Thunderstorm Wind — Maricopa, Arizona

2022-07-17 · near Dreamland Villa, Maricopa, Arizona

Event narrative

SR-87 was closed between Loop-202 and Shea Blvd due to widespread wind damage. One mobile home and one modular home were destroyed resulting in one injury, requiring the person to be transported to the hospital and be placed in the Intensive Care Unit. Numerous power poles were blown down as well as several transmission towers that had collapsed. The transmission towers were in an area west of Gilbert Rd and along Highway 87. Salt River Project (SRP) utilities confirmed a total of 16 power poles were either blown over or snapped. They also confirmed another 5 (230 volt) transmission towers had collapsed. Other less severe damage was widespread across the region that included shingles blown off numerous homes, tree damage and damage to road signs. 20 other homes were listed as inhabitable. Initial wind estimates from NWS Phoenix were 80-100 mph. SRP rated their transmission towers for 90-95 mph. So, speeds may have actually been 100+ mph.

Wider weather episode

Mid-level flow of 25-30 kts and divergence aloft combined with sufficient MLCAPE of greater than 1000 J/kg to result in an environment favorable for the development of organized severe thunderstorms. A cluster of thunderstorms developed across southeast Pinal County during the late afternoon hours and moved northwestward through the Phoenix Metro after dark while becoming severe in the process. One of the more significant damage areas was along SR-87 in Salt River Reservation Community, where a mobile home and trailer park were destroyed and large transmission lines were downed. Power was knocked out for some for more than 2 days. A large dust storm also impacted parts of Pinal County.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.4997, -111.8009)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1048130. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.