Highlights
- NWS Phoenix issued a Special Weather Statement at 5:13 p.m. MST Wednesday for areas including Avondale, Goodyear, and Tolleson.
- The storm, tracked over Estrella Mountain Park, carried wind gusts up to 40 mph, pea-size hail, and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning.
- Torrential rainfall raised localized flooding risk; NWS advised against driving through flooded roadways.
- The alert covered I-10 between mile markers 127 and 136 and Route 101 between mile markers 2 and 3, expiring at 5:45 p.m. MST.
The National Weather Service in Phoenix issued a Special Weather Statement at 5:13 p.m. MST Wednesday after Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm over Estrella Mountain Park, moving northeast at 5 mph toward communities including Avondale, Goodyear, Tolleson, Cashion, and Litchfield Park.
The agency cited wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea-size hail as the primary hazards, warning that gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Frequent cloud-to-ground lightning accompanied the storm; NWS noted lightning can strike up to 10 miles from a thunderstorm's center and advised anyone outdoors to seek shelter inside a building or vehicle.
Torrential rainfall also accompanied the storm, raising the risk of localized flooding. NWS warned drivers not to take vehicles through flooded roadways.
The alert covered AZ Interstate 10 between mile markers 127 and 136 and AZ Route 101 between mile markers 2 and 3. Named locations in the warning zone also included Phoenix International Raceway, Camelback Ranch, and Estrella Mountain Ranch.
The statement was effective through 5:45 p.m. MST Wednesday.
Sources
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- api.weather.gov retrieved 13/08/2026 00:15
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 13/08/2026 00:15. Every claim traces to a source.
