Downburst Winds and Flooding - Aug 3, 2014
An unusually strong low pressure system moved north into southern California and western Arizona from the East Pacific Ocean and Gulf of California during the weekend of August 3-4, 2014. Not only did this weather system bring more abundant deeper moisture into the region, but also carried the energy to lift this moisture in the atmosphere in the form of numerous thunderstorms.
 |
|
Water Vapor Satellite Image (Aug 3 2014: 900am-600pm MST/PDT)
|
The most numerous storms aligned over parts of Imperial and Riverside counties of California during the late morning and early afternoon. A few of these storms were strong with gusty winds, but the largest impact was localized flooding rainfall. Interstate 10 and surrounding roads of eastern Riverside county west of the Blythe area experienced some measure of damage. Below is a partial radar loop during the day. Noticed how the storms aligned and continued to impact the same locations with prolonged heavy rainfall.
 |
|
Yuma Doppler Radar (KYUX: 134-300pm MST/PDT)
|
The extent and magnitude of this heavy rainfall can be seen in the following map of rainfall totals derived from combined radar/gauge data.
 |
|
Combined Radar/Gauge Rainfall Data (Source NSSL Q3)
|
Although southern California and western Arizona experienced the most widespread rainfall and impacts, thunderstorms also developed within parts of the Phoenix metro area. The most significant storm started forming over northern Pinal county before moving into the Chandler/Tempe area of the metro. The result was a small downburst centered over parts of Tempe knocking down several trees and power lines. In fact, a cable line fell across Loop 101 between US-60 and Loop 202 necessitating the shutdown of the highway. A storm survey conducted on Monday, August 5th concluded wind speeds in a range of 50-70 mph were responsible for much of the damage in Tempe, but a few local gusts up to 80 mph were also estimated based on damage. Below are radar images of the Tempe storm (reflectivity on the left, and velocity on the right with green shades depicting winds blowing towards the radar and red colors away from the radar).
 |
 |
|
KIWA Doppler Radar Reflectivity
|
KIWA Doppler Radar Velocity
|
Some of the metro also received welcome rainfall, but with the big winners outside the metro; that is, those living around the Wickenburg area. The daily rainfall totals can be seen below on the following map.
 |
|
Daily Rainfall Totals - Maricopa County Aug 3, 2014
|
A listing of rainfall amounts and storm reports can be found below.
...PHOENIX AND SURROUNDING AREAS RAINFALL REPORTS...
RAINFALL (IN)
LOCATION 1 HR 24 HR
4TH OF JULY WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.08
ACDC @ 36TH ST. PARADISE VALLEY 0.00 0.04
ACDC @ 43RD AVE. PHOENIX 0.00 0.04
AGUA FRIA @ BUCKEYE MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.24
ANTELOPE CREEK YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.63
ARIZONA HUNT CLUB YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.28
ASU SOUTH TEMPE 0.00 0.08
AZTEC PARK SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.04
BARTLETT LAKE MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.12
BASELINE @ 547TH AVE. MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.16
BELMONT MOUNTAINS MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.43
BERNEIL WASH PARADISE VALLEY 0.00 0.12
BLACK HILL YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.43
BOX WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
BUCKEYE @ 547TH AVE. MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.12
BUCKEYE FRS #3 MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
BUCKEYE RD. @ SR 85 MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.08
BUCKS WELL YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.12
BULLARD @ INDIAN SCHOOL GOODYEAR 0.00 0.24
BULLDOG CANYON MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
BURTON TANK YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.39
CAMP CREEK MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.12
CAREFREE RANCH SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.04
CARRIAGE LANE PARK MESA 0.00 0.24
CASANDRO DAM WICKENBURG 0.00 0.98
CASANDRO WASH WICKENBURG 0.00 1.22
CASTLE HOT SPRINGS MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
CAVE BUTTES DAM MARICOPA COUNTY 0.12 0.16
CAVE CR.@ SPUR CROSS MARICOPA COUNTY 0.04 0.08
CAVE CREEK CAVE CREEK 0.00 0.04
CAVE CREEK LANDFILL PHOENIX 0.00 0.08
CENTENNIAL @ WENDEN LA PAZ COUNTY 0.00 0.35
CENTENNIAL LEVEE MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.20
CENTENNIAL NR AGUILA MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.16
CENTENNIAL RAILROAD MARICOPA COUNTY 0.04 0.12
CENTENNIAL WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.12
CESAR CHAVEZ PARK PHOENIX 0.00 0.04
CHANDLER @ ALMA SCHOOL CHANDLER 0.00 0.12
CIRCLE CITY MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
CLINE CREEK MARICOPA COUNTY 0.08 0.08
CLOUDBURST WASH FOUNTAIN HILLS 0.00 0.16
COLTER @ EL MIRAGE PHOENIX 0.00 0.04
COLUMBIA HILL YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.16
CONGRESS YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.55
CONSTELLATION ROAD WICKENBURG 0.00 0.12
COOKS MESA YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.12
COYOTE WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.43
CROWN KING YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.04 0.04
CRUFF WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.24
DEAD HORSE WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.20
DEER VALLEY AIRPORT PHOENIX 0.00 0.04
DESERT HILLS WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.20 0.20
DEWEY YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.55
DURANGO COMPLEX PHOENIX 0.00 0.04
DYSART @ BELL RD. SURPRISE 0.00 0.04
DYSART DRAIN @ LAFB MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.08
EAGLE EYE RD. @ CAP MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.20
EAST FORK CC #1 PHOENIX 0.00 0.08
EAST FORK CC #3 PHOENIX 0.00 0.04
EL MIRAGE DRAIN MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
EMF @ QUEENCREEK RD. MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
FALCON FIELD MESA 0.00 0.20
FIG SPRINGS MARICOPA COUNTY 0.08 0.08
FITCH PARK MESA 0.00 0.04
FLORENCE JUNCTION PINAL COUNTY 0.00 0.04
FLYING E TANK MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.16
FLYING E WASH WICKENBURG 0.00 1.18
FORD CANYON WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.31
FOUNTAIN HILLS FD FOUNTAIN HILLS 0.00 0.08
FOUR MILE WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.12
FRAESFIELD MTN. SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.08
FREESTONE BASIN GILBERT 0.00 0.08
G&F WOOLSEY PEAK MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.28
GILA @ ESTRELLA PKWY. GOODYEAR 0.00 0.59
GILA @ OLBERG GILA RIVER IC 0.00 0.04
GILA BEND LANDFILL MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.35
GILLESPIE DAM MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.35
GLADDEN MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.08
GOLDEN EAGLE BLVD. FOUNTAIN HILLS 0.00 0.16
GRAND @ PEORIA AVE. PEORIA 0.00 0.04
GRANITE REEF MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.16
GRANITE REEF WASH SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.04
GRASS WASH @ US 60 MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.12
GUADALUPE CHANNEL MESA 0.00 0.08
HARQUAHALA MTN. LA PAZ COUNTY 0.00 0.31
HARTMAN WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.31
HASSAYAMPA LANDFILL MARICOPA COUNTY 0.04 0.08
HASSY R. @ BOX CANYON YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.08
HASSY R. @ US 60 WICKENBURG 0.00 0.24
HASSY R. @ WAGONER RD. YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.20
HESPERUS DAM FOUNTAIN HILLS 0.00 0.08
HESPERUS WASH FOUNTAIN HILLS 0.00 0.16
HIGHLAND @ 68TH ST. SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.24
HORNER MTN. RANCH YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.43
HORSESHOE LAKE MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.20
HORSESHOE RANCH YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.16
HORSETHIEF BASIN YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.16 0.16
HUMBOLDT MOUNTAIN MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.16
I-10 @ 355TH AVE. MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
I-17 @ SR 169 YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.39
IBW @ INDIAN BEND RD. SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.16
IBW @ INDIAN SCHOOL SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.16
IBW @ MCKELLIPS RD. SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.31
IBW INTERCEPTOR SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.28
JACKRABBIT WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.24
KINGS RANCH PINAL COUNTY 0.00 0.04
KLEINMAN PARK MESA 0.00 0.20
LAKE MARGUARITE SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.16
LAVEEN BASIN PHOENIX 0.00 0.12
LOST DOG WASH SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.08
MAGMA FRS PINAL COUNTY 0.24 0.24
MARTINEZ CREEK YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.71
MARYVALE MUNI GOLF PHOENIX 0.00 0.08
MCDOWELL @ HAWES MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
MCDOWELL MTN. PARK MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.08
MCDOWELL MTN. ROAD MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
MCMICKEN DAM SOUTH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.12
MESA TOWER MESA 0.00 0.04
MID-MARTINEZ CREEK YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.04 0.43
MINNEHAHA YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.16 0.16
MOUNTAIN VIEW PARK MESA 0.00 0.16
MT. ORD GILA COUNTY 0.00 0.43
MT. UNION WX YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.12 0.16
NARROWS DAMSITE LA PAZ COUNTY 0.00 0.20
NEW RIVER MESA MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.08
NORTH HEIGHTS DAM FOUNTAIN HILLS 0.00 0.12
NW REGIONAL LANDFILL MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
OSBORN @ 64TH ST. SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.31
OUTLAW HILL MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
PHOENIX WEST PARK PHOENIX 0.00 0.04
PIMA @ UNION HILLS SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.12
PINNACLE PEAK VISTA SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.08
POWDER HOUSE WASH WICKENBURG 0.00 0.12
PRESCOTT VALLEY YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.79
PRICE DRAIN @ 202 MESA 0.00 0.43
QUEEN CR @ RITTENHOUSE MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
QUEEN CREEK RD. MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
RACKENSACK CANYON MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
RAWHIDE WASH SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.04
REATA PASS WASH SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.04
RITTER DAM YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.24
SAGUARO LAKE MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.16
SALT RIVER LANDFILL SALT RIVER IC 0.00 0.04
SAND TANK WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.16
SEVEN SPRINGS YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.31
SEVEN SPRINGS WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.08
SKUNK CR. NR NEW R. MARICOPA COUNTY 0.04 0.04
SKUNK CREEK @ I-17 PHOENIX 0.00 0.04
SMITH PEAK LA PAZ COUNTY 0.00 0.04
SOLS TANK YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.04
SOLS TRIB @ US 93 YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.71
SOLS WASH NR MATTHIE MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 1.06
SOUTH MOUNTAIN PARK PHOENIX 0.00 0.04
SPOOKHILL FRS MESA 0.00 0.08
SPOOKHILL MCKELLIPS MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
STAGECOACH WASH SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.20
STANTON YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.04
STONERIDGE DAM FOUNTAIN HILLS 0.00 0.20
SUNNYCOVE FRS WICKENBURG 0.00 0.79
SUNRIDGE CANYON DAM FOUNTAIN HILLS 0.00 0.28
SUNSET FRS WICKENBURG 0.00 0.87
SUNSET POINT YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.08
THOMPSON PEAK SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.08
THUNDER MOUNTAIN MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
THUNDERBIRD ACADEMY SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.16
TIGER WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.35
TIGER WASH FAN MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.47
TOWERS MTN. YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.04 0.08
TUTHILL @ RAY RD. MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.24
UPPER CLINE CREEK MARICOPA COUNTY 0.04 0.12
UPPER TIGER WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
UPPER TRILBY WASH YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.04
UPPER WATERMAN WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.39
USERY MTN. PARK MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
VINEYARD FRS PINAL COUNTY 0.00 0.04
VULTURE MINE ROAD MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 1.38
WATERMAN @ RAINBOW GOODYEAR 0.00 0.12
WEBB MOUNTAIN MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.31
WEEKES WASH BASELINE APACHE JUNCTION 0.00 0.04
WHITE TANK FRS 3 MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.24
WHITE TANK FRS 4 MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.39
WICKENBURG AIRPORT WICKENBURG 0.00 0.94
WILHOIT YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.04
WILLIAMS FIELD ROAD MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
WINTERS WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.43
WOLVERINE PASS MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
WOOD TANK YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.28
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
1209 AM MST MON AUG 04 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0227 PM FLASH FLOOD 9 SW COTTONWOOD VISITOR 33.67N 115.91W
08/03/2014 RIVERSIDE CA DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
DIRT DEBRIS ON ROADWAY AT EXIT 162 I-10 AND FRONTAGE
ROAD. ROADWAY FLOODED.
0240 PM FLASH FLOOD DESERT CENTER 33.71N 115.40W
08/03/2014 RIVERSIDE CA DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
ROADWAY FLOODED AND VEHICLES UNABLE TO PASS. SR 177 AND
I-10 MM105
0309 PM FLASH FLOOD 4 WSW DESERT CENTER 33.70N 115.47W
08/03/2014 RIVERSIDE CA DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
ROADWAY CLOSED I-10 EB MM192 EAGLE MTN ROAD DUE TO
ASPHALT RAISED UP AND WASHED AWAY. MUD AND DEBRIS ACROSS
ALL LANES.
0453 PM TSTM WND DMG 20 S PARKER 33.84N 114.28W
08/03/2014 LA PAZ AZ LAW ENFORCEMENT
POWER POLES BLOWN DOWN--TIME ESTIMATED.
0544 PM HEAVY RAIN NW WICKENBURG 33.97N 112.75W
08/03/2014 E2.00 INCH MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
2 INCHES IN 30 MINUTES
0544 PM TSTM WND DMG NW WICKENBURG 33.97N 112.75W
08/03/2014 MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
ROOF DAMAGE IN DOWNTOWN AREA
0610 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 WSW FIESTA MALL 33.38N 111.89W
08/03/2014 MARICOPA AZ NWS EMPLOYEE
FALLEN TREE ACROSS INTERSECTION. DEBRIS BLOWN INTO CAR.
0615 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 E TEMPE 33.39N 111.90W
08/03/2014 MARICOPA AZ PUBLIC
TWO FOOT DIAMETER TREE UPROOTED BREAKING STONE WALL.
MANY LARGE TREES FELL IN THE AREA.
0615 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 E TEMPE 33.39N 111.90W
08/03/2014 MARICOPA AZ PUBLIC
2 LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN AND DESTROYING CINDER BLOCK
WALL AND DAMAGING A SWIMMING POOL.
0615 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 E TEMPE 33.39N 111.90W
08/03/2014 MARICOPA AZ PUBLIC
POWER POLE SNAPPED AT S. RIVER DR. AND SOUTHERN AVE.
SOUTHERN BETWEEN MCCLLINTOCK AND LOOP101 IN EAST CENTRAL
TEMPE
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on YouTube
PSR RSS Feed