Arizona, 2022

Dust 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…

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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
$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.

What happened

The episode as NWS PSR wrote it up.

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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In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 16, 4:11 PM MST, 2 hours 11 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 16, 4:28 PM MST, 1 hour 54 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 16, 4:53 PM MST, 1 hour 29 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 16, 5:15 PM MST, 1 hour 7 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 16, 5:27 PM MST, 55 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 16, 6:05 PM MST, 17 minutes before
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The radar

The Phoenix radar (KIWA), 18 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:19 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 thunderstorm wind, 1 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.

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.

What these are

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.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, July 2022

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1046688, 1046691, 1046781, 1046780, 1046777, 1046778, 1046779, 1046776, 1046775, 1046689, 1046690.