The first tornado formed about six miles south of Prescott in Yavapai County, beginning at 7:32 a.m. and lasting 14 minutes, according to the NWS office in Flagstaff. It traveled nearly eight miles northeast across the Bradshaw Mountains, passing over Spruce Mountain before dissipating near Walker Road, south of Lynx Lake. Estimated peak winds reached 105 mph.

Surveyors rated the tornado EF1 based on broad areas of snapped and uprooted ponderosa pines. The storm struck east of Groom Creek, in a rural, mountainous area. Tree damage and a road closure were its primary reported impacts.

The second tornado began south of Heber-Overgaard at 6:59 p.m. and moved north across Highway 260, dissipating near Highway 277 about 11 minutes later. The NWS estimated its winds reached 110 mph and rated it EF1. Damage was reported south of Highway 260 and in central Overgaard.

The storm damaged buildings, destroyed recreational vehicles and left one person with a non-life-threatening injury. A downed tree and roof damage were among the signs used to confirm the tornado, said Jake Lewandowski, a meteorologist with NWS Flagstaff.

Weather Service staff assess damage at suspected tornado sites and combine those observations to estimate a storm’s strength, Lewandowski said. He described the Arizona tornado setup as a familiar one, while noting that tornadoes in the region are not common.

The two tornadoes came amid a broader stretch of severe weather. The NWS offices in Flagstaff and Tucson issued 16 tornado warnings from Wednesday morning through Thursday evening or night.