Monsoon 2015: Brief storm downs trees in Phoenix metro area

Monday night's monsoon thunderstorm likely produced downbursts so strong, that they peeled the awning off a mobile home in East Mesa, sending it tumbling.

"I was asleep, and I heard a big crash, and I got up and ran out, I thought someone had run into my house and my wife was pointing in the driveway and you could see all this stuff," said Michael Britton.

All of the stuff included cacti and the home's mailbox which were destroyed by the 30-foot piece of metal as it flew across the street.

At first glance, it appears that all the mobile home lost was the awning, but inside it's clear there was interior damage as well.

SkyFox video showed the damage was centered around one home in the Apache Wells subdivision. The owners are winter visitors, damage to other homes was minor.

The Phoenix office of the National Weather Service says downbursts or microbursts tend to be very localized.

"You can see very localized damage, so just one intersection maybe you start driving half a mile away, and then everything looks fine, so very small, localized," said Paul Iniguez.

Iniguez says residents should follow thunderstorm safety.

No one was hurt in the storm, but it's a reminder of how unpredictable the storms can be when it comes to picking up items and tossing them around.

"Some serious damage as debris goes flying around, it doesn't take much to get injured by that, so just being inside is helpful," said Iniguez.

The storm also damaged the Park Ridge Apartments in Phoenix.

"We felt the apartment shake, and we came out to see if this tree was falling over, and it looks like it is on its way," said Latisha Bracy.

Residents say they heard the tree slam right into the four apartment units.

Lisa Minton somehow slept through the storm until maintenance knocked on her door at midnight.

"He knew it was my car, so he was like yeah, there's a tree on your car, and I walk over, and I'm like holy cow," said Lisa Minton.

Her car was only a year old; she may rethink where she parks from here on out.

"But now I know, don't park under a tree," said Minton.

Latisha Bracy said after it happened, the community gathered to help.

"It's such a great community because we were all outside, and we were all concerned who lives here, is everybody ok?" said Bracy.