Golf ball-sized hail batters Arizona in rare severe storm

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 22 Oct, 13:44 · Archive

Severe storms brought golf ball-sized hail, damaging winds and tornado threats to northern and central Arizona overnight Tuesday into Wednesday.

Severe thunderstorms swept across northern and central Arizona overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, bringing hail measuring two to three inches in diameter and damaging wind gusts across the region. The National Weather Service issued multiple warnings as the golf ball-sized hail damaged roofs, shattered windows and dented cars. Tornado watches were issued for multiple areas, marking the first such advisories since October 6, 2010.

Powerful winds toppled large trees across Flagstaff and Mesa, with debris falling onto carports and walls. In Coconino National Forest, northwest of Flagstaff, a few dozen ponderosa pines taller than 30 feet collapsed. Ryan Bernhart, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Flagstaff, said: 'This is very unusual for this area at this time of the year.' He noted that the felled trees were particularly large and strong.

In Heber-Overgaard, a community of about 3,000 people in Navajo County roughly 140 miles northeast of Phoenix, a possible tornado knocked down utility poles and brought trees onto homes. Significant damage and minor injuries were reported. Walt Blackman, a Republican state representative whose district covers parts of the county, requested a state of emergency declaration, saying: 'We have families without power, significant property damage, and at least one reported injury.'

The greatest ongoing threat is heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding to the Phoenix metropolitan area through Thursday morning, according to Mark O'Malley, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Phoenix.

How it is being reported

• Arizona storms topple trees and bring golf ball-sized hail in possible tornadoViolent storms overnight knocked over utility poles and carried thunder and heavy winds through central Arizona Trees fell on to homes and utility poles were knocked down by a possible tornado in a central Arizona community during a series of violent storms that moved through the state overnight into Thursday. Storms capable of causing hail and wind damage were traveling through central Arizona early on Thursday, with some flood watches and the possibility of tornadoes, the National Weather Service said. Continue reading...Guardian World · 22 Oct, 13:28
• Monster hailstones smash windows and cars as rare tornado threat grips ArizonaThe National Weather Service issued multiple warnings across parts of Arizona on Wednesday, including severe thunderstorm warnings that brought large hail the size of golf ballsIndependent World · 22 Oct, 08:18
• Hail the size of golf balls pummel parts of Arizona as rare storm moves through the WestThe National Weather Service issued multiple warnings across parts of Arizona on Wednesday, including severe thunderstorm warnings that brought large hail the size of golf ballsIndependent World · 22 Oct, 02:01

In this story: Arizona · Phoenix · Flagstaff · Mesa · Heber-Overgaard · National Weather Service · Ryan Bernhart · Walt Blackman

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