The National Weather Service issued severe thunderstorm warnings for Maricopa County until 6:45 p.m. for Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe and Paradise Valley; winds are expected to reach 60 mph and pea-sized hail is possible.
The weather service also issued a flash flood warning for Maricopa County until 9:30 p.m., where excessive rainfall could cause small river flooding in urban areas, the warning said. The warning included Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Paradise Valley, downtown Scottsdale, Camelback Mountain and Papago Park.
Up to 1.5 inches of rain was measured in Maricopa County, with another 0.5 inches expected, the weather service said..
A wall of dust swept across the eastern valley.
The storms in the region are expected to last until at least 6:45 p.m.
Lightning strikes have already caused a wildfire in remote terrain off U.S. 60 near the Bryce Thompson Arboretum, about an hour east of Phoenix.
According to FlightAware, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport experienced delays of between 30 and 45 minutes due to the storms. The airport imposed a ban on all air traffic until 6:30 p.m.
At around 5:40 p.m., ADOT traffic cameras showed heavy rain near Loop 202 during rush hour in Tempe, but no major road closures were caused by the storm, according to AZ511.
According to an online outage map, nearly 5,000 SRP customers in the East Valley were without power while the utility worked to restore access before 6:30 p.m.
Power was restored to some customers in the East Valley by 6:20 p.m., but thousands in north Tempe and south Scottsdale were affected by power outages, according to the outage map. Some customers are not expected to have power restored until after 9 p.m.
As the storm moved across the valley, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Fountain Hills, Paradise Valley and Scottsdale until 6:45 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
A monsoon storm brings a cloud of dust through the Phoenix area
A drone captures a cloud of dust kicked up by a monsoon storm as it passes through the southeastern valley on August 22, 2024.
Michael Chow and Katherine Chircus
A line of severe thunderstorm winds was located along a line stretching from San Tan Valley through Magma to Florence Junction, moving northwest at 40 mph. Wind gusts of 60 mph and thick dust were expected. The weather service advised via X that “it is best to stay in a stable shelter!”
According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, State Route 287 was closed in both directions in eastern Florence due to a downed power line. Eastbound traffic was closed at Valley Farms Road and westbound traffic was closed at Main Street. There was no estimated time for the highway to reopen, according to ADOT.
Expect damage to roofs, facades and trees.
Affected locations included Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, East Mesa, Queen Creek, Gold Camp, Falcon Field Airport, Lost Dutchman State Park, Goldfield, Usery Mountain Park, San Tan Village Mall, San Tan Valley and Seville.
These included the following highways: US 60 between mile markers 180 and 213; State Route 87 between mile markers 163 and 170; State Route 202 between mile markers 22 and 49.
Also located 10 miles southeast of Tonto National Monument and 12 miles southeast of Roosevelt was a severe thunderstorm moving north at 30 mph. Wind gusts of 60 mph and hailstone-sized particles were expected.
Expect damage to roofs, facades and trees.
The locations affected included Top-Of-The-World and Roosevelt Estates.
These include the following highways: US 60 near mile marker 237; State Route 188 between miles 220 and 237.
A severe thunderstorm was also located over Top-Of-The-World, 8 miles northeast of Superior, moving north at 15 mph. Wind gusts of 60 mph and hailstone-sized grains were expected.
Expect damage to roofs, facades and trees.
Locations affected included Superior, Miami, Top Of The World, Top-Of-The-World, Claypool and Inspiration.
These include the following highways: US 60 between mile markers 227 and 246; State Route 188 between mile markers 217 and 221.
Why is the monsoon so unpredictable? It takes a lot to create a good thunderstorm
For the latest observations and warnings, please visit our Weather Alerts page.
Tips for driving in the rain
The Arizona Department of Transportation offers the following safety tips for driving in the rain:
- Check windshield wipers and replace if necessary before expected rainfall.
- Turn on the headlights.
- Reduce speed.
- Avoid sudden braking on wet roads.
- Create a “space buffer” between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.
- Avoid areas where water has accumulated in lanes.
How to protect yourself from lightning strikes
Here are lightning protection safety tips from the National Weather Service:
- Pay attention to the weather. If you see large blue clouds, also called storm clouds, go inside. These types of clouds could mean an impending thunderstorm.
- Enter a building that has water pipes and wires. If lightning strikes the building, the lightning will be conducted around the building and into the ground.
- Stay in your car. A vehicle will provide you with protection because lightning will pass through the vehicle structure and not hit you.
- Get out of open water. A boat on the water is probably the most conspicuous object and you could be hit.
- Don’t shower or bathe. If lightning strikes your pipes, it could get into the water in your bath or shower.
- Do not use electrical appliances with plugs or cords. Wireless cell phones are OK, as are laptops that are connected to Wi-Fi but not plugged in.
- Follow the 30-30 rule. If you hear thunder within 30 seconds of a lightning strike, it means the storm is dangerously far away. Wait at least 30 minutes after you hear the last thunder. This gives the storm plenty of time to move away or dissipate.
- You don’t have to be near a thunderstorm to be struck. Lightning strikes can easily travel 10 miles or more. A record lightning bolt in Oklahoma in 2007 traveled nearly 200 miles. Seek shelter if you hear thunder.
- Do not seek shelter under a tree. If lightning strikes the tree, the earth charge from the lightning could penetrate you.
- Don’t crowd together. If you’re outside with friends or family during a thunderstorm, don’t crowd together. Keeping your distance could reduce the number of people injured if lightning strikes.
This article was created by The Arizona Republic and USA TODAY Network using data from the National Weather Service. It was edited by a staff writer.
