Cooler, Drier Air Settles Into Phoenix After Hailstorm Delays Over 400 Sky Harbor Flights

Cooler and drier air is settling into Arizona as weather activity moves out of metro Phoenix and eastern AZ, according to forecasts from ABC15 Arizona and KTAR News 92.3 FM. The calmer conditions follow a rare storm that pelted Phoenix with damaging hail, brought flooding across Arizona overnight, and disrupted air travel, BBC, 12News, and azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic reported.

At Phoenix Sky Harbor, the storms delayed over 400 flights, according to azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic. Across the state, severe Arizona storms brought 72 mph winds and golf ball-sized hail, FOX 10 Phoenix reported. Within the city, the Metrocenter area was pelted by hail and 60 mph winds, according to a separate report from FOX 10 Phoenix. The Australian noted that a timelapse captured storm clouds rolling over Phoenix as the weather system moved through the area.

Residents across the Valley experienced significant impacts from the storm system. Hail and rain pelted the East Valley as the major weather event began, KTAR News 92.3 FM reported. In Phoenix, neighbors described the hailstorm to AZ Family as a "war zone." Following the overnight hail and flooding across Arizona, early morning rain fell in the Valley before the weather activity began moving out, according to 12News and KTAR News 92.3 FM.

The storm system had prompted multiple weather alerts across the region before clearing. KTAR News 92.3 FM reported that Phoenix was placed under a severe thunderstorm watch with potential hail while eastern Arizona faced a tornado risk, and FOX 10 Phoenix noted during the event that storms were not done with Arizona yet. AZ Family also reported that northern Arizona was under a tornado watch while scattered showers were possible for the Phoenix area. As tornado warnings were issued in Arizona amid the severe storms, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix, cabin owner Dave Dever told KTAR News 92.3 FM that he rushed from metro Phoenix to Heber after hearing of a potential tornado.