Arizona is not the most popular for tornadoes around this time in October, however, reports suggest that there might have been one. A strong storm had rolled and moved through the east of this community, which is suspected by the National Weather Service in Flagstaff to have given way to a tornado on Wednesday evening.
What happened in Heber-Overgaard
The town consisted around 3000 people and damages occurred to 20-30 buildings. Around 7 in the evening, a violent storm had roared as reported by Navajo County Sheriff’s Office hitting homes, a church, and causing power shortage.
Did a tornado really occur?
NWS Meteorologist Justin Johndrow has provided the statement suggesting that there might have been a tornado based on damage reports and their radar rotation. But the status is unconfirmed yet, without EF rating.
Where did the storm hit?
The storm had hit Navajo County which lies 140 miles northeast of Phoenix. The path of this storm was determined to have moved from the eastern side where airport, Bison Ranch and Rocky Rim Cabins area are then into the Sitgreaves National Forest.
Damage across the community
The damages noted to 20-30 buildings are preliminary and have mostly occurred to homes. A church and fencing at a commercial property were also damaged. (Navajo County Sheriff’s Office)
Injuries and power outage
There were no major injuries reported but one person had sustained minor injuries and has been taken to hospital. There have been no reported deaths however, more than 1,200 customers were without power. The restoration timeline is yet to be provided.
Warning before the storm
Storm Prediction Centre (SPC) had issued a Tornado Watch (688) before the storm hit Heber-Overgaard, on October 21. Residents had been issued warnings with Specific Tornado Warnings issued for Heber, Overgaard, and Aripine.
Why was this storm unusual
For northern Arizona, tornadoes in late October are a rare occurrence. NWS Flagstaff meteorologists noted that the storm that had rolled were due to supercells with wind shear strong enough to produce tornadoes. These supercells had the right conditions to produce a tornado and hail as big as golf ball, even tennis balls at some parts of the state.
Emergency response and help
The affected areas received mutual help with the county’s main law enforcement agency Navajo County Sheriff’s Office leading the response with the local fire department handling search, rescue and safety checks for people and properties. It’s likely the state police was handling traffic control and road closures. Help for residents arrived through temporary shelter and reception to obtain information and basic aid. The American Red Cross was also involved, providing proper supplies and help for next steps.
What will happen next?
NWS is focusing and working to confirming the tornado and assign an EF rating in the coming days. To check this information, you can visit their official website and NOAA Storm Events Database.
