A massive line of storms in the 55-60 dbz range roared into West Valley of Phoenix after sunset Wednesday. At first I thought that downtown Phoenix was due so went looking for an urban vantage point where I could work with juxtapositions of reflective highrises and cornices from old buildings like the San Carlos Hotel or Westward Ho. Suddenly though, my metro plans were averted as the line of storms took a different track - making a violent sweep through the West Valley and rearranging landscape and washes. The NOAA cracked that a roof had blown into the highway at 67th Ave. Flash floods were running and trees were toppled, even onto the roof of a Channel 3 anchorwoman's home.
I chased it West on I10, in two-handed driving conditions with sand blowing across the road. The sand made a "sshhh" sound as it blasted my vehicle. I made it to Buckeye but then got word that a multicar pileup had just occurred on I10 in Tonopah, the next couple exits down. It was a massive accident that closed both sides of the Phoenix to Los Angeles corridor. 42 were injured, 4 lost their lives. Vehicles, including 16 commercial ones, met with the sandstorm that I was chasing and became entangled in the zero visibility and high winds causing the accident. This morning, cleanup is still going on. Mother nature had dealt a harsh blow.
As well, two fires north of the Valley broke out on mountaintops due to lightning. One threatened a government tower. When I returned home lastnight, the scent of desert fire was in the air. After I had turned around out of the West Valley, I ended up at the Gila River Indian community. There was some beautiful lightning there and I shot it off Maricopa Road in the Central Deserts. The huge complex with constant lightning blew through the area and ended up turning into a massive bomb over Tohono O'odham Indian lands around 10pm. Lightning trackers were showing thousands of strikes near Ajo eminating from the gigantic MCS that looked like a Christmas tree on radar.
Storms are expected again the next couple nights. This morning the AltoCu and the sultry air is no mistake. Lastnight I was hoping for a peek at a Perseid or two, but overcast lingered. Perhaps the High Country would be better hunting for the weekend.
I carry 10 DeLormes with me in my map bag at all times, and the one I needed was my special Indian Lands map...which of course was on my dining room table when I got home LOL. Blonde caffeinated moments notwithstanding, we eventually found our way to the San Carlos Apachelands and when the storms died, stopped at Apache Gold and watched Vanilla Ice impersonations and country music au plethora performed by an unlikely group of band member lookalikes: Wolfman Jack, Vin Diesel, Owen Wilson, Kid Rock and Greg Brady. If they were any funnier I would have passed out on the floor. Then again, what can you expect from a band whose slogan is "Radioactive Country" 
