One of the most active monsoon evenings of the 2016 monsoon season occurred during the evening of July 29th as strong thunderstorms developed over the central and eastern Arizona mountains and then rapidly descended upon the lower deserts. Strong thunderstorms, packing outflow winds in excess of 70 mph, raced southwestward across the greater Phoenix area towards southwestern Maricopa county; the stronger storms generated microbursts with damaging winds that destroyed or uprooted numerous trees and power poles and damaged a variety of other structures in the area. Fortunately there were no injuries reported due to the strong damaging winds.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARICOPA, ARIZONA
From 29-JUL-16 20:15:00 to 29-JUL-16 20:15:00 (MST-7)
Location: (PHX)SKY HARBOR ARPT
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Scattered thunderstorms developed over the central mountains north of Phoenix during the afternoon hours and then dived southwestward across the greater Phoenix area during the evening hours. Some of the stronger storms produced very strong wind gusts, some of which affected central Phoenix. At 2015MST, the official ASOS weather station located at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport measured at peak wind gust to 70 mph. At the same time, a mesonet weather station located 4 miles southwest of central Phoenix measured a wind gust to 68 mph. The station was near the intersection of West Lower Buckeye Road and 43rd Avenue.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARICOPA, ARIZONA
From 29-JUL-16 20:20:00 to 29-JUL-16 20:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: LITCHFIELD JCT
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Strong thunderstorms pushed south across the western portion of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area during the evening hours on July 29th and some of them affected the community of Goodyear. The stronger storms produced damaging microburst wind gusts estimated to be at least as high as 70 mph. According to a National Weather Service employee, at 2020MST microburst winds snapped or uprooted at least 25 moderately sized trees near the intersection of West Yuma Road and South Estrella Parkway. The downed trees were located just north of Goodyear Ballpark and to the northwest of the Goodyear airport. About 5 minutes later, in central Goodyear, a member of the public reported numerous trees snapped or uprooted near the intersection of West Yuma Road and South Litchfield Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARICOPA, ARIZONA
From 29-JUL-16 20:00:00 to 29-JUL-16 20:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: OCOTILLO
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Strong thunderstorms pushed towards the southwest across the greater Phoenix area during the evening hours on July 29th. Some of the stronger storms affected the southeast portions of the Phoenix area including the town of Sun Lakes. According to a trained weather spotter located 4 miles to the east of Sun Lakes, at 2000MST a wind gust to 68 mph was measured. No damage was reported as a result of the strong wind.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARICOPA, ARIZONA
From 29-JUL-16 20:55:00 to 29-JUL-16 20:55:00 (MST-7)
Location: BUCKEYE MUNI ARPT
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Scattered thunderstorms developed across the central Arizona mountains during the afternoon hours on July 29th and they dived southwestward across the greater Phoenix metropolitan area during the evening hours. Some of the stronger storms generated gusty winds in excess of 60 mph which affected the community of Buckeye. At 2055MST the official AWOS weather station at Buckeye Municipal Airport measured a wind gust to 62 mph. No damage was reported at the airport.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARICOPA, ARIZONA
From 29-JUL-16 20:40:00 to 29-JUL-16 20:40:00 (MST-7)
Location: VALENCIA
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Property damage: 6.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Scattered thunderstorms moved south across the western portion of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area during the evening hours on July 29th and some of them affected the area around the community of Buckeye. The stronger storms produced gusty and damaging winds well in excess of 60 mph. According to a trained weather spotter northeast of Buckeye, gusty winds estimated to be around 60 knots blew down a few Palo Verde trees at about 2040MST. The downed trees were near the intersection of Yuma and Watson roads.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARICOPA, ARIZONA
From 29-JUL-16 21:03:00 to 29-JUL-16 21:03:00 (MST-7)
Location: SCOTTSDALE
Magnitude: 59.00 EG
Property damage: 8.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Scattered thunderstorms developed over the central Arizona mountains during the afternoon hours on July 29th and they pushed south into the northern and central portions of the greater Phoenix area during the evening hours. Some of the stronger storms affected the communities of Scottsdale as well as Phoenix. According to a trained weather spotter in north Scottsdale, at 2103MST strong thunderstorm outflow winds estimated to be nearly 70 mph in strength blew down 3 trees each with a diameter of 6 inches. The trees were downed near the intersection of Granite Reef Road and East Montebello Avenue. At nearly the same time, in north central Phoenix, gusty outflow winds uprooted a tree nearly 2 feet in diameter.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARICOPA, ARIZONA
From 29-JUL-16 20:50:00 to 29-JUL-16 20:50:00 (MST-7)
Location: VALENCIA
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Strong thunderstorms moved southwestward across the western portion of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area during the evening hours on July 29th. Some of the stronger storms produced gusty and damaging outflow winds well in excess of 60 mph. According to local law enforcement, at about 2050MST gusty winds downed multiple power lines in Buckeye and also overturned a horse trailer. The damage occurred near the intersection of  Interstate 10 and North Miller Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARICOPA, ARIZONA
From 29-JUL-16 20:00:00 to 29-JUL-16 20:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: PAPAGO AAF ARPT
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Property damage: 18.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Strong thunderstorms raced southwestward and into the greater Phoenix metropolitan area during the evening hours on July 29th and some of the storms impacted the community of Scottsdale. The stronger storms generated gusty and damaging outflow winds estimated to be in excess of 60 knots. According to a report from local broadcast media, multiple power poles were downed about 1 mile northwest of central Scottsdale. Pictures on social media depicted at least one power pole knocked down although the report did not specify exactly how many poles were downed. No injuries were caused by the fallen power poles.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARICOPA, ARIZONA
From 29-JUL-16 18:10:00 to 29-JUL-16 18:10:00 (MST-7)
Location: CAREFREE
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

During the late afternoon hours on July 29th, strong thunderstorms developed along the central Arizona mountains; they quickly moved towards the southwest and into the far northern fringes of the greater Phoenix area. One strong storm passed south across Horseshoe Reservoir and it produced a very strong wind gust. As reported by an SRP Mesonet weather sensor located just south of Horseshoe Reservoir, at 1810MST a peak wind gust to 67 mph was recorded. The weather station was about 15 miles to the northwest of the town of Sunflower.