Numerous thunderstorms moved northeast across southeast Arizona. One storm caused flash flooding west of Tucson, while another resulted in a lightning-caused house fire in Green Valley.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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 episode as NWS TWC wrote it up.
Numerous thunderstorms moved northeast across southeast Arizona. One storm caused flash flooding west of Tucson, while another resulted in a lightning-caused house fire in Green Valley.
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 Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 23, 2:15 PM MST, 1 hour earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 215 PM MST Wed Aug 23 2017 .SYNOPSIS...Expect scattered thunderstorms into this evening. Some storms will produce heavy rain, especially east and south of Tucson. Gusty winds may produce areas of blowing dust northwest of Tucson late into early evening. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms will then prevail Thursday into early next week, with the greatest thunderstorm coverage mainly east to south of Tucson. && .DISCUSSION...Scattered thunderstorms should continue into this evening. The overall evolution of development has closely resembled a blend of mesoscale models. Storm cluster over Santa Cruz County figures to push a boundary northwestward/down the terrain. This could enhance storms ongoing over central Pima County and also produce some areas of blowing dust. Will keep blowing dust advisory going into early this evening. Latest rapid refresh model shows the peak storm coverage around 6 pm. Some of these storms could produce heavy rain due to slow and erratic movement. Showers and storms could linger until at least midnight east of Tucson, closest to upper level support. Models indicate mid level ridging/high pressure starts to shift into northern AZ as early as Thursday with resultant north to northeast mid level flow over SE AZ. While storm coverage will not be as widespread as today, enough moisture and instability will remain in place for isolated to scattered storms, especially east of Tucson. As the high becomes anchored to our north, easterly flow will keep enough moisture in place for daily rounds of isolated to scattered storms into early next week. While eastern locales will be most favored, any disturbance moving from east to west in the flow could help storms to progress into the western deserts on a given day. Timing of such an occurrence is difficult to pinpoint however. High temperatures will generally remain above seasonal averages, but fluctuate depending on thunderstorm timing. && .AVIATION...Valid thru 25/00Z. Scattered to numerous TSRA through 24/03z with MVFR cigs/vsbys in strongest storms. Brief wind gusts 35-45 kts may produce BLDU northwest of KTUS. Isolated -TSRA/-SHRA mainly east of KTUS late tonight into early Thursday morning, then scattered TSRA east of KTUS Thu afternoon. Otherwise, surface wind less than 12 kts. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...An easterly flow will develop by Friday keeping enough moisture around southeast Arizona for daily rounds of thunderstorms into next week. Coverage will vary from day to day but areas east of Tucson will be most favored overall. 20 foot winds will remain light except in the vicinity of thunderstorms. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Blowing Dust Advisory until 7 PM MST this evening for AZZ501-502-504-505. && KD Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tucson AZ 1158 AM MST WED AUG 23 2017 AZZ503-507-513-231945- Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson-Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains including Bisbee/Canelo Hills/Madera Canyon-Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys including Nogales- 1158 AM MST WED AUG 23 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN COCHISE AND EAST CENTRAL SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES UNTIL 1245 PM MST... At 1158 AM MST, strong thunderstorms were located about 8 miles southwest of Sierra Vista, moving north at 10 mph. Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Sierra Vista, Huachuca City, Fort Huachuca, Coronado National Memorial, Canelo, Nicksville, Parker Canyon Lake, Ramsey Canyon Preserve and Elgin. LAT...LON 3159 11062 3167 11023 3133 11023 3133 11046 TIME...MOT...LOC 1858Z 172DEG 11KT 3145 11037 French
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tucson AZ 109 PM MST WED AUG 23 2017 AZZ503-504-507-513-232100- Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson-Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains including Bisbee/Canelo Hills/Madera Canyon-Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys including Nogales-Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail- 109 PM MST WED AUG 23 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY UNTIL 200 PM MST... At 108 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 15 miles southeast of East Sahuarita to 14 miles east of Nogales. Movement was northwest at 15 mph. Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Patagonia, Kino Springs, Canelo, Sonoita, Elgin, Patagonia Lake and Lochiel. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Heavy rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && LAT...LON 3189 11088 3177 11045 3133 11046 3133 11087 TIME...MOT...LOC 2008Z 122DEG 14KT 3181 11070 3142 11069 French
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tucson AZ 241 PM MST WED AUG 23 2017 AZZ503-504-232215- Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys including Nogales-Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail- 241 PM MST WED AUG 23 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN PIMA AND NORTH CENTRAL SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM MST... At 240 PM MST, strong thunderstorms were located 9 miles northwest of Tubac, moving northwest at 15 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel sized hail will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Green Valley, Tubac, Junction Of Highway 286 And Arivaca Road, Amado and Arivaca Junction. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 3178 11097 3152 11117 3166 11154 3207 11120 TIME...MOT...LOC 2140Z 118DEG 12KT 3170 11118 French
The Tucson radar (KEMX), 32 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:16 UTC.
1 lightning, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning started a house on fire in the 1000 block of Stronghold Canyon Lane in Sahuarita.
Heavy rain inundated roads in the western portions of the Tucson Metro Area north and northeast of Ryan Field. A child was swept off her feet and was carried 20 yards downstream after attempting to cross a flooded roadway with water 3 to 4 feet deep. She was found unconscious, but recovered.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, August 2017
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: 718454, 718452.