00 0.00 0.43 0.20 0.63 MTQA3 THOMAS @ 48TH ST 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.20 0.24 QUEEN CREEK ZQRA3 QUEEN CR @ RITTENHO 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.81 1.81 ZQCA3 QUEEN CREEK LANDFIL 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.18 1.18 QNCA3 EMF @ QUEEN CREEK R 0.00 0.00 0.31 1.10 1.42 SCOTTSDALE SDLA3 INDIAN BEND WASH @ 0.00 0.00 0.28 0.31 0.59 ZMDA3 MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN P 0.00 0.04 0.20 0.31 0.55 MPJA3 PIMA @ JOMAX 0.00 0.00 0.39 0.16 0.55 SUN CITY MSWA3 SUN CITY WEST 0.00 0.00 0.12 0.04 0.16 SURPRISE MDYA3 DYSART @ BELL RD 0.00 0.00 0.16 0.04 0.20 MCFA3 MCMICKEN FLOODWAY 0.00 0.00 0.39 0.04 0.43 TEMPE MSPA3 SALT RIVER @ PRIEST 0.00 0.00 0.39 0.28 0.67 MTEA3 ASU SOUTH 0.00 0.00 0.31 0.28 0.59PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0340 PM DUST STORM TACNA 32.70N 113.95W 07/10/2008 YUMA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/8 MILE 0426 PM DUST STORM LIGURTA 32.67N 114.30W 07/10/2008 YUMA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE 0500 PM DUST STORM 1 WSW WENDEN 33.81N 113.57W 07/10/2008 LA PAZ AZ TRAINED SPOTTER VISIBILITY NEAR ZERO, WINDS 35MPH 0620 PM TSTM WND GST ROOSEVELT 33.67N 111.13W 07/10/2008 E50.00 MPH GILA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER 0620 PM TSTM WND GST ROOSEVELT 33.67N 111.13W 07/10/2008 E50.00 MPH GILA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER 50-PLUS MPH WIND ESTIMATED BY TRAINED SPOTTER. 0700 PM FLASH FLOOD 6 W VICKSBURG 33.75N 113.83W 07/10/2008 LA PAZ AZ DEPT OF HIGHWAYS ROADWAY FLOODING ALONG SR-72 AND INTERSTATE 10...MILE POST 40 TO MILE POST 45 0727 PM TSTM WND GST APACHE JUNCTION 33.40N 111.55W 07/10/2008 M42.00 MPH PINAL AZ TRAINED SPOTTER 0727 PM TSTM WND GST APACHE JUNCTION 33.40N 111.55W 07/10/2008 M89.00 MPH PINAL AZ TRAINED SPOTTER 0731 PM TSTM WND GST APACHE JUNCTION 33.54N 111.61W 07/10/2008 E67.00 MPH PINAL AZ TRAINED SPOTTER MEASURED WIND GUST OF 67MPH 0731 PM TSTM WND GST APACHE JUNCTION 33.40N 111.55W 07/10/2008 M50.00 MPH PINAL AZ TRAINED SPOTTER 0743 PM TSTM WND DMG MESA 33.42N 111.75W 07/10/2008 MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER TREE LIMBS DOWN...MEASURED 40MPH GUST 0754 PM TSTM WND GST SCOTTSDALE 33.47N 111.93W 07/10/2008 E65.00 MPH MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER SUSTAINED 50 MPH...GUSTS TO 65MPH 0809 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 N QUARTZSITE 33.70N 114.21W 07/10/2008 LA PAZ AZ DEPT OF HIGHWAYS ROADWAY FLOODING ALONG STATE ROUTE/US HIGHWAY 95...NORTH OF QUARTZSITE...MILE POST 115 0840 PM FLASH FLOOD PHOENIX 33.56N 112.09W 07/10/2008 MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED STREET FLOODING...WATER CURB TO CURB...DUNLAP AND 19TH AVE. 0845 PM TSTM WND DMG TEMPE 33.39N 111.93W 07/10/2008 MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER TREE LIMBS DOWN AT BASELINE AND MCCLINTOCK. 0852 PM FLASH FLOOD PHOENIX 33.43N 112.10W 07/10/2008 MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER STANDING WATER ON ROADWAY AND UNDERPASS...INTERSTATE 17 AND BUCKEYE 0925 PM FLASH FLOOD MESA 33.47N 111.68W 07/10/2008 MARICOPA AZ AMATEUR RADIO ROAD CLOSURE TO DUE WATER ON ROADWAY...POWER RD. AND ARIZONA LOOP 202 1108 PM FLASH FLOOD MESA 33.42N 111.74W 07/10/2008 MARICOPA AZ LAW ENFORCEMENT ON/OFF RAMPS TO HWY 60 CLOSED AT GILBERT ROAD. REPORTED BY DPS.