Arizona, 2024

Flash Flood and Hail in Arizona, August 3, 2024

August 3, 2024 · NWS TWC · 4 events in 3 counties and zones

An active monsoon day produced severe thunderstorms in the Vail area on the southeast side of Tucson which resulted in severe threshold winds and flash flooding. Another thunderstorm also produced severe threshold winds and property damage in Sierra Vista.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$16,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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 TWC wrote it up.

An active monsoon day produced severe thunderstorms in the Vail area on the southeast side of Tucson which resulted in severe threshold winds and flash flooding. Another thunderstorm also produced severe threshold winds and property damage in Sierra Vista.

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 Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 3, 2:04 PM MST, 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 3, 2:04 PM MST, 43 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
204 PM MST Sat Aug 3 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
Chances for thunderstorms and scattered showers will continue
tonight and into next week, with potential for heavy rainfall and
strong wind gusts. Hot temperatures today lasting throughout this
weekend, before cooling by a few degrees by early next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
The weather across southeast Arizona is being driven by a broad
upper high over the Four Corners area. This upper high is a bit
more expansive than it has been in recent days, and is resulting
in slightly stronger subsidence and warmer temperatures across the
region.

With plenty of moisture across the region, the potential for
isolated to scattered convection still lingers across the region
today and Sunday. As storms evolve this afternoon and evening, the
focus will push south and west of Tucson where strong winds,
blowing dust and locally heavy rainfall will be the threats. Hot
temperatures will remain on Sunday, albeit a degree or two cooler
than today.

The upper ridge will undergo some subtle evolution through the
course of next week. It will initially push northward, inviting
more of an easterly flow aloft over the region. The upper ridge
then sloshes eastward toward Southern Plains. This pattern will
invite the potential for easterly waves to move through the
region. While the timing and strength of these waves remains
uncertain, confidence is high in an active thunderstorm week
across the forecast area.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid through 05/00z.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms possible through this evening,
especially west of Graham/Cochise Counties. MVFR conditions and
local gusts to 50 kts near thunderstorms. Thunderstorm activity
picks up again Sunday afternoon. Outside of thunderstorms expect
wind speeds less than 12 kts and following typical diurnal trends.
Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms this weekend.
Some drier 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.

&&

.CLIMATE...Near record highs this weekend.

Date                      Aug 03      Aug 04
                          RCD/YR      RCD/YR
Tucson Intl Airport       110/1994    109/2023
Ajo                       115/2021    115/2021
Organ Pipe Cactus         114/1998    114/1998
Picacho Peak              112/1998    113/1995
Safford Ag Station        106/1993    106/2009
Sierra Vista              100/1995    102/1995

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

Public...Dang/Contino
Aviation...Dang
Fire Weather....Dang/Contino

Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 3, 9:56 AM MST, 4 hours 51 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
956 AM MST Sat Aug 3 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0602 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     8 SSE Tucson            32.10N 110.84W
08/02/2024                   Pima               AZ   Trained Spotter

            Delayed report. Numerous reports of
            thunderstorm related tree damage and damage
            to mobile homes. Reports near the
            intersection of I-10 and Kolb Rd.

0652 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 ESE Marana            32.39N 111.09W
08/02/2024                   Pima               AZ   Public

            Delayed report. Report of tree damage due to
            thunderstorm winds near intersection of Twin
            Peaks Rd and Oasis Rd.

&&

ALC/TGD

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 66 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:47 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Santa Cruz

When
August 3, 2:47 PM MST
Where
Santa Cruz County, 0.91 mi NW of Nogales
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
31.360, -110.940

Three quarter of an inch hail was estimated in Nogales.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pima

When
August 3, 3:15 PM MST
Where
Pima County, 3.27 mi NNE of Vail
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
32.090, -110.690

A weather station measured a wind gust of 58 mph.

Flash Flood, Pima

When
August 3, 6:29 PM MST to 7:00 PM MST
Where
Pima County, 0.02 mi SSW of Vail Jct to 0.54 mi W of Vail Jct
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Local Official
Coordinates
32.030, -110.720

Roadway flooding reported near Wentworth Rd and Interstate 10.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cochise

When
August 3, 6:50 PM MST
Where
Cochise County, 4.71 mi E of Sierra Vista
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
31.550, -110.220

A personal weather station recorded a wind gust of 64 mph. Broadcast media reported 2 trees down that also damaged the roofs of 2 houses near Highway 90 and Schraeder Rd.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, August 2024

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1202222, 1202225, 1202226, 1202224.