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Tempe microburst leaves trail of devastation, hundreds of trees lost

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Published  October 17, 2025 9:29pm MST
Severe Weather
FOX 10 Phoenix
Tree crews work tirelessly as Tempe assesses storm damage

Tree crews work tirelessly as Tempe assesses storm damage

Crews are working tirelessly to clean up neighborhoods in Tempe that were hit hard by Monday's microburst. FOX 10's Lindsey Ragas has more from a neighborhood that saw dozens of downed trees.

The Brief

    • Tempe Mayor Corey Woods declared a state of emergency after a microburst storm, described as the city's worst ever, caused widespread damage on Monday, displacing 130 residents and necessitating federal funding for relief.
    • The recovery effort is focused on clearing massive storm debris, including an estimated 500 lost trees from the city's park system, with local crews working around the clock in hard-hit areas like the Brittany Lane neighborhood.

TEMPE, Ariz. - Cleanup efforts continue in Tempe after a microburst storm, described by Mayor Corey Woods as the community's worst in history, ripped through the city on Monday, damaging dozens of businesses and displacing dozens of residents from their homes.

What we know:

Mayor Woods officially signed an emergency declaration for Tempe, stating the action is necessary to secure federal and state funding for relief efforts. He and U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton held a joint recovery update on Oct. 17, emphasizing the need for community involvement to expedite the return to normalcy.

The devastation was widespread, with winds tearing trees out of the ground across the city, including in the hardest-hit Brittany Lane neighborhood.

"Our community services staff tells me that we anticipate we will lose approximately 500 trees just within the Tempe Parks and Recreation system," Woods said. He added he was proud of how community members have shown up for one another during the crisis.

Tempe Mayor, Rep. Stanton urge Tempe to complete damage surveys

Tempe Mayor, Rep. Stanton urge Tempe to complete damage surveys

A powerful microburst, which Tempe Mayor Corey Woods called the worst storm in Tempe's history, caused extensive damage across the community. FOX 10's Taylor Wirtz has more on how residents can help speed up resources for the community.

Local perspective:

Tree service crews have been working around the clock since the storm hit. Ethan Fish, a crew lead at B&C Tree Service, said his team was in the Brittany Lane community within an hour of the microburst and has been there for four straight days.

"It's been crazy," Fish said. "We've been out here every day since."

Crews estimate between 75 and 100 trees were lost in the Brittany Lane community alone. Neighbors documented the aftermath, which included flooding, property damage, and trees snapped like twigs, with one resident comparing the severity of the storm to a hurricane.

B&C crews expect to finish clearing the Brittany Lane neighborhood within two more days before moving on to other hundreds of downed trees across Tempe.

What you can do:

Click here if you'd like to donate supplies to those in need of help, and to take the storm damage survey.

The Source

  • FOX 10's Lindsey Ragas reported on this story by using statements from Tempe Mayor Corey Woods and an interview with Ethan Fish, a crew lead at B&C Tree Service.

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