Storm activity affects local business owners

13 On Your Side's Vanessa Gongora reports

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - This active weather entered the Desert Southwest Thursday afternoon and it brought some heavy rain, lightning, thunder and gusty winds.

Those conditions especially picked up in the foothills off of Foothill Blvd and Frontage Road.

Affecting local businesses like Maggie's Gift Shop that sits on the side of the road.

The owner Maggie Samniego was unfortunately alone today selling pottery garden decorations when items started to fly away and she had to close up shop.

"Work outdoors is very hard, very hard but I mean I'm used to it," says Samniego. "The weather doesn't bother me much. I know we have days like this, which is still beautiful."

She says regardless of the weather, she loves her job.

One young man from Yuma, Austin Bennett saw Samniego struggling and pulled over to help her.

"I saw the wind was picking up pretty bad, so I just came by and said why not?"

Not only did the clouds make their way over to Imperial Valley, but also extreme gusty winds up to 60 miles per hour.

A pole right next to the Holtville Chamber of Commerce on 5th Street and Holt Avenue was nearly taken out completely due to the dust storm.

According to the Imperial Irrigation District, multiple power outages affected Imperial Valley due to the storm.

San Luis even saw some hail action come their way.

And the storms aren't done just yet, the Desert Southwest may see some possible showers coming this weekend.