Storms soak Phoenix, disrupt air traffic
PHOENIX – Intense storms swept through the Southwest on Saturday, snapping trees and shrouding metropolitan Phoenix in cascading showers while also bringing flooding to parts of Nevada.
The skies above downtown Phoenix were completely gray in the afternoon as strong winds, thunder and rain hit the region. The visibility of buildings was almost entirely obscured by rain and clouds.
The storm forced authorities to close a section of Interstate 17 for more than an hour due to flooding. Flight departures and landings resumed about 3:30 p.m. after they were halted for an hour at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. But airport spokeswoman Julie Rodriguez said delays were expected into the evening. More than 40 flights scheduled to land in Phoenix were diverted to other airports, she said.
“The wind caused some damage to the roof of Terminal 2 in the baggage claim area and in some of the gate areas. However, all three terminals at Sky Harbor are operational,” Rodriguez said in a statement.
Branches and debris littered streets around the city and at least one traffic light was knocked over. Some trees were toppled by the ensuing wind. The Salt River Project utility said about 31,000 customers were without power Saturday afternoon.
Most of the outages were in west Phoenix and suburbs west of Phoenix, with smaller clusters reported in Scottsdale, Mesa and Tempe. Utility officials estimated that power would be restored sometime Saturday.
Phoenix Fire Capt. Benjamin Santillan said firefighters were helping to locate a hiker in south Phoenix stranded by a washed-away trail. The woman was hiking with her dog when the rain hit. Santillan said she was able to find her way to a road and crews were using her cellphone signal to find her.
Crews, meanwhile, responded to multiple calls around the city of trees falling on vehicles and small electrical-related fires.
National Weather Service meteorologist Valerie Meyers said a record-breaking 1.6 inches of rain had been recorded. That total surpassed the 1.46 inches reported on the date in 1903. The weather was a mix of Phoenix’s first fall storm and leftover monsoon moisture, National Weather Service meteorologist Marvin Percha said.
In northern Arizona, Flagstaff residents also saw showers, thunder and lightning Saturday.