Wind topples trees in Mesa, golf-ball size hail pummels parts of central Arizona

PHOENIX (AP) — Hail the size of golf balls and damaging wind gusts pounded northern and central Arizona in a rare storm blowing through, bringing with it tornado risks and possible flash floods.

Strong winds toppled trees in Flagstaff and Mesa, with some landing on walls and carports. Lightning strikes were seen in Chandler.

A few dozen ponderosa pines more than 30-feet tall fell down in the Coconino National Forest, northwest of Flagstaff.

Storms capable of causing hail and wind damage were traveling through central Arizona early Thursday, with some flood watches and the possibility of tornadoes, the National Weather Service said.

The Weather Service issued multiple warnings as severe thunderstorms moved through the state overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday, encouraging people to seek shelter and stay away from windows as damaging 2-to-3-inch hail struck the area. Hail pummeled people's roofs, shattered windows and dented cars.

Tornado watches were issued for multiple areas — the first the state has seen since Oct. 6, 2010.

“This is very unusual for this area at this time of the year,” said Ryan Bernhart, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Flagstaff.

“These are not small trees that are down," Bernhart said. “These are pretty strong trees that had been knocked down.”

A tornado warning was in effect Wednesday night as a storm moved over Heber-Overgaard in Navajo County, about 140 miles northeast of Phoenix. People in the area posted photos and video online of uprooted trees and crumpled structures.

Significant damage and minor injuries were reported, the county sheriff's office said in a statement. There are about 3,000 people in the community.

State Rep. Walt Blackman, whose district covers parts of the 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.

The storm hit as members of the Overgaard Baptist Church were wrapping up a prayer meeting.

“We took some damage, lost a lot of trees, signs, fences and a few windows,” the church posted about the storm Wednesday night. Nerves were rattled, but members were OK.

“We had a great prayer meeting in the women’s restroom,” the post said.

The greatest threat to the Valley is heavy rainfall and flash flooding Thursday morning, Mark O’Malley, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Phoenix, said.

Showers and thunderstorms are likely, mainly before 2 p.m. today, forecasters said. The rest of the day will be partly sunny, with a high near 81.

Thursday night is expected to be mostly clear with a low around 63.

Jessica Hill reported from Las Vegas.

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