It was a dark and stormy afternoon, more than 1000 lightning strikes were recorded when two brief but fierce storms blew through Tucson, the storms downed power lines and trees, produced flash flooding and prompted several swift-water rescues. Roads were closed for weeks following the 2 1/2 inches of rain that fell in 90 minutes all over Tucson. Hail as large as 1 inch in diameter fell in midtown, wind gusts reached 60 mph and Tucson Electric Power Co. crews worked overnight to restore power...
more »It was a dark and stormy afternoon, more than 1000 lightning strikes were recorded when two brief but fierce storms blew through Tucson, the storms downed power lines and trees, produced flash flooding and prompted several swift-water rescues. Roads were closed for weeks following the 2 1/2 inches of rain that fell in 90 minutes all over Tucson. Hail as large as 1 inch in diameter fell in midtown, wind gusts reached 60 mph and Tucson Electric Power Co. crews worked overnight to restore power to about 20,000 customers in the Tucson area and 1,800 in Marana. Six power poles were left leaning or by Tucson Mall, one smashed the legendary golden arches sign at McDonald's and eight power poles were down along Tangerine Road in Marana. The hardest-hit area was northwest Tucson, which got 1 1/2 to 2 1/4 inches of rain. The southwest side received between 1 and 2 inches of rainfall. Tucson Mall's roof itself was reportedly damaged, but the extent was unreported. Law enforcement and firefighters responded to multiple calls of motorists in washes, one submerged vehicle at East River Road and North First Avenue. Officials with the Tucson Fire Department fielded 868 calls in a four-hour period Sunday. The Northwest Fire District dispatched firefighters to two swift-water rescues at a wash and a flooded intersection. No one was injured.
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