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Hourly Update

Summer storm slams Chandler, Gilbert

The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.26.2008
CHANDLER — Packing winds of 60 miles an hour, a summer storm rolled into Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek leaving behind toppled trees, flooded streets and damage at the Chandler Municipal Airport.
The National Weather Service reports more than two inches of rain fell in less than an hour and hail was also reported. The weather service in Phoenix issued a severe thunderstorm warning and an urban and small stream flood advisory.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Mike Bruce said the strongest storm cells struck Gilbert, Queen Creek and northern Pinal County.
Gilbert received 1.22 inches of rainfall at one monitoring station.
Police and fire officials said there weren't any major incidents during the storm.
But police said power lines were down in several areas of Gilbert, and several street lights were also without power.
The weather service received several reports of falling and uprooted trees.
The wind ripped several trees out of the ground according to residents living near Queen Creek's Plaza neighborhood.
Other Queen Creek homes and businesses also flooded.
Employees at Magma Engineering in Queen Creek said there were three or four inches of rain in their workshop.
Owner Mary Clausen said they had two pumps running the entire time to keep the water level down.
"Every time we get a big rain since they put in the street and subdivision around us, we flood," Clausen said. "It's a mess. I think the city is going to have to give us pumps if this keeps up."
At Chandler Municipal Airport, 10 planes were damaged in the storm, along with a hanger and two sections of chain-link fence surrounding the airport, said city spokesman Jim Phipps in an interview with The Arizona Republic.
The airport recorded winds approaching 75 miles per hour, lasting about 10 to 15 minutes after the storm hit around 4 p.m. Monday.
Authorities say two small, single-engine airplanes broke away from their chain tie-downs and flipped on top of other planes parked at the airport.
The damaged airplanes are two- and four-seat models costing between $30,000 and $60,000, Phipps said.
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