Thunderstorms produced heavy rain and hail in and around Flagstaff.
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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 FGZ wrote it up.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain and hail in and around Flagstaff.
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 Flagstaff, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 28, 9:25 AM MST, 1 hour 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ 925 AM MST Wed Aug 28 2019 .SYNOPSIS...Expect an increase in afternoon chances for showers and thunderstorms across northern Arizona through Thursday, before chances decrease through Saturday. Otherwise, above normal daytime temperatures and generally light winds are forecast. && .UPDATE... We are already seen isolated thunderstorms west of Seligman and near Bitter Springs. We have increased storm chances this afternoon for areas along and east or north of a line from Grey Mountain-Flagstaff-White Mountains per latest HRRR and UA WRF radar trends. Moisture and instability are decreasing as one heads towards the 4 corners. We can add gusty outflow winds as another storm hazards this afternoon, especially across the Little Colorado River Valley. && .PREV DISCUSSION /350 AM MST/... Today...High temperatures today will be more moderate than the record breaking conditions from earlier this work week. Although, daytime temperatures will still be above average for the end of August. An increase in monsoonal moisture will bring chances of showers and thunderstorms to many locations today. Look for convective initiation to begin in the late morning over the White Mountains and the higher mountain peaks. Forecast upper-air soundings show a general west to northwesterly mean wind this afternoon and evening, which will create an east to southeastward direction for storm movement. Localized heavy rainfall and hail are a couple of the hazards that are possible with thunderstorms today. Thursday - Saturday...As the center of the high pressure shifts westward again tonight into Thursday towards southern California, slightly drier air will be transported into the County Warning Area. There will be enough moisture in the lower and mid- levels of the atmosphere that chances for showers and thunderstorms remain in the forecast through Saturday. The greatest chances for precipitation in this period will be Thursday and decrease each day through Saturday. There could be slight variations in the PoPs within this period as guidance continues to come into further alignment where the deepest moisture and instability will set up. Stay tuned. Sunday & Beyond...The return of monsoonal moisture looks to be setting up again on Sunday. Chances for thunderstorms and showers on Sunday remain similar to previous forecasts, but were expanded westward slightly towards west-central Coconino County. Long- range guidance begins to diverge by Tuesday mid-day on the placement of a trough setting up in the Pacific Northwest. This will continue to be monitored and could impact how long the moisture remains over northern Arizona next week. && .AVIATION...For the 18Z package...Look for mostly VFR conditions today with generally westerly winds of 10G20KT through the afternoon, the exception being areas of MVFR conditions and 40 kt outflow winds near convective activity. A few thunderstorms have already kicked off this morning over northwestern Arizona indicating the unstable airmass over the area. Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms across much of northern AZ to the southwest of the line KPGA-KRQE and numerous storms likely over the higher terrain of mountains and ridges. These storms will continue through about 03 Thursday. Winds will become light and variable around sunset with some lingering gusts in the Little Colorado Valley until 08Z. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...An increase in thunderstorm coverage is expected today, with storm chances beginning to diminish again on Thursday. Daytime temperatures will be about 5-10 degrees above normal. Friday through Sunday...Storm coverage is expected to be limited on Friday and Saturday, with continued well above normal daytime temperatures. Storm coverage may begin to increase again on Sunday. && .FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && PUBLIC...DL/NL AVIATION...DB FIRE WEATHER...KD For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff
The Flagstaff radar (KFSX), 183 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:19 UTC.
2 heavy rain, 1 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail almost the size of a quarter fell from 1120 to 1140 AM. This storm removed leaves off trees and knocked down branches and fruit around town.
The Spruce Wash rain gauge measured 0.83 inches of rain from 1:26 to 2:41 PM. At 2:47 PM, ash and twigs were in the runoff from the Museum Fire scar. Water flow was between 3 and 8 inches deep through the drainage. All water was contained within the ditches.
One and a half inches of rain fell in 30 minutes near downtown Flagstaff.
The Jacks Canyon River Gauge showed a 4.4 foot rise (780 CFS) at 538 PM.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, August 2019
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: 848743, 848742, 848741, 848740.