A mid-level high pressure was situated across southern Nevada, with the local area under an northeasterly flow regime. At upper-levels, a disturbance moving northward out northern Baja California resulted in a diffluent flow, favorable for vertical ascent.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 PSR wrote it up.
A mid-level high pressure was situated across southern Nevada, with the local area under an northeasterly flow regime. At upper-levels, a disturbance moving northward out northern Baja California resulted in a diffluent flow, favorable for vertical ascent. The moisture and instability parameters were conducive to thunderstorm activity with PWATs 1.5+ inches and MLCAPE values ranging between 1500-2500 J/KG. As it is typical in a northeasterly flow regime, thunderstorms first began to develop along the Mogollon Rim early afternoon and then descended into the lower elevations during the mid to late afternoon hours, affecting the Greater Phoenix area and then tracking southwestward, affecting southwestern Arizona through the early evening hours.
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 Phoenix, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 23, 1:50 PM MST, 2 hours 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Phoenix AZ 150 PM MST Tue Aug 23 2022 .SYNOPSIS... A significant uptrend in thunderstorm coverage is expected today over Arizona which in turn will make areas of strong to severe winds and blowing dust, along with localized brief heavy rain, more likely late this afternoon and tonight. Rain chances increase Wednesday and expand into southeast California. A gradual downtrend in storm chances takes place during the latter half of the week and over the weekend. Highs today will be a little warmer than yesterday then a bit cooler Wednesday. Anticipate highs being a bit below normal the rest of the week before a warming trend begins Monday. && .DISCUSSION... The synoptic setup today is supportive for Rim-to-Valley storms during the afternoon and evening with modest northeasterly mid- level flow (~15 kt 500 mb winds). The 12Z sounding from Phoenix this morning showed some moistening of the boundary layer and the strong capping inversion on the boundary layer has weakened over the past 24 hours. Of note as well on the 12Z sounding is the strong southwesterly anvil-level winds. This will push the thunderstorm anvils off to the northeast, which is already being seen with storms along the Rim. Mid-level lapse rates are still modest, around 7 C/km, and CAPE is pretty high (MUCAPE currently analyzed around 2000-3000 J/kg), supportive of explosive updrafts. Additionally, there was some considerable mid-level drying shown in the morning sounding, which will result in some dry air entrainment into the storms, supporting stronger downdrafts. DCAPE is high this afternoon with magnitudes analyzed around 1000-1500 J/kg across the lower deserts. So, damaging downburst wind gusts will be a threat today. A weak but noticeable vort max is evident over southern AZ this afternoon on WV satellite and could further aide ascent through the area. Forecast soundings support further erosion of the capping layer over the lower deserts through the rest of the afternoon with continued heating and mixing, but a good source of lift will likely still be need to invigorate storm development. Fortunately, with the strong DCAPE environment, outflows are likely to push into the lower deserts and could push all the way to the CO River. Most hi- res models develop storms off of these outflows this afternoon and evening, but coverage of storms could be a little spotty with the lower moisture content. So, not everyone will experience storms today, but nearly everyone should be able to "see" the storms. With the parameters presented in the first paragraph, any storm that develops over the lower deserts today will be capable of producing strong to severe wind gusts, which could also generate areas or widespread blowing dust depending on source region. HREF probabilities for 35+ mph winds are around 50-70% for much of southern AZ with ~10% odds of greater than 58 mph. Nitpicking some of the individual hi-res model runs, localized wind gusts up to 70-75 mph cannot be ruled out. With the lower moisture content and potential pulse nature of the storms, flash flooding is not as great of a risk, but storms will be capable of rain rates up to 1-2"/hr and flash flooding will still be possible, especially with any storm that lingers over an area or multiple storms hit the same area. While most of the storms are expected to descend off the AZ high terrain north and east of Phoenix, isolated development in a few other common terrain spots will be possible, including the Table Top Mesa area, the Kofas, and Joshua Tree NP. Most activity should diminish this evening, however, lingering mid-level ACCAS convection cannot be ruled out overnight, especially with any lingering meso-circulations (MCVs). Tomorrow, Wednesday, following some slight increases in moisture and possibly some preconditioning from today's activity, could be even more active. NBM has widespread PoPs of 30-40% or higher across southern AZ and southeast CA. Recent runs of the HRRR are really quite impressive with scattered to widespread strong thunderstorms. There are a few changes from today into tomorrow expected, albeit small. Synoptically, mid-level steering flow is expected to become a touch weaker and shift more easterly to southeasterly as the anticyclone over NV slides east with a shortwave moving into north CA. With this alone there may be better motion and convergence of convection in the western deserts toward western AZ and the CO river through the afternoon and evening with outflow collisions driving a lot of the storm clustering. The wind threat is not expected to be quite as high as today, but locally strong to severe gusts will still be possible. The flash flood threat will be higher tomorrow with the slight increase in moisture, slower steering flow, and clustering of storms. Thursday through Monday, ensemble data continue to show a gradual west to east decline of PoPs as the primary anticyclonic flow becomes centered to our south for a less favorable flow regime (deeper westerly and drier flow) over our forecast area. There are some model hints of an uptick in PoPs on one of the days during the latter half of the week. That would be plausible if a short wave within the westerly flow moved through while we still have decent moisture left. By next Monday though, storm chances look pretty meager. Moderate HeatRisk will continue the next couple of days for much of southeast CA while south-central AZ sees temperatures a few degrees below normal. Moderate HeatRisk becomes more widespread by early next week. && .AVIATION...Updated 1751Z. South-Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT: Things will start out quiet with easterly winds with speeds aob 7 kts prevailing through the rest of the morning. A westerly wind shift is anticipated by early afternoon with speeds to around 10 kts. Attention will then turn to thunderstorm activity expected to develop across the higher terrain and descend into the valley floor from the northeast during the 00Z-02Z timeframe with a 50-70% chance of winds exceeding 30 kts and a 10% chance of winds exceeding 50 kts. Blowing dust will also be a threat, but chances for dense blowing dust appear to be less (20-30%) given the most likely northeasterly wind direction and recent rainfall reducing the amount of dust that can be picked up by the winds. In addition to the strong wind threat, localized heavy rainfall resulting in very brief MVFR or lower conditions is also possible if a storm directly impacts an area terminal. Mostly clear skies will predominate through the morning hours with increasing SCT- BKN coverage by mid to late afternoon. Once the storms move thru, expecting lighter northeasterly-easterly winds to prevail, the switching to more typical southeasterly by late evening. Easterly winds to continue thru Wednesday morning, then once again switch to westerly during the afternoon. Another good chance (40-60%) exists for t-storm again during the late afternoon/early evening on Wednesday. A better chance for heavy rain appears to be the case for storms on Wednesday, but still a good chance (50-70%) for winds over 30 kts with the most likely direction for storms to move into the Phoenix area being from the northeast. Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH: No aviation weather concerns expected through the period at KIPL with winds mainly from a southeasterly component, under mostly CLR skies. Winds will generally follow a southerly component at KBLH with mostly clear skies this morning. T-storm activity is then expected to approach KBLH from the north-northeast during the late afternoon/evening hours, with lesser confidence that storms will actually reach the terminals. CIGS to become mainly FEW-SCT mid/high- level thru the rest of tonight and into Wednesday at KBLH && .FIRE WEATHER... Storm activity ramps up again today and Wednesday. Areas of strong winds and blowing dust will be the chief concerns today followed by better heavy rain potential Wednesday. A gradual decline in storm chances takes place from west to east beginning Thursday with near zero storm chances area-wide by Monday. MinRH values peak on Wednesday with values ranging from 30-40% lower elevations and 40-60% higher terrain. The lowest values will be on Monday with MinRH ranging from 20-25% lower elevations and 25-35% higher terrain. Apart from thunderstorms, winds will follow familiar diurnal patterns. && .PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AZ...None. CA...None. && DISCUSSION...Benedict/AJ AVIATION...Kuhlman/Percha FIRE WEATHER...AJ
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
1013 AM MST TUE AUG 23 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0845 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 NNE SUN CITY 33.67N 112.26W
08/20/2022 MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
***DELAYED REPORT*** LARGE TREE UPROOTED BY
STRONG WINDS.
&&
JMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
202 PM MST Tue Aug 23 2022
AZZ563-232145-
Southeast Gila County AZ-
202 PM MST Tue Aug 23 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Gila County through
245 PM MST...
At 202 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 15
miles east of Sawmill, or 39 miles east of Globe, moving southwest at
10 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Sawmill and Hilltop.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3346 11007 3347 11017 3344 11020 3344 11030
3363 11044 3372 11018 3360 11004 3361 11001
3360 10999 3350 11000
TIME...MOT...LOC 2102Z 066DEG 9KT 3357 11012
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
GLSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
222 PM MST Tue Aug 23 2022
AZZ547-557-232200-
Mazatzal Mountains AZ-Rio Verde/Salt River AZ-
222 PM MST Tue Aug 23 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Gila and Maricopa
Counties through 300 PM MST...
At 222 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Sycamore Creek, moving southwest at 5 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Sycamore Creek and Horseshoe Reservoir.
This includes AZ Route 87 between mile markers 223 and 226.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3394 11142 3381 11159 3400 11174 3400 11150
3401 11148 3401 11145
TIME...MOT...LOC 2122Z 063DEG 5KT 3399 11153
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
GLSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
227 PM MST Tue Aug 23 2022
AZZ563-232215-
Southeast Gila County AZ-
227 PM MST Tue Aug 23 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Gila County through
315 PM MST...
At 227 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 12
miles north of Hilltop, or 34 miles northeast of Globe, moving
southwest at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of Gila County.
This includes US Highway 60 between mile markers 277 and 297.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3360 11051 3370 11074 3375 11071 3385 11056
3382 11050 3383 11034 3382 11032 3373 11021
TIME...MOT...LOC 2127Z 032DEG 10KT 3380 11045
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
GLSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
244 PM MST Tue Aug 23 2022
AZZ547-552-555-558-232230-
Apache Junction/Gold Canyon AZ-Superior AZ-Rio Verde/Salt River AZ-
Pinal/Superstition Mountains AZ-
244 PM MST Tue Aug 23 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Maricopa and Pinal
Counties through 330 PM MST...
At 243 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles north of Boyce Thompson Arboretum, or 9 miles northwest of
Superior, moving south at 5 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Gold Camp.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3354 11129 3350 11107 3331 11109 3337 11140
TIME...MOT...LOC 2143Z 339DEG 6KT 3341 11119
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
GLSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
300 PM MST Tue Aug 23 2022
AZZ541-545-547-549-555-557-232245-
Fountain Hills/East Mesa AZ-New River Mesa AZ-Mazatzal Mountains AZ-
Cave Creek/New River AZ-Apache Junction/Gold Canyon AZ-
Rio Verde/Salt River AZ-
300 PM MST Tue Aug 23 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Gila, Maricopa and
Pinal Counties through 345 PM MST...
At 300 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Horseshoe Reservoir to near Round Valley
to near Four Peaks to near Apache Lake. Movement was southwest at 10
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Scottsdale, Apache Junction, Fountain Hills, Round Valley, Sugarloaf
Mountain, Ballantine Trailhead, McDowell Mountain Park, Lost Dutchman
State Park, Goldfield, Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, Goldfield Ranch,
Desert Mountain, Camp Creek, Salt River Tubing Recreation Area, Rio
Verde, Horseshoe Reservoir, Fort McDowell, Seven Springs and Tortilla
Flat.
This includes AZ Route 87 between mile markers 190 and 215.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3400 11175 3400 11155 3385 11149 3367 11135
3364 11125 3362 11125 3343 11150 3350 11163
3367 11177 3402 11198 3403 11195
TIME...MOT...LOC 2200Z 053DEG 10KT 3402 11164 3382 11155 3364 11141
3360 11134
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
GLThe Phoenix radar (KIWA), 18 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:00 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 6 dust storm, 4 flash flood, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
East Tepee Street at Plaza and 16th Avenue near Valley and San Marcos in Apache Junction were closed due to debris and downed power poles. Timing estimated from radar. No injuries were reported.
Flood Control District of Maricopa County Stream Gauge along Apache Trail in Apache Junction broke Alarm Stage at around 1630 MST, with flow peaking at 1.15 feet (38 cfs). This likely caused the intersection of 4th Avenue and Royal Palm Avenue to become impassable. No damages or injuries were reported.
Visibility of less than 1/4 mile reported along Loop-202 near South Val Vista Drive in Gilbert in blowing dust from thunderstorm outflow. No accidents or injuries were reported.
Social media picture showed a large tree uprooted alongside a home located on the intersection of West Cinnabar Avenue and North 33rd Avenue in Glendale. Timing estimated from radar. Winds were estimated at 55-60 mph. No injuries were reported.
Nickel size hail reported near the area of West Cactus Road and North 28th Drive in Glendale. No damages or injuries were reported.
Downed powerlines affecting 47 customers was reported in the area between 43rd Avenue and North 35th Avenue and West Northern Avenue to West Orangewood Avenue in Glendale. Winds were estimated at 55-60 mph. No injuries were reported.
A social media video shows a large tree was toppled and damaged some concrete and metal fencing at a residence near Peoria Ave. and 46th Ave. Winds were estimated at 55-60 mph. No injuries were reported.
Social media picture showed a very large uprooted tree in between two residential complexes and destroyed a fence along North 44th Avenue just south of West Glendale Avenue in Glendale. Winds were estimated at 55-60 mph. No injuries were reported.
Downed powerlines affecting 83 customers were reported in an area between North 43rd Avenue to North 35th Avenue and Bethany Home Road to West Missouri Avenue in Glendale. Winds were estimated at 55-60 mph. No injuries were reported.
Social media video showed nickel to quarter-sized hail fell in the area between West Glendale Avenue and North 35th Avenue. Timing estimated from radar. No damages or injuries were reported.
Arizona Department of Transportation reported a crash along I-10 near Milepost 69, that was suspected to be attributed to blowing dust from thunderstorm outflow with visibilities falling less than 1/4 mile. A few storm chasers were also nearby on I-10, one with a photo of vehicles stopped in near zero visibility, one with a video showing dust first crossing I-10 near Milepost 67 and quickly falling to near zero visibility, and another stopped along I-10 near Milepost 77 in near zero visibilities. No injuries were reported.
Visibility of less than 1/4 mile reported along I-10, west of Hovatter Road in blowing dust from thunderstorm outflow. No accidents or injuries were reported.
McVay Road, just south of SR-72, was impassable to cars due to flooding. Timing estimated from radar. No damages or injuries were reported.
Near zero visibility at times along I-10 just west of Quartzsite due to blowing dust from thunderstorm outflow. No accidents or injuries were reported.
A Yuma proving ground station measured a visibility of less than 1/4 mile due to blowing dust in thunderstorm outflow.
West Quail Trail Street and West Tyson Street closed due to flooding, with the flooding most likely coming from Tyson Wash. Timing estimated from radar. No damages or injuries were reported.
Visibility of 1/4 mile reported near Tacna in blowing dust from thunderstorm outflow. No accidents or injuries were reported.
Flood Control District of Maricopa County stream gage along Jackrabbit Wash exceeded alarm stage at 2236 MST, making the Vulture Mine Road low water crossing impassable and mostly likely Wickenburg Road, located 5 miles downstream. Flow peaked at 3.35 feet and 1034 CFS at 2305 MST and dropped below alarm stage at 2340 MST. No damages or injuries were reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, August 2022
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: 1053874, 1053972, 1053951, 1054016, 1053875, 1053981, 1057984, 1053956, 1053983, 1053948, 1053976, 1053961, 1053964, 1053962, 1053973, 1053968, 1053949, 1053959.