Arizona Weather Force has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch effective for August 7, 2024
Zones Issued For: Maricopa, Pinal, Pima, Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Yavapai, and Coconino Counties … Mogollon Rim …
Scottsdale Tornado: Radar images suggest there was an area of rotation that briefly spun up a tornado in Scottsdale, Arizona on Tuesday night, within the AZWF Tornado Watch zone. Images and localization suggest this was not a microburst. Car windows were blown out, and images show the trees and power poles are pointing in different directions. So, Arizona Weather Force will officially say a tornado did hit Scottsdale on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Now for the forecast for today.
Discussion: The ridge of high pressure will be centered at the Nevada and Utah border. This will continue to bring a northeast flow through Arizona, and northeast to southeast flows bring severe thunderstorm development across the rim, including the Flagstaff forecast zones during the afternoon hours, pushing south and southwest with time into the Phoenix, Pinal forecast zones. Prescott, you’re going to get hit with a severe storm out of the northeast today as they exit the ‘tornado chance’ zone over Flagstaff, Sedona, and Happy Jack.
Tucson and Cochise County, your storms will move southeast to northwest with the easterly wave to your southwest in Mexico. It is very likely that Tucson will see severe thunderstorms with this event and flow.
Damaging winds and large hail will be possible with these, along with flooding in the strongest cells, and of course, if you manage to get into the tornado chance zone, snap a photo of the clouds.
KEEP IN MIND: Monsoon events like this can mean you either get hit or missed by even a mile or so. Arizona Weather Force works on ‘zones’, not backyards.
These storms will push toward the Colorado River Valley. Although you are not in the watch, you can see blowing dust and isolated storm chances overnight …
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued here at Arizona Weather Force means that conditions are favorable for hail, damage wind, flooding, and if mentioned a small tornado risk.
As always, we take it one day at a time with these events
Raiden Storm
Master General Meteorologist