Possible tornado and golf ball-sized hail batter central Arizona

Storms topple trees onto homes in Heber-Overgaard as officials seek emergency declaration

By LineZotpaper

Published22 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Severe thunderstorms brought a possible tornado, golf ball-sized hail and damaging winds to central Arizona overnight Wednesday into Thursday, toppling trees onto homes, shattering windows and causing minor injuries in the Navajo County community of Heber-Overgaard.

Severe storms swept through central Arizona overnight Wednesday into Thursday, toppling trees, knocking out power and dropping golf ball-sized hail on communities northeast of Phoenix.

A possible tornado moved through Heber-Overgaard, a community of about 3,000 people in Navajo County roughly 140 miles northeast of Phoenix. The National Weather Service issued multiple severe thunderstorm warnings and a tornado warning as the storm passed on Wednesday night. Residents posted photos and video online of uprooted trees and crumpled structures, and the county sheriff's office reported significant damage and minor injuries.

Golf ball-sized hail pummeled roofs, shattered windows and dented cars across northern and central Arizona. In Flagstaff and Mesa, strong winds toppled trees, some landing on walls and carports, and a few dozen ponderosa pines more than 30 feet tall came down in the Coconino National Forest northwest of Flagstaff.

State Representative Walt Blackman, a Republican whose district covers parts of Navajo County, requested a state of emergency declaration. 'We have families without power, significant property damage, and at least one reported injury,' he said in a statement.

Members of the Overgaard Baptist Church were finishing a prayer meeting when the storm struck. 'We took some damage, lost a lot of trees, signs, fences and a few windows,' the church posted on Wednesday night, adding: 'We had a great prayer meeting in the women's restroom.'

Ryan Bernhart, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Flagstaff, said warm, moist air moving north was fueling storms coming off the California coast, while changing winds could make them spin and create tornado conditions. 'This is very unusual for this area at this time of the year,' he said. 'These are not small trees that are down. These are pretty strong trees that had been knocked down.'

Flood watches remained in effect early Thursday as storms capable of hail and wind damage continued moving through central Arizona.

Analysis

Why This Matters

October tornadoes are highly unusual in Arizona, and the storm caught a small mountain community unprepared for this type of damage
Families are without power, property damage is significant, and a state of emergency has been requested, affecting a community of about 3,000 people
The same weather system could bring more hail, wind and flooding to central Arizona as it continues moving through

Background

Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are uncommon in Arizona, particularly in October, when the state is normally past its summer monsoon season. The National Weather Service said the current storms formed as warm, moist air moving north fueled systems coming off the California coast, while changing winds created the conditions for rotation. The affected communities lie in the forested mountain country northeast of Phoenix, where the storm downed large ponderosa pines in the Coconino National Forest.

Key Perspectives

Residents and local officials: The Navajo County sheriff's office reported significant damage and minor injuries, while State Representative Walt Blackman requested an emergency declaration, citing families without power and at least one reported injury. The Overgaard Baptist Church described losing trees, signs, fences and windows but said members were unharmed.

National Weather Service: Meteorologists issued multiple warnings, including a tornado warning, and described the event as very unusual for the area at this time of year. Meteorologist Ryan Bernhart noted that even strong, mature ponderosa pines were knocked down, underscoring the storm's intensity.

Concerns for recovery: A small community like Heber-Overgaard faces the practical challenges of cleanup and power restoration while the possibility of further severe storms and flooding remains, which could complicate recovery efforts.

What to Watch

Whether Arizona's governor acts on the requested state of emergency declaration
The scale of damage assessments and how quickly power can be restored
Whether additional severe storms develop as the weather system continues across central Arizona

Sources

Arizona storms topple trees and bring golf ball-sized hail in possible tornado · World news | The Guardian

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedA possible tornado and golf ball-sized hail battered central Arizona.World news | The Guardian: “Arizona storms topple trees and bring golf ball-sized hail in possible tornado.”
SupportedTrees toppled onto homes in Heber-Overgaard.World news | The Guardian: “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.”
Partly supportedOfficials sought an emergency declaration.World news | The Guardian: “Walt Blackman, a Republican state representative whose district covers parts of the county, requested a state of emergency declaration.”
Partly supportedA possible tornado moved through Heber-Overgaard.World news | The Guardian: “A tornado warning was in effect on Wednesday night as a storm moved over Heber-Overgaard in Navajo county, about 140 miles (225km) north-east of Phoenix.”
Not in the sourcesStorms knocked out power in central Arizona.World news | The Guardian: “null”
Partly supportedThe storms caused minor injuries in Heber-Overgaard.World news | The Guardian: “Significant damage and minor injuries were reported, the county sheriff’s office said in a statement.”
SupportedGolf ball-sized hail pummeled roofs, shattered windows and dented cars across northern and central Arizona.World news | The Guardian: “On Wednesday night, northern and central parts of the state saw hail the size of golf balls that pummeled people’s roofs, shattered windows and dented cars, along with damaging wind gusts.”
SupportedBlackman said, “We have families without power, significant property damage, and at least one reported injury.”World news | The Guardian: ““We have families without power, significant property damage, and at least one reported injury,” he said in a statement.”
SupportedThe Overgaard Baptist Church posted, “We had a great prayer meeting in the women's restroom.”World news | The Guardian: ““We had a great prayer meeting in the women’s restroom,” the post said.”
SupportedRyan Bernhart said, “This is very unusual for this area at this time of the year.”World news | The Guardian: ““This is very unusual for this area at this time of the year,” Bernhart said.”
SupportedStrong winds toppled trees in Flagstaff and Mesa, and a few dozen ponderosa pines more than 30 feet tall fell in the Coconino National Forest.World news | The Guardian: “Strong winds toppled trees in Flagstaff and Mesa, with some landing on walls and carports. A few dozen ponderosa pines more than 30ft (9 meters) tall fell down in the Coconino national forest, north-west of Flagstaff.”
SupportedFlood watches remained in effect early Thursday as storms capable of hail and wind damage moved through central Arizona.World news | The Guardian: “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.”