A strong thunderstorm resulted in heavy rain through much of the Tucson Metro with rain amounts locally in excess of 2 inches. This resulted in running washes and numerous road closures.
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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.
A strong thunderstorm resulted in heavy rain through much of the Tucson Metro with rain amounts locally in excess of 2 inches. This resulted in running washes and numerous road closures.
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 31, 12:30 PM MST, 1 hour earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 1230 PM MST Wed Jul 31 2024 .SYNOPSIS...Thunderstorms expected this afternoon and evening across Southeast Arizona with strong gusty winds, blowing dust, and heavy rainfall. Daily chances for thunderstorms continue into next week. Some storms will generate heavy rain and strong gusty winds. Temperatures will heat up a few degrees late in the week. && .DISCUSSION...Thunderstorms are moving into the heart of Southeast Arizona this afternoon. A shortwave is moving through the region from the high pressure center to our east. More storms will develop within a few hours and fill in the rest of the region. The main threats are strong to severe winds, blowing dust, and heavy rainfall through the rest of the afternoon and into the late night. Convective allowing models show another wave of storms and showers moving in the late evening. There are a few solutions that storms could last into the early morning. This may be more of showery in nature but if dynamics stick around, it can produce a few strong thunderstorms around the area. Blowing dust is in effect and there is higher confidence on the flash flooding potential from these storms due to the better dynamics. Radar and social media photo evidence show these storms are more organized and efficient rain makers. Tomorrow, if there are any remnants of storms in the morning, it can delay storm development later in the afternoon to evening. But, with the upper level flow, it can super charge the environment quickly to support isolated to scattered thunderstorms. The key ingredients will be implace for any storms, either on- time or delay start, with the reoccurring threats of flash flooding potential and damaging winds. Friday and into the weekend, the high pressure center will move to our north into the Four Corners area. This will give elevated chances for afternoon thunderstorms even though moisture starts to erode a little more. Another topic of discussion is heat. Temperatures start to trend upward through the weekend with the Gila River Valley experiencing the brunt of the heat with Major Heat Risk with small chances for Extreme Heat Risk. Tucson will be in the Major Risk for the weekend as well and it will depend on the thickness levels and the exact high pressure position. Next week, ensemble model members show the Great Basin High setting up and keeping temperatures elevated and chances for thunderstorms starting on the Mogollon Rim and down to the southwest desert floors. && .AVIATION...Valid through 02/00Z. Isolated to scattered to SCT- BKN AOA 12k ft AGL though most of the forecast period. SCT TSRA through 01/02Z and ISOLD-SCT TSRA possible in the overnight period. Another ISOLD-SCT TSRA developing after 01/20Z to the end of the forecast period. SCT- BKN 8-10kt ft AG with MFR conditions and wind gusts to 45kts near thunderstorms. Outside of thunderstorm influence, expect wind to be fairly light, generally remaining below 10 knots and following typical diurnal trends. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Elevated moisture will continue with scattered afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. Each day has the threat of heavy rain, localized flash flooding and strong gusty outflow winds. Outside of strong erratic outflows from thunderstorms, 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... Blowing Dust Advisory until 7 PM MST this evening for AZZ501>506. && Strongman Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
The Tucson radar (KEMX), 4 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:29 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous washes in the Tucson area flowed including Cienega Creek. There were numerous reports of road closures throughout Tucson due to 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, July 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: 1190949.