Breaking News Power Outage Today Near Scottsdale Az

Okay, so you're not gonna believe this. I was just about to make the perfect avocado toast – you know, the kind that Instagram was practically begging for – when BAM! Darkness. Like, total eclipse of the Scottsdale sun kind of darkness. Turns out, a power outage hit us today! And not just a little flicker, oh no, this was a full-blown, "where's my phone flashlight?" kind of situation.

I know, I know, power outages aren't exactly hilarious. Unless you're a squirrel, I guess. They probably think it's a free-for-all on the transformers. Speaking of squirrels, did you know that squirrels cause more power outages than you’d think? Like, way more. They’re basically tiny, furry saboteurs.

So, Where Exactly Did the Lights Go Out?

The outage seems to be centered near Scottsdale. I heard whispers (mostly from my neighbor who's convinced it’s a government conspiracy) that the affected area is pretty broad, encompassing parts of South Scottsdale, maybe even creeping into some of Paradise Valley. APS (that's our Arizona Public Service pals) is on the case, supposedly. Though, let's be honest, half the time they're probably just chasing those aforementioned squirrels. Maybe we should start a squirrel relocation program? "Squirrels Without Borders," anyone?

The important thing is: if your fridge is making weird gurgling noises, you might be affected. Also, if your cat is giving you extra side-eye, that's probably a sign too. Cats are surprisingly sensitive to electromagnetic fields. Or maybe they're just judgmental. Hard to tell, really.

What Caused This Electrical Apocalypse?

That's the million-dollar question, isn't it? APS hasn't given us a definitive answer yet. My neighbor, Conspiracy Carl, says it was a rogue weather balloon (because everything is a weather balloon with him). Other theories floating around involve overloaded transformers due to everyone running their AC full blast (it is Scottsdale, after all), or maybe even a rogue flock of pigeons staging a protest on the power lines. Okay, I made that last one up. But wouldn't that be something?

Seriously though, it's probably something boring like equipment failure. But hey, a girl can dream of pigeon-led revolutions, right? Whatever the cause, let's hope they fix it soon. My avocado is starting to look at me funny.

When Will the Power Be Back On?

Ah, the question on everyone's lips (and Twitter feeds). APS's website (assuming you can access it without power – talk about irony!) estimates restoration times, but those are about as reliable as a weather forecast in Arizona. It could be an hour, it could be several. It depends on the extent of the damage and how many squirrels are still holding out.

Here's my advice: embrace the darkness! Light some candles (carefully, please!), dust off that old board game (Monopoly is always a good choice, until someone flips the board), or tell ghost stories. Just try not to scare anyone too badly. And definitely don't try to perform surgery by candlelight. Trust me on this one.

Survival Tips for the Powerless

Okay, time for some serious (sort of) advice. Here's how to survive this unexpected dip into the pre-electricity era:

• Keep your fridge closed. Every time you open it, you're letting the cold air escape, and your precious leftovers are inching closer to food poisoning.
• Hydrate! Scottsdale is basically a giant oven, even without the sun beating down. Drink plenty of water.
• Charge your phone. If you have a portable charger, now's the time to use it. If not, be judicious with your battery life. No one wants to be the person frantically searching for an outlet at the coffee shop.
• Talk to your neighbors. Okay, maybe not Conspiracy Carl. But connecting with your community can be a fun way to pass the time (and maybe bum some ice).
• Resist the urge to blame the pigeons. They're just birds, doing bird things. Probably.

And most importantly, remember that this too shall pass. The power will eventually come back on, your avocado toast dreams will be realized, and the squirrels will probably be plotting their next attack. Until then, stay safe, stay cool (literally and figuratively), and try to find the humor in the situation. After all, life's too short to stress about a little power outage. Unless you’re Conspiracy Carl, then everything is stressful.

Update: Just got word that APS thinks they've narrowed down the problem to a faulty transformer near… wait for it… a major squirrel habitat. I rest my case. Guess I owe the pigeons an apology.

Stay tuned for more updates as they become available. And may the odds be ever in your favor (of having a charged phone).