Lightning in Arizona

Events

255

Deaths

24

Injuries

114

Damage

$8.3 million

• Flash Flooding and Flood in Arizona, August 1 to 17, 19976 deaths · 1 injured · $39,000 · 78 kt wind · 21 eventsHeavy rain from thunderstorms sent a one foot wall of water down a dry wash at Harrison Road and Pantano in far eastern Tucson preventing traffic from crossing.
• Tornado and Flash Flooding in Arizona, July 5 to 29, 19992 deaths · 21 injured · $685,000 · F0 · 39 eventsThree U.S. Forest Service firefighters were stunned or paralyzed for a few minutes as lightning hit the ground near them. They also suffered some burns on the feet and shoulders.
• Tornado and Flash Flooding in Arizona, September 2 to 13, 19972 deaths · 4 injured · $500 · F0 · 14 eventsFlash Flooding of Bright Angel Creek caused minor flooding in the Bright Angel Campground.
• Lightning Strike in Arizona, July 23, 20132 deaths · 1 injured · 1 eventLightning struck three people at LeFavre Scenic Overlook along Highway 89 about eight miles north of Jacobs Lake. Two people died and the third person sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
• Flash Flood and Hail in Arizona, May 18 to 20, 19972 deaths · $500 · 55 kt wind · 6 eventsA tin roof was blown off a shed.
• Flash Flooding and Dust Storm in Arizona, July 12 to 16, 20121 death · 1 injured · $5.3 million · 16 eventsA strong push of monsoon moisture fueled a five-day outbreak of thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin. Numerous storms produced flash flooding and/or severe weather.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Arizona, July 24, 20241 death · $2.3 million · 1.25 in hail · 23 eventsScattered to numerous thunderstorms developed across eastern and southeastern AZ during the afternoon hours.
• Flash Flood and Hail in Arizona, October 5, 20102 injured · $2.8 billion · 3 in hail · 16 eventsAn unusual series of severe storms with damaging winds and hail struck many portions of the Phoenix area during the afternoon and evening hours.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Arizona, June 30, 20151 death · $2.1 million · 1.75 in hail · 13 eventsHigh pressure resided over southern Utah/northern Arizona with weak low pressure over west Texas. This created strong easterly flow over southeast Arizona, which increased to 25-30 kts.
• Dust Storm and Hail in Arizona, July 7 to 10, 199725 injured · $241,000 · 60 kt wind · 5 eventsThunderstorm winds downed several power lines, blew a stoplight down, snapped a 30-foot Palm tree in half, and split a 15-foot high tree in two.
• Flooding and Hail in Arizona, September 1 to 20, 19995 injured · $37 million · 1.5 in hail · 21 eventsAbout 2 inches of rain fell in about 2 hours.
• Lightning Strike in Arizona, June 27, 20151 death · 7 injured · 1 eventA lightning strike killed a 24-year-old woman and injured seven other people as they tried to seek shelter during a thunderstorm.
• Flash Flood and Lightning Strikes in Arizona, July 20 to 22, 20161 death · 2 injured · $50,000 · 6 eventsIncreasing moisture brought scattered thunderstorms with heavy rain.
• Lightning Strike in Arizona, August 4, 20111 death · 5 injured · 1 eventLightning struck Mohave Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. One park visitor was killed and five others were injured.
• Flooding and Hail in Arizona, August 10 to 31, 19999 injured · $1.1 million · 72 kt wind · 20 eventsMicroburst winds and heavy rain developed over much of north Phoenix around 430 pm. As many as 20 power poles were downed by the high winds, and torrential rain near Rose Garden Lane between 19th and 25th avenues.
• Lightning Strike and Dense Fog in Arizona, December 7 to 15, 19981 death · 3 injured · 2 eventsDense fog with visibility near zero was blamed on a 30-vehicle accident on I-10 near Sun Lakes.
• Lightning Strike in Arizona, September 20, 20091 death · 3 injured · 1 eventA lightning bolt hit the ground near three people that had stopped riding their motorcycles because of the heavy rain.
• Lightning Strike in Arizona, August 12, 20001 death · 2 injured · 1 eventThree hikers were hit by lightning 10 miles north of Payson. One died and the other two were injured.
• Lightning Strike in Arizona, October 21, 20001 death · 1 injured · 1 eventA 17 year-old girl was killed and her 3 year-old nephew was burned .
• Lightning Strike in Arizona, August 20, 20061 death · 1 injured · 1 eventThree people sought shelter under a tree during a thunderstorm. Lightning stuck the tree. One person was killed and one person as injured. This happened about 8 miles south of McNary.
• Lightning Strike in Arizona, July 10, 20101 death · 1 injured · 1 eventAn increase in moisture across southeast Arizona resulted in scattered thunderstorms. Thunderstorms initiated relatively early during the midday hours.
• Flash Flood and Hail in Arizona, July 30, 20141 death · 50 kt wind · 4 eventsHigh pressure over southern New Mexico continued a moist southeast flow into southeast Arizona. Storms produced gusty winds and heavy rain near Douglas. Lightning struck and killed one person near Sonoita.
• Lightning Strike in Arizona, May 28, 20051 death · 1 eventMoisture moving into Arizona from northern Mexico helped to generate thunderstorms across portions of Southeast Arizona throughout a 5 day period towards the end of the month of May.
• Lightning Strike in Arizona, July 30, 20061 death · 1 eventA 45 year old man was struck and killed by lightning about 200 yards off the Wahweap Marina.
• Lightning Strike in Arizona, July 15, 20071 death · 1 eventLightning stuck and killed a man from the town of Nazlini.

Lightning everywhereEvery kind of event in Arizona

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.