After a series of severe warning on thunder storms on Thursday afternoon soon followed the rain and hail.

The monsoon started primarily in the north phoenix, around Lake pleasant on interstate 17, towards surprise near the fountain hills area. Storms hit the metro area late in the afternoon, dropping heavy rain on the region.

All the flights at the Sky Harbor International airport were grounded due to the storm and heavy rain. Before grounding all the flights there were delays in many flights. Later at 6:15 pm all the flights had resumed, most delays were finished by 8.30 p.m.

A tornado was spotted at south of downtown phoenix by national weather service just after 5 p.m on Thursday . it lasted only for a brief  amount of time.

The monsoon caused collapse of a roof at the shopping mall near 44th Street and McDowell Road.

Different parts of the valley are experiencing power outrages, around 1500 customers in Glendale, near the cross-section of 59th and olive avenues early in the storm and over 8000 customers getting effected by floods.

The storm causes phoenix zoo to close for a day. All the animals are accounted to be safe but still the damage is to be estimated. As the zoo is in the middle of the area hit hardest by the monsoon.

The zoo director said “We are still in the early assessment phase of the damage, but there are multiple trees down. The tent at our lakeside area has been destroyed, the tenting and canopy at stingray bay is torn in half, as well as flooding and debris litter and covering several trails of the zoo among other damage".

To ensure the safety of all guests, staff and animals, they will close the zoo to clean up.

By A.s