Maricopa County hit with severe thunderstorms, flooding
Aug 31, 2015, 8:04 PM | Updated: 9:11 pm
(Photo: Arizona DEQ camera)
PHOENIX — When it rains, it pours. And hails. And floods.
And the Valley got to experience it all Monday night.
National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning around 7:15 p.m. Monday for the downtown Phoenix area, calling for high-speed winds, heavy rain, hail and lightning.
Svr tsm wng till 745 will impact Laveen and downtown PHX. Cpble of prdcing winds in excess of 60 mph, heavy rain, hail, and lightning. #azwx
— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) September 1, 2015
The warning was then extended to 9:45 p.m. after the storm decided to stick around.
We are continuing the svr tstm wng for e cntrl Maricopa cnty & n cntrl Pinal cnty until 945pm. Strng winds in excess of 60 mph. #azwx
— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) September 1, 2015
But Phoenix wasn’t the only Valley area who got to partake in the madness: Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Desert Ridge were all issued a severe thunderstorm warning Monday night, calling for heavy rain, lighting and possible hail.
Svr tstm wrng for the Scottsdale/ Paradise Valley/ Desert Ridge area. Winds > 60 mph, hvy rain, lghtning, & hail psbl. #turnarounddontdrown
— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) September 1, 2015
In true #MonsoonSeason fashion, the severe thunderstorm and the ensuing rain, hail and flooding brought the whole city to a standstill.
Looks like some lightning is moving across the Valley! Time to go up on the roof…. #azwx — Mac Watson™ (@MacWatson) September 1, 2015
This lightning is nonstop! #Arizona #storm #lightning #Phoenix #azwx pic.twitter.com/DZbyhU7Q3B
— Jason Veazey (@JasonVeazey) September 1, 2015
Mac-this is some vid I got before it got really nasty! #azwx pic.twitter.com/EjabLKujCs
— Mac and Gaydos™ (@MacandGaydos) September 1, 2015
It's getting SERIOUS in PHX. Streets flooded, 51 underpasses full of water. Be safe! pic.twitter.com/QEJPONzy5S
— Bruce St. James (@BruceStJames) September 1, 2015
Phoenix Severe Thunderstorm on DEQ cam: #azwx pic.twitter.com/VcxbBTg2Fz — Arizona News (@ArizonaNewsnet) September 1, 2015
About 1 inch of water on Hwy 51 from Catus south. Also, no power from Indian school south #azwx @nwsphoenix https://t.co/PZgANnh341
— Char Dewey (@DeweyWx) September 1, 2015
National Weather Service also issued a flood advisory for Maricopa County until 10:30 Monday night.
Flood wrng for ne Maricopa county especially along I10 & I17 #turnarounddontdrown #azwx
— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) September 1, 2015
Arizona Department of Transportation said the north- and southbound Interstate 17 ramps to east- and westbound I-10 were closed Monday night due to a wreck and flooding.
CLOSED: I-17 North and Southbound Ramps to I-10 are closed because of heavy rain and a crash. Plz avoid! #PhxTraffic
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) September 1, 2015
Phoenix Sky Harbor reported flight delays due to the storm.
Delays due to tonight's storm. Check flight status with your airline before coming to the airport.
— PHX Sky Harbor (@PHXSkyHarbor) September 1, 2015
An Arizona Salt River Project outage map showed over 20,000 residents in Central Phoenix without power as of Monday night.
APS reported an additional 35,000 Valley customers were without power as of Monday night. Officials said repair estimate times would be assessed once the storm passed.
As storm rages in much of Valley, we are working to get a clear picture. At the moment at least 35,000 APS customers are w/o power.
— APS (@apsFYI) September 1, 2015