Monsoon storms bring rain, lightning to downtown Phoenix
Watch lightning strike in downtown Phoenix after monsoon storms brought rain on Aug. 13, 2025.
Flooding on the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway in Phoenix caused delays for morning commuters on Aug. 14.
Standing water was reported to be blocking the HOV and left lanes on the northbound side of the freeway near Lower Buckeye Road, the Arizona Department of Transportation posted on X, formerly Twitter.
ADOT spokesperson Doug Nintzel explained in an email that runoff from an overnight storm had built up along the northbound lanes near Lower Buckeye Road.
Crews responded late on Aug. 13 to remove debris from the drainage system beneath the left shoulder. That work enabled the standing water to drain by early Aug. 14.
The freeway remained open, with the left three lanes blocked, for a time. A street sweeper was also brought in to remove dirt and other debris that had gathered on the pavement, Nintzel said.
“We were able to reopen most lanes shortly after 6 this morning. Everything was open at about 9 a.m.,” he said.