Thunderstorm Wind in Arizona
Every thunderstorm wind event the National Weather Service has filed in Arizona, year by year, with the most significant episodes. 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.
The most significant on the map
The most significant thunderstorm wind episodes in Arizona.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 4,106
- Deaths
- 14
- Injuries
- 231
- Damage
- $574 million
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Arizona, August 3 to 31, 1997Flash flooding of state highway 99 south of Leupp. Two drainage ditches and a small stock pond filled rapidly with water which then flowed across highway 99, 2 miles south of Leupp. Arizona Dept.
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Arizona, July 15, 2017Thunderstorms caused flash flooding, hail, and wind damage across southern Yavapai and northern Gila Counties.
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Arizona, August 1 to 17, 1997Heavy 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.
- Damaging Wind in Arizona, June 26, 1990
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Arizona, September 25 to 27, 2025A slow-moving low pressure system brought several rounds of showers and thunderstorms over multiple days through much of the region. Activity on the 25th was mostly concentrated across higher terrain areas of eastern AZ, fueled by MLCAPE values approaching 2000 J/kg.
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Arizona, July 5 to 29, 1999Three 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 Damaging Winds in Arizona, August 30, 1971
- Flash Flooding and Dust Storm in Arizona, August 13 to 14, 2021A classic bow echo developed along the Mogollon Rim in central Arizona around 1900MST on the 13th and merged with thunderstorm clusters that developed in south-central Arizona around 2030MST to form one southwestward-moving MCS that progressed all the way to the town of Yuma in…
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Arizona, August 3, 2008Strong to severe thunderstorms with locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding developed across Southeast Arizona. These storms primarily impacted Graham, Cochise and Pima Counties.
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Arizona, August 18, 2021An upper level trough and lead-on shortwave trough moved through Arizona during the day on the 18th. Moderate to high instability and high moisture content supported scattered strong thunderstorms.
- Damaging Winds in Arizona, August 27, 1988
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arizona, October 6, 2010A strong low pressure center over California pushed abundant moisture over Arizona producing widespread thunderstorms with numerous severe storms. Strong vertical wind shear...with helicity in the 400-450 range...also provided an environment for supercell development.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arizona, June 21, 1972
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Arizona, September 2 to 13, 1997Flash Flooding of Bright Angel Creek caused minor flooding in the Bright Angel Campground.
- Flash Flood and Damaging Wind in Arizona, June 22, 2024Thunderstorms brought heavy intense rainfall over the Tucson Metro area. Rainfall totals ranged from 1 to 2.5 inches from Pima County Alert Gauges.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Arizona, October 12 to 13, 2025A nearly stationary upper-level trough combined with tropical moisture remnants from Tropical Storms Priscilla and Raymond, which developed off the eastern Pacific, led to scattered to widespread thunderstorm activity across much of south-central AZ.
- Flash Flood and Hail in Arizona, May 18 to 20, 1997A tin roof was blown off a shed.
- Flash Flooding and Dust Storm in Arizona, July 12 to 16, 2012A 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, 2024Scattered to numerous thunderstorms developed across eastern and southeastern AZ during the afternoon hours.
- Flash Flood and Hail in Arizona, October 5, 2010An unusual series of severe storms with damaging winds and hail struck many portions of the Phoenix area during the afternoon and evening hours.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Arizona, July 22 to 24, 2021A number of rounds of thunderstorms were triggered by a westward moving upper level weather system across southeast Arizona from the afternoon of July 22 into the early morning of July 23.
- Damaging Wind in Arizona, July 14, 2001A microburst hit parts of Scottsdale and Tempe with very strong winds and heavy rain. Many homes and businesses sustained damage, with at least 19 power poles blown down. One pole landed on a vehicle near Scottsdale and Indian Bend roads, killing the driver.
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Arizona, July 6 to 8, 2014The first seasonal push of monsoon moisture fueled an outbreak of thunderstorms across the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin. Many storms produced severe weather and flash flooding.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Arizona, June 30, 2015High 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, 1997Thunderstorm 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.
More
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.