One of the biggest storms of the summer "monsoon" season swept through the Valley on Tuesday night, igniting a series of brush fires, flooding streets and knocking out power to thousands of homes.

Power blackouts in central Phoenix darkened portions of the city skyline, including the landmark red lettering on the former Hotel Westward Ho, now a housing center for senior citizens, at Central Avenue and Fillmore Street. About 40,000 customers in the Valley lost power during the storm.

There were about 100 lightning strikes reported in the city, in most cases, the lightning hit yards or trees.

"We don't have all the measurements yet, but this has the potential to be one of the big storms of the summer," said Hector Vasquez, National Weather Service meteorologist.

At the Westward Ho, where about 300 people live, the lights went out at about 7:15 p.m. Many of the people went down to the lobby because the air conditioning stopped.

Resident Jenese McGuern, 80, said fear of the storm frightened her enough to go to the lobby.

"I'm blind and have metal pins in my legs," she said. "I'm afraid the lightning will light me right up."

The storm was the reason Paul Bullard, 77, was one of the 30 people gathered in the Westward Ho's courtyard.

"The temperature is about 100 degrees in my room and the food is going bad in the refrigerator," he said.

On a darkened 14th floor, a 79-year-old resident, who asked not to be named, seemed to enjoy the storm the most.

"This isn't so bad," he said. "I was standing in the dark with a pretty woman I just met and I got my first kiss in five years. Bring on the lightning, I say."