Storms Rip Through Phoenix, Closing Airport
Thousands left without power, interstate closed.
— -- Fierce storms that rolled through the Phoenix area this afternoon shut down the airport, forced closure of part of the interstate and left tens of thousands without power.
Air traffic in and out Phoenix Sky Harbor was shut down for about an hour this afternoon due to the weather, the airport tweeted. By the time service resumed, more than 40 flights had been diverted to other airports, a Sky Harbor spokeswoman 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," airport spokeswoman Julie Rodriguez said this evening in a statement.
The storm rolled in this afternoon with a wall of dark gray clouds.
The dense clouds and torrential rain quickly limited visibilty, bringing traffic to a near standstill.
The storm forced authorities to close a section of Interstate 17 in Phoenix, with no estimated time for when the freeway would re-open.
Throughout the city, trees, branches and debris littered streets and at least one traffic light was knocked over.
The Salt River Project utility said that more than 31,000 customers were without power.
The fierce storms that temporarily stopped flights at Sky Harbor Airport comes a day after 30 flights en route to Phoenix were diverted because of high winds, lightning and heavy rain.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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