Monsoon moisture from Mexico triggered intense thunderstorms across the Phoenix metropolitan area early on July 28, 2026, causing widespread power outages, structural and tree fires, and temporary flight delays at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Rainfall began in the early morning, accompanied by severe lightning strikes that ignited multiple fires. In Gilbert, lightning struck a residential palm tree.
Another lightning fire broke out near 7th Avenue and Bethany Home Road in central Phoenix.
Firefighters also extinguished an attic blaze near Central Avenue and Camelback Road, where one resident escaped without injury.
Power utility companies reported major disruptions. Over 1,800 customers lost electricity near Indian School Road and 35th Avenue.
More than 1,300 Salt River Project customers experienced outages in Mesa. Although some power was restored during the morning, crews continued addressing widespread grid failures.
Sky Harbor Airport briefly issued a ground stop before 7:30 a. m.
, delaying nearly 100 flights.
A Gilbert resident described the moment thunder shook his home before a neighbor alerted him to a burning palm tree in his front yard.
“They [Gilbert Fire] let us know there were four other fires in the area that were more severe than ours,” he said.
Firefighters arrived within five minutes and extinguished the flames in 15 minutes before responding to other calls.
“I was just about to get in the shower for work and we heard the loud bang, the thunder.
I didn’t think anything of it,” he added. “But then our neighbor came knocking on the door and said, ‘Hey, your trees are on fire.’”
Fire officials confirmed that lightning was heavily present near the residential fires.
“There was a lot of lightning, kind of the middle of a thunderstorm,” said Lee, a fire official.
“Our investigators are en route to help determine that cause.”
Public safety officials urged residents to take precautions during monsoon season.
“Most Valley residents know how quickly and furiously storms can move in and out, bringing strong winds, dust, rain, and flash flooding,” stated Captain Ashley Losch of the Glendale Fire Department.
“These storms can cause interruptions in services, such as water, power, and gas.”
Weather forecasts indicate storm activity will shift to northern and eastern Arizona by Tuesday afternoon, with Phoenix daytime highs returning above 110 degrees Fahrenheit starting Wednesday.
