A possible three tornadoes struck central Arizona late Wednesday, according to National Weather Service meteorologists, bringing destructive winds, heavy thunder, and golf-ball sized hail to a region more typically associated with scalding heat. The Guardian reported that the severe weather knocked over utility poles and trees, blew off roofs, and left one person with non-life-threatening injuries as storms swept across the US south-west.
The unusual weather event unfolded during an unusually soggy fall in the south-west. El Niño conditions have continuously channeled tropical systems in from the Pacific Ocean, causing surrounding deserts and the Grand Canyon to experience heavy flooding. According to Ryan Bernhart, a weather service meteorologist in Flagstaff, warm and moist air moving north has fueled storms arriving from the California coast, while changing winds create the conditions necessary for spinning storm cells and tornadoes.
Impact of the Possible Three Tornadoes Across Arizona
The severe storms hit communities abruptly. In Overgaard—a community of about 3,000 residents located roughly 140 miles north-east of Phoenix—resident Lenna Landy experienced the weather firsthand while doing a yoga routine. Despite receiving alerts, Landy initially ignored warnings until the storm struck violently. She described the intense thunder cracks as reminiscent of an angry deity, noting that the power failed and her house shook rapidly.
The storm system peeled off nearby roofs, shattered windows, and blew a detached shed directly into a residential home. A large spruce tree in Landy’s yard was split cleanly in half. Strong winds also toppled trees in Flagstaff and Mesa, with several falling onto walls and carports. In the Coconino National Forest, north-west of Flagstaff, a few dozen ponderosa pines standing over 30 feet tall were knocked down. Bernhart noted that these were strong trees rather than small brush.
Broader Regional Weather Impacts
The destructive weather extended beyond Arizona, with similar storms soaking New Mexico while large swathes of Utah and Colorado remained under flood watches and warnings. Meteorologists emphasized that such severe weather is highly unusual for the region at this time of year, though historical precedent exists with notable outbreaks previously recorded in 2010 and 2019.
Source: A possible three tornados wallop Arizona, bringing golf-ball sized hail (source-feed timestamp 2026-10-22T23:15:40+00:00). AI-assisted report based on the cited linked article and its RSS feed; details were not independently verified.
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