Hail makes rare appearance as storms roll through Phoenix area

PHOENIX — Some strange weather hit parts of the Valley on Tuesday afternoon and early evening, bringing showers, blowing dust and even hail.

Penny- to quarter-sized hail was reported on the east side in Apache Junction and San Tan Valley, in northeast Phoenix near Cave Creek, and in the West Valley in Peoria and Glendale, according to the National Weather Service.

“These storms have the ability to produce hail up to quarter even ping-pong-ball size, some gusty winds,” Larry Hopper of the National Weather Service’s Phoenix office told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

Hopper said the storms were expected to dissipate by 7 p.m.

Much of the Valley at least saw rain, adding to the totals for the wettest October in Phoenix history.

Twitter user Molly Skaar posted video of hail falling in Gold Canyon.

Hail in Gold Canyon pic.twitter.com/Nu6wKvwcdv

— Molly Skaar (@SkaarMolly) October 23, 2018

Matt Pace, a meteorologist for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, posted a photo showing hail around an inch in diameter that fell in the Apache Junction/Cave Creek area.

More hail falling in #GoldCanyon and #ApacheJunction as a severe thunderstorm moves through. Photo from @azsail #azwx pic.twitter.com/gr9sm3KX2D

— Matt Pace (@MattPaceWeather) October 23, 2018

After the storms moved west, the Peoria Police Department captured video of the downpour.

It’s pouring and hailing here in Peoria, please stay safe and do not enter flooded roadways. #PeoriaPDAZ #peoriapoliceaz #hail #weather #storm #phoenixweather #PHXWeather #Flooding pic.twitter.com/znJB7lFpBg

— Peoria Police (AZ) (@PeoriaPoliceAZ) October 24, 2018

Before the storms cooled things off, the temperature reached a high of 89 degrees in Phoenix.

Once this system moved through the area, clear skies were in the forecast with highs in the mid to upper 80s for the rest of the week.

Can you see the second rainbow? This photo was taken at ADOT's Traffic Operations Center at 23rd Ave. and Durango. #phxtraffic pic.twitter.com/DPvUIrGLdy

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) October 24, 2018

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Kathy Cline contributed to this report.

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