Dust storms in Arizona cut power as monsoon rain fills the week
Arizona enters an active monsoon week with rain chances nearly every day after dust storms in Arizona knocked out power for thousands of Salt River Project customers in the Phoenix area. Forecasters expect the same storm pattern through the weekend, with Thursday and Friday likely the wettest days as Valley highs cool into the low 100s.
Monsoon season is delivering a one-two punch across the state: blowing dust and utility outages followed by repeated storm chances. Local forecasters say the pattern is not a one-night event.
Key Takeaways
- FOX 10 Phoenix forecasts daily monsoon storm chances across Arizona through the weekend, peaking Thursday and Friday.
- Dust storms in Arizona contributed to SRP power outages near Avondale, Buckeye Road, and east of San Tan Valley on July 13.
- ABC15 reported roughly 10,800 utility customers without power across the Valley as storms rolled through Monday evening.
- Valley temperatures are expected to gradually fall, with highs only reaching the low 100s by week's end.
What happened when dust storms hit the Phoenix area?
Storms moved through the Valley on Monday with strong winds, rain, and blowing dust. According to AZ Family, thousands of Salt River Project customers lost power after a dust storm swept the Phoenix metro.
Two outages affected about 1,500 customers near Avondale Boulevard and Buckeye Road. SRP officials were investigating the cause, though a dust storm had moved through the area. Estimated restoration was around 10 p.m.
A separate weather-related outage hit about 1,000 SRP customers east of San Tan Valley. As the evening progressed, ABC15 Arizona reported roughly 10,800 customers without power Valley-wide as of 10:50 p.m.
Why is rain expected all week across Arizona?
FOX 10 Phoenix reports Arizona faces a highly active monsoon period with daily storm chances persisting through this week and into next week. Parts of the state could see rain throughout the week.
Monday evening brought severe thunderstorms to areas including Florence and Kearny with 60 mph wind gusts, small hail, heavy rain, and lightning. Northern Arizona also saw flash flood warnings. In the Valley, storms could produce strong winds, small hail, and more blowing dust before ending around 10 p.m.
Starting Tuesday, skies clear overnight before storms build over Arizona mountains by 2 p.m. and track southwest through the afternoon and evening. The same cycle is expected daily through the weekend.
What should Arizona residents expect through the weekend?
The most widespread storm activity is likely Thursday and Friday, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. Flash flooding remains possible in mountain areas, along with strong winds, lightning, and blowing dust with each round of storms.
Temperatures should gradually cool across the Valley. Highs are forecast to climb only into the low 100s by week's end, with overnight lows in the 80s—a shift after weeks of extreme heat.
For readers tracking how extreme weather reshapes infrastructure and daily life, see more coverage in our Future Tech & AI Wonders section as Arizona's monsoon pattern unfolds.