The Phoenix area got its first big monsoon storm of 2018 on Monday.
The storm system first hit the East Valley and it traveled southeast. A wall of dust traveled through then came torrential rain, complete with thunder and lightning.
The storms caused trees to uproot, damage to houses, flights at Sky Harbor have been delayed. According to the National Weather Service, a new rainfall total was set today, replacing a total from 1996.
The Valley was begging for rain after almost 120 days without it. The weekend weather teased the Phoenix area as it brought downpours to Payson while lightning lit the sky in eastern parts of the county and a dust storm closed parts on Interstate 10. About 15,000 Buckeye residents woke up to no power Monday morning, APS said.
Dust remained in the still, moist air in the Valley all day Monday. The East Valley was the first to see any storm activity Monday afternoon. The storm system then started to move southeast until it drenched Phoenix and headed out toward Yuma later in the evening.
The American Red Cross has opened a cooling center at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Southern Avenue east of 7th Street in Mesa. Those affected in the East Valley by Monday's monsoon storm can come to the cooling center to escape the heat and get water and snacks.
Recall tips on lightning safety, flash flooding, and driving when a dust storm hits.
7:55 p.m.
Besides light rain in the West Valley, most of the storm has left the area. A dust storm and heavy rain is hitting the western parts of the state between Gila Bend and Yuma.
The 12 News radar is showing that the Valley will be completely cleared of storm activity within the hour and once rain passes through Gila Bend, activity in the west will come to an end around midnight.
7:20 p.m.
The wall of dust is continuing to make its way through the state. Traveling east from Yuma on I-8 is not recommended.
6:30 p.m.
Phoenix Technical Rescue teams are responding to a report of an adult male standing on a tree branch in the river bottom off of Central and South of the I-17.
6:20 p.m.
12 News Meteorologist Lindsay Riley says there are no current thunder stor warnings but pretty much everyone in the 101 loop is getting rain. The rain should let up in Phoenix between 7 and 8 p.m., she says.
Pretty much everyone inside the 101 loop is seeing moderate rain.
6:10 p.m.
Crews rescued a woman in her 70s from a car that went into a canal near Alma School & 202 freeway at Bass Pro Drive. The car was flipped upside down. Mesa fire and medical officials say the woman was able to breathe in air pocket in flooded car. She was treated for minor injuries.
5:31 p.m.
NWS says a record rainfall of 0.48 inches was set in Phoenix today. This breaks the old record of 0.44 set in 1996.
5:25 p.m.
The number of flights delayed at Sky Harbor has bumped up to 160.
There are now 20 power outages in metro Phoenix and 13,813 customers are impacted.
5:19 p.m.
The rain is making its way to the West Valley. Here are some rainfall totals at the moment.
Phoenix Zoo Dam #3 - .91" in the past hour
Greenfield and Adobe roads - 1.06"
US 60 at Ellsworth Road - 1.10"
South Mountain Fan - .94"
Thomas Road at 16th St - .98"
Looks like our dry-streak has officially ended.
5:08 p.m.
Latest numbers from APS say there are 17 power outages and 8,824 customers are impacted.
5:00 p.m.
Sky Harbor International Airport now says 124 flights have been delayed due to storm activity.
4:55 p.m.
A roof of an apartment building near 25th and Van Buren streets has been blown off, Phoenix Fire Department said. One person was trapped and is being treated for non-life threatening injuries
4:52 p.m.
12 News lost power in its building-- we are working on generated power.
4:47 p.m.
Paramedic and firefighters and technical rescue teams are working on rescuing occupant in his 70’s from this home near University and Center, officials say.
4:37 p.m.
Sky Harbor International Airport says 94 flights are delayed due to the storm activity.
Downtown Phoenix is getting a shower.
4:32 p.m.
The wall of dust has hit the heart of Phoenix and downtown Phoenix is being sprinkled with rain drops.
PHOTOS: Dust storm rolls over Phoenix area July 9, 2018
4:07 p.m.
SRP is reporting 30,000 people without power mainly in the southeast Valley.
3:53 p.m.
A wall of dust has hit Mesa.
3:40 p.m.
NWS is issuing a severe thunder storm warning for Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert.
3:15 p.m.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for Apache Junction and Gold Canyon, NWS says. SRP is reporting power outages in Apache Junction.
3:00 p.m.
The East Valley is getting showers.
2:30 p.m.
NWS is issuing a slew of thunder storm and flash flood warnings for the Florence, Queen Valley area in Pinal County.
11:50 a.m.
NWS is telling much of Arizona to brace for thunder storms this afternoon.
Isolated showers are already developing over metro Phoenix, NWS says. Any individual thunderstorm will be capable of very strong winds, brief heavy rain.
Sky 12 was over Scottsdale anticipating the storm traveling to the East Valley.
6:16 a.m.
NWS in Tucson said southern Arizona can expect scattered storms to start early this afternoon and continue through tonight.
5:46 a.m.
NWS Phoenix says Valley commuters are seeing a few light showers "hanging around," which "should clear soon." T-storm chances a possible again later today.
5:36 a.m.
Still no measurable precipitation in Phoenix.
On the 12 News Exclusive Monsoon Meter, the Valley was at a 5 for Monday while the High Country showed a 6. Storm chances are in the forecast all week long.
4:40 a.m.
MCDOT says SR 238 is closed between SR 85 and MP 24 during to running washes.
4:19 a.m.
APS says there are about 15,000 people without power in the Buckeye and Southwest Valley near Gila River.
3 a.m.
NWS in Phoenix said the "big winner" in Maricopa County when it came to overnight rain totals was SR 238 between Maricopa and Gila Bend. Over 1.5 inches of rain was recorded there.