The stormy day made our choice of drives for us: east to Desert View so that we could take our own car. The weather was chancy, and we wanted to be able to make a run for the car if a rainstorm came. Good choice! That happened at the Watchtower parking lot, and we made it back to the car 15 seconds before the heavens opened. The storm interrupted power to the Watchtower exhibits and store. We later heard that a tornado had touched down briefly near Flagstaff. Too bad. The Watchtower has some neat exhibits.
There's much construction going on along the drive, and that slowed traffic a bit - not a big problem, since a slow pace along this scenic drive is our choice anyway. And the good news is that the construction is for many new overlooks along the drive. Though some were still closed, we eagerly await our next visit. A few years back, we watched a bobcat cross the road and peer back at us from the treeline in this wild area. No such luck this time, with the traffic, construction, and rain. Lots of construction at the Watchtower also, with a quarter-mile walk from the (temporary) parking lot.
From the Watchtower area, watching the thunderheads march up the canyon was very dramatic. It was a magical moment, well worth the inconvenience. And the storm was brief, with bursts of sun to light the overlooks along the drive.