Thunderstorm activity affects widespread parts of the Valley

PHOENIX — Thunderstorm activity was affecting cities around the Valley on Wednesday night.

The activity initially started around 7:30 p.m. as outflow winds, as strong as 40 mph, descended into the Valley and blew dust around Pinal County, according to an X post from the National Weather Service (NWS).

Around half an hour later, the weather authority posted about “isolated cells with some thunder” developing in northern and eastern metro Phoenix. NWS told Arizonans to expect the cells to produce brief downpours and gusty winds.

More showers and storms were developing around central and northern metro Phoenix around 8:45 p.m.

There was a severe thunderstorm warning issued for Avondale, Glendale and Peoria until 10 p.m. NWS warned Arizonans to expect 60 mph winds and possible pea-sized hail.

Another NWS syndication account included Buckeye, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, central Phoenix, north Phoenix, South Mountain and Ahwatukee in the thunderstorm’s impact area.

Was thunderstorm activity expected in the Valley?

Mark O’Malley of NWS told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Tuesday morning that there would be an increase in moisture across south-central Arizona later in the week.

“We’ll first look at some gusty winds coming into the area,” O’Malley said. “But by Thursday-Friday, there’s a better chance of rainfall in the metro, between a 30 and 50% chance.”

However, O’Malley noted that the rain wasn’t expected to blanket the Valley.

The only measurable rainfall in Phoenix since the start of the monsoon season, on June 15, was on July 2. That day Phoenix Sky Harbor, which the NWS uses for the city’s official readings, saw 0.16 inches of rain.

Related

Phoenix forecast calls for more extreme heat followed by chance for rainBack-to-back haboobs blanketed Phoenix with dangerous levels of dustMore storms possible in Phoenix area after damaging nightSevere weather with dust, rain rolls into Valley Sunday nightPhoenix hit by twin category 5 haboobs this week, a first in 16 years of recordsDust storm sends Phoenix air quality to dangerous levels, with more on the way