On Tuesday night, the Valley was being hit by thunderstorms, and the National Weather Service issued three severe thunderstorm warnings for Maricopa County. The warnings also applied to Pinal County.
Additionally, the meteorological service predicted that a powerful thunderstorm would affect parts of Maricopa County until 11:15 p.m. Doppler radar was monitoring a powerful thunderstorm near New River that was traveling east at 20 mph, with gusts of more than 40 mph, and was producing hail the size of peas.
The lower deserts of south-central Arizona were expected to have scattered strong to severe thunderstorm development, according to the meteorological service. Hail up to half an inch in diameter and winds more than 40 mph are potential outcomes.
The areas that are affected include Aguila Valley; Apache Junction, Gold Canyon; Buckeye, Avondale; Cave Creek, New River; central La Paz; central Phoenix; Deer Valley; East Valley; Fountain Hills, east Mesa; Gila Bend; Kofa; Mazatzal Mountains; New River Mesa; north Phoenix, Glendale; northwest Pinal County; northwest Valley; Pinal County, Superstition Mountains; Rio Verde, Salt River; Scottsdale, Paradise Valley; Sonoran Desert National Monument; South Mountain, Ahwatukee Foothills; southeast Valley, Queen Creek; Tonopah Desert; west Pinal County.
According to the Maricopa County Flood Control District, the West Valley received the most of the rainfall, with sections of Buckeye receiving the highest at 0.87 inches as of 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Nearly 0.4 inches of rain fell in Litchfield Park, compared to 0.35 and 0.24 inches in Surprise and Glendale, respectively.
Although the West Valley received the most of the precipitation, central Phoenix only received 0.35 inches.
Later, the weather service reported wind damage in certain areas of east Mesa at around 9:16 p.m. and warned of a “very dangerous storm” coming into Apache Junction. The storm, according to the EPA, included hail the size of a coin and gusts of 80 mph. It advised locals to stay indoors and away from windows.
A flash flood warning was also issued by the weather service through Wednesday morning at 12:30.
