Arizona, 1997

Flash Flood and Damaging Wind in Arizona, August 26, 1997

August 26, 1997 · NWS PSR · 2 events in 1 county or zone

1 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

1 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Maricopa

When
August 26, 8:30 AM MST to 10:00 AM MST
Where
Maricopa County, Scottsdale
Coordinates
33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An outbreak of thunderstorms in Scottsdale produced very heavy rainfall which caused some localized flooding. Automobiles were stuck in Indian Bend Wash at McCormick Parkway between Hayden Road and Scottsdale Road. Water flowing through Indian Bend Wash rose to three feet which forced some roads to close for a time. Rainfall totals around the area were between one and two inches.

Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa

When
August 26, 9:30 AM MST
Where
Maricopa County, Chandler
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
33.300, -111.830

Power lines were blown down across Interstate 10 near the Chandler Boulevard exit.

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, August 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5624958, 5624959.