Monsoon storms blows through Phoenix area, thousands lose power

PHOENIX — A monsoon storm wiped out power to thousands of West Valley residents late Sunday, and blew a wall of dust, knocked over trees, wrecked homes and flashed lightning in and around Phoenix.

Arizona Public Service’s outage map showed at least 10,000 customers in Buckeye were in the dark after rain and wind blasted through the city, taking down power lines along the way. Winds were estimated to have been as high as 50 mph.

Multiple power lines and poles were downed, but the utility company hoped to have the electricity restored by noon Monday, when the high was expected to be 104 degrees.

Extra equipment was brought in and crews were “working around the clock,” Jill Hanks, a spokeswoman for APS told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News.

“It’s all hand on deck out there,” she said.

By around 1:30 p.m., the majority of customers had their electricity flowing again. Only about 400 were still waiting.

We are experiencing multiple outages in metro Phoenix due to weather. Our crews are working hard to restore power. Please check https://t.co/aE4JYrhTc1 for updates, and thank you for your patience.

— APS (@apsFYI) July 9, 2018

The main phone line to Buckeye Police, 623-349-6400, was out of order all morning but the department could be reached at 623-695-8476 or 623-695-9297.

The National Weather Service’s Phoenix office said a little rain would fall during the commuter rush and there was a chance of more storms later.

There was more than a little rain the night before. Washes in rural areas of Arizona flooded. More than a half-inch of rain fell in Gila Bend.

A look this morning at the two trailer homes that were lost due to the roughly 40 mph winds last night in #Buckeye. One family says, they had to shift through debris to escape to safety. #abc15 pic.twitter.com/HE2A53TCu5

— Megan Thompson (@MeganABC15) July 9, 2018

THIS is what it's like inside a dust storm (haboob) in AZ! I got OFF of I-10 at Hwy 387 and drove to a side street at 9 p.m. Captured these vehicles driving along I-10 and along Hwy387. Please pull over! #azwx #haboob #duststorm @AMHQ @JimCantore @NWSTucson @NWSPhoenix @KVOA pic.twitter.com/bKnGeSG7gv

— Lori Grace Bailey (@lorigraceaz) July 9, 2018

Here's how the monsoon is shaping our desert home in ways you wouldn't expect https://t.co/KxV09pfbXt ☔️⚡🌧 via @asunews pic.twitter.com/kT18VvYyS7

— Arizona State University (@ASU) July 9, 2018

Beautiful microburst west of Wickenburg. #azwx pic.twitter.com/lrktGyM16c

— John Sirlin (@SirlinJohn) July 9, 2018

Tree down in front of Firehouse 702

A post shared by City Of Buckeye Fire Dept (@buckeyeazfire) on Jul 9, 2018 at 10:01am PDT

Buckeye’s city hall posted to social media that downtown municipal buildings were closed and that residents without power who bought ice would be reimbursed by APS up to a certain amount if they had a receipt.

A cooling station was open at the Coyote Branch Library.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Kathy Cline contributed to this report.

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