Tornado and Damaging Winds in Arizona, August 3, 2017

Scattered thunderstorms developed across the western portion of the greater Phoenix area during the afternoon hours and some of them affected the town of Tonopah. The stronger storms produced damaging microburst winds estimated to be as high as 70 mph. According to APS, the local utility company, gusty winds blew down 6 power poles in the town of Tonopah. No injuries were reported. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was in effect for the area at the time of the damage; it was issued at 1520MST.

Strong thunderstorms developed across the north portion of the greater Phoenix area, including the town of Deer Valley, during the afternoon hours on August 3rd. Some of the stronger storms produced gusty and damaging outflow winds, estimated to be as high as 65 mph. According to a report received from the public, via twitter, gusty winds damaged a car port near the intersection of 15th Street and East Thunderbird Road. This was about 5 miles southeast of Deer Valley.

Scattered thunderstorms developed across the northern portion of the greater Phoenix area, including the community of Deer Valley, during the afternoon hours on August 3rd. Some of the stronger storms generated gusty and damaging outflow winds that were estimated to be as high as 65 mph. According to a trained weather spotter, at 1618MST very strong winds snapped multiple trees along Happy Valley Road just east of Interstate 17. This was about 3 miles north of Deer Valley. No injuries were reported due to the downed and snapped trees. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was in effect at the time of the damage; it was issued at 1615MST.

Strong thunderstorms developed across the northern portions of the greater Phoenix area during the afternoon hours on August 3rd; some of the storms affected areas around Deer Valley. At 1630MST a trained spotter about 3 miles east of Deer Valley Airport reported that gusty outflow winds had downed a large tree at the intersection of Cave Creek Road and Rose Garden Street. Wind gusts were estimated to be upwards of 60 mph. Additionally, at 1645MST the City of Phoenix storm drain department reported that similarly strong outflow winds had downed 2 trees and the trees were blocking the road. The downed trees were near the intersection of Bell Road and north Cave Creek Road, about 6 miles southeast of Deer Valley.

Scattered thunderstorms developed across the far northern portion of the greater Phoenix area during the afternoon hours on August 3rd; some of the stronger storms generated gusty and damaging outflow winds estimated to be as high as 60 mph. From 1630MST to 1645MST, as reported by a trained spotter as well as the City of Phoenix Storm Drain Department, gusty winds downed a number of trees approximately 8 miles south of New River. The downed trees were south of the town of Anthem, near the Carefree Highway and just east of Interstate 17. Additionally, according to a report from the public, multiple trees were uprooted just south of the Carefree Highway and east of Interstate 17. A block wall was also blown down. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was in effect at the time of the damage and it was issued at 1615MST.

Thunderstorms developed across the northern portion of the greater Phoenix area during the afternoon hours on August 3rd and some of them affected the area around Paradise Valley. Some of the stronger storms produced gusty, damaging outflow winds. At 1645MST, local broadcast media reported that strong wind downed power lines as well as several trees about 5 miles northeast of Paradise Valley. The downed trees were just south of Shea Boulevard, near North 38th Street. Additionally at 1700MST, the City of Phoenix Storm Drain Department reported several trees downed that were blocking the right of way and some sidewalks. These downed trees were about one mile to the north, just east of Highway 51 and just north of East Cactus Road. The wind gusts that created the damage were estimated to be around 60 mph.

Thunderstorms developed across the northern portion of the greater Phoenix area during the late afternoon hours on August 3rd; some of them affected the area around Deer Valley. One of the stronger storms developed gusty and damaging outflow winds estimated to be as high as 60 mph. According to a report from the public via social media, at 1700MST gusty winds downed several trees in the parking lot of a local Sprouts. This was also confirmed by the store. This occurred near the intersection of North 67th Avenue and West Deer Valley Road.

Scattered monsoon thunderstorms developed over the central portion of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area during the late afternoon hours on August 3rd and some of them affected the downtown area near the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Some of the stronger storms produced gusty and damaging outflow winds estimated to be as high as 65 mph. According to a report from the Park and Forest Service, at 1700MST gusty outflow winds downed multiple trees at the Phoenix Zoo; the winds also caused damage to some of the animal enclosures at the zoo. The zoo is just to the east of the airport and about 2 miles northwest of Arizona State University. At the same time, the Phoenix Storm Drain Department reported both a downed tree and a downed power pole about 3 miles to the northeast of the airport. Finally, at 1710MST broadcast media reported that strong winds downed a tree which caused a hole in a local roof. This occurred 3 miles northeast of the airport; the hole in the roof led to flooding within the damaged building.

August 3rd was a very active day, convectively speaking, as widespread thunderstorms affected the greater Phoenix area during the afternoon and evening hours. The stronger storms produced gusty and damaging outflow winds as well as very heavy rain. In addition, one storm generated a weak tornado across south Phoenix during the late afternoon hours. The tornado was located just south of the Salt River, near the intersection of Central Avenue and Broadway Road. The tornado was reported by a trained weather spotter who had video evidence of the tornado. It was corroborated by Phoenix Terminal Doppler Radar data which supported a brief landspout tornado. The tornado was very short lived, had a very short track as well as a narrow path width, and produced no damage or injuries. Nevertheless, due to the extreme rarity of tornadoes in the greater Phoenix area, this was a noteworthy event.

Thunderstorms developed across the northern portion of the greater Phoenix area during the afternoon hours on August 3rd, and some of them affected communities such as Paradise Valley. The stronger storms generated gusty and damaging outflow winds estimated to be at least 60 mph in strength. According to a trained spotter, strong winds blew down several large trees near the intersection of 36th Street and East Cholla Street. This was just east of Highway 51.

Thunderstorms developed across much of the greater Phoenix area during the afternoon hours on August 3rd and some of them affected southeast valley communities like Queen Creek. Some of the stronger storms generated gusty and damaging microburst winds estimated to be as strong as 70 mph. According to a trained weather spotter in Queen Creek, gusty outflow winds snapped numerous larger trees in half, near the intersection of West Ocotillo Road and South Crismon Road. No injuries were reported due to strong winds or falling trees.

Scattered monsoon thunderstorms developed over the central portion of the greater Phoenix area, including downtown Phoenix, during the afternoon hours on August 3rd. Some of the stronger storms generated gusty and damaging winds as well as heavy rain. At 1720MST, Phoenix Fire and Rescue reported that a tree was blown down and into a home near the intersection of 48th Street and Thomas Road. Numerous power lines were also blown down in the area. Due to very heavy rain and associated runoff, some manhole covers were blown off and into the street. Additionally, at about the same time a trained spotter located near 52nd Street and Thomas reported numerous tree limbs snapping off of trees. The larger tree limbs were about 4 inches in diameter. Wind gusts that resulted in the damage were estimated to be as high as 65 mph.

Thunderstorms developed across the southeast portion of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area during the afternoon hours on August 3rd, and some of them impacted communities such as Tempe and Guadalupe. Some of the stronger storms developed gusty and damaging outflow winds, estimated to be as high as 60 mph. According to a report from local broadcast media, a strong wind gust downed a light pole in a parking lot, near the intersection of Baseline Road the the Loop 101 freeway in central Tempe. At the same time, in far south Tempe, a trained weather spotter reported a large Palo Verde tree downed near the intersection of Ray Road and Kyrene Road. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was in effect at the time of the damage; it was issued at 1706MST. At 1735MST, a public report via Twitter indicated that a large tree was downed near the intersection of Baseline Road and McClintock Road. Additionally, at 1735MST another public report was received, via Twitter, indicating a downed awning due to strong outflow winds. This was just southeast of the intersection of Guadalupe Road the the 101 freeway. A second Severe Thunderstorm Warning was in effect at the time of the last 2 damage reports; it was issued at 1727MST.

Scattered thunderstorms developed across the southeastern portion of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area during the afternoon hours on August 3rd, and some of the stronger storms affected communities such as Chandler, Sun Lakes and Queen Creek. The stronger storms produced gusty and damaging outflow winds which were estimated to reach as high as 70 mph. According to a trained weather spotter located about 2 miles east of Queen Creek, at 1745MST gusty outflow winds downed at least six large trees and also blew a number of shingles off of the roofs of some peoples homes. About 5 minutes later, a report was received from the public via Twitter that indicated a large tree was uprooted and subsequently damaged a patio during its fall. The fallen tree was located about 4 miles east of Sun Lakes, just north of Riggs Road and near the intersection of Via De Palmas Road and South Cooper Road. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was in effect at the time of the damage; it was issued at 1727MST.

|TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS AT LEAST 6 LARGE TREES DOWN AND SHINGLES OFF PEOPLES HOUSES.

Strong thunderstorms developed across the southeast portion of the greater Phoenix area during the early evening hours on August 3rd. Some of the storms generated strong gusty outflow winds. According to a trained weather spotter just northwest of the town of Queen Creek, at 1841MST a wind gust to 52 knots was measured just to the south of Phoenix Mesa Gateway airport, along East Rittenhouse Road.