Scattered thunderstorms moved southwest across southeast Arizona. Some storms produced brief heavy rain.
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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.
Scattered thunderstorms moved southwest across southeast Arizona. Some storms produced brief heavy rain. One such storm resulted in a single car crash on Interstate 19 and another caused flooding over the Frye Fire burn scar.
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 Jul 16, 2:35 PM MST, 2 hours 35 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 235 PM MST Mon Jul 16 2018 .SYNOPSIS...Plenty of moisture and instability will remain in place to support daily showers and thunderstorms through at least the middle of the week. Some storms will generate strong winds and heavy rain. Partial drying from the east may lead to reduced thunderstorm coverage by the weekend, along with hotter temperatures. && .DISCUSSION...Daytime heating in combination with an inverted trough approaching the area were aiding in the development of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon in the mountains. A strengthening steering flow from the northeast to east in association with the approaching inverted trough will also help storms to move into the valleys today. Recent HRRR solutions supported the notion of storms tracking into lower deserts of Pima and Pinal counties this evening. Locally heavy rainfall will be the main concern, but the environment will also support strong thunderstorm winds. Models were in agreement with tracking the inverted trough through northern Mexico tonight and Tuesday with less of an influence for tomorrow's thunderstorm potential. High pressure aloft will become established over the Great Basin region around Wednesday before shifting over the Desert Southwest this coming weekend. This adjustment in the position of the upper high will result in some warming and drying aloft by the end of the week. This warmer and drying will eventually translate to less thunderstorm activity and hotter daytime temperatures by week's end. && .AVIATION...Valid through 18/00Z. Isolated to scattered SHRA/TSRA through late this evening can be expected. Cloud bases 8k-12k ft AGL with SCT-BKN clouds above 20k. Winds remain below 12 kts through the period, with stronger gusts possible around TSRA. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...An active weather pattern will continue to produce showers and thunderstorms, mainly during the afternoon and evening hours. Toward the middle of the week, a shift begins to take place bringing in drier air and reducing rain chances. However, isolated storms could still develop, especially over the higher terrain. Temperatures also gradually warm through the week. 20-ft winds remain below 15 mph, although the Upper Gila River Valley will experience gustier northwesterly winds at times. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tucson AZ 257 PM MST MON JUL 16 2018 AZZ503-507-513-162230- 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- 257 PM MST MON JUL 16 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN COCHISE AND SOUTHEASTERN SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM MST... At 256 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of thunderstorms 7 miles southwest of Sierra Vista, moving southwest at 5 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea sized hail will be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Sierra Vista, Sierra Vista Southeast, Fort Huachuca, Kino Springs, Coronado National Memorial, Canelo, Nicksville, Parker Canyon Lake, Ramsey Canyon Preserve and Lochiel. LAT...LON 3149 11085 3160 11036 3133 11014 3133 11082 TIME...MOT...LOC 2156Z 062DEG 5KT 3149 11039 HARDIN
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tucson AZ 348 PM MST MON JUL 16 2018 AZZ504-507-513-514-162330- Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains including Mount Lemmon/Summerhaven-Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson-Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains including Bisbee/Canelo Hills/Madera Canyon-Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail- 348 PM MST MON JUL 16 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL PIMA AND WEST CENTRAL COCHISE COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM MST... At 347 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking two strong thunderstorms, one 5 miles east of Vail and one 10 miles north of Benson, moving southwest at 20 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph and brief heavy rain will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Benson, Mescal, Corona De Tucson and Vail. 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 3224 11055 3218 11021 3174 11045 3186 11086 TIME...MOT...LOC 2247Z 036DEG 16KT 3200 11053
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tucson AZ 449 PM MST MON JUL 16 2018 AZZ503-504-513-170030- 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- 449 PM MST MON JUL 16 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN PIMA AND NORTH CENTRAL SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM MST... At 447 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong thunderstorms extending from west of the Tucson International airport to 11 miles southeast of Green Valley. Movement was west southwest at 20 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and brief heavy rain will be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... South Tucson, Green Valley, Sahuarita, Drexel Heights, Rio Rico, Three Points, Tubac, Patagonia, Amado, Tumacacori, San Xavier Mission, Madera Canyon and Arivaca Junction. 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. These storms 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 3210 11138 3144 11113 3155 11068 3216 11099 TIME...MOT...LOC 2347Z 073DEG 16KT 3210 11114 3173 11086
The Tucson radar (KEMX), 34 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:11 UTC.
1 heavy rain, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Brief heavy rain from a thunderstorm resulted a single vehicle crash on Interstate 19 in Green Valley. After the driver lost control of the vehicle, it crashed into a tree in the median. All three occupants were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Heavy rain led to flash flooding on the Frye fire burn scar. The Route 366 road surface and a culvert were damaged due to flooding of Grant Creek.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, July 2018
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: 776870, 774395.