Monsoon storms bring flooding, power outages and roof damage across metro Phoenix

A series of monsoon thunderstorms swept through metro Phoenix and northern Arizona this week, bringing heavy rain, high winds, hail and lightning. The storms triggered flash flood warnings and watches, knocked out power to thousands of customers, forced a temporary ground stop at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and left significant roof and property damage in some West Valley communities.

What happened during the storms?

On Wednesday afternoon and evening, scattered severe thunderstorms developed across the Valley, moving from the West Valley eastward. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for Avondale and Estrella Mountain Park, where a storm sat nearly stationary and produced wind gusts up to 60 mph and hail as large as a nickel. Warnings followed for Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, then for Mesa, Gilbert and Tempe, as the storm system tracked across the region. A flash flood warning covering Maricopa County remained in effect until 12:30 a.m.

Power outages accumulated through the evening: Arizona Public Service (APS) reported outages climbing from 259 to 4,290 affected customers, while Salt River Project (SRP) reported figures ranging from about 1,579 to 1,609 customers without power at various points, according to each utility’s outage maps. Chandler police reported multiple downed power lines near downtown. Phoenix Sky Harbor issued a ground stop because of the storms, first set to lift around 7:15 p.m., then extended to 8 p.m. before being lifted early — though flight delays continued as airlines worked through the backlog.

The Maricopa County Flood Control District tracked rainfall totals across the Valley overnight, with heavy rain, high winds and hail reported in multiple spots as of a 10:30 p.m. update.

How bad was the damage?

In Avondale, homeowners and roofing contractors described unusually severe damage to concrete tile roofs. Randy Bailin, a project manager at Valley Roofing & Repair, said he had never seen this level of damage on heavy concrete roofs despite years in the business, and one Avondale homeowner, identified only as George, compared the aftermath to “a disaster zone.”

What’s happening beyond the Phoenix metro area?

Northern Arizona also took a hit. Heavy rain turned streets in Flagstaff into flowing water, and a flash flood watch was issued for the region. In Coconino County, crews worked around the clock to repair hundreds of miles of roads, including routes on the Navajo Nation, during what was described as the county’s first substantial monsoon season in two years. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings across parts of Arizona through the afternoon, and flood watches covered much of central and northern Arizona as storm chances were expected to increase overnight.

How should homeowners handle storm damage and repairs?

Industry professionals advise staying off wet or damaged roofs, documenting all damage with timestamped photos and video before cleanup, and taking immediate steps — such as boarding up broken windows and tarping roof breaches — to prevent further damage. Justin Skipton, CEO of Skipton & Associates Public Adjusting Firm, said homeowners have a duty under their insurance policy to mitigate damage but are not required to complete full repairs themselves. He also warned against signing anything with door-to-door contractors without first checking reviews and confirming licensing through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Both Skipton and Bailin recommended getting at least three repair estimates, verifying contractors’ Arizona licenses, and questioning contractors about what damage they say they see before agreeing to any work. Skipton emphasized that contractors cannot legally negotiate insurance claims on a homeowner’s behalf — only a licensed public adjuster can do that.

What comes next for the weather?

After the storms, forecasters expect a sharp swing back toward heat, with temperatures returning to the triple digits later in the week and possibly reaching 107 degrees by Sunday. Additional storm activity was still possible through the following days as the monsoon pattern continued to affect the region.

Why does this matter?

Monsoon season regularly brings a mix of much-needed rain and hazardous, fast-moving storms to Arizona, and this week’s activity illustrated both sides: replenished moisture for drought-prone areas like Coconino County, alongside flash flooding, infrastructure strain, and property damage that can leave homeowners vulnerable to both storm risk and predatory repair contractors.

Sources

• 12 News Phoenix — Rain, thunderstorms hit Valley · Monsoon storms trigger flood watch across Northern Arizona, wash out Navajo Nation roads · Flood warnings issued throughout Arizona as storms move across state
• FOX 10 Phoenix — Monsoon moves through the Phoenix area · Monsoon: How to protect your home and avoid storm repair scams · Monsoon: Protecting your home after the storms · Hot weekend expected for Phoenix · Flagstaff streets flood after heavy monsoon rain
• ABC15 Arizona — RAINFALL TOTALS: How much rain has fallen around the Valley? 8-12-26 · LIVE UPDATES: Scattered monsoon storms across the Valley

Featured photo: Photograph by Hngrange via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)