National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

 

Strong Storms & Winds Sweep Through Phoenix Metro
Monday 31 August 2015


Updated: 4:30am Tuesday 1 September 2015

 

Scattered thunderstorms developed to the south and west of the Phoenix metro area during the late afternoon hours of 31 August 2015. While these initial storms weren't particularly strong, they intensified rapidly as they moved into the west valley. The first storms to affect the metro area occurred near the I-10/I-17 "stack" interchange, but quickly moved east and swept through Sky Harbor Airport, Tempe and Arizona State University, south Scottsdale, and most of the east valley suburbs. Considerable tree damage and power outages were noted in Tempe as a result of these storms. Likewise several locations saw heavy rainfall with gauges reporting over an inch of rain north and west of Sky Harbor Airport.

 

Click each image for a larger view
Radar reflectivity loop
Radar velocity loop
Rainfall totals

Base reflectivity loop from KIWA WSR-88D, showing the evolution of storms from approximately 6:45pm - 10:45pm Monday night.

Base velocity loop from KIWA WSR-88D, showing strong outflow winds originating near downtown Phoenix and rapidly moving through Tempe into the east valley. Green colors indicate winds moving toward the radar (located at Mesa-Gateway Airport), Red colors indicate winds moving away from the radar. Loop is from approximately 6:45pm - 10:45pm Monday night

Storm total rainfall - gauge data courtesy Flood Control District of Maricopa County

 
Storm
Storm Damage
Storm Damage

Storm over South Mountain at approximately 730pm. Image courtesy Jim Carefoot.

Storm damage near Scottsdale Rd and Weber Dr. Image courtesy Karina Bland.

Storm damage near 68th St and McKellips. Image courtesy Mary Wright.


Storm Reports
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
225 AM MST TUE SEP 01 2015

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

0410 PM     HAIL             3 ENE CLAYPOOL          33.45N 110.77W
08/31/2015  E0.25 INCH       GILA               AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            PEA SIZED HAIL 

0735 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 NE DOWNTOWN PHOENIX   33.46N 112.06W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            TREES DOWN ACROSS 7TH ST AT ROOSEVELT 

0735 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 WNW ARIZONA STATE FAI 33.47N 112.11W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            BILLBOARD BLOWN DOWN AT GRAND AVE AND ENCANTO 

0742 PM     TSTM WND GST     6 NNW GUADALUPE         33.43N 112.01W
08/31/2015  M61 MPH          MARICOPA           AZ   ASOS            

            SKY HARBOR AIRPORT 

0750 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 N ARIZONA STATE UNIVE 33.44N 111.93W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   PUBLIC          

            DOWNED STREETLIGHT POLE ON COLLEGE AVE JUST N OF CURRY 

0753 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 WNW TEMPE MARKETPLACE 33.44N 111.93W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   PUBLIC          

            NUMEROUS LARGE TREES DOWN NEAR 68TH AND MCKELLIPS 

0755 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NE DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDAL 33.51N 111.89W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            POWER LINES DOWN AT CHAPARRAL AND 86TH ST. 

0755 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 WNW TEMPE MARKETPLACE 33.44N 111.93W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            NUMEROUS LARGE TREES DOWN ALONG SCOTTSDALE RD SOUTH OF 
            MCKELLIPS 

0755 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 W PAPAGO PARK         33.46N 111.97W
08/31/2015  M63 MPH          MARICOPA           AZ   MESONET         

0757 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 N PAPAGO PARK         33.48N 111.95W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            ESTIMATED 55 MPH WIND TREE UPROOTED 

0758 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 NW ARIZONA STATE UNIV 33.43N 111.95W
08/31/2015  E65 MPH          MARICOPA           AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS SUSTAINED 65 MPH WIND AT 
            ROOSEVELT AND IST ST IN TEMPE 

0800 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 N PAPAGO PARK         33.48N 111.95W
08/31/2015  E50 MPH          MARICOPA           AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0802 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 W ARIZONA STATE UNIVE 33.42N 111.97W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   PUBLIC          

            TREES DOWN ALONG UNIVERSITY BETWEEN LOOP 202 AND PRIEST 

0804 PM     FLOOD            1 NE DOWNTOWN PHOENIX   33.46N 112.06W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   PUBLIC          

            4 INCHES OF WATER ON I-10 AT 7TH ST. 

0805 PM     HAIL             1 NW ARIZONA STATE UNIV 33.42N 111.94W
08/31/2015  E0.25 INCH       MARICOPA           AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            PEA SIZED HAIL MILL AVE AND 5TH ST. 

0806 PM     HAIL             ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSIT 33.42N 111.94W
08/31/2015  E0.25 INCH       MARICOPA           AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0806 PM     HEAVY RAIN       1 NW ARIZONA STATE UNIV 33.42N 111.94W
08/31/2015  E0.50 INCH       MARICOPA           AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            CURB TO CURB STREET FLOODING MILL AVE AND 5TH ST 

0809 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SW ARIZONA STATE FAIR 33.45N 112.12W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN AT 27TH AVE AND VAN BUREN 

0810 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 N PAPAGO PARK         33.48N 111.95W
08/31/2015  M60 MPH          MARICOPA           AZ   MESONET         

0815 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 ENE PAPAGO PARK       33.47N 111.92W
08/31/2015  E65 MPH          MARICOPA           AZ   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            WIND 50 MPH GUSTS TO 65 MPH AT 74TH ST. AND MCDOWELL 

0815 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 S MESA                33.36N 111.74W
08/31/2015  M52 MPH          MARICOPA           AZ   MESONET         

0815 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 NNW CASA GRANDE       32.95N 111.77W
08/31/2015  M52 MPH          PINAL              AZ   AWOS            

0816 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 N ARIZONA STATE FAIRG 33.48N 112.09W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            DOWNED POWER POLES AND POWER LINES LAYING ATOP HOUSES 
            AT 17TH AVE AND THOMAS 

0816 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 E TEMPE               33.39N 111.91W
08/31/2015  M52 MPH          MARICOPA           AZ   MESONET         

0817 PM     HAIL             ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSIT 33.42N 111.93W
08/31/2015  E0.25 INCH       MARICOPA           AZ   PUBLIC          

            PEA SIZED HAIL AT ASU 

0820 PM     FLOOD            1 NNE DOWNTOWN PHOENIX  33.46N 112.07W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            DECK PARK TUNNEL FLOODED. NUMEROUS DRIVERS STRANDED IN 
            TUNNEL 

0825 PM     FLOOD            2 W PAPAGO PARK         33.45N 111.98W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            DRIVER STRANDED DUE TO FLOODING 48TH ST AND VAN BUREN 

0826 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NNE PARADISE VALLEY   33.58N 111.93W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   PUBLIC          

            TREE FELL ON CAR AT SCOTTSDALE RD AND SHEA BLVD 

0830 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SSW ARIZONA STATE UNI 33.41N 111.94W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   PUBLIC          

            DOWNED TREES AND SHINGLES BLOWN OFF ROOFS AT MILL AVE 
            AND BROADWAY RD 

0830 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 NE FIESTA MALL        33.41N 111.83W
08/31/2015  E60 MPH          MARICOPA           AZ   AMATEUR RADIO   

            ESTIMATED 60 MPH WIND IN CENTRAL MESA 

0831 PM     FLOOD            4 NNW SKY HARBOR AIRPOR 33.49N 112.03W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   PUBLIC          

            CURB TO CURB STREET FLOODING AT 22ND ST AND OSBORN RD 

0833 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 S FIESTA MALL         33.34N 111.86W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            DELAYED REPORT. 8 INCH DIAMETER TREE UPROOTED. 12 INCH 
            DIAMETER TREE SNAPPED...TAKING DOWN A POWER POLE IN THE 
            PROCESS. METAL SIDING DAMAGED ON TEMPORARY BUILDING. 
            CROSS STREETS ALMA SCHOOL AND ELLIOT. 

0852 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 SW CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN 33.49N 112.00W
08/31/2015                   MARICOPA           AZ   PUBLIC          

            TREES DOWN ON 40TH ST BETWEEN INDIAN SCHOOL AND THOMAS 


Rainfall Reports

                                                      RAINFALL (IN)
LOCATION                                              1 HR     24 HR
ACDC @ 14TH ST.                PHOENIX                0.00      0.71
ACDC @ 36TH ST.                PARADISE VALLEY        0.00      0.47
AHWATUKEE                      PHOENIX                0.00      0.08
APACHE JUNCTION FRS            APACHE JUNCTION        0.00      0.20
APACHE TRAIL                   APACHE JUNCTION        0.00      0.12
ARIZONA HUNT CLUB              YAVAPAI COUNTY         0.00      0.28
ASU SOUTH                      TEMPE                  0.00      0.91
BERNEIL WASH                   PARADISE VALLEY        0.00      0.24
BULLDOG CANYON                 MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.31
CAMP CREEK                     MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.91
CAREFREE RANCH                 SCOTTSDALE             0.00      0.35
CARRIAGE LANE PARK             MESA                   0.00      0.31
CAVE CR.@ SPUR CROSS           MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.39
CAVE CREEK                     CAVE CREEK             0.00      0.59
CAVE CREEK LANDFILL            PHOENIX                0.00      0.08
CHANDLER @ ALMA SCHOOL         CHANDLER               0.00      0.12
CHANDLER AIRPORT               CHANDLER               0.00      0.04
CLINE CREEK                    MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.31
CLOUDBURST WASH                FOUNTAIN HILLS         0.00      0.04
COOKS MESA                     YAVAPAI COUNTY         0.00      0.31
CROWN KING                     YAVAPAI COUNTY         0.00      0.04
DREAMY DRAW DAM                PHOENIX                0.00      0.71
DURANGO COMPLEX                PHOENIX                0.00      0.35
EAST FORK CC #1                PHOENIX                0.00      0.04
ELLIOT @ HAWES RD.             MESA                   0.00      0.04
EMF @ ARIZONA AVE.             PINAL COUNTY           0.00      0.04
EMF @ BROADWAY                 MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      1.06
EMF @ QUEENCREEK RD.           MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.08
ESTRELLA FAN                   MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.08
FALCON FIELD                   MESA                   0.00      0.16
FIG SPRINGS                    MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.08
FITCH PARK                     MESA                   0.00      0.16
FLORENCE JUNCTION              PINAL COUNTY           0.00      0.16
FRAESFIELD MTN.                SCOTTSDALE             0.00      0.04
FREESTONE BASIN                GILBERT                0.00      0.39
GILA @ MARICOPA RD             GILA RIVER IC          0.00      0.12
GILA @ OLBERG                  GILA RIVER IC          0.04      0.08
GOLDEN EAGLE BLVD.             FOUNTAIN HILLS         0.00      0.04
GRAND @ 27TH AVE.              PHOENIX                0.00      0.98
GRANITE REEF                   MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.08
GRANITE REEF WASH              SCOTTSDALE             0.00      0.43
GUADALUPE CHANNEL              MESA                   0.00      0.16
GUADALUPE FRS                  PHOENIX                0.00      0.08
HESPERUS DAM                   FOUNTAIN HILLS         0.00      0.04
HIGHLAND @ 68TH ST.            SCOTTSDALE             0.00      0.28
HORSESHOE LAKE                 MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.67
HUMBOLDT MOUNTAIN              MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      1.06
I-17 @ SR 169                  YAVAPAI COUNTY         0.00      0.20
IBW @ INDIAN BEND RD.          SCOTTSDALE             0.00      0.12
IBW @ INDIAN SCHOOL            SCOTTSDALE             0.00      0.67
IBW @ MCKELLIPS RD.            SCOTTSDALE             0.00      0.63
IBW @ SHEA BLVD.               PHOENIX                0.00      0.51
IBW INTERCEPTOR                SCOTTSDALE             0.00      0.12
JEFFERSON @ 4TH AVE.           PHOENIX                0.00      1.50
KINGS RANCH                    PINAL COUNTY           0.00      0.24
KLEINMAN PARK                  MESA                   0.00      0.35
LAKE MARGUARITE                SCOTTSDALE             0.00      0.20
LAKE PLEASANT                  PEORIA                 0.00      0.20
LAVEEN BASIN                   PHOENIX                0.00      0.28
LOST DOG WASH                  SCOTTSDALE             0.00      0.04
MAGMA FRS                      PINAL COUNTY           0.00      0.79
MARYLAND @ 27TH AVE.           PHOENIX                0.00      0.04
MCDOWELL @ HAWES               MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.08
MCDOWELL @ MERIDIAN            PINAL COUNTY           0.00      0.35
MCDOWELL MTN. PARK             MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.04
MCDOWELL MTN. ROAD             MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.04
MESA TOWER                     MESA                   0.00      0.04
MISSOURI @ 16TH ST.            PHOENIX                0.00      0.71
MOBILE                         MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.08
MT. ORD                        GILA COUNTY            0.00      0.16
NEW RIVER FIRE                 MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.12
NEW RIVER LANDFILL             MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.31
NEW RIVER MESA                 MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.47
OLD X-CUT @ MCDOWELL           PHOENIX                0.00      1.26
OSBORN @ 64TH ST.              SCOTTSDALE             0.04      0.55
PAPAGO PARK                    PHOENIX                0.00      1.30
PARADISE VALLEY CC             PARADISE VALLEY        0.00      0.35
PECOS BASIN                    MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.04
PERRY PARK                     PHOENIX                0.00      1.30
PIMA @ JOMAX                   SCOTTSDALE             0.00      0.04
PIMA @ UNION HILLS             SCOTTSDALE             0.00      0.16
PINNACLE PEAK VISTA            SCOTTSDALE             0.00      0.12
POWERLINE FLOODWAY             MESA                   0.00      0.08
POWERLINE FRS                  PINAL COUNTY           0.00      0.16
PRICE DRAIN @ 202              MESA                   0.00      0.47
QUEEN CR @ RITTENHOUSE         MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.04
QUEEN CREEK RD.                MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.08
RACKENSACK CANYON              MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.55
REATA PASS DAM                 SCOTTSDALE             0.00      0.08
REATA PASS WASH                SCOTTSDALE             0.04      0.12
RITTENHOUSE FRS                PINAL COUNTY           0.04      0.04
ROESER @ 2ND ST.               PHOENIX                0.00      0.28
SAGUARO LAKE                   MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.83
SALT R. @ 40TH ST.             PHOENIX                0.00      0.24
SALT RIVER @ 67TH AVE.         PHOENIX                0.00      0.43
SALT RIVER LANDFILL            SALT RIVER IC          0.00      0.67
SANTA CRUZ @ SR 84             PINAL COUNTY           0.00      0.20
SEVEN SPRINGS                  YAVAPAI COUNTY         0.00      0.20
SEVEN SPRINGS WASH             MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.71
SIGNAL BUTTE FRS               MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.24
SKUNK CR. NR NEW R.            MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.55
SOUTH MOUNTAIN PARK            PHOENIX                0.00      0.43
SOUTH MTN.PARK HQ              PHOENIX                0.00      0.20
SPOOKHILL BROWN                MESA                   0.00      0.08
SPOOKHILL MCKELLIPS            MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.20
STAGECOACH WASH                SCOTTSDALE             0.00      0.28
SUNUP RANCH                    MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.08
TAT MOMOLIKOT DAM              PINAL COUNTY           0.00      0.08
TATUM BASIN INFLOW             PHOENIX                0.00      0.63
THOMAS @ 16TH ST.              PHOENIX                0.04      1.18
THOMAS @ 48TH ST.              PHOENIX                0.00      0.71
THOMPSON PEAK                  SCOTTSDALE             0.00      0.04
THUNDER MOUNTAIN               MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.12
THUNDERBIRD ACADEMY            SCOTTSDALE             0.00      0.20
TOWERS MTN.                    YAVAPAI COUNTY         0.00      0.04
UPPER CLINE CREEK              MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.39
USERY MTN. PARK                MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.12
USERY PARK WS                  MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.24
VINEYARD FRS                   PINAL COUNTY           0.00      0.20
WATERMAN WASH                  MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.20
WEEKES WASH BASELINE           APACHE JUNCTION        0.00      0.31
WILLIAMS FIELD ROAD            MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.08
WOLVERINE PASS                 MARICOPA COUNTY        0.00      0.12

THESE RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE PRELIMINARY AND ARE NOT OFFICIAL.
AUTOMATED GAUGE DATA ARE FROM THE MARICOPA COUNTY FLOOD
CONTROL DISTRICT. STATIONS WITH NO RECORDED PRECIPITATION
ARE NOT SHOWN.