Arizona car wash loses roof during ‘mini-tornado’

screendump Fox 10 Phoenix

The American Speedwash in Mesa, Arizona had some scary moments last week, when a mini tornado ripped off one of their huge canopies and flipped it upside down. Luckily no one got hurt and little critical hardware was damaged.

West Coast states Arizona and California had some gruesome weather last week. During one of those monsoon storms, the American Speedwash in Mesa was badly damaged.

In what looked like a ‘mini tornado’, a 120 feet long canopy was ripped off its two pillars. “The wind was going completely sideways”, tells manager Ryan to local TV station Fox 10 Phoenix. “It took the whole canopy up and threw it upside down, approximately 60 feet up in the air.”

On the security videos the staff later witnessed, they could see the whole roof was spinning up in the air.
Luckily, when the canopy was torn off, there were no people or cars underneath it. “There’s also a hotel nearby, but because of the violent storm most people stayed indoors”, sighs Ryan.

The American Speedwash is a popular family owned business. Among locals the car wash is praised for their annual Halloween festivities, where they turn their conveyor tunnels into a scary ghost house.
Indeed things got scary last week, but not in the way the staff at American Speedwash anticipated. “Luckily it did not impact any utilities. Minus one pay station lane that got hit.”

According to Ryan this is the first time something like this has happened to the carwash. “The structure has been standing here since the mid 80s. Luckily the tunnel equipment is in good shape so we are hoping to open again soon.”

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Author: Rene Passet

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Arizona car wash loses roof during ‘mini-tornado’ | CarwashPro

Arizona car wash loses roof during ‘mini-tornado’

screendump Fox 10 Phoenix

The American Speedwash in Mesa, Arizona had some scary moments last week, when a mini tornado ripped off one of their huge canopies and flipped it upside down. Luckily no one got hurt and little critical hardware was damaged.

West Coast states Arizona and California had some gruesome weather last week. During one of those monsoon storms, the American Speedwash in Mesa was badly damaged.

In what looked like a ‘mini tornado’, a 120 feet long canopy was ripped off its two pillars. “The wind was going completely sideways”, tells manager Ryan to local TV station Fox 10 Phoenix. “It took the whole canopy up and threw it upside down, approximately 60 feet up in the air.”

On the security videos the staff later witnessed, they could see the whole roof was spinning up in the air.
Luckily, when the canopy was torn off, there were no people or cars underneath it. “There’s also a hotel nearby, but because of the violent storm most people stayed indoors”, sighs Ryan.

The American Speedwash is a popular family owned business. Among locals the car wash is praised for their annual Halloween festivities, where they turn their conveyor tunnels into a scary ghost house.
Indeed things got scary last week, but not in the way the staff at American Speedwash anticipated. “Luckily it did not impact any utilities. Minus one pay station lane that got hit.”

According to Ryan this is the first time something like this has happened to the carwash. “The structure has been standing here since the mid 80s. Luckily the tunnel equipment is in good shape so we are hoping to open again soon.”

Also read: 

Author: Rene Passet

Add your comment

characters remaining.

Log in through one of the following social media partners to comment.