NEWS

Storms slam Phoenix area: 55,000 without power, roads closed

Weldon B. Johnson, and Nicole Praga
The Arizona Republic
Cars drive along a flooded 19th Avenue Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Phoenix.

A thunderstorm that dropped rain hard and fast over parts of the Phoenix area left city streets looking more like water channels on Monday night.

A line of strong thunderstorms developed south of the Valley Monday evening and turned severe as they roared through central Phoenix and the East Valley. The storms dumped over an inch of rain in less than an hour on some parts of town and caused power outages for about 55,000 customers as of 9 p.m.

Hardest hit appears to have been the central Phoenix area where high winds snapped power poles and caused extensive power outages while heavy rains have caused flooding. The National Weather Service had warned that downtown Phoenix, Tempe, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Papago Park and Arizona State University’s Tempe Campus could experience flash flooding Monday night. The flash-flood warning was set to expire at 11:15 p.m. but was extended until midnight. At 10:47 p.m., a flash-flood warning for Pinal County was extended until 3 a.m.

The Arizona Department of Transportation announced just before 8 p.m. that the Interstate 17 southbound ramp to eastbound and westbound Interstate 10 was closed because of heavy rain and a crash. The closure was expected to remain in place until 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Winds gusting up to 60 mph toppled power lines in various parts of the Phoenix area. Arizona Public Service reported outages to 35,000 of its customers as of 9 p.m., just as Salt River Project was reporting more than 20,000 of its customers were without power.

Fire officials and utility workers were scrambling to address the downed lines and poles Monday night. Initial estimates for when power could return were not available.

In downtown Tempe, which has seen its share of storm activity in the past week, El Hefe restaurant had rain blowing in through its front door when the storm passed over, leaving 2 to 3 inches of water on the floor before workers cleaned it up, according to patrons.

Jamie Holt, a pastor, was at a board meeting at a Lutheran school in north-central Phoenix when the storm swept through.

The rain flooded outdoor walkways, he said, and soaked the seats of his late-model car.

“I left the windows down,” the 31-year-old said, laughing in a parking lot at 16th Street and Bethany Home Road, where tree branches blocked parking spots. “I just heard crazy rain. I love it. I’m glad that it’s finally raining.”

Reporters Peter Corbett and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez contributed to this report.

VALLEY STORM PHOTOS, AUG. 29-31