Power Outage in Gila Bend, AZ

A powerful Pacific low pressure system moving slowly east across Arizona interacted with deep moisture to produce widespread moderate to heavy rain over western portions of Maricopa County, including the community of Gila Bend, during the morning hours on November 29th. Isolated thunderstorms were present and they further increased rain totals. The heavy rain led to some flash flooding east of Gila Bend and along Highway 238. According to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and the department of transportation, flash flooding caused state route 238 to be closed from milepost 24 to Gila Bend. There were no reports of accidents due to the flash flooding.

Isolated thunderstorms developed over the central deserts west of Phoenix during the evening hours on July 8th, and some of them produced gusty and damaging outflow winds that were at least 50 mph in strength. According to a trained weather spotter in Gila Bend, gusty outflow winds downed power lines and uprooted a tree in the town of Gila Bend. The downed power lines caused about half of the town to lose power as well as landline telephone service. No injuries were reported due to the downed lines.

Scattered thunderstorms developed across south central Arizona during the evening hours on August 30th, and some of them affected the town of Gila Bend. The stronger storms produced gusty and damaging outflow winds estimated to be at least 60 mph in strength. According to a trained weather spotter in the town of Gila Bend, at 1846MST gusty outflow winds snapped some power lines and this resulted in a power outage in town.

An upper level low moving east across southern Arizona spread moisture into south central Arizona and led to scattered thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours on May 9th. Some of the storms in the Gila Bend area produced damaging microburst winds with peak gusts estimated to be at least 60 knots. As reported by the local utility company, at approximately 615 PM the gusty winds downed a tree which blocked traffic on Pima Road and Highway 85. Construction debris from Interstate 8 and Bypass 85 was strewn about by the strong winds. In addition, power lines were downed by sustained winds reported to be in excess of 45 mph and this left most of the town of Gila Bend without power.

Sheriff's Office and DPS reported that 20 power poles were blown down near the intersection of Watermelon Road and old U.S. Highway 80, just outside of Gila Bend.

Rancher reported 18 power poles down.

As many as 12 electric utility power poles were blown down by severe thunderstorm winds. The storm winds also damaged the roof of the Paloma school building, and toppled a large tree onto a house.

A large thunderstorm complex developed over northwest Maricopa County and moved to the south and southwest. The thunderstorm induced gust front, at times over 60 miles long, west to east, caused widespread electric power outages in the Gila Bend area south to Ajo in west Pima County. In the immediate Gila Bend area, thirty-eight 230kv poles downed, and thirty-nine 69kv poles downed. A substation was damaged as well as telephone lines. The reported wind gust of 66 knots was recorded at the Gila Bend municipal airport at 0245. As the gust front moved further to the south and southwest, a total of 140 power poles were blown over as reported by the Arizona Public Service. Electric power services were disrupted up to 5 days.