Arizona, 2022Dust Storm and Damaging Winds in Arizona, July 16, 2022
July 16, 2022 · NWS PSR · 11 events in 2 counties and zones
An upper-level disturbance tracking through the southern half of Arizona along with moderate instability with MUCAPE values greater than 1000 J/kg and 20-30 kts of deep layer shear resulted in a favorable environment for the development of strong to severe thunderstorms. Thunderstorms first began to develop during the late afternoon hours across the higher terrain, in southern Gila County, and…
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $58,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 11
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.
An upper-level disturbance tracking through the southern half of Arizona along with moderate instability with MUCAPE values greater than 1000 J/kg and 20-30 kts of deep layer shear resulted in a favorable environment for the development of strong to severe thunderstorms. Thunderstorms first began to develop during the late afternoon hours across the higher terrain, in southern Gila County, and then descended towards the lower elevations, affecting the Phoenix metro, during the evening hours.
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 Phoenix, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 16, 5:28 PM MST, 54 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 16, 5:28 PM MST, 54 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 16, 4:11 PM MST, 2 hours 11 minutes before
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</html>Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa
- When
- July 16, 6:22 PM MST
- Where
- Maricopa County, 1.5 mi NNW of Twin Knolls
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $8,000
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 33.451, -111.635
A home weather station measured 65 mph with tiles blown off from the roof of the house. The location of the home was near the intersection of McKellips and Ellsworth Roads. No injuries were reported.
Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa
- When
- July 16, 7:42 PM MST
- Where
- Maricopa County, 1.25 mi E of (Phx)sky Harbor Arpt
- Measured
- 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 33.430, -111.998
A 61 mph wind gust was measured at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa
- When
- July 16, 8:30 PM MST
- Where
- Maricopa County, 2.47 mi N of Norton
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 33.436, -112.427
Social media images showed a large uprooted tree caused damage to a sidewalk. Winds were estimated at 60 mph. Timing estimated from radar. No injuries were reported.
Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa
- When
- July 16, 8:43 PM MST
- Where
- Maricopa County, 1.55 mi SW of Liberty
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 33.365, -112.500
Video showed roof torn off of the Bales Hay Farm and Ranch Feed Store located on West Beloat Road in Buckeye. Winds were estimated at 60 mph. Timing estimated from radar. No injuries were reported.
Dust Storm, Tonopah Desert
- When
- July 16, 8:45 PM MST to 8:55 PM MST
- Where
- Tonopah Desert forecast zone
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Video and report showed visibility down to a few feet. No accidents or injuries were reported.
Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa
- When
- July 16, 8:50 PM MST
- Where
- Maricopa County, 1.04 mi NW of Valencia
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 33.392, -112.591
Report from spotter of solar panels peeled off roofs and large trees 1-2 feet downed near the intersection of West Southern Avenue and South Miller Road in Buckeye. Winds were estimated at 60 mph. Timing estimated from radar. No injuries were reported.
Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa
- When
- July 16, 8:50 PM MST
- Where
- Maricopa County, 0.24 mi WNW of Buckeye
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 33.371, -112.584
Images from the Buckeye Police Department showed downed trees and power lines in Downtown Buckeye. Winds were estimated at 60 mph. Timing estimated from radar. No injuries were reported.
Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa
- When
- July 16, 9:10 PM MST
- Where
- Maricopa County, 2.65 mi ENE of Tonopah
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 33.508, -112.885
Images from social media showed a house with a damaged garage door and fence at 387th Avenue near Cameback Road in Tonopah. Winds were estimated near 60 mph. Timing estimated from radar. No injuries were reported.
Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa
- When
- July 16, 9:20 PM MST
- Where
- Maricopa County, 13.45 mi W of Tonopah
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- Storm Chaser
- Coordinates
- 33.523, -113.162
Images taken from storm chaser passing through the area showed power lines down as well as a destroyed metal shed on Harquahala Valley Road just north of West Bethany Home Road west of Tonopah. Winds were estimated at 60 mph. Timing was estimated from radar. No injuries were reported.
Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa
- When
- July 16, 10:30 PM MST
- Where
- Maricopa County, 10.12 mi WSW of Sunflower
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 33.812, -111.632
A mesonet station at Bartlett Lake measured a 60 mph wind gust.
Thunderstorm Wind, Maricopa
- When
- July 16, 10:40 PM MST
- Where
- Maricopa County, 13.98 mi ENE of Carefree
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 33.983, -111.708
A mesonet station at Horseshoe Dam measured a wind gust of 58 mph.
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
- Dust Storm
- Blowing dust that reduced visibility to a quarter mile or less.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Nebraska, July 16, 2022$41 million · 2.75 in hail · 20 events
- Heat in Louisiana, July 16 to 18, 20221 death · 17 events
- Damaging Wind in Colorado, July 16, 20221 death · 1 event
- Dust Storm and Hail in Arizona, July 16, 2022$107,000 · 1.5 in hail · 9 events
- Drought in Oklahoma, July 16 to 31, 202248 events
- Damaging Winds in Maryland, July 16, 2022$57,000 · 60 kt wind · 6 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Virginia, July 16, 2022$33,000 · 1 in hail · 12 events
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Mississippi, July 16 to 21, 202236 events
- Damaging Winds in Virginia, July 16, 2022$37,000 · 60 kt wind · 7 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Virginia, July 16, 2022$26,000 · 1 in hail · 14 events
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arkansas, July 16 to 21, 202224 events
- Heat in Texas, July 16 to 18, 202221 events
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1046688, 1046691, 1046781, 1046780, 1046777, 1046778, 1046779, 1046776, 1046775, 1046689, 1046690.