Expand / Collapse search
☰
Flash Flood Warning
from FRI 5:49 PM MST until FRI 8:45 PM MST, Maricopa County
14
Flash Flood Warning
from FRI 6:11 PM MST until FRI 10:15 PM MST, Maricopa County
Flash Flood Warning
until FRI 8:30 PM MST, Maricopa County
Flood Watch
until FRI 10:00 PM MST, Dripping Springs, Southeast Gila County, Pinal/Superstition Mountains, San Carlos, Mazatzal Mountains, Tonto Basin, Superior, Globe/Miami
Flood Watch
from SAT 11:00 PM MST until MON 5:00 AM MST, North Phoenix/Glendale, Aguila Valley, Mazatzal Mountains, Tonopah Desert, Gila Bend, San Carlos, East Valley, Northwest Pinal County, Northwest Valley, Southeast Valley/Queen Creek, Globe/Miami, Deer Valley, Fountain Hills/East Mesa, Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, Buckeye/Avondale, Tonto Basin, Rio Verde/Salt River, South Mountain/Ahwatukee, Dripping Springs, Southeast Gila County, Pinal/Superstition Mountains, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley, New River Mesa, Sonoran Desert Natl Monument, West Pinal County, Superior, Cave Creek/New River, Central Phoenix, Northwest Plateau, Eastern Cochise County below 5000 ft including Douglas/Wilcox, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys including Clifton/Safford, Southeast Pinal County including Kearny/Mammoth/Oracle, Western Pima County including Ajo/Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains including Bisbee/Canelo Hills/Madera Canyon, Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail, Tohono O'odham Nation including Sells, Baboquivari Mountains including Kitt Peak, Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson, Chiricahua Mountains including Chiricahua National Monument, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains including Mount Graham, Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains including Mount Lemmon/Summerhaven, White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties including Hannagan Meadow, South Central Pinal County including Eloy/Picacho Peak State Park, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys including Nogales, Yavapai County Mountains, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County, Western Mogollon Rim, Coconino Plateau, Yavapai County Valleys and Basins, Oak Creek and Sycamore Canyons, Grand Canyon Country, Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County, Marble and Glen Canyons, Northern Gila County, White Mountains, Kaibab Plateau, Eastern Mogollon Rim, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County
Flood Watch
from SUN 12:00 AM MDT until MON 5:00 AM MST, Chinle Valley, Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas South of Hwy 264, Black Mesa Area, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas Hwy 264 Northward
Flood Watch
from FRI 10:00 AM MST until FRI 10:00 PM MST, Yavapai County Mountains, Oak Creek and Sycamore Canyons, Northern Gila County, Yavapai County Valleys and Basins
Flood Advisory
from FRI 4:44 PM MST until FRI 7:45 PM MST, Mohave County
Flood Advisory
until FRI 7:00 PM MST, Mohave County
Flood Advisory
from FRI 3:01 PM MST until FRI 7:00 PM MST, Maricopa County, Gila County
Flood Advisory
from FRI 4:08 PM MST until FRI 7:15 PM MST, Maricopa County
Flood Advisory
from FRI 4:45 PM MST until FRI 7:45 PM MST, Maricopa County
Flood Advisory
from FRI 6:00 PM MST until FRI 9:00 PM MST, Maricopa County
Special Weather Statement
until FRI 7:00 PM MST, North Phoenix/Glendale, Rio Verde/Salt River, Fountain Hills/East Mesa, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley, Deer Valley, New River Mesa, Cave Creek/New River

4 hurt in lightning strike at El Mirage Elementary School

By  and 
Severe Weather
Updated October 30, 2026 6:27 PM MST Published October 30, 2026 9:31 AM MST
El Mirage school lightning strike hurts four
El Mirage school lightning strike hurts four

El Mirage school lightning strike hurts four

Four school employees are recovering in the hospital after lightning struck near a bus stop in El Mirage. FOX 10's Brian Webb reports.

The Brief

    • Four adults working at an El Mirage elementary school were hospitalized after a lightning strike nearby during morning drop-off.
    • First responders stated the individuals did not take a direct hit, though one person holding an umbrella felt electricity through it.
    • No children were injured during the incident, and the school remained open following the strike.

EL MIRAGE, Ariz. - Four people were rushed to the hospital after being struck by lightning as strong storms moved through west El Mirage in the morning. One of those lightning bolts landed near a school bus stop at a school in El Mirage.

Big picture view:

The incident occurred at El Mirage Elementary School, which stayed open following a shocking start to the school day and a real-life lesson on the power of lightning.

The storm hit just as students were being dropped off on the back side of the building. Then came a bright flash and a loud boom, enough to startle Alexis and all the students around her.

What they're saying:

"I was at that gate, and the lightning struck. The thunder hit. I had a bunch of kids. I grabbed them all ahead of my umbrella and then, when it like, stopped, I took him inside as quickly as possible," Alexis, a school employee, said.

Next came the emergency call with reports that four people were struck by lightning. All of them are adults who work at the school, and no children were hurt.
That single lightning strike was enough to rattle the entire area, including the public library across the street.

"Pulling books off the shelves and the lightning and the thunder were right on top of each other like I saw a flash, and then the thunder was so loud that it felt like the building shook, and I literally jumped in the air," said Carrie Thorpe, a library worker.

Dig deeper:

First responders reported that the victims likely did not take a direct hit, noting that one of them was holding an umbrella, possibly accidentally attracting trouble.

"Our patient stated she was holding an umbrella and so there’s not we don’t it doesn’t appear that she was directly struck, but yeah, definitely felt you know a little bit of electricity through that umbrella," said Capt. Joe Rivera of the El Mirage Fire Department.

Rivera stated the victims went to the hospital, remaining alert and talking, and are expected to be okay.

Alexis and her students are okay as well, even after a heart-stopping lightning strike from out of the blue.

"My heart was pounding so hard. The kids were scared so I was trying to stay calm for them took them in quickly, but like my heart was just pounding. I was terrified for them," Alexis said.

School officials were asked if anyone could speak regarding the lightning strike and who was hurt, but they declined.

Related

Arizona weather forecast: Storms hit Phoenix ahead of Halloween weekend washout
article

Arizona weather forecast: Storms hit Phoenix ahead of Halloween weekend washout

Rain and thunderstorms are moving across Phoenix on Friday, clearing for Halloween trick-or-treaters before a major storm system brings heavy rain and flood concerns on Sunday.

An outside look at El Mirage Elementary School. (KSAZ-TV)

Map of El Mirage Elementary School:

The Source: Information in this report was gathered from Alexis, an employee at El Mirage Elementary School; Carrie Thorpe, a worker at the public library across the street; and Capt. Joe Rivera, a captain with the El Mirage Fire Department.

Severe WeatherEl MirageNews