An extreme storm surprised residents of San Diego on Tuesday and caused major damage at the Montgomery Field Airport (MYF). The city, which is generally blessed with sunny skies and moderate temperatures, was hit hard by a severe storm resulting from a monsoonal heat wave. Lightning, heavy rain, hail and winds that became so severe that some people described them as a microburst or tornado hit the area.
The on-field restaurant at Montgomery, Casa Machado, and several hangars and airplanes at the airport were severely damaged. One experimental airplane, which was tied down with chains, was tossed up in the air and landed on two cars on the other side of the airport fence. Airport worker Douglas Berube said he was still shaken up as he described the event to local news station ABC 10News. “I’m looking in front of me and all the planes are flying everywhere, the roofs getting ripped off the buildings,” he said.
Aside from the damage at the airport, several trees and power lines were knocked over, damaging cars and buildings in the surrounding area. About 17,000 homes and businesses lost power temporarily as a result of the storm.
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