An area of severe thunderstorms moved through the Tucson Metro. This produced severe threshold winds and damage in both the southeast and west to northwest sides of the Tucson Metro.
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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 TWC wrote it up.
An area of severe thunderstorms moved through the Tucson Metro. This produced severe threshold winds and damage in both the southeast and west to northwest sides of the Tucson Metro.
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 Aug 2, 1:58 PM MST, 4 hours 1 minute earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 158 PM MST Fri Aug 2 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Daily chances for thunderstorms continue through next week, with more limited coverage over the weekend. Some storms will generate heavy rain and strong gusty winds. Temperatures will increase over the weekend, peaking Sunday, subtly trending down a few degrees early to middle of next week. && .DISCUSSION... Convection has started to fire in western New Mexico the past few hours, and this activity will spread in coverage and intensity westward into AZ between 1-3pm this afternoon. The 12Z TWC sounding reported 1.86 inches of precipitable water, surprisingly juicy compared to the previous morning's sounding that had 1.61 inches which is more on par with what would be expected climatologically. Thus, we tossed up an 18 UTC Sounding to get another look at the low level moisture profile, and it came back a little bit less moist than the 12 UTC run (1.6in vs. 1.86in). The well mixed layer below 700mb remained, and surface CAPE values rose to above 1600J/kg, which means there is enough energy to help initiate and sustain storms through the afternoon hours. Drier air has already begun to move in aloft which will be available to entrain into any afternoon thunderstorms and perhaps enhance the wind threat a bit. The HREF gives a 70 percent chance of winds at least 30 kts (35 mph) from the Tucson Metro west and a 10 percent chance of winds of 50 kts (58 mph) in this area as well. There was 17 kts of effective shear reported in the 18 UTC sounding which is also enough to sustain a stronger storm or two. CAMs show isolated to scattered thunderstorms forming mainly south and east of Tucson and over mountainous terrain around 20Z (1 pm MST) before propagating through the Tucson Metro from around 22Z to 02Z (3 pm to 7 pm MST). With the loss of daytime heating, expect thunderstorm organization to diminish a bit after sunset. Also of note, WPC issued an MPD for portions of eastern and southern Arizona for this afternoon and evening to highlight the potential for flash flooding. Overall, looking like an average to perhaps a slightly above average Monsoon day with southeasterly flow helping propagate storms to the northwest into the afternoon hours. A couple storms may produce strong to severe wind gusts and very heavy rainfall. After this afternoon/evening round of storms, The heat becomes the story once again, as portions of the CWA will be well above normal with highs in in the 106-111F range across portions of Western Pima County and in the Tucson Metro Area. HeatRisk values in the major category will pose risks to vulnerable populations. Chances for stronger thunderstorm activity will trend downward on Saturday and Sunday before a more favorable monsoon pattern returns on Monday and Tuesday. && .AVIATION... Valid through 04/00Z. SCT -SHRA/-TSRA after 02/22z thru 03/04z, then ISOLD -SHRA/TS thru end of valid pd. MVFR conditions and wind gusts to 45 kts near thunderstorms. Outside of thunderstorms expect wind speeds less than 12 kts and following typical diurnal trends. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER... Daily chances of thunderstorms can be expected across the region this afternoon and evening. Thunderstorms that develop today could have the potential to be heavy rainers, which would help suppress active fires. Dryer air will move into the region this weekend that will keep min RHs in the upper teens to lower twenties in the lower locations and thirties in the higher elevations. Min RHs will trend upward by next week due to thunderstorm influences. Outside of thunderstorm winds, 20-foot winds will generally be 15 mph or less, with afternoon/early evening gusts to 20-25 mph and light winds overnight. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && Public...Singer/DVS Aviation...Singer/DVS Fire Weather....Singer/DVS Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
The Tucson radar (KEMX), 30 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:58 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A personal weather station recorded a wind gust of 62 mph. Additionally, these thunderstorm winds produced tree damage and damage to mobile homes near I-10 and Kolb Rd.
A severe thunderstorm formed on the west side of Tucson and tracked northwest into the northwest side of Tucson and southern portions of Marana. This thunderstorm produced tree damage including trees toppled over by their roots in the neighborhood just north of W Speedway Rd and N Greaswood Rd on the near west side of Tucson. Additional tree damage occurred near the intersection of Twin Peaks Rd and Oasis Rd on the northwest side of Tucson.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, August 2024
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: 1202218, 1202220.