The National Weather Service issued severe thunderstorm warnings for Maricopa County until 6:45 p.m. for Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe and Paradise Valley, with wind expected to reach 60 mph and pea-size hail possible.
The weather service also issued a flash flood advisory for Maricopa County until 9:30 p.m., where small stream flooding in urban areas could occur due to excessive rainfall, according to the advisory. The advisory included Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Paradise Valley, downtown Scottsdale, Camelback Mountain and Papago Park.
Up 1.5 inches of rain was measured in Maricopa County, with an additional half an inch expected, according to the weather service.
A wall of dust moved across the East Valley.
Storms in the area were expected to last until at least 6:45 p.m.
Lightning was already responsible for a wildfire burning near inaccessible terrain off U.S. 60 near Bryce Thompson Arboretum, about an hour east of the Phoenix area.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport saw delays of between 30 and 45 minutes due to the thunderstorms, according to FlightAware. The airport issued a ground stop for all traffic until 6:30 p.m.
At about 5:40 p.m., heavy rain could be seen on ADOT traffic cameras near Loop 202 during rush hour in Tempe, but there were no major road closures as a result of the storm, according to AZ511.
Nearly 5,000 SRP customers in the East Valley were without power as the utility company worked to restore access before 6:30 p.m., according to an online outage map.
By 6:20 p.m., power was restored to some East Valley customers, but thousands lost power in north Tempe and south Scottsdale, according to the outage map, with some customer's power not expected to return until after 9 p.m.
As the storm progressed across the Valley, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued until 6:45 p.m. for Fountain Hills, Paradise Valley and Scottsdale, according to the National Weather Service.
A line of severe thunderstorm winds was located along a line extending from San Tan Valley to near Magma to near Florence Junction, moving northwest at 40 mph; 60 mph wind gusts were expected and dense blowing dust was expected. The weather service posted via X that "being inside sturdy shelter is the best plan!".
State Route 287 was closed in both directions in east Florence due to a downed power line on the road, with eastbound traffic closed at Valley Farms Road and westbound at Main Street, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. There was no estimated time for the freeway to reopen, according to ADOT.
Expect damage to roofs, siding and trees.
Locations impacted 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.
This included the following highways: U.S. 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.
A severe thunderstorm also was located 10 miles southeast of Tonto National Monument, or 12 miles southeast of Roosevelt, moving north at 30 mph; 60 mph wind gusts and penny-size hail were expected.
Expect damage to roofs, siding and trees.
Locations impacted included Top-Of-The-World and Roosevelt Estates.
This includes the following highways: U.S. 60 near mile marker 237; State Route 188 between mile markers 220 and 237.
A severe thunderstorm also was located over Top-Of-The-World, or 8 miles northeast of Superior, moving north at 15 mph; 60 mph wind gusts and nickel-size hail were expected.
Expect damage to roofs, siding and trees.
Locations impacted included Superior, Miami, Top Of The World, Top-Of-The-World, Claypool, and Inspiration.
This includes the following highways: U.S. 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 make a good thunderstorm
For the latest watches and warnings, see our weather alert page.
Tips for driving in the rain
The Arizona Department of Transportation provided the following safety tips for driving in the rain:
Inspect windshield wipers and replace them if necessary prior to expected rainfall.
Turn on the headlights.
Reduce speeds.
Avoid sudden braking on wet pavement.
Create a "space cushion" between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.
Avoid areas where water has pooled in travel lanes.
How to protect yourself from lightning strikes
Here are lightning safety tips from the National Weather Service:
Pay attention to the weather. If you see big blue clouds, otherwise known as thunderheads, go inside. These types of clouds could mean a thunderstorm is coming.
Get in a building with plumbing and wiring. If lightning strikes the building, the lightning will be conducted around and into the ground.
Stay in your car. A vehicle will give you protection as electricity from lightning will pass through the vehicle's structure instead of hitting you.
Get off open water. A boat out on the water is likely to be the most prominent object and you could be struck.
Do not shower or bathe. If lightning hits your pipes, it could be conducted into the water in your bath or shower.
Do not use electric appliances with plugs or cords. Wireless cellphones 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 bolt, that means the thunderstorm's distance is threatening. Wait at least 30 minutes after you hear the last thunder to go out. That gives the storm enough time to move away or dissipate.
You don’t have to be near a storm to get struck. Lightning strikes can easily travel 10 miles or more. A record lightning flash in Oklahoma in 2007 traveled nearly 200 miles. Seek shelter if you hear thunder.
Do not shelter under a tree. If lightning strikes the tree, the ground charge from the strike could travel into you.
Don't huddle in a group. If you are outdoors with friends or family during a thunderstorm, don't all clump together. Keeping separation could reduce the number of people injured if lightning strikes.
This article was generated by The Arizona Republic and USA TODAY Network using data released by the National Weather Service. It was edited by a staff member.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sky Harbor issues ground stop; thousands lose power in Phoenix storms
