An area of strong to severe thunderstorms moved through the Tucson area resulting in wind damage and flash flooding.
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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 strong to severe thunderstorms moved through the Tucson area resulting in wind damage and flash flooding.
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 8, 1:47 PM MST, 2 hours 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 147 PM MST Thu Aug 8 2024 .SYNOPSIS...Scattered showers and thunderstorms each day into this weekend with the exception of Saturday which could see reduced coverage. Storms will have the potential for heavy rainfall and strong wind gusts. Temperatures slightly below normal today then warm up to above normal levels Friday through the weekend into early next week. && .DISCUSSION...Storms are beginning to pop up over the higher terrain as of 1:30 PM this afternoon over the Sky Islands. There is still some debris clouds mainly over Western Pima County, Tohono O'odham Nation, and Northeastern Graham County. The activity should remain in the higher elevations over the next couple of hours before making their way into the valley floors later this afternoon and evening. The thunderstorm ingredients are either in place or beginning to shape up with MLCAPE being in the 1000-1500 J/kg range over most of Southeast Arizona, where the only exceptions are where the remnants of the debris clouds are located with some CIN being there due to lack of surface heating. The PWs are ranging from 1.00"-1.75" with the higher values areas Tucson westward. Areas with the best shear are areas north of the forecast area, however there is some weak directional shear with the surface being from the NW and the overall upper flow from the SE, so there could be some potential for sustained updrafts. Since we are still in that moister environment, DCAPE is in the 700-900 J/kg range, decreasing the overall severe wind threat, but is still possible. Aiding in longer lived updrafts is the semi- favorable placement of the upper level low that is currently located over the Gulf of California making some upper level diffluence available as well. Interestingly, the RAP model is showing some areas of 1-3 in the Microburst Composite, so that is something of note that stronger storms are possible today. Similar to yesterday there is very light steering flow of 5-10 kts so thunderstorms will be slow moving with possible accumulations between 1"-2" and can be higher in localized areas. The main threats with thunderstorms this afternoon and evening are heavy rainfall leading to possible flash flooding, some gusty winds (30-40 mph), and frequent lightning. Overnight some CAMs are still hanging onto some thunderstorm activity through about 2 AM, so that is something to keep in mind tonight. Looking ahead to tomorrow, the overall activity is very much dependent on if/how long thunderstorm activity sticks around in the overnight hours to determine how active it is on Friday afternoon and evening. Conditions are still favorable for thunderstorm activity with moisture sticking around for much of the forecast area minus areas east of Tucson, daytime heating, and lift still available. The HREF CAMs are highlighting southeastern Pinal, Pima, and Santa Cruz counties but not as much in coverage as today. The weekend continues to look to decrease in activity slightly with each day as the moisture begins to cycle and limit much of the coverage to areas mainly west of Tucson. After this weekend, there is currently no hints at any extra dynamics or moisture surge in the longer range models to increase confidence on any specific higher impact monsoon days as of now. Overall high temperatures are slightly above normal (3-6 degrees) though next weekend. Stay tuned to forecast as it changes. && .AVIATION...Valid through 10/00Z. SCT-BKN clouds at 6k-9k ft AGL and BKN-OVC clouds AOA 15k ft AGL thru this evening then gradual clearing overnight into the morning. SCT SHRA/TSRA thru 09/06Z, slowly diminishing thereafter with possible ISOLD SHRA/TSRA thru 09/09Z. MVFR conditions expected near TSRA, with VSBY restrictions, wind gusts to 40+ kts, heavy rain and mountain obscurations. Outside of thunderstorm wind gusts, wind speeds will be less than 12 kts, favoring an SWLY through NWLY direction in the afternoon and early evening hours and variable in direction at other times. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Isolated to scattered mainly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms are expected through the upcoming weekend with a possible down day Saturday. There is a chance for some overnight activity tonight. Min RH values will be in the 25-40 percent range in the valleys through Thursday (and higher in the mountains), decreasing to 15-30 percent Friday through the weekend for the upper Gila Valley and Sulfur Springs Valley. Outside of thunderstorm outflow 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. && Tetrault Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
The Tucson radar (KEMX), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:09 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
ASOS station at Tucson International Airport recorded a wind gust of 70 mph. This same thunderstorm resulted in a power pole down near Speedway and Greasewood Rd.
Reports of a large palo verde tree down near Broadway and Wilmont. Also, reports of a mesquite tree down near Kolb Rd and 22nd St.
Camino de la Tierra closed just south of Tumbleweed Dr due to flash flooding.
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: 1211481, 1211471, 1211488.