Arizona’s monsoon season runs from June 15 through September 30, according to the National Weather Service. Storms bring lightning, strong winds, dust and flooding, and power outages often follow. A few simple steps protect your home and electronics, and knowing who to call keeps you safe when the lights go out.
What the monsoon brings
The National Weather Service defines monsoon season in the Southwest as June 15 through September 30. Extreme heat usually comes first. Then moisture moves in, and thunderstorms build on many afternoons and evenings.
These storms bring lightning, strong downburst winds, blowing dust and sudden flooding. Winds can bring down tree limbs and power lines. Lightning can send surges through utility lines into homes. Outages are a common result, and they often come during the hottest part of the year.
Before the season starts
A little planning goes a long way for homes in Sun City and across the West Valley.
Keep flashlights and fresh batteries where you can find them in the dark
Keep a charged phone and a backup battery pack
Know where your main breaker is and how to switch it off
Save your utility’s outage number in your phone
Ask whether a whole-home surge protector makes sense for your home
If you use a powered medical device, plan a backup with your doctor and your utility
Trim branches away from the line that runs to your home, using a professional near power lines
During a storm
The National Weather Service advises unplugging electronic appliances before storms arrive, and avoiding corded phones during thunderstorms. A cell phone that is not plugged in is safe to use.
Stay indoors and away from windows. Do not go outside to check on equipment while lightning is close.
When the power goes out
Check first whether your neighbors are out too. If they are, the outage is on the utility side. Report it to your utility and wait for them to restore it.
Turn off or unplug large appliances and electronics, so they are not hit by a surge when power returns
Leave one light switched on so you know when power is back
Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed
If only your home is out, check your main breaker and the breakers in your panel by opening only the outer door
If a breaker will not reset, or only part of the house is out, call an electrician
Downed lines and flooded equipment
Treat every downed line as live. Stay far away from it and from anything it touches, including fences, puddles and cars. Call 911 and your utility.
If water has reached your panel, outlets, pool equipment or AC equipment, do not touch them and do not turn the power back on. Have an electrician check the equipment before it is used again.
Portable generator safety
The CPSC warns that most deaths linked to portable generators come from carbon monoxide. Follow these rules from its safety guidance.
Run a generator outside only, never in a home, garage, shed or carport area that is enclosed
Keep it at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents
Have working CO alarms in the home
Never plug a generator into a wall outlet to power the house. This can send power back into utility lines and endanger line workers.
Connect the house only through a transfer switch or approved inlet installed by a licensed electrician
After the storm
Watch for signs of damage once power returns: lights that flicker or are brighter than normal, a burning smell, a breaker that will not stay on, or a meter or service mast that is bent or pulled away from the house. Damage to the meter base or the mast is usually your responsibility to repair, and the utility may need a repair before it can restore service.
Surge protection for monsoon storms
Lightning and switching on the utility grid can send short bursts of extra voltage into a home. Plug-in surge strips protect what is plugged into them. A whole-home surge protector at the panel adds a first layer for the whole house, including AC equipment, appliances and pool equipment. The two work well together.
Heat and outages
Monsoon outages often happen on hot days. If you have a powered medical device or are sensitive to heat, plan where you would go if the power stayed off. Keep water on hand. Check on neighbors who live alone, and let family know how to reach you.
Pool and AC equipment
Outdoor equipment takes the worst of monsoon storms. After heavy rain or wind, look at your AC condenser, pool pump and spa from a distance. If boxes are open, wires are exposed, or water is pooling around the equipment, keep it off and have it checked.
When to call us
Call us at (602) 999-2770 and a real person answers, any hour. We will tell you honestly whether it is an emergency or can wait for regular hours, and you will hear the price before anyone drives out. Nights and weekends cost more, and we tell you up front. Our work carries a two-year warranty on labor and material.
Stay away from downed power lines and call 911. If you see smoke or fire, get out and call 911. Never run a generator indoors or in a garage.
Common questions
Should I unplug things during a monsoon storm?
Yes. The National Weather Service advises unplugging electronic appliances before storms arrive. A whole-home surge protector adds another layer of protection.
Who do I call when the power goes out?
If the neighbors are out too, call your utility. If only your home or part of it is out, check your breakers, then call an electrician.
Can I plug my generator into a wall outlet?
No. It can send power back into utility lines and is dangerous. Use a transfer switch or approved inlet installed by a licensed electrician.
