Arizona, 2021

Hail in Arizona, July 12, 2021

July 12, 2021 · NWS FGZ · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

High pressure weakened over northern Arizona which allowed more moisture to move over the state from the south. This helped strong thunderstorms to develop over the area.

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
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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 FGZ wrote it up.

High pressure weakened over northern Arizona which allowed more moisture to move over the state from the south. This helped strong thunderstorms to develop over the area.

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 Flagstaff, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 12, 9:41 AM MST, 3 hours 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 12, 9:41 AM MST, 3 hours 56 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ
941 AM MST Mon Jul 12 2021

.SYNOPSIS...More significant moisture will return today, with
greater chances for showers and thunderstorms across much of
northern and central Arizona through the week.

&&

.UPDATE...Increasing moisture today will lead to an uptick in
monsoonal thunderstorm activity beginning later this morning over
the high terrain. Isolated to scattered thunderstorm coverage then
increases into the lower elevations by mid to late afternoon per
continued high resolution model guidance. The coverage is expected
to slowly decrease through the later evening hours with the loss
of diurnal heating and the more stable atmosphere setting up
across northern Arizona. An isolated severe thunderstorm is not
out of the question through late this afternoon.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION /316 AM MST/...The forecast period will feature a
significant uptick in monsoon activity as high pressure weakens
and ample moisture surges in from the south. Expect more
widespread thunderstorms along the Rim and pushing into the lower
elevations compared to yesterday. Additionally, anticipate
isolated chances for thunderstorms across northeastern Arizona
this afternoon. Due to continued hot temperatures while the high
pressure breaks down, the potential for severe thunderstorms will
continue with damaging winds and hail as the primary threats
where stronger storms set up.

Along with widespread shower and thunderstorm chances from
Tuesday onward, expect temperatures to cool back to near normal
values for mid-July. Be sure to have a reliable way to receive
warnings over the next several days as the flash flood threat
increases due to the saturated environment. After the "nonsoons"
that took place the last two summers, its safe to say the monsoon
is here!

&&

.AVIATION...For the 18Z package...Expect mainly VFR conditions
prevail for the duration of the TAF period. Convective activity
will redevelop over the high terrain today then move southwest
into the lower valleys through the late afternoon and early
evening. Thunderstorm coverage decreases late this evening through
the early overnight period. General west to southwest winds 5-15
kts to occur outside of gusty and erratic winds near thunderstorms.
Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER... Thunderstorm activity will increase through
Tuesday, along with better chances for wetting rains. Winds will
remain between 5-15 mph, except near thunderstorms where gusty
and erratic winds are favored.

Wednesday through Friday...Scattered to numerous thunderstorm are
expected each day, with cooler temperatures and generally light
winds. The flash flood threat will become the primary hazard.

&&

.FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.

&&

PUBLIC...NL/Kobold
AVIATION...NL
FIRE WEATHER...NL

For Northern Arizona weather information visit weather.gov/flagstaff

The radar

The Flagstaff radar (KFSX), 94 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:38 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Coconino

When
July 12, 1:37 PM MST to 1:40 PM MST
Where
Coconino County, 7.87 mi NE of Bellemont
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.300, -111.720

One inch diameter hail fell along Snowbowl Road.

Hail, Navajo

When
July 12, 4:00 PM MST to 4:05 PM MST
Where
Navajo County, 1.72 mi E of Indian Pine
Measured
1.5 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.080, -109.900

One and a half inch diameter hail fell just west of McNary.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, July 2021

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 976933, 976935.