Tucson Recovers from Powerful Monsoon: Flooding, Outages, and Rainbow Skies

Good morning, this is Tucson Local Pulse for Friday, June nineteenth, and we are glad to be with you. We wake up today still talking about that powerful monsoon storm that swept across Tucson Wednesday evening. The Arizona Daily Star reports it brought heavy rain, flooded streets near Ajo Way and I-19, and even prompted swift water rescues along the Santa Cruz River. Tucson International Airport broke a daily rainfall record, with more than half an inch, and many of our neighbors on the south side are still dealing with downed power poles and lingering outages, according to News 4 Tucson. Because of the holiday, all City of Tucson offices are closed today in observance of Juneteenth, though emergency services continue as normal. The city reminds us that trash and recycling pick up stays on its regular schedule, so we should still roll those bins out on our usual day. The Southern Arizona VA also says its outpatient clinics and administrative offices are closed today, so veterans with non urgent needs may want to call ahead or use online services. Weather wise, we stay muggy. We can expect highs in the upper nineties, with a chance of more afternoon storms building over the Catalinas and drifting toward midtown and the east side. That means we should plan outdoor activities early, watch for blowing dust on I-10, and avoid flooded washes. The weekend outlook keeps that monsoon pattern going, with warm mornings and storm chances each afternoon. Around town, Parks and Recreation is highlighting improvements at Palo Verde Park near South Mann Avenue, with new lighting, courts, and a refreshed playground that should be a nice cooler evening option for families. Visit Tucson is pushing a full slate of summer fun downtown, from live music to local markets, plus Summer Safari Nights at Reid Park Zoo if we want to stroll with the animals after sunset. On the culture front, KXCI continues to list local shows, and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra has its free Just for Kids programs at the music hall, giving families a relaxed way to introduce little ones to live music. For jobs, local recruiters report steady hiring in health care, solar, and logistics, especially around the airport and along South Alvernon and Palo Verde, with posted starting wages often in the mid to upper teens per hour. In real estate, agents say east side and northwest homes under four hundred thousand dollars still move quickly, while luxury listings in the foothills take a bit longer but remain strong. In schools, Tucson Unified highlights end of year achievements, with several high school robotics and mariachi teams earning state level recognition, a point of pride for our students and families. On the public safety side, Tucson Police report multiple storm related rescue calls but no major new violent incidents overnight. Authorities remind us to avoid entering washes, even if the water looks shallow, and to treat dark intersections as four way stops while utility crews continue repairs. For a feel good note, Reuters shared a stunning shot of a rainbow and lightning over Tucson skies after the storm, a reminder of the beauty that often follows our wild weather, and something many of us saw from our porches looking toward the desert. Thank you for tuning in and for making us part of your morning. Remember to subscribe so you never miss a local update. This has been Tucson Local Pulse. We'll see you tomorrow with more local updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta