Monsoon Fury Wreaks Havoc: Dozen Boats Wrecked at Lake Pleasant

Strong storms brought high winds and even some dust storms to the Valley on Sunday. Out at Lake Pleasant, they caused big waves and chaos for boaters.

MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. — Powerful monsoon storms swept through the northwest Valley on Sunday afternoon. The storms ushered in high winds, rain, and a dust storm.

At Lake Pleasant, boaters faced a tumultuous scene. Winds stirred up enormous waves that transformed the lake’s usually calm surface into a choppy, ocean-like expanse. Boats were inundated with water and thrown around chaotically.

12News viewer Greg Ervin captured dramatic footage of boats crashing and submerging, which saw vessels colliding and sinking. You can watch that video at the top of this story.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office reported about a dozen boats either sank or were beached. Fortunately, despite the overwhelming chaos, no injuries were reported as MCSO rescued approximately 30 individuals.

Walter Pollard, a recreational boater at Lake Pleasant during the storm, described the scene as “chaos.” He recounted how the rain and accompanying hail pelted down painfully as he and his friend hurriedly secured their boat.

“People started panicking and boats started crashing into each other,” Pollard noted. The following moments saw boats either sinking or running aground. “It was just bad,” he remarked.

With more monsoon storms forecasted for the coming week, residents are advised to stay updated. Follow the latest forecast at Arizonanews.org/Weather.