Arizona, 2014

Dust Storm and Damaging Winds in Arizona, July 26 to 27, 2014

July 26 to 27, 2014 · NWS PSR · 9 events in 2 counties and zones

Thunderstorms developed during the late evening hours across the greater Phoenix metropolitan area on July 26th. The stronger storms generated gusty and damaging microburst winds in excess of 60 mph which uprooted trees and blew down power poles and power lines.

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
$160,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
9

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 PSR wrote it up.

Thunderstorms developed during the late evening hours across the greater Phoenix metropolitan area on July 26th. The stronger storms generated gusty and damaging microburst winds in excess of 60 mph which uprooted trees and blew down power poles and power lines. Some of the most significant damage occurred over far northern portions of the greater Phoenix area, including Desert Ridge Marketplace, Deer Valley and Peoria. In addition to the strong gusty winds, locally heavy rain occurred which led to urban flooding and the issuance of Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisories. Finally, the strong winds briefly led to dust storm conditions over central portions of the Phoenix area, including Tumbleweed Park.

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 26, 9:05 PM MST, 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 26, 9:05 PM MST, 55 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
905 PM MST SAT JUL 26 2014

.SYNOPSIS...
MONSOON MOISTURE WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH AT LEAST THE
EARLY PART OF THIS WEEK...WITH A CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON AND EVENING
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY. DAYTIME TEMPERATURES WILL STILL
HOLD ABOVE SEASONAL NORMALS...BUT ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW THE
NEAR-RECORD READINGS WE SAW EARLIER THIS WEEK.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
AN OVERALL QUIET DAY SO FAR WITH MOST STORMS STAYING ACROSS FAR EAST
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST ARIZONA...BUT A LINE OF STORMS MOVING THROUGH
GILA COUNTY MAY END UP LASTING LONG ENOUGH INTO THE LOWER DESERTS TO
BRING SOME SPOTTY AREAS OF RAIN. MOISTURE IS CURRENTLY A BIT LIMITED
ACROSS SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA...BUT ACROSS EAST-CENTRAL ARIZONA MID
LEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE STEEP AND MLCAPES OF UP TO 1000 J/KG ARE
PRESENT. MODEST FLOW ALOFT OF AROUND 30 KNOTS AND FAVORABLE GUSTY
WIND SOUNDING PROFILE WILL PRESENT A STRONG WIND THREAT THIS EVENING
WITH THESE WESTWARD PROGRESSING STORMS. CURRENT THINKING IS THE
STORM OUTFLOW AND INDUCED COLD POOL FROM THE GILA COUNTY STORMS
SHOULD ALLOW FOR SOME FURTHER CELL DEVELOPMENT INTO THE LOWER
DESERTS...MAINLY ACROSS THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE PHOENIX
AREA...BUT THEY SHOULD BE SHORT-LIVED AND ACTIVITY SHOULD DIMINISH
BY AROUND MIDNIGHT. LATEST HRRR MODEL REFLECTIVITY DOES SHOW SOME
STORMS MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE PHOENIX METRO AREA LATE THIS
EVENING WHILE WEAKENING AT THE SAME TIME.

FURTHER TO THE SOUTH OVER SONORA MEXICO AND SOUTHEAST ARIZONA...AN
INVERTED SHORTWAVE TROUGH CAN BE SEEN ON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY. STORMS
HAVE BEEN SLOW TO DEVELOP ALONG THE NORTHER PERIPHERY OF THIS WAVE
TODAY...BUT STORMS HAVE INCREASED IN COVERAGE OVER THE PAST COUPLE
HOURS. EXPECTING THIS WAVE TO BRING A MOISTURE SURGE INTO SOUTHERN
ARIZONA TONIGHT ALONG WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME OVERNIGHT SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS. SHOULD STORMS MAKE THEIR WAY NORTHWARD INTO OUR
CWA LATER TONIGHT...EXPECTING THEM TO MAINLY BE FOCUSED ACROSS
WESTERN MARICOPA COUNTY THROUGH SOUTHWEST ARIZONA.

PRECIPITABLE WATER STEADILY INCREASES TO NEAR 1.75 INCHES BY LATE
SUNDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING OVER THE LOWER DESERTS...AND PRECIPITATION
CHANCES INCREASE AS WELL. STORMS THAT FORM SUNDAY HAVE THE POTENTIAL
TO PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY OUTFLOW WINDS AND GENERATE AREAS OF BLOWING
DUST THAT CAN CREATE DRIVING AND HEALTH HAZARDS. SOME STORMS COULD
PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN AND LOCALIZED FLOODING OF ROADWAYS AND PONDING OF
WATER IN LOW LYING AREAS.

DECENT MOISTURE WILL REMAIN IN THE AREA THROUGH MONDAY WITH
CONTINUED STORM CHANCES...BUT MODELS INDICATE A DRYING WESTERLY FLOW
WILL SET UP STARTING TUESDAY. TUESDAY MAY BE A BIT OF A TRANSITION
DAY WITH STORMS MAINLY FOCUSED ACROSS HIGHER TERRAIN AREAS...BUT
CAN/T RULE OUT A FEW STORMS ACROSS THE LOWER DESERTS. LATEST
MODEL RUNS HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN TRENDING TOWARD A SOMEWHAT DRIER MID
WEEK PERIOD WITH 1000-700MB MIXING RATIOS DROPPING INTO THE 6-8
G/KG RANGE AND PWATS DROPPING TO BETWEEN 1.0 AND 1.5 INCHES. AT THIS
MOMENT...IT LOOKS LIKE ANY MONSOON ACTIVITY FOR WEDNESDAY AND
THURSDAY WILL LIKELY BE CONFINED TO FAR EASTERN ARIZONA. MODELS THEN
POINT TOWARD A BIT OF MOISTURE RESURGENCE FOR FRIDAY INTO NEXT
SATURDAY.

TEMPERATURES FOR THE PERIOD SHOULD FALL WITHIN A SMALL TEMPERATURE
RANGE OF RIGHT AROUND SEASONAL NORMALS. SOME AREAS MAY APPROACH THE
110 DEGREE MARK FOR HIGHS ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AS DRIER AIR
ALLOWS FOR A BUMP IN TEMPERATURES.

&&

.AVIATION...
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA INCLUDING KPHX...KIWA...AND KSDL...
A CLUSTER OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN EAST
OF PHOENIX IS EXPECTED TO SLOWLY DIMINISH AS IT PROGRESSES TO THE
WEST THROUGH 06Z...BUT THERE WILL BE A SMALL CHANCE OF A SHOWER OR
STORM TO IMPACT THE PHOENIX TERMINALS BETWEEN 05-07Z. STORM OUTFLOWS
WILL LIKELY CAUSE AN EASTERLY WIND SHIFT ALSO DURING THAT TIME WITH
THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME BRIEF GUSTY EASTERLY WINDS UP TO 30 KNOTS.
CONFIDENCE IS STILL A BIT ON THE LOW SIDE HOW FAR WEST THESE STORMS
AND OUTFLOWS WILL PROGRESS OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. ADDITIONAL
SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE EXPECTED FOR SUNDAY WITH A MUCH BETTER
POTENTIAL TO IMPACT AREA TERMINALS.

SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHWEST ARIZONA INCLUDING KIPL AND KBLH...
QUIET CONDITIONS THROUGH MUCH OF TONIGHT...BUT THE CHANCES FOR
ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE ON THE INCREASE BY SUNDAY
MORNING. EVEN THOUGH THE PROBABILITY FOR STORMS IS STILL TOO LOW TO
INTRODUCE INTO TAFS...THERE WILL BE A DECENT CHANCE OF SOME ISOLATED
STORMS AND GUSTY OUTFLOW WINDS ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST
CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHWEST ARIZONA DURING THE DAY SUNDAY.

AVIATION DISCUSSION NOT UPDATED FOR AMENDED TAFS.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...
NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND HIGHER RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS ARE
EXPECTED. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS WILL RANGE FROM 15 TO 25
PERCENT AND RECOVER OVERNIGHT TO 35 TO 45 PERCENT. THERE WILL BE A
DAILY THREAT OF AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS...BUT THESE WILL
BE MAINLY CONFINED TO THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA.
WINDS WILL BE GENERALLY LESS THAN 15 MPH...EXCEPT IN THE VICINITY OF
THUNDERSTORMS.

&&

.PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

AZ...NONE.

CA...NONE.

&&

VISIT US ON FACEBOOK...TWITTER...AND AT WEATHER.GOV/PHOENIX

DISCUSSION...KUHLMAN
AVIATION...KUHLMAN
FIRE WEATHER...HIRSCH/MCLANE
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 26, 3:32 AM MST, 18 hours 28 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
332 AM MST SAT JUL 26 2014

AZZ020>028-CAZ030>033-271045-
LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY AZ-WEST CENTRAL DESERTS-
NORTHWEST MARICOPA COUNTY-GREATER PHOENIX AREA-
SOUTHERN GILA COUNTY/TONTO NATIONAL FOREST FOOTHILLS-
YUMA/MARTINEZ LAKE AND VICINITY-SOUTHWEST DESERTS-
SOUTHWEST MARICOPA COUNTY-NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY-
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY CA-
RIVERSIDE COUNTY/EASTERN DESERTS-IMPERIAL COUNTY-
332 AM MST SAT JUL 26 2014 /332 AM PDT SAT JUL 26 2014/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST-CENTRAL
ARIZONA...EXTREME SOUTHWEST ARIZONA...EXTREME WEST-CENTRAL
ARIZONA...SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA...SOUTHWEST ARIZONA...WEST-CENTRAL
ARIZONA...EXTREME SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORM ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP AGAIN
TODAY. WHERE THUNDERSTORMS FORM...STRONG GUSTY OUTFLOW WINDS COULD
GENERATE AREAS OF BLOWING DUST CREATING DRIVING AND HEALTH HAZARDS.
SOME STORMS COULD PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN AND LOCALIZED FLOODING OF
ROADWAYS AND PONDING OF WATER IN LOW LYING AREAS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORM ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP EACH
DAY. WHERE THUNDERSTORMS FORM...STRONG GUSTY OUTFLOW WINDS COULD
GENERATE AREAS OF BLOWING DUST CREATING DRIVING AND HEALTH HAZARDS.
SOME STORMS COULD PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN AND LOCALIZED FLOODING OF
ROADWAYS AND PONDING OF WATER IN LOW LYING AREAS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX IS ON THE INTERNET AT

WEATHER.GOV/PHOENIX

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 26, 4:33 PM MST, 5 hours 27 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
433 PM MST SAT JUL 26 2014

AZZ024-270000-
GILA AZ-
433 PM MST SAT JUL 26 2014

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
  CENTRAL GILA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ARIZONA

UNTIL 500 PM MST

AT 427 PM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 14 MILES NORTHWEST OF HILLTOP...MOVING WEST AT 10
MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  RURAL CENTRAL GILA COUNTY...

LAT...LON 3374 11044 3371 11074 3372 11074 3379 11069
      3381 11066 3385 11057 3385 11056 3383 11051
      3383 11042
TIME...MOT...LOC 2333Z 094DEG 10KT 3380 11055

18
Special weather statement, Jul 26, 8:21 PM MST, 1 hour 39 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
821 PM MST SAT JUL 26 2014

AZZ024-270345-
GILA AZ-
821 PM MST SAT JUL 26 2014

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
  SOUTH CENTRAL GILA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ARIZONA

UNTIL 845 PM MST

AT 815 PM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 9 MILES SOUTH OF
HILLTOP TO CUTTER TO 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF CHRISTMAS TO 8 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF WINKELMAN...AND MOVING WEST AT 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
   CHRISTMAS AND  WINKELMAN...
   HAYDEN...
   GLOBE AND PINAL PEAK...

LAT...LON 3343 11022 3343 11032 3340 11035 3338 11043
      3328 11045 3319 11040 3318 11050 3313 11059
      3314 11062 3311 11068 3307 11069 3307 11072
      3304 11071 3298 11078 3299 11079 3317 11090
      3337 11089 3354 11065 3344 11020
TIME...MOT...LOC 0321Z 092DEG 18KT 3349 11045 3338 11063
          3312 11067 3292 11069

18
Special weather statement, Jul 26, 8:44 PM MST, 1 hour 16 minutes before
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The radar

The Phoenix radar (KIWA), 51 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:42 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 thunderstorm wind, 1 dust storm, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Dust Storm, Greater Phoenix Area

When
July 26, 10:00 PM MST to 11:00 PM MST
Where
Greater Phoenix Area forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter

Intense thunderstorms developed across the greater Phoenix area during the late evening hours on July 26th, and they produced gusty outflow winds in excess of 50 mph which primarily affected northern and central portions of the Phoenix area. The gusty winds created dust storm conditions and led to the issuance of a Dust Storm Warning at 2223MST. The warning expired at 2300MST, and was replaced by a Blowing Dust Advisory which ran through midnight. At 2204MST, a trained spotter in east Mesa reported 40 mph winds and indicated visibility was below one half mile and dropping. At 2219MST, another trained spotter 2 miles northwest of Seville reported a dust storm with one quarter mile visibility. He also reported winds gusting to 50 mph. Finally, at 2229MST, a trained spotter 4 miles southeast of Tumbleweed Park reported a dust storm. Fortunately, no injuries or accidents were reported due to the dust storm.

Heavy Rain, Maricopa

When
July 26, 10:45 PM MST to July 27, 1:15 AM MST
Where
Maricopa County, 4.26 mi ENE of Phoenix Turf Arpt
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
33.650, -112.010

Intense thunderstorms developed across the northern portion of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area during the late evening hours on July 26th. In addition to damaging microburst winds, the stronger storms produced locally heavy rainfall with peak rain rates approaching 2 inches per hour. At 2334MST, a trained weather spotter about 3 miles southwest of Desert Ridge Marketplace measured 1.15 inches of rain in the span of 31 minutes. The rain led to minor urban flooding and resulted in the issuance of an Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory at 2319MST. The advisory continued through the early morning hours on July 27, expiring at 0115MST.

Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa

When
July 26, 10:55 PM MST to 10:58 PM MST
Where
Maricopa County, 4.3 mi NNE of Clearwater Hills
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
33.630, -112.000

Thunderstorms with strong damaging microburst winds developed across the northern portion of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area during the late evening hours on July 26th, affecting communities such as Deer Valley and Scottsdale. The powerful outflow winds, estimated to be at least 70 mph at times, created significant damaged to trees and power poles in the area near Desert Ridge Marketplace. A meteorologist reported that huge trees were blown down at an apartment complex located at Greenway Road and 40th Street. The trees crushed several cars at the complex. Power poles and lines were also downed by the strong winds. At about the same time, a trained spotter reported numerous large trees downed near Greenway and 44th street. Finally, according to local Fire and Rescue, more trees and power lines were blown down on Greenway Road between Tatum and 41st street.

Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa

When
July 26, 10:58 PM MST
Where
Maricopa County, 3.72 mi WNW of Scottsdale Muni
Measured
60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
33.640, -111.980

Thunderstorms with damaging microburst winds developed across the northern portions of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area during the late evening hours on July 26th. Some of the strongest storms of the evening occurred in the area around Desert Ridge Marketplace. A trained weather spotter reported estimated peak wind gusts to 69 mph. The gusts produced significant damage in the area as well as knocking out power.

Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa

When
July 26, 11:01 PM MST
Where
Maricopa County, 2.21 mi SE of Phoenix Deer Vly Arp
Measured
60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
33.660, -112.050

Thunderstorms with damaging microburst winds developed across the northern portions of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area during the late evening hours on July 26th. The storms affected communities such as Deer Valley, Paradise Valley and Scottsdale. A trained weather spotter in Deer Valley, about 4 miles west of Desert Ridge Marketplace, reported trees uprooted near the intersection of 16th Street and Utopia. Peak wind gusts were estimated to be near 65 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa

When
July 26, 11:05 PM MST to 11:10 PM MST
Where
Maricopa County, 0.57 mi W of Phoenix Deer Vly Arp
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
33.680, -112.090

Thunderstorms with damaging microburst winds developed across the northern portions of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area during the late evening hours on July 26th. Some of the storms affected communities such as Deer Valley and North Mountain Park. A trained weather spotter just to the southwest of Deer Valley Municipal Airport reported that numerous power poles were blown down near the intersection of 7th Avenue and Deer Valley Road. Wind gusts were estimated to be close to 70 mph. Additionally, another trained spotter a bit further south, about 3 miles north of North Mountain Park reported a number of trees blown down. Street flooding was also occurring in the same location.

Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa

When
July 26, 11:08 PM MST to 11:13 PM MST
Where
Maricopa County, 0.69 mi N of Phoenix Deer Vly Arp
Measured
53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
33.690, -112.080

Thunderstorms with microburst winds developed across the northern portions of the greater Phoenix area, including Scottsdale and Deer Valley, during the late evening hours on July 26th. The automatic ASOS weather sensor at Deer Valley airport measured a peak wind gust of 61 mph at 2308MST and again at 2313MST.

Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa

When
July 26, 11:25 PM MST
Where
Maricopa County, 7.04 mi WNW of Phoenix Deer Vly Arp
Measured
60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
33.700, -112.200

Strong thunderstorms developed across the northern portions of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area during the late evening hours on July 26th, and they affected communities such as Peoria. According to a trained weather spotter 2 miles northeast of Peoria, thunderstorm winds estimated to be near 65 mph blew down a large tree near the intersection of 67th Avenue and Pinnacle Peak Road. The downed tree was blocking traffic. No injuries were reported due to the downed tree.

Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa

When
July 26, 11:40 PM MST
Where
Maricopa County, (Luf)luke Afb
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
33.530, -112.380

Strong thunderstorms with microburst winds developed across portions of the greater Phoenix area during the late evening hours on July 26th. Some of the storms affected Luke Air Force Base. The AWOS weather sensor at Luke measured a wind gust of 60 mph.

What these are

Dust Storm
Blowing dust that reduced visibility to a quarter mile or less.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
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 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, July 2014

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 527129, 527121, 526905, 526874, 526900, 526881, 526868, 526898, 526871.