Storm near Phoenix
Thursday, July 22, 2021
- Largest hail
- —none reported
- Strongest wind
- 81 mphgust
- Tornadoes
- 0none reported
- Reports
- 3within 15 mi
3 reports
- 60 mph gust (estimated)8.8 mi ENE of central Phoenix1.3 mi E of Papago Aaf Arpt · Maricopa County · Broadcast Media
A microburst caused significant damage in south Scottsdale with numerous downed trees of various sizes and with some falling on parked vehicles. At Scottsdale Road and Thomas Road one tree fell on top of two cars, damaging the frame and busting the window of one. Nearby at Thomas and 70th Street a carport at an apartment complex was destroyed with a portion of it collapsing on a parked SUV. Winds estimated around 60 mph based on damage reports in the affected area. Timing estimated from radar. No injuries were reported.
- 64 mph gust (estimated)9.0 mi ENE of central Phoenix1.5 mi ENE of Papago Aaf Arpt · Maricopa County · Broadcast Media
A microburst caused significant damage in Downtown Scottsdale with numerous toppled or snapped trees. Amongst the received reports, half a dozen trees were reportedly uprooted around Fashion Square outlet mall. At least a couple trees fell on vehicles. Two palm trees in front of the Galleria Corporate Center were snapped in half. A carport at the San Marin apartment complex was blown over and caused damage to the several cars parked underneath. A media report showed a restaraunt had a partial roof torn off while customers were inside. In all there were like many more unreported damages with unkown costs. Winds were estimated around 60-65 mph in the downtown area based on damage. Timing estimated from radar. No injuries were reported.
- 81 mph gust (estimated)10.0 mi ENE of central Phoenix3.3 mi NNE of Papago Aaf Arpt · Maricopa County · Broadcast Media
A microburst caused considerable damage from the McCormick Rach area and down to Scottsdale Road and McDonald Road with hundreds of downed trees and several downed power poles that caused a power outage to the area. The McCormick Ranch golf course had at least 220 large trees uprooted or snapped across the property. Several trees also fell on homes around the course. Course officials estimated the damage costs to the course at $600,000. At a shopping plaza on the southwest side of the course a palm tree fell onto a business, causing damage to the roof. Across Indian Bend Road to the south, McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park received extensive damage with several large trees, including pines, being uprooted or snapped across the park. Some of the toppled trees fell on park buildings and trains. At least 6 power poles were downed or snapped due to the winds with most of the poles along Scottsdale Road between Lincoln Drive and McDonald Drive. In this area 5 large trees were also uprooted with a couple of them being pine trees. Winds were estimated around 70-80 mph based on damage. Timing estimated from radar. There were no injuries.
Also hit that day: Peoria, AZ
What the National Weather Service wrote
Strong to severe thunderstorms developed in an unstable atmosphere in the afternoon of the 22nd. Storms initially developed over the high terrain of northern and eastern Arizona as well as near the Table Top mesa area south of Phoenix. High DCAPE promoted strong thunderstorm downbursts. The downbursts generated outflows that progressed into the greater Phoenix metro area and led to the development of additional scattered thunderstorm. The thunderstorms in the metro area produced damaging winds that led to numerous downed trees, downed power poles, and other property damage. The storms were also nearly stationary, under weak steering flow, and produced very heavy rainfall with rain rates around 1.5-2.0 inches per hour and briefly higher in the strongest storms. This led to considerable flash flooding around Phoenix with several road closure and significant flow in major washes. Even after the strongest storms in Phoenix subsided in the late evening of the 22nd, areas of moderate to heavy rain continued from northeast to southwest through the night and through mid-afternoon on the 23rd. The continued rain through the 23rd was aided by a strengthening diffluent flow regime between the monsoon high to the north and a retrograding upper low moving west through New Mexico. Additional significant flash flooding was observed on the 23rd, mostly in the foothills north of the Phoenix metro, with many road closures, flowing washes and creeks, and some water rescues.