Arizona Weather Force has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch effective for August 17, 2024
Zones Issued For: Pima County, including Tucson’s zone – Santa Cruz County – Pinal County – Eastern half of Maricopa County – Southern half of Gila County – Graham and Greenlee Counties – Cochise County.
Discussion: As stated in previous forecasts, the atmosphere will be primed today for severe thunderstorm development. Storms are expected to form across Cochise County and move to the northwest with time, eventually taking over the Tucson forecast zones. Storms forming in New Mexico will send storms westward into Greenlee and Graham County. As the evening hits, outflow from the severe storms over Tucson will move through Pinal County and then into the San Tan zones, eventually as far north as the eastern half of Maricopa County, which includes the Mesa and Fountain Hills forecast zones.
Storms today will have the chance at isolated tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail, and flooding in the strongest cells.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch here at AZWF is issued 0-12 hours before the event is expected.
As always, we take it one day at a time with these events
Raiden Storm
Master General Meteorologist