Flash Flood and Damaging Wind in Arizona, July 30, 2005

Name: Flash Flood and Damaging Wind in Arizona, July 30, 2005
Start: 2005-07-30T15:35
End: 2005-07-30T19:00
Location: Arizona

July 30, 2005 · NWS PSR · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

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

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: $3.0 million
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.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Jul 30, 3:15 PM MST, 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 30, 3:15 PM MST, 20 minutes before

AZZ020>028-CAZ030>033-310600-

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
315 PM MST SAT JUL 30 2005

SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA...AND SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA
FORECAST DISCUSSION

.SYNOPSIS...
STRONG HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN NEAR THE COLORADO-NEW MEXICO BORDER
THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF NEXT WEEK...THEN WILL MOVE INTO THE FOUR
CORNERS AREA BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK. THIS WILL PROVIDE FOR AN
EASTERLY FLOW WITH ABUNDANT MOISTURE OVER OUR REGION THROUGH AT
LEAST THE END OF NEXT WEEK. EXPECT A GOOD CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON AND
EVENING THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT AND SUNDAY AS A COUPLE OF WEAK WEATHER
DISTURBANCES MOVE SLOWLY WEST ACROSS NORTHWEST MEXICO AND SOUTHERN
ARIZONA. THE CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL
CONTINUE NEXT WEEK. TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEAR NORMAL FOR LATE JULY
AND EARLY AUGUST.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
THE TRONG UPPER HIGH WILL REMAIN OVER THE CO/NM BORDER THROUGH MUCH
OF NEXT WEEK BEFORE MOVING TO THE 4 CORNERS BY FRI/SAT. THIS WILL
KEEP A MOIST E FLOW INTO OUR REGION...OF WHICH OUR AIRMASS IS
ALREADY VERY MOIST. CLOUDS OVER A PORTION OF SOUTH CENTRAL AZ TODAY
HAS HELD DOWN THUNDERSTORMS...BUT ARE PRODUCING SHOWERS. HOWEVER...A
PIECE OF AN INVERTED TROF OVER SOUTHERN AZ WILL BE PICKED UP BY THE
FLOW AROUND THE UPPER HIGH AND BE TAKEN NORTH UP THROUGH SOUTH
CENTRAL AZ TONIGHT/SUN...BASICALLY ALONG THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE
CURRENT AFTERNOON CLOUD SHIELD. THIS WILL HELP TO BRING MORE
DESTABILIZATION TO THE AIRMASS FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT OVER
SOUTH CENTRAL AZ. EASTERLY MID LEVEL FLOW AT 20 KTS OVER SOUTH
CENTRAL AZ WILL MOVE THE STORMS WESTWARD BUT THIS FLOW DECREASES AS
ITS GETS INTO SW AZ/SE CA WHERE IT IS VERY LIGHT. THE STRONGEST
DIVERGENCE ALOFT AND A 2 INCH P-WATER MOISTURE TONGUE IS LOCATED
OVER SW AZ...LOWER CO RIVER VALLEY...INTO SE CA TONIGHT...WITH
SURFACE DEW POINTS IN THE 70S IN SE CA. A SHORT WAVE TROF SEEN ON
WATER VAPOR PHOTOS IS MOVING E THROUGH SOUTHERN CA AND ACTING UPON
THE RICH AVILABLE MOISTURE. FLOW ALOFT IS VERY WEAK THUS WITH LITTLE
STORM MOVEMENT AND GOOD MOISTURE...SOME OF THE STORMS WILL BE
PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS.    THE AIRMASS WILL REMAIN MOIST THIS
COMING WEEK BUT BY MON/TUES/WED THIS PIECE OF THE INVERTED TROF WILL
BE WELL PAST OUR REGION SO OUR AREA SHOULD HAVE A DECREASED CHANCE
OF STORMS. BY LATE WED/THURS MODELS SHOW ANOTHER INVERTED TROF
ROTATING AROUND THE UPPER AND COMING THROUGH SOUTHERN AZ ALONG WITH
A MORE DIFLUENCE PATTERN ALOFT WHICH SHOULD BRING AN INCREASE TO THE
STORMS.

&&

.AVIATION...
DISCUSSION FOR 00Z TAFS. TAFS FOR KPHX...KIWA...KYUM...KIPL...AND
KBLH ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE EXPECTED WEATHER CONDITIONS.

AVIATION DISCUSSION NOT UPDATED FOR AMENDED TAFS.

&&

.PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

AZ...NONE.

CA...NONE.

DKS

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX IS ON THE INTERNET AT

WEATHER.GOV/PHOENIX

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 30, 6:00 AM MST, 9 hours 35 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
600 AM MST SAT JUL 30 2005

AZZ022-023-027-028-310200-
GREATER PHOENIX AREA-NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY-
NORTHWEST MARICOPA COUNTY-SOUTHWEST MARICOPA COUNTY-
600 AM MST SAT JUL 30 2005

...THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MOST OF MARICOPA COUNTY
INCLUDING THE GREATER PHOENIX AREA AS WELL AS NORTHWEST AND NORTH
CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY...

.DAY ONE...TODAY

THERE WILL BE A GOOD CHANCE FOR LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING
THUNDERSTORMS. STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY
RAIN...SMALL HAIL...STRONG STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...DENSE BLOWING
DUST...AND CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

MAINLY LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE EACH
DAY...WITH THE BEST CHANCE ON SUNDAY AND AGAIN TOWARD THE END OF NEXT
WEEK. STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...
SMALL HAIL...STRONG STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...DENSE BLOWING DUST...AND
CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

AZZ024-310200-
SOUTHERN GILA COUNTY/TONTO NATIONAL FOREST FOOTHILLS-
600 AM MST SAT JUL 30 2005

...THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN GILA COUNTY AND
THE TONTO NATIONAL FOREST FOOTHILLS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

THERE WILL BE A CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING THUNDERSTORMS.
STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...SMALL
HAIL...STRONG STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...AND CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING.

.DAY TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE EACH DAY.
STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...SMALL
HAIL...STRONG STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...AND CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

AZZ021-026-310200-
SOUTHWEST DESERTS-WEST CENTRAL DESERTS-
600 AM MST SAT JUL 30 2005

...THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE SOUTHWEST AND WEST-
CENTRAL ARIZONA DESERTS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

THERE WILL BE A GOOD CHANCE FOR LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING
THUNDERSTORMS. STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY
RAIN...STRONG STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...DENSE BLOWING SAND OR
DUST...AND CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

MAINLY LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE
EACH DAY...WITH THE BEST CHANCE ON SUNDAY. STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...DENSE
BLOWING SAND OR DUST...AND CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

AZZ020-025-CAZ031-310200-
LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY AZ-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY CA-
YUMA/MARTINEZ LAKE AND VICINITY-
600 AM MST (600 AM PDT) SAT JUL 30 2005

...THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER
VALLEY AND THE YUMA AREA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

THERE WILL BE A CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS.
STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...DENSE BLOWING SAND OR DUST...SMALL HAIL...AND
CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE
EACH DAY...WITH THE BEST CHANCE ON SUNDAY. STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...DENSE
BLOWING SAND OR DUST...SMALL HAIL...AND CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

CAZ032-033-310200-
IMPERIAL COUNTY-RIVERSIDE COUNTY/EASTERN DESERTS-
600 AM PDT SAT JUL 30 2005

...THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR IMPERIAL COUNTY AND EASTERN
RIVERSIDE COUNTY.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

THERE WILL BE A CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS.
STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...DENSE BLOWING SAND OR DUST...SMALL HAIL...AND
CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE
EACH DAY...WITH THE BEST CHANCE ON SUNDAY. STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...
DENSE BLOWING SAND OR DUST...SMALL HAIL...AND CLOUD-TO-GROUND
LIGHTNING.

CAZ030-310200-
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK/JTNP/-
600 AM PDT SAT JUL 30 2005

...THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

THERE WILL BE A CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS.
STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...SMALL HAIL...AND CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE
EACH DAY. STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...
STRONG STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...SMALL HAIL...AND CLOUD-TO-GROUND
LIGHTNING.

DG

The radar

The Yuma radar (KYUX), 179 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:35 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Thunderstorm Wind, La Paz

When: July 30, 3:35 PM MST
Where: La Paz County, Wenden
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.817, -113.550

Several power poles down along US route 60.

Flash Flood, Maricopa

When: July 30, 6:00 PM MST to 7:00 PM MST
Where: Maricopa County, 1 mi W of Wickenburg Muni Arpt
Property damage: $3.0 million
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.967, -112.817

Very heavy rainfall, about 2 inches per hour, caused flooding of low spots and washes. The peak flow in Hartman Wash, was reported as 1200 cfs. Major damage occurred at Bear Cat Manufacturing where a large robotic welding building was destroyed by the flood.

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.
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 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in Arizona, July 2005

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: 5468002, 5468001.