Surprise deluge floods Phoenix area

TEMPE, Ariz., July 14 (UPI) -- Power was being restored Monday to parts of the Phoenix, area, which were hit by an unexpected downpour and high winds, causing flash flooding.

The flooding was triggered by more than 2 inches of rain that fell in a short period Sunday, The Arizona Republic reported. Especially hard hit were Tempe and South Phoenix, Ariz., where drivers were stranded in ponding water up to 2 feet deep.

Some 5,600 homes in Phoenix and Arizona's East Valley were without electricity because of high winds downing power lines, officials said.

Chris Rasmussen, a National Weather Service meteorologist, told the Tucson Citizen it is unusual too see such high winds combined with rain in July, saying such wet microbursts are more common to Arizona in August.