Arizona, 1997

Dust Storm and Hail in Arizona, July 7 to 10, 1997

July 7 to 10, 1997 · NWS TWC · 5 events in 2 counties and zones

2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 lightning, 1 dust storm, 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
25
Property damage
$241,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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

2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 lightning, 1 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pima

When
July 7, 2:00 PM MST to 2:10 PM MST
Where
Pima County, Tucson
Property damage
$1,000
Coordinates
32.230, -110.930

Thunderstorm winds downed several power lines, blew a stoplight down, snapped a 30-foot Palm tree in half, and split a 15-foot high tree in two.

Hail, Pima

When
July 7, 2:00 PM MST to 2:10 PM MST
Where
Pima County, Tucson
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.230, -110.930

Lightning, Pima

When
July 7, 4:40 PM MST
Where
Pima County, Tucson
Property damage
$40,000
Coordinates
32.097, -111.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck a house and started a fire.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pima

When
July 9, 3:00 PM MST to 3:03 PM MST
Where
Pima County, San Xavier
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
31.970, -111.100

Thunderstorm winds were estimated to 60 mph.

Dust Storm, Southeast Pinal

When
July 10, 1:35 PM MST to 2:00 PM MST
Where
Southeast Pinal forecast zone
Injuries
25 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$200,000

Downburst winds from nearby thunderstorms kicked up a thick cloud of dust as it moved across plowed fields. This cloud of dust then moved across interstate 10 between Red Rock and Picacho reducing visibilities to zero at times. This resulted in 12 collisions involving about 30 vehicles. Twenty-five people were injured, but 19 were only minor.

What these are

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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Dust Storm
Blowing dust that reduced visibility to a quarter mile or less.

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, July 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: 5608826, 5608830, 5608827, 5608828, 5608829.