Alert archive / Arizona / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2023

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 38, NWS Phoenix, AZ

August 16, 2023Maricopa County, Arizona

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 16, 2023, 3:43 PM MST for Maricopa County, Arizona. It was in force for 25 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 16, 2023, 3:43 PM MST (22:43 UTC)
Expired
Aug 16, 2023, 4:08 PM MST
In force
25 min
Issued by
NWS Phoenix, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Maricopa County, AZ

The radar

The Phoenix radar (KIWA), 77 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:46 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Phoenix, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 16, 3:33 PM MST, 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 16, 3:33 PM MST, 10 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 16, 2:10 PM MST, 1 hour 33 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
210 PM MST Wed Aug 16 2023

AZZ547-549-552-555-558-162145-
Fountain Hills/East Mesa AZ-Apache Junction/Gold Canyon AZ-
Superior AZ-Rio Verde/Salt River AZ-Pinal/Superstition Mountains AZ-
210 PM MST Wed Aug 16 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Maricopa and Pinal
Counties through 245 PM MST...

At 209 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Superstition Mountains, or 8 miles northeast of Gold Canyon, moving
northwest at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Apache Junction, Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, Superstition Mountains,
Kings Ranch, Lost Dutchman State Park, Goldfield, Usery Mountain
Park, Gold Camp, and Tortilla Flat.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3348 11118 3333 11133 3348 11164 3366 11144
TIME...MOT...LOC 2109Z 127DEG 7KT 3347 11139

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

GL
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 3:38 PM MST, 5 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
338 PM MST Wed Aug 16 2023

AZZ540-544-559-162330-
Sonoran Desert Natl Monument AZ-Buckeye/Avondale AZ-
North Phoenix/Glendale AZ-
338 PM MST Wed Aug 16 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Maricopa and Pinal
Counties through 430 PM MST...

At 338 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Estrella Mountain Park, or near Avondale, moving north at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Phoenix, Avondale, Goodyear, Tolleson, Cashion, Litchfield Park,
Phoenix International Raceway, Estrella Mountain Park, Estrella
Mountain Ranch, and Rainbow Valley.

This includes the following highways...
 AZ Route 101 near mile marker 2.
 AZ Route 303 between mile markers 105 and 106.

This includes AZ Interstate 10 between 124 and 140.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3346 11214 3319 11224 3323 11246 3351 11245
TIME...MOT...LOC 2238Z 189DEG 8KT 3333 11234

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Hirsch

The office that day

Everything else NWS Phoenix, AZ issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 15, 7:07 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRLa Paz3 hr
Aug 15, 7:38 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRLa Paz, Yuma3 hr
Aug 15, 8:21 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa39 min
Aug 15, 9:00 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRMaricopa60 min
Aug 16, 1:54 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRGila3 hr
Aug 16, 2:10 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR35 min
Aug 16, 3:38 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRMaricopa52 min
Aug 16, 4:13 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR62 min
Aug 16, 4:41 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRPinal49 min
Aug 16, 4:54 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR51 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arizona, 2023Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2023

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.