Historic tornado watches were issued across the American Southwest this week, with Arizona seeing its first in 16 years and New Mexico its first in 28 years, as a powerful storm system brought flash flooding, damaging winds and hail to the Four Corners region. According to the FOX Forecast Center, the watches were triggered by rare October severe weather sweeping across Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado.
Severe thunderstorms slammed Arizona on Wednesday with 60 mph wind gusts and hail, including a top gust of 72 mph recorded in Flagstaff, according to Fox Weather. The National Weather Service warned of continued flash flooding, with rainfall rates potentially reaching two inches per hour, raising mudslide risks over burn scars from recent wildfires.
In southwestern Utah, major flooding inundated parts of the city of Hurricane on Thursday, prompting local officials to issue evacuation orders as water surged through neighborhoods and roadways. Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox said on X that the state was closely monitoring the flash flooding and urged residents to follow all evacuation orders and local emergency guidance.
The same system also brought a tornado-warned storm through Overgaard, about 150 miles northeast of Phoenix, where the Navajo County Sheriff's Office reported minor injuries, significant property damage and displaced residents. Farther north, the Moenkopi Wash near Tuba City rose above 32 feet, surpassing its previous record height by nearly 3 feet.
Meteorologists said the storm system, which moved across the West Coast and tapped into a plume of unusually humid air over Arizona, is expected to continue into Friday, with the severe weather threat shifting toward the Rockies and parts of the Southeast. Residents across the region are advised to watch for flash flood warnings and avoid driving through flooded roadways.