A few thunderstorms moved southwest across areas east and south of Tucson during the late afternoon and evening. Severe thunderstorm outflow gusts reached the Santa Rita Mountains.
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The episode as NWS TWC wrote it up.
A few thunderstorms moved southwest across areas east and south of Tucson during the late afternoon and evening. Severe thunderstorm outflow gusts reached the Santa Rita Mountains.
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 Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 20, 2:23 PM MST, 5 hours 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 223 PM MST Thu Jul 20 2023 .SYNOPSIS...An Excessive Heat Warning continues through Saturday, with record high temperatures likely. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue through Friday, mainly from Tucson south and eastward. This weekend through the middle of next week storm chances expand to most of southeast Arizona. The main thunderstorm threats will be strong outflow winds, localized flooding and the potential for blowing dust. && .DISCUSSION...Visible satellite imagery show cumulus clouds building up along the higher terrain and the radar has been registering a few returns up in the White Mountains. The atmosphere is a little more stable than 24 hours ago which will delay thunderstorm development across southeast Arizona. The latest RAP analysis has CAPE within 500-100 J/kg and the PWAT is around an inch from the water vapor imagery. Just enough ingredients to get isolated thunderstorms for the mid-to-late afternoon for Tucson east and south. The 19Z HRRR shows the later start for the storms and focusing on Cochise County to Santa Cruz county. With thunderstorms, expect strong gusty winds, some localized blowing dust, and brief rainfall. Outside of storms, temperatures will climb another 1-3 degrees with locations tying or breaking daily records. Thus, the Excessive Heat Warning is still in effect through Saturday night. Friday and beyond...Heat will still be around through most of the weekend. The 500mb High Pressure will start to wobble towards the 4 Corners to allow for a better setup for thunderstorms starting Saturday and lasting into first half of the new week. Saturday at this moment appears to be the better day for storms across Southeast Arizona. The longer range CAM models depict storms forming along the Mogollon Rim in the afternoon and moving southeast down to the International Border by nighttime. Main threats are gusty winds, blowing dust, lightning, and locally heavy rainfall. If the storms do develop Saturday afternoon and lasting into the late evening, the outflows and rain can help bring temperatures down several degrees for Sunday from the very hot temperatures and record breaking heat that region has felt over the last week. Yet, temperatures will still be 2-5 degrees above seasonal normals for the new work week. && .AVIATION...valid through 22/00Z. FEW-SCT clouds AOA 10k-15k ft AGL this afternoon and diminishing aft 21/09Z before redeveloping aft 21/21Z. Between 20/23Z and 21/04Z, SCT-BKN clouds AOA 10-15k ft AGL with ISOLD-SCT SHRA/TSRA for KOLS/KDUG bringing gusty outflow winds with speeds ranging btwn 30- 40 kts. From SHRA/TSRA, localized visibility could drop to 3SM or less. SFC winds remain NWLY with speeds ranging btwn 10-15 kts through 21/05Z before becoming light and variable overnight. NWLY SFC winds pick back up aft 21/20Z with speeds btwn 10-15 kts. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Isolated to scattered afternoon and evening showers/ thunderstorms are expected today and tomorrow, mainly from the Tucson area east and southward. Storm chances expand Saturday to include Tucson and then most of SE Arizona by Sunday. These storms will be capable of producing strong, gusty and erratic outflow winds of 45 mph or more. 20-foot winds will continue to generally come from the northwest each day this week, with occasional gusts to 30 mph due to intense surface heating in the afternoon. Valley min RH values range from 10- 20% through the weekend. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Excessive Heat Warning until 10 PM MST Saturday for AZZ501>509. && Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
The Tucson radar (KEMX), 33 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:18 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Hopkins RAWS station at an elevation over 7000 ft recorded a wind gust to 62 mph at 2018MST and 66 mph at 2020MST.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, July 2023
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: 1121576.