Flash Flood and Hail in Arizona, August 7, 1997

Name: Flash Flood and Hail in Arizona, August 7, 1997
Start: 1997-08-07T17:50
End: 1997-08-07T19:00
Location: Arizona

August 7, 1997 · NWS VEF · 3 events in 1 county or zone

A cluster of severe thunderstorms raked Lake Havasu City between 5:50 and 6:25 PM MST. Wind from the storms reportedly ripped trees out of the ground, downed power lines, and tore tiles from roofs.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS VEF wrote it up.

A cluster of severe thunderstorms raked Lake Havasu City between 5:50 and 6:25 PM MST. Wind from the storms reportedly ripped trees out of the ground, downed power lines, and tore tiles from roofs. The city was also pelted with heavy rain and 3/4 inch diameter hail on the south side of town and up to one inch diameter hail on the north side. Subsequent flash flooding of washes swept away several vehicles and required swift water rescues of the occupants. No serious injuries were reported.

The radar

The Las Vegas radar (KESX), 147 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:51 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Hail, Mohave

When: August 7, 5:50 PM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where: Mohave County, Lake Havasu City
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 34.450, -114.370

Thunderstorm Wind, Mohave

When: August 7, 5:50 PM MST
Where: Mohave County, Lake Havasu City
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 34.450, -114.370

Flash Flood, Mohave

When: August 7, 6:00 PM MST to 7:00 PM MST
Where: Mohave County, Lake Havasu City
Property damage: $30,000
Coordinates: 35.704, -113.758 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Arizona in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings 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: 5619535, 5619623, 5619624.