Tucson's later-than-usual monsoon-style storms continued Tuesday evening with widespread rain and lightning strikes at two homes on the northwest side.
The first house struck was in the 4900 block of West Didion Drive, near North Camino de Oeste and West Cortaro Farms Road, said Capt. Adam Goldberg, a Northwest Fire District spokesman.
The lightning hit the rear portion of the roof, setting it on fire and causing about $2,000 damage, Goldberg said.
Lightning also struck a home about two miles away in the 8300 block of North Veranda Place, near Cortaro Farms and North Oldfather roads, he said. The home had minimal damage, he said.
No injuries were reported from either strike, Goldberg said.
Almost every area of Tucson and its suburbs saw measurable rainfall Tuesday, with some areas receiving almost an inch of rain, according to Pima County Regional Flood Control District gauges.
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The Cañada del Oro Wash at Big Wash in Oro Valley received 0.94 of an inch, while Arroyo Chico at South Cherry Avenue in midtown had 0.75 of an inch as of 10 p.m.
To the north, in the Phoenix area, high winds, heavy rain and golf-ball-sized hail swept through Tuesday, downing power lines, severely damaging homes and temporarily closing Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, The Associated Press reported.
Some flights were diverted from Sky Harbor, but most circled the airport, waiting for the weather to clear, airport spokeswoman Deborah Ostreicher said.
Mesa fire Capt. Forrest Smith said a microburst downed 19 power poles, at least three of which landed on homes. In all, 38 homes were damaged by the storm, 12 severely, and about 100 people were displaced, Smith said.
"It's pretty insane out here," Smith said.
A power line fell across busy Interstate 17 in central Phoenix, shutting down traffic in both directions. No one was hurt.
Flooding swamped freeways throughout the area, with water rising to two feet deep on parts of I-17.
Contact reporter Jamar Younger at jyounger@azstarnet.com or 573-4115.
