The atmosphere across south central Arizona was very moist and unstable on August 26th, due in part to lingering moisture that had spread in earlier from former tropical storm Ivo. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across much of south central Arizona during the middle of the afternoon, and they continued into the evening hours. The storms produced a wide variety of weather which affected much of Maricopa and northwest Pinal counties, including the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. Flooding and flash flooding, strong and damaging thunderstorm outflow winds, dust storms and hail were all produced at one time or another.

Thunderstorm Wind in PINAL, ARIZONA
From 26-AUG-13 17:29:00 to 26-AUG-13 17:50:00 (MST-7)
Location: CASA GRANDE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Scattered thunderstorms developed across the deserts of south central Arizona during the late afternoon hours on August 26th, and they affected Casa Grande as well as the surrounding areas. The atmosphere was moist and very unstable and this allowed the thunderstorms to produce strong and damaging winds. A trained weather spotter about 2 miles northeast of Casa Grande reported debris, including a basketball hoop, flying down the street due to very strong winds. Another trained spotter on the northeast side of Casa Grande reported damage at a Home Depot. Cars in the parking lot were damaged by heavy debris blown about by winds of at least 60 mph. Additionally, a co-op observer 4 miles northwest of Eloy reported that several trees were downed by strong winds. He also estimated wind gusts to be around 60 mph. Two Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were issued for these damaging wind events; the first was issued at 1726MST and expired at 1745MST. The second was issued at 1747MST and ran through 1845MST.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARICOPA, ARIZONA
From 26-AUG-13 17:35:00 to 26-AUG-13 17:35:00 (MST-7)
Location: TEMPE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Scattered afternoon thunderstorms moved across the southeast portions of the greater Phoenix area on August 26th, and they impacted the community of Tempe. Thunderstorm outflow winds estimated to be at least 60 mph downed a large tree at an apartment complex located at the intersection of Kyrene and Elliot roads in Tempe. The tree landed on top of 3 adjacent parked cars and caved in the roofs of each car. The report was received via local broadcast media.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARICOPA, ARIZONA
From 26-AUG-13 16:05:00 to 26-AUG-13 16:05:00 (MST-7)
Location: TORTILLA FLAT
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Scattered afternoon thunderstorms developed on August 26th and they affected the Salt River Recreational Lakes, including the community of Tortilla Flats. The atmosphere was moist and very unstable, and this allowed the thunderstorms to produce strong and damaging wind gusts. According to a report received from the public, a dock and 2 boats were damaged at the Canyon Lake Marina. They estimated peak wind gusts to be around 60 mph. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning had been issued for the area around Tortilla Flats, beginning at 1553MST and  continuing until 1615MST.

Dust Storm in CENTRAL DESERTS, ARIZONA
From 26-AUG-13 17:00:00 to 26-AUG-13 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Intense thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours to the south of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, and they generated gusty outflow winds in excess of 50 mph. The strong winds spread to the north and across portions of northwest Pinal county, stirring up copious amounts of dust and creating dust storm conditions. A trained weather spotter 8 miles southwest of the town of Maricopa reported visibility less than one quarter of a mile at 1729MST. Another weather spotter 1 mile southwest of Coolidge reported a similar visibility. The dense blowing dust made for very hazardous driving conditions during the Monday rush hour. A Dust Storm Warning was issued for the area at 1712MST and it continued through 1900MST.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARICOPA, ARIZONA
From 26-AUG-13 18:15:00 to 26-AUG-13 18:40:00 (MST-7)
Location: GILBERT
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Scattered late afternoon thunderstorms moved across the southeast portion of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area on August 26th, and they affected the community of Gilbert. The atmosphere was moist and quite unstable and this allowed the thunderstorms to produce strong and gusty winds, estimated to be at least 60 mph. A trained weather spotter 2 miles southeast of Gilbert reported that a large tree was downed in far southern Gilbert, near the Chandler Heights and Higley area. He also indicated that large tree branches were broken in the same area. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for the Gilbert area at 1821MST and it continued until 1845MST.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARICOPA, ARIZONA
From 26-AUG-13 19:15:00 to 26-AUG-13 19:35:00 (MST-7)
Location: VALENCIA
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 60.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Scattered strong thunderstorms affected the greater Phoenix area during the evening hours on August 26th, and they affected the towns of Buckeye, Goodyear and Litchfield Park. The Buckeye airport mesonet sensor measured a sustained wind at 43 mph as well as a peak gust of 68 mph. In addition, a trained weather spotter located 2 miles northeast of Goodyear reported trees uprooted by the strong winds. According to a report from local broadcast media, several trees were uprooted near Litchfield park. Finally, another broadcast media report indicated that a large tree was blown down. When the tree fell it heavily damaged a home in Litchfield Park. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was in effect for the affected communities; it was issued at 1908MST and it ran through 1945MST.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARICOPA, ARIZONA
From 26-AUG-13 18:03:00 to 26-AUG-13 18:27:00 (MST-7)
Location: OCOTILLO
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Scattered strong thunderstorms developed during the evening hours across the greater Phoenix area on August 26th, and some of them affected the community of Chandler. A trained weather spotter located about 4 miles southeast of Tumbleweed Park, or near the Chandler airport, measured a thunderstorm wind gust to 62 mph. A second trained weather spotter located 1 mile east of Chandler estimated a peak wind gust to 65 mph and the wind was strong enough to blow a 6 inch branch off of a tree. At the time, a Dust Storm Warning was  in effect. Also, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for the Chandler area at 1821MST and it continued until 1845MST.

Flash Flood in PINAL, ARIZONA
From 26-AUG-13 17:45:00 to 26-AUG-13 20:15:00 (MST-7)
Location: CASA GRANDE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Scattered thunderstorms developed across portions of northern Pinal county during the afternoon hours on August 26th, and they affected the area around Casa Grande. Lingering tropical moisture made the airmass very moist and unstable, and the thunderstorms quickly generated heavy rain which was sufficient to produce flash flooding. At 1820MST, a trained weather spotter just north of Casa Grande reported water rapidly flowing down his street and additional water was flooding into numerous backyards. At 1815MST, another trained spotter near Sacaton reported water flowing rapidly across streets west of Sacaton, which made area roads impassable for at least 30 minutes. A Flash Flood Warning was issued for the area at 1810MST and it continued through 2015MST.

Flash Flood in MARICOPA, ARIZONA
From 26-AUG-13 18:00:00 to 26-AUG-13 20:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: GILA BEND
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Strong thunderstorms developed across portions of southwest Maricopa county during the evening hours, and they affected the area around Gila Bend. Due in part to lingering tropical moisture, the storms were able to generate locally heavy rains which led to flash flooding. At 1845MST the Department of Highways reported that Highway 238 east of Gila Bend was closed due to flash flooding. A Flash Flood Warning was issued for the area at 1836MST and it continued until 2030MST. No accidents or injuries were reported due to the flash flooding.

Dust Storm in GREATER PHOENIX AREA, ARIZONA
From 26-AUG-13 18:00:00 to 26-AUG-13 19:40:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Intense thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours to the south of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, and they produced gusty outflow winds in excess of 50 mph. The winds spread to the north and into the greater Phoenix area by about 1800MST, and as they moved in they generated dust storm conditions. At 1803MST a trained weather spotter 4 miles southeast of Tumbleweed Park in Chandler reported visibility down below 100 feet in dense blowing dust. Shortly thereafter he measured a wind gust to 62 mph. Another trained spotter 1 mile southeast of Ahwatukee reported a dust storm with visibility down to one quarter mile. Several other spotters in the Phoenix area reported dust storm conditions, and the winds were strong enough to uproot trees in Goodyear. A Dust Storm Warning was issued for the greater Phoenix area at 1741MST and it was cancelled at 1941MST.

Flash Flood in MARICOPA, ARIZONA
From 26-AUG-13 20:30:00 to 27-AUG-13 00:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: MATTHIE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

On August 26th, thunderstorms developed well into the evening hours across far northwestern portions of Maricopa county and they affected the community of Wickenburg. The atmosphere was very moist and unstable; as a result the thunderstorms produced locally heavy rain with rain rates in excess of one inch per hour. Locally heavy rain began to fall in the Wickenburg area after 1930MST and by 2026MST an Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory was issued. Thunderstorms with heavy rain continued well into the evening leading to flooding of area roads and washes. At 2240MST a trained spotter in Wickenburg reported that the Sols Wash at the unbridged crossing at Vulture Mine Road was flowing 2 feet deep. Despite the high flow, it was contained and not spilling out over the banks. In addition, Maricopa County Flood Control District gages indicated significant stream flow in the Flying E and Casandro Washes near Wickenburg; these washes are known to impact several roads in the area. Flash Flood Warnings were not issued for the area, however Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisories did remain in effect until just past midnight.