Likely tornado damages homes in Heber-Overgaard as Arizona storms hit
A likely tornado damaged homes in Heber-Overgaard, Arizona, on Wednesday night and hurt one person, ABC15 and KTAR reported. The National Weather Service suspects at least three tornadoes hit the state, AP reported. More storms hit Thursday, and much of the state was under tornado and flood watches, AP said.
A likely tornado tore through Heber-Overgaard, Arizona, on Wednesday night, October 21, ABC15 and KTAR reported. The town is about 140 miles northeast of Phoenix and has about 3,000 people, AP and KTAR reported.
National Weather Service meteorologists suspect at least three tornadoes touched down in Arizona late Wednesday, AP reported Thursday. The weather service had not confirmed a tornado in Heber-Overgaard as of Thursday, and a weather service team was on its way to check the damage, ABC15 and KTAR reported.
A preliminary count showed 20 to 30 buildings were damaged, mostly homes, Fire Chief Jason Payne said Thursday morning, according to KTAR. A church was also hit, KTAR reported. The count could change as crews keep checking the area, KTAR said.
One man who was outside was hurt, ABC15 reported. His injuries were not life threatening, AP, ABC15 and KTAR reported. "This is a suspected tornado," Payne said, according to KTAR.
Many power lines came down, ABC15 reported. Power was back for most people by early Thursday morning, it said. An emergency declaration was made Thursday morning, the Navajo County sheriff said, according to ABC15. A shelter for people forced from their homes opened at the Navajo County Heber Complex, ABC15 and KTAR reported.
Golf-ball-size hail also hit the state, AP reported. Strong winds knocked down trees in Flagstaff and Mesa, AP said.
Warm, moist air moving north can feed storms, and shifting winds can make them spin, said Ryan Bernhart, a weather service meteorologist in Flagstaff, according to AP. "This is very unusual for this area at this time of the year," he said, according to AP.
The weather service issued 11 tornado warnings across Arizona on Wednesday, ABC15 reported. More severe weather hit Thursday, with much of the state under tornado and flood watches, AP reported.
What we know: A likely tornado damaged 20 to 30 buildings in Heber-Overgaard and hurt one person.
What we don't: Whether the weather service will confirm it was a tornado, and how strong it was.
Where outlets agree AP, ABC15 and KTAR report that one person was hurt with injuries that were not life threatening, and ABC15 and KTAR report that a weather service team was headed to the area to check the damage.
Where they differ ABC15 says its chief meteorologist believes the touchdown likely happened around 8 PM Arizona time (11 PM ET), while KTAR says the first reports of a possible tornado came in around 7:15 PM Arizona time (10:15 PM ET).