Hail falls across Phoenix area, but storms are heading out of town

PHOENIX – Hail fell across the Phoenix area Thursday afternoon, but the end was in sight for this week’s storm activity.

Meteorologists were closely watching a wall cloud in the Laveen area that had the potential for becoming a tornado for about 30 minutes, but the threat dissipated by around 4 p.m.

We’ve got hail! ⛈ pic.twitter.com/9DV8WFcSMA

— Goodyear, AZ (@GoodyearAZGov) November 21, 2019

The National Weather Service reported afternoon sightings of hail as large as 1 inch in Goodyear, Avondale, south Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Apache Junction and Queen Creek as the storm moved from west to east across the Valley.

However, the wet, windy weather system that’s been wreaking havoc on driving conditions since Tuesday was in its final stages.

Latest Valley radar…heavy showers to the north. The infamous hail-producing storm, or what's left of it, following the 60 into Mesa. #azwx pic.twitter.com/vKzpyI8H4o

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) November 21, 2019

“We do expect that showers and thunderstorm activity should begin to end here in the next few hours, definitely shortly after sunset occurs today,” Larry Hopper of the National Weather Service in Phoenix told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Thursday afternoon.

The high temperature Thursday was just 62 degrees. The normal high for the date is 73.

Hopper said the sun will return to the Valley on Friday.

“Tomorrow looks like a great day,” he said. “We finally should have a day without showers and thunderstorms, and sunny skies and highs in the mid-60s.”

By early Thursday, data showed most of the region’s cities had collected at least an inch of rain over 48 hours.

Cave Creek was hit hardest with 3.46 inches while the official gauge at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport had only .69.

PSR issues Public Information Statement (PNS) at Nov 20, 7:38 PM MST …PRECIPITATION REPORTS… https://t.co/5uRmfzq7DW

— IEMBot PSR (@iembot_psr) November 21, 2019

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Ashley Flood contributed to this report.

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