Local
Arizona storms bring nine tornado warnings and flood threat through Thursday
At least nine tornado warnings have been issued across Arizona, though no tornadoes have been confirmed. Heavy rain, damaging winds, hail and possible flash flooding are expected as a strong weather system moves through the state.
At least nine tornado warnings were issued in Arizona as a strong low-pressure system brought rounds of thunderstorms, heavy rain and damaging-wind risks Wednesday and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service and the Storm Prediction Center.
No tornadoes had been confirmed. The latest warning cited in the forecast covered Coconino and Navajo counties and expired at 6:45 p.m. At least seven warnings had been issued in northern Arizona Wednesday morning.
A tornado watch in northern Arizona was set to remain in effect until 6 p.m., while a severe thunderstorm watch there extended until 2 a.m. Thursday. The Storm Prediction Center outlook showed a 5% chance of tornadoes Thursday in parts of eastern Arizona, including areas near Show Low and Safford.
The Phoenix area and parts of central and southeastern Arizona were also under a severe thunderstorm watch through 9 p.m. Wednesday. The watch included Gila, Maricopa, Graham, Pinal and Greenlee counties, where storms could bring heavy rain, strong gusts and small hail.
The heaviest rainfall was forecast for northern and eastern Arizona, with flash flooding possible in mountain communities. A flood watch was in effect through Thursday evening, and forecasts called for additional heavy rain overnight into Thursday morning.
Showers were expected to continue in eastern Arizona into Thursday afternoon and evening before drier air arrived. Conditions were forecast to become mostly dry by Friday.