Thunderstorm Wind — La Paz, Arizona

2024-08-10 · near Quartzsite Arpt, La Paz, Arizona

Event narrative

Many reports of significant wind damage in Quartzsite due to a severe thunderstorm downburst. The bulk of the wind damage occurred along the area of SR-95 to Riggles Ave and Senter Street to Sunset Street, including damaged or destroyed sheds and sheet metal car ports, roof damage, flipped and destroyed RVs, several downed or snapped trees, and at least one downed power pole. Wind gusts were estimated upwards of 60-70 mph.

Wider weather episode

An upper-level disturbance moving across southern AZ aided in providing the necessary forcing for ascent to result in scattered to locally numerous thunderstorm activity to develop across southwest AZ during the afternoon hours. The combination of MLCAPE values of 500-1000 J/KG and DCAPE values in excess of 1500 J/KG resulted in a favorable environment for the generation of strong to severe downburst winds from these thunderstorms.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.6705, -114.2137)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1206089. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.