Flash Flood and Hail in Arizona, October 7, 1997

Name: Flash Flood and Hail in Arizona, October 7, 1997
Start: 1997-10-07T07:32
End: 1997-10-07T08:45
Location: Arizona

October 7, 1997 · NWS PSR · 4 events in 2 counties and zones

2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood, 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: 4

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

Hail, Maricopa

When: October 7, 7:32 AM MST
Where: Maricopa County, Chandler
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 33.300, -111.830

Dime-sized hail was reported by an NWS employee at Arizona Avenue and Pecos Road.

Hail, Maricopa

When: October 7, 7:45 AM MST to 7:50 AM MST
Where: Maricopa County, Mesa
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Coordinates: 33.420, -111.820

Hail covered the ground up to six inches deep. An NWS employee had roof tile broken and glass window broken on his house.Damage was sustained by aircraft at Falcon Field. Apache Wells RV/Golf Resort had damage to TV antennas, and damage to roofs and awnings. Citrus trees lost many of their leaves and fruit in the vicinity of Greenfield and Brown Roads. Some other trees were stripped of half or more of their leaves.

Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa

When: October 7, 7:50 AM MST
Where: Maricopa County, Mesa
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 33.420, -111.820

Large to moderate-sized tree limbs were snapped by thunderstorm winds at Falcon Field. Metal awnings were damaged by the wind at Apache Wells RV/Golf Resort.

Flash Flood, Gila

When: October 7, 8:45 AM MST
Where: Gila County, 5 mi S of Punkin Center
Coordinates: 33.800, -110.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flooding occurred across Highway 188 south of Punkin Center. A foot of mud debris moved onto the highway.

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, October 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5623869, 5623870, 5623871, 5623872.