Damage to Sky Harbor tarmac and gates at several terminals. Image courtesy dexterdunning via Twitter.
A strong upper level Pacific cold front was moving southward through the Southwest states late in the week. This cut-off Low pressure system carried a good amount of upper level support and wind dynamics as well as instability ahead of the front to support severe convective weather. Precipitable water values over 1.25 inches was in place, as was a Monsoon wind pattern, with winds out of the south-southeast. As the weather system approached, wind shear throughout the region was gaining strength and ingredients were lining up for the event to become quite severe. A transitional event like this, where the warm temperatures are slowly changing to a cooler air-mass and the wind begins to shift from southerly to more west-northwesterly can create strong thunderstorms. Similar to the October 5th, 2010 event in set up with subtle differences in moisture values and the Low pressure placement, this event was severe in many ways.
Strong storms began to form in the far Western portions of Arizona by mid-morning on Saturday September 27th. Around 12 pm a line of thunderstorms began to form just southwest of Buckeye. These thunderstorms were moving quite fast, 35-45 mph and were capable of producing heavy rain, as can be seen in rainfall accumulation maps. The wind might be one of the more notable impacts from this event. Area-wide damage was seen from power poles snapping and falling over to downed trees and numerous pieces of roofing that was torn off. One of many high wind reports, Sky Harbor reported 67 mph wind gust (58 kts) which led to substantial damage to a few terminals as well as impacted over 40 flights which had to be diverted.
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Infrared satellite image showing the evolution of storms Saturday afternoon and evening over the Central Arizona deserts and the Phoenix area on September 27, 2014. Loop is from 11 AM to 5 PM Sunday. (Loop is 5MB) |
Radar loop from 12:32 PM to 4:45 PM Saturday showing the progression and evolution of the line of thunderstorms that approach Phoenix from the west and plowed eastward. (Loop is 10MB) |
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Phoenix KIWA Doppler Radar loop of wind velocity across the Phoenix metro. (Loop is 9MB) |
Monsoon Rainfall Totals for our Climate Stations. Updated through September 28th. |
Phoenix Sky Harbor airport had yet another record breaking rainfall event. The previous daily record rainfall of 1.46 inches set back in 1903 was shattered when Sky Harbor picked up 1.64 inches of rain (an additional 0.02 inches just after midnight rose the event total to 1.66 inches) for September 27th.
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NWS Phoenix on Twitter, breaking the daily record rainfall amount at Sky Harbor. |
Rain gauge analysis showing rainfall totals across the metro area. |
1 day Rain gauge totals courtesy of Flood Control District of Maricopa Co. |
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Large tree down at 59th Ave & Indian School Rd. Image courtesy David Wallace, AZ Republic |
Arizona State Fair Grounds flooding. Image courtesy Bill Friar via Twitter |
Interstate 17 flooded at the Durango Curve. Image courtesy David Wallace, AZ Republic |
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Damage at Sky Harbor Airport. Image courtesy Adam Longo, CBS5 via Twitter |
Damage at Sky Harbor Airport. Image courtesy Michael Meister, AZ Republic via Twitter |
Damage at Sky Harbor Airport. Image courtesy Adam Longo, CBS5 via Twitter |
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Uprooted tree in Phoenix. Image courtesy Dominic valente, AZ Republic |
Powerpole damage at 59th Ave & Greenway. Image courtesy Lauren, ABC15 via Twitter |
Powerpole damage in Phoenix. Image courtesy 12News via Twitter |
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
1022 PM MST SAT SEP 27 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0715 AM FLOOD 2 NW BUCKSKIN MOUNTAIN 34.25N 114.17W
09/27/2014 LA PAZ AZ BROADCAST MEDIA
0.55 INCH OF RAIN IN 25 MIINUTES WITH STREET FLODDING
0715 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 NW BUCKSKIN MOUNTAIN 34.25N 114.17W
09/27/2014 M0.55 INCH LA PAZ AZ BROADCAST MEDIA
0.55 INCH OF RAIN IN 25 MIINUTES WITH STREET FLODDING
0146 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 W PERRYVILLE 33.43N 112.53W
09/27/2014 M0.71 INCH MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
HEAVY RAIN MEASURED IN 30 MIN
0200 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 NNW GOODYEAR 33.44N 112.41W
09/27/2014 M0.80 INCH MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
0.80 INCH OF RAIN IN 30 MINUTES.
0201 PM TSTM WND GST 2 NW PERRYVILLE 33.45N 112.53W
09/27/2014 E50 MPH MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
VISIBILITY DOWN TO LESS THAN 1 2 MILE
0201 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 NW PERRYVILLE 33.45N 112.53W
09/27/2014 M0.30 INCH MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
VISIBILITY DOWN TO LESS THAN 1 2 MILE
0210 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 N GLENDALE 33.60N 112.19W
09/27/2014 MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
50 MPH. STREET FLOODING. 1.5 INCHES MEASURED IN 30 MIN.
ROOF DAMAGE. AWNING BLOWN APART FROM TRAILER PARK. POWER
OUTAGE AS WELL.
0211 PM TSTM WND GST 1 NNW LUKE AFB 33.54N 112.38W
09/27/2014 M67 MPH MARICOPA AZ ASOS
0218 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 WNW METRO CENTER 33.61N 112.19W
09/27/2014 MARICOPA AZ BROADCAST MEDIA
POWER POLE FELL AND BLOCKED ROADWAY... FELL ON CAR.
0228 PM TSTM WND GST 9 E PEORIA 33.69N 112.08W
09/27/2014 M71 MPH MARICOPA AZ ASOS
0231 PM TSTM WND GST 6 NNW GUADALUPE 33.43N 112.01W
09/27/2014 M67 MPH MARICOPA AZ ASOS
0231 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 NE DOWNTOWN PHOENIX 33.47N 112.06W
09/27/2014 MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
12 INCH DIAMTER TREE TORN DOWN IN PARKING LOT OF
HOSPITAL.
0234 PM HAIL 7 SW FIREBIRD LAKE 33.21N 112.06W
09/27/2014 M0.50 INCH PINAL AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
CORRECTED REPORT...HALF INCH HAIL... 0.35 INCH RAIN IN
30 MIN... WINDS 40 MPH.
0235 PM HEAVY RAIN 3 S PIESTEWA PEAK PARK 33.50N 112.03W
09/27/2014 M0.71 INCH MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
MEASURED RAIN IN 20 MIN.
0237 PM TSTM WND GST 1 E TUMBLEWEED PARK 33.27N 111.81W
09/27/2014 M58 MPH MARICOPA AZ ASOS
0240 PM FLOOD 2 SSE GLENDALE 33.52N 112.18W
09/27/2014 MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
FLOODED ROADWAY COVERING WHEEL WELLS OF VEHICLES. POWER
OUTAGE TO LOCAL BUSINESS.
0240 PM TSTM WND DMG SKY HARBOR AIRPORT 33.44N 112.01W
09/27/2014 MARICOPA AZ CITY OFFICIAL
PHOENIX SKY HARBOR AIRPORT SUSTAINED ROOF DAMAGE AT
TERMINAL 2 AND WATER LEAKAGE OCCURRED AT THREE OF THE
GATES. TERMINAL 3 AND 4 ALSO HAVE ROOF LEAKS. FIVE
AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE DUE TO FLYING DEBRIS.
SOME FLOODING OF AIRPORT ROADS. FORTY-FOUR FLIGHTS
DIVERTED.
0245 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 NNE NORTH MOUNTAIN PA 33.63N 112.05W
09/27/2014 MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
8 INCH DIAMETER TREE DOWN... 50 PLUS MPH WIND GUSTS...
FLOODED ROAD 2-3 INCH DEEP
0245 PM HEAVY RAIN 3 ENE GILBERT 33.35N 111.72W
09/27/2014 M0.50 INCH MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
MEASURED IN 15 MINUTES.
0250 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 SW PAPAGO PARK 33.44N 111.98W
09/27/2014 MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
FREEWAY SIGNS DOWN ON 143 SALT RIVER BRIDGE
0255 PM FLOOD 2 ESE DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDA 33.48N 111.89W
09/27/2014 MARICOPA AZ AMATEUR RADIO
CURB-TO-CURB STREET FLOODING AT PIMA AND THOMAS 4 DIA
TREE BRANCH.
0300 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 WSW FOUNTAIN HILLS 33.59N 111.77W
09/27/2014 M0.75 INCH MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
MEASURED IN 20 MINUTES. MEASURED 42 MPH WIND.
0311 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 ESE DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDA 33.48N 111.89W
09/27/2014 MARICOPA AZ AMATEUR RADIO
SEVERAL DOWNED TREES NEAR THOMAS PIMA ROADS.
0311 PM FLOOD 1 WNW ARIZONA STATE FAI 33.48N 112.11W
09/27/2014 MARICOPA AZ BROADCAST MEDIA
FLOODED UNDERPASS AT I-17 AND GRANT ROAD. INTERSTATE IS
IMPASSABLE
0317 PM FLOOD 4 S GOLDFIELD RANCH 33.54N 111.61W
09/27/2014 MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
FLOODED ROADS AND SOME ARE UNPASSABLE
0331 PM HEAVY RAIN 8 SSW AK-CHIN VILLAGE 32.93N 112.16W
09/27/2014 M0.84 INCH PINAL AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
MEASURED IN 30 MIN AND STILL FALLING. FLOODED ROADWAYS
0331 PM FLOOD 1 NNE METRO CENTER 33.60N 112.12W
09/27/2014 MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
3 TO 4 FOOT OF WATER ACCUMULATED UNDER UNDERPASS OF
I-17
0332 PM FLOOD 2 NNE DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDA 33.52N 111.90W
09/27/2014 MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
CURB TO CURB FLOODING WITH AREAS UNPASSABLE. MORE THAN
15 TREE LIMBS TORN DOWN. SIZE UNKNOWN
0339 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 ESE FALCON FIELD AIRP 33.45N 111.68W
09/27/2014 MARICOPA AZ NWS EMPLOYEE
2 FOOT DIAMETER TREE DOWN... BLOCKING ROADWAY.
0346 PM TSTM WND GST 3 NNW GLENDALE 33.58N 112.20W
09/27/2014 M75 MPH MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
ROOF TILES PEELED OFF FROM WIND.
0401 PM FLOOD GOODYEAR 33.42N 112.40W
09/27/2014 MARICOPA AZ BROADCAST MEDIA
FLOODED NEIGHBORHOOD AND ROADS NEAR 156 AVENUE AND WEST
INDIAN SCHOOL ROAD
0408 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 SE DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDAL 33.49N 111.91W
09/27/2014 MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
INDIAN BEND WASH FLOWING AT LEAST 2 FEET DEEP OVER
OSBORN RD. MILLER RD FROM 2ND ST TO OSBORN HAS WATER TO
TOP OF CURB.
0416 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 ESE SAN TAN MOUNTAIN 33.14N 111.62W
09/27/2014 M0.57 INCH PINAL AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
MEASURED IN 10 MIN. WASHES RUNNING 4 INCHES DEEP
0425 PM FLOOD 3 NNW SKY HARBOR AIRPOR 33.48N 112.03W
09/27/2014 MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
24TH STREET AND THOMAS... ROAD FLOODED AND UNPASSABLE.
0433 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 ESE SAN TAN MOUNTAIN 33.14N 111.62W
09/27/2014 M1.05 INCH PINAL AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
MEASURED IN 30 MIN. THIS AMOUNT IS DIFFERENT THAN
PREVIOUS AMOUNT FROM SAME LOCATION.
0437 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 WNW SAN TAN VALLEY 33.18N 111.58W
09/27/2014 PINAL AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
FIVE 12-14 INCH DIAMTER TREES BLOWN DOWN
0439 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 N SAN TAN VALLEY 33.19N 111.57W
09/27/2014 M1.00 INCH PINAL AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER MEASURED 1.00 INCH OF RAIN BETWEEN 4...10 PM
AND 4...39 PM. STREET FLOODING WITH WATER NEAR TOP OF
CURB.
0520 PM HEAVY RAIN 3 SE TEMPE 33.36N 111.90W
09/27/2014 M2.14 INCH MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL RAIN OVER LAST FEW HOURS
0528 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 WSW FOUNTAIN HILLS 33.59N 111.78W
09/27/2014 M2.14 INCH MARICOPA AZ TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL RAIN MEAUSRED OVER 3 HOURS.
0803 PM FLOOD 2 NE APACHE JUNCTION 33.43N 111.52W
09/27/2014 PINAL AZ DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
STATE ROUTE 88 CLOSED FROM MP 200 TO MP 202 DUE TO
FLOODING
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