Widespread storms caused some power outages and flight delays Thursday night. Photo courtesy of RadarScope
SALT LAKE CITY — As people brace for a weekend of potential flooding along the Wasatch front, about a thousand Rocky Mountain Power customers were without power for a time Thursday night after powerful storms blew through the area.
According to Rocky Mountain Power, about 1,300 customers lost power after ten power poles were struck by lightning.
UHP reported lines down along SR 36 between Erda Way and 2400 North. Eight of those poles that had been struck lay along that stretch of roadway. A single southbound lane had to be closed while the damage was assessed. Deputies provided traffic control until late Thursday night.
Rocky Mountain Power says 1,302 customers were without power. As of late Thursday night, all but 37 had their power back on again. Rocky Mountain Power crews were in the process of replacing the damaged utility poles.
A few flights had to be diverted out of Salt Lake International Airport Thursday night due to the bad weather. Passengers on one of those flights had to remain on the runway in Idaho Falls “for quite some time,” according to authorities, while the plane was refueled and weather had cleared enough for a return to Salt Lake City. Other flights were diverted from Salt Lake to Twin Falls and Boise.