TEMPE, Ariz. -- A series of fast-moving thunderstorms packing winds of up to 100 mph plowed through the Phoenix area, leaving tens of thousands without power, briefly shutting down the airport and collapsing a brand-new college football facility.

Arizona Public Service Company said it still had 3,500 customers without electricity as of 5:10 p.m. At the height of the storm, the utility said it had as many as 80,000 customers without power.

Salt River Project estimated 1,200 of its customers remain without power.

Power for many downtown traffic signals was still out as the Friday commute began, and traffic was backed up along central city surface streets.

A cooling station has been established by the Red Cross at Arcadia High School's Auxiliary Gym at 4703 E. Indian School Road. The Red Cross said it is prepared to convert it to a shelter if needed. The public should call The Grand Canyon Chapter of the American Red Cross at 800-842-7349 for more information.

Arizona State University officials said the storm damaged the school's new $8.4 million indoor practice facility that's mostly used for football.

A witness said the fabric roof on the structure was shredded and the bubble dome had completely deflated.

The 103,500-square-foot facility was completed this month.

Mark Brand, ASU's assistant athletic director for communications, said nobody was injured by the storm hitting the practice facility.

Insulation from the dome was strewn all around the complex.

The gigantic storm system hit unexpectedly around 8:30 p.m., starting with non-stop dry lightning that lit up the night sky. After the lightning came the incredible wind and rain.

At least two dozen trees were uprooted at Encanto Park.

Elsewhere, hundreds of trees in central and uptown Phoenix were downed, and a large section of roofing from a new condominium complex was torn off and thrown hundreds of feet, landing on the lines powering the city's soon-to-open light rail line along Central Avenue.

Jeremy Solem was huddled by the stairs in his sixth-floor loft on Central Avenue when the storm destroyed 12 windows.

"It was kind of like a tornado. I just started hearing a 'pop, pop, pop,"' Solem said. "I guess that's the price you pay for a really great view of the city. The main thing is that I didn't get hurt."

Also on Central, workers were clearing tree brush from a path leading up to the Heard Museum. With no power, a spokeswoman said the museum hoped to reopen Saturday.

"We got multiple, multiple calls for lines down and trees down but nothing major -- we dodged a bullet," said Capt. Victor Rangel with the Phoenix Fire Department. "We had no major injuries, no fires."

Power lines were down between Thomas and McDowell Roads.

Rainfall was measured in Phoenix at 5 inches an hour, a rate equivalent to hurricanes.

Officially, the National Weather Service reported 5.66 inches at Sky Harbor International Airport for the season. Last year, 0.74" fell for the entire monsoon season. The average rainfall during the season is 2.77 inches.

In Scottsdale, fire officials reported a house fire started by lightning late Thursday and evacuations due to a gas main that was apparently ruptured by a falling tree. No injuries were reported.