Arizona, 2022Strong Wind in Arizona, January 22, 2022
January 22, 2022 · NWS PSR · 1 event in 1 county or zone
A strong closed low pushed through Arizona on the 22nd and generated convective showers, with a few thunderstorms, in the afternoon and evening. A cluster of showers moved through the Phoenix metro area from the southeast in the evening and mixed down strong gradient winds from aloft.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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.
A strong closed low pushed through Arizona on the 22nd and generated convective showers, with a few thunderstorms, in the afternoon and evening. A cluster of showers moved through the Phoenix metro area from the southeast in the evening and mixed down strong gradient winds from aloft. Most measured maximum surface wind gusts were around 25-35 mph, however there were observations in the mid 40s, including a 46 mph gust at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. There reasonably may have been gusts up to 50 mph that were not measured based on some videos and public reports. The strong gusts damaged or destroyed several COVID-19 testing tents across the metro area. No injuries were reported.
Strong Wind, East Valley
- When
- January 22, 8:52 PM MST to 9:32 PM MST
- Where
- East Valley forecast zone
- Measured
- 40 kt (46 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Multiple Embry Health COVID-19 testing tents were damaged or destroyed across the Phoenix metro area, including a site at the Mesa Community College, due to strong winds. Loose objects were also blown around and the sites had to temporarily shutdown operations. Convective showers generated the strong wind gusts. Radar velocities from the Phoenix radar were upwards of 40 kts in the East Valley and Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport measured a max gust of 46 mph. The number of tents damaged or destroyed is unknown. A media report mentioned there were thousands of dollars worth of equipment damaged or destroyed, but a more specific amount is unknown. There were no injuries reported. Timing was based on radar.
- Strong Wind
- Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
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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: 994027.