Rare Tornado Risk and Giant Hail Threaten Southern California, Arizona

WHO:

ABC News - Meteorologist Ryan Bernhart said the conditions were very unusual for the area at that time of year.

ABC News - Overgaard Baptist Church said members were safe after the storm, though the church sustained damage.

AZ Family - State Rep. Walt Blackman said the storm caused “considerable damage” and called for Gov. Katie Hobbs to declare a state of emergency.

AZ Family - Heber resident Betty Nixon described the storm and said she had no warning; at least one person was reported hurt.

AZ Family - The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office said it was responding to a major incident in the Overgaard area.

FOX Weather - The FOX Forecast Center reported the Arizona watch and severe-weather risk.

Los Angeles Times - The National Weather Service’s Los Angeles-Oxnard office provided the Southern California forecast.

Los Angeles Times - The National Weather Service’s San Diego office monitors Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties and issued a beach hazard warning.

Los Angeles Times - A weather service spokesperson identified the Santa Monica Mountains as the area at highest risk for flooding.

WHAT:

BBC News - Videos from Phoenix showed people sheltering inside a car as hail smashed its windshield; intense downpours covered neighborhoods in ice.

NY Post - Investigators were probing a possible tornado in Orange County.

NBC News - The storm system brought heavy winds and rain to Arizona, with conditions expected to last throughout the week.

CBS News - Severe storms battered the southwestern United States with powerful winds and hail.

ABC News - The National Weather Service said storms capable of hail and wind damage were moving through central Arizona early Thursday, with flood watches and possible tornadoes.

ABC News - Photos and videos posted online showed uprooted trees and crumpled structures in Heber-Overgaard.

ABC News - Blackman said, “We have families without power, significant property damage, and at least one reported injury.”

ABC News - The storm struck as Overgaard Baptist Church members were finishing a prayer meeting; the church said members were OK.

ABC News - Strong winds in Flagstaff and Mesa toppled trees onto walls and carports.

ABC News - Golf-ball-size hail pummeled roofs, shattered windows and dented cars in northern and central Arizona; damaging wind gusts were also reported.

ABC News - Trees fell onto homes and utility poles were knocked down in the Heber-Overgaard community; the sheriff’s office reported significant damage and minor injuries.

ABC News - The Overgaard Baptist Church reported losing trees, signs, fences and several windows; its post said members held a prayer meeting in the women’s restroom.

ABC News - Strong winds toppled trees in Flagstaff and Mesa, and several dozen ponderosa pines more than 30 feet (9 meters) tall fell in Coconino National Forest.

AZ Family - A possible tornado damaged the Heber-Overgaard area, knocked down power poles and caused power outages; the number of affected Navopache Electric Cooperative customers was unclear, and the cooperative had no restoration estimate.

AZ Family - Nixon said the violent wind and flying debris lasted about 30 to 45 seconds; part of a neighbor’s tree fell in her yard, and another neighbor’s windows reportedly shattered.

AZ Family - Blackman said immediate priorities were protecting lives, restoring electricity, ensuring public safety and assisting families with property damage.

FOX Weather - Arizona received its first Tornado Watch in 16 years, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

FOX Weather - A Tornado Warning was issued for part of Yavapai County.

FOX Weather - Parts of Arizona, including Flagstaff and Prescott, faced a Level 3 out of 5 severe-thunderstorm risk, with damaging egg-sized hail and tornadoes possible.

FOX Weather - Central Arizona was under a Level 3 severe-weather threat, the first such October threat since NOAA introduced its five-tier risk scale in 2015; Phoenix, Glendale, Chandler and Scottsdale faced a Level 2 threat.

FOX Weather - Intense thunderstorms could cause flash flooding. A Flood Watch covered much of Arizona, southern Utah, southwestern Colorado and western New Mexico through Thursday.

FOX Weather - Southern California faced rain, possible flash flooding—especially over wildfire burn scars—and a low-end tornado risk in a corridor from Carmel south to Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Times - The weather service forecast moderate rain and a 30% to 40% chance of thunderstorms, with widespread minor flooding and debris-flow concerns in Los Angeles and Ventura counties; most areas were expected to experience minor impacts.

Los Angeles Times - Wednesday precipitation chances were about 53% in Irvine and Anaheim, 46% in San Clemente, 44% in Ontario and 40% in Riverside. Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, chances were 95% in Anaheim, Irvine and San Clemente; 92% in Ontario; 91% in Riverside and Lake Elsinore; and 88% in San Bernardino.

Los Angeles Times - South- and southwest-facing beaches in the Los Angeles County and Oxnard region were expected to have 3-to-6-foot surf through Thursday night, with tides of 5.5 to 6.2 feet.

Los Angeles Times - The beach warning cautioned of dangerous rip currents and breaking waves. The weather service advised swimmers to “remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions.”

NY Post - The article said Wednesday was expected to be the coast’s rainiest day and Thursday the Sierra’s snowiest.

WHERE:

NY Post - Investigators were at the scene of a possible tornado in Orange County.

ABC News - The storm system also brought severe weather to parts of Arizona early Thursday.

ABC News - Heber-Overgaard is about 140 miles (225 kilometers) northeast of Phoenix and has about 3,000 residents.

AZ Family - The sheriff’s office urged people to avoid State Route 260 between Mogollon and the Overgaard Airpark, and areas north of State Route 377 extending toward Tonto.

FOX Weather - Severe storms affected parts of Arizona, including Flagstaff, Prescott and Yavapai County; the broader system also threatened Southern California.

Los Angeles Times - Flooding concerns covered Los Angeles and Ventura counties, with the greatest risk in the Santa Monica Mountains.

WHEN:

NBC News - The storm conditions in Arizona were expected to last throughout the week.

AZ Family - The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Aripine and Heber-Overgaard at 7:03 p.m.; Nixon said the storm struck around 7 p.m.

FOX Weather - Severe storms began affecting parts of Arizona early Wednesday, with the threat expected to intensify through the day and evening.

Los Angeles Times - Moderate rain was forecast from Wednesday late morning through Thursday afternoon.

Los Angeles Times - The San Diego office issued the beach hazard warning Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.; it was stated to remain in effect until 11 p.m.

FOX Weather - More thunderstorms could develop Thursday as the storm system shifts east toward the Rockies.

WHY:

ABC News - Ryan Bernhart said warm, moist air moving north fuels storms coming off the California coast, while changing winds can make storms spin and create tornado conditions.

FOX Weather - The storm system moving across the West Coast was expected to draw on a plume of humid air over Arizona.

FOX Weather - The article said an impending Super El Niño could contribute to increased storminess and severe weather across the Southern Tier during winter.

HOW:

FOX Weather - During Super El Niño years, the jet stream usually shifts over the southern United States, bringing storms and increasing the potential for flooding and severe-weather outbreaks.

FOX Weather - Two of the previous three Super El Niño winters, 1997–1998 and 2015–2016, brought significant severe-storm outbreaks mainly across the Gulf Coast, Southeast and Southern Plains.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 21:07 UTC)

Severe storms tore through Arizona, with a possible tornado causing major damage in the Heber-Overgaard area. Golf-ball-size hail shattered windows and dented cars, while powerful winds uprooted trees, damaged homes and knocked down power poles. At least one person was reported hurt, and some families lost electricity. Resident Betty Nixon said the violent winds and flying debris lasted about 30 to 45 seconds, and she had no warning. The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office responded to the major incident and urged people to avoid roads near Overgaard. Overgaard Baptist Church said its members were safe, though the building lost windows, trees, signs and fences. Arizona also faced tornado warnings, hail and flash-flood threats, while storms brought damaging winds to Flagstaff and Mesa. The weather system threatened Southern California with rain, possible flooding and dangerous surf, and investigators were probing a possible tornado in Orange County.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 16:14 UTC)

A powerful storm damaged the Heber-Overgaard area in central Arizona, bringing a possible tornado, golf-ball-size hail and destructive winds. Trees and power poles fell, homes and vehicles were damaged, and families lost electricity; officials reported at least one minor injury. Resident Betty Nixon said she had no warning and described violent winds and flying debris lasting about half a minute. Overgaard Baptist Church said its members were safe, though the building lost windows, signs, fences and trees. State Representative Walt Blackman called the damage considerable and urged Governor Katie Hobbs to declare an emergency. The sheriff’s office asked people to avoid several nearby roads. The broader storm system also threatened Arizona communities with more severe weather, while rain and possible flooding were forecast for Southern California, especially the Santa Monica Mountains. Strong surf also prompted warnings for dangerous waves and rip currents.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 13:18 UTC)

A possible tornado tore through Arizona’s Heber-Overgaard area, bringing golf-ball-size hail, damaging winds and significant damage to homes and infrastructure. Trees fell onto houses, power poles came down, and outages were reported; the sheriff’s office said there were minor injuries. Resident Betty Nixon said she had no warning and described violent winds and flying debris lasting about 30 to 45 seconds. Overgaard Baptist Church also lost trees, signs, fences and windows, though its members were safe. State Representative Walt Blackman called for Governor Katie Hobbs to declare an emergency, citing considerable damage and urgent needs including restoring power and helping families. Arizona also faced an unusually high risk of severe thunderstorms, with a tornado watch reported as the state’s first in 16 years. The storm system threatened Southern California with rain, flooding and dangerous surf, especially near the Santa Monica Mountains and wildfire burn areas.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 07:24 UTC)

A possible tornado tore through Arizona’s Heber-Overgaard area, knocking down power poles, causing outages and damaging homes. At least one person was reported hurt, and the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office called it a major incident. Resident Betty Nixon said violent winds and flying debris lasted about 30 to 45 seconds, with no warning. Officials urged people to avoid roads near Overgaard as crews responded. Arizona also faced an unusually widespread severe-weather threat, including its first Tornado Watch in 16 years and a warning for part of Yavapai County. Damaging hail, more tornadoes and flash flooding were possible across the state. The storm system was also bringing rain and flood concerns to Southern California, especially near the Santa Monica Mountains and wildfire burn scars. Hazardous surf and dangerous rip currents prompted beach warnings, while additional thunderstorms could develop as the system moves east.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 04:11 UTC)

A powerful storm system is bringing dangerous weather to Arizona and Southern California, with Arizona seeing its first Tornado Watch in 16 years. A Tornado Warning was issued for part of Yavapai County, while Flagstaff, Prescott and central Arizona faced a Level 3 out of 5 severe-storm risk, including the possibility of egg-sized hail and tornadoes. Intense thunderstorms could also trigger flash flooding, and a Flood Watch covers parts of the Southwest through Thursday. In Southern California, moderate rain and thunderstorms raise concerns about flooding and debris flows, especially around wildfire burn scars and the Santa Monica Mountains. A low-end tornado risk extends from Carmel south to Los Angeles. Dangerous surf and rip currents are also expected along parts of the coast, prompting officials to advise swimmers to stay out of the water. More storms could develop Thursday as the system moves east.