E.V. storms delay fliers, bring down power lines

Delayed flights, downed power lines, a home ablaze, falling tree limbs. Storms packing flashes, bangs and downpours slammed into Arizona on Thursday, with Sky Harbor airport and neighborhoods across the Valley suffering through the ensuing chaos. And today promises more of the same.

By the time this strong low-pressure system exits early Saturday, some parts of the city might get rainfall totals up to an inch with even more in isolated areas. In the higher terrain east of the Valley, 1-inch amounts will be common.

Gilbert’s Freestone Basin was the Valley’s wettest spot, taking in 1.42 inches of rain with more than a half-inch falling in 30 minutes. A few miles north in Mesa, another gauge caught 1.02 inches.

The Valley’s official total, taken at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport at 5 p.m., was 0.24 inches, the most in one day since Jan. 19.

The precipitation is needed, as the year’s total until Thursday morning was 37 percent of normal at 0.89 inches.

While the Valley could use the rain, travelers at the airport could’ve done without it. Afternoon thunderstorms wreaked havoc with schedules, delaying both arriving and departing flights up to two hours, airport spokeswoman Julie Rodriguez said.

The heavy rain, strong winds and light hail peaked around 1:45 p.m., creating a cascade of postponements that resulted in 55 flights waiting on the tarmac at 3 p.m.

Storms also knocked down power lines on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and shut off street lights in Scottsdale. Salt River Project reported scattered outages, mostly in the East Valley and Scottsdale, that left 3,000 customers in the dark.

Lightning stopped play at the Safeway International LPGA Tour event in Gold Canyon. The golfing resumed after a two-hour delay.

Three Cactus League spring training games were washed out while two others were shortened.

In Mesa, a woman’s home filled with white smoke after lighting struck her roof.

“I heard a loud bang, like a loud snap, then I saw the lightning across the street,” said homeowner Larissa Mejia, wrapped in a blanket and staring from across the street. “I went into all the rooms thinking the house was on fire, but I couldn’t find anything. Then I saw all this white smoke coming from the kitchen.”

While firefighters circled the home at 1405 N. Freestone Circle about 3 p.m., raindrops fell into gaping, black holes.

“I was going to sell this house, but I guess not now,” Mejia said.

In Gilbert, the morning’s storm sent out a lightning bolt that gave resident Ray Torres a fright.

“My neighbor called and said, ‘I don’t want to scare you, but lightning hit my tree and I don’t know which way it’s going to fall,’ ” Torres said.

Rain amounts

as of 8 p.m. Thursday

Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

• Fitch Park – 0.31

• Broadway and Lindsay roads – 1.06

• Freestone Basin – 1.57

• Salt River bed and Priest Drive – 0.43

• Beeline Highway and Gilbert Road – 0.71