Violent Storms and a Possible Tornado Batter Arizona: Golf-Ball Hail, Toppled Trees and Poles

Violent storms in the US state of Arizona have toppled trees onto homes, knocked down utility poles and brought hail the size of golf balls. The storms, which raged overnight on Wednesday into early Thursday, carried thunder and heavy winds through central Arizona, and a possible tornado caused extensive damage in one community.

The National Weather Service said the storms travelling through central Arizona early on Thursday were capable of causing hail and wind damage. Flood watches were in place in some areas, along with the possibility of tornadoes, the service said. During the storms, the weather service issued multiple severe thunderstorm warnings.

On Wednesday night, hail the size of golf balls fell across the northern and central parts of the state. The hail pummeled people's roofs, shattered windows and dented cars. Damaging wind gusts accompanied it, making the situation still more dangerous.

A tornado warning was in effect on Wednesday night as a storm moved over Heber-Overgaard in Navajo County, about 140 miles (225km) north-east of Phoenix. People in the area posted photos and video online of uprooted trees and crumpled structures. The county sheriff's office said in a statement that significant damage and minor injuries were reported. About 3,000 people live in the community.

Walt Blackman, a Republican state representative 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. His words show how badly the storm disrupted normal life in the area.

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 on Wednesday night. Its members, however, were all OK. With humour, the church added, 'We had a great prayer meeting in the women's restroom' — capturing the moment they took shelter.

Ryan Bernhart, a weather service meteorologist in Flagstaff, explained the weather behind such storms. Warm, moist air moving north fuels storms coming off the California coast, he said. Changing winds can make them spin, creating the conditions for tornadoes.

Bernhart said, 'This is very unusual for this area at this time of the year.' Such severe storms and a possible tornado were unexpected for locals at this point in the season — which is why both the lack of preparation and the scale of damage were feared to be greater.

Strong winds toppled trees in Flagstaff and Mesa, with some landing on walls and carports. In the Coconino National Forest, north-west of Flagstaff, a few dozen ponderosa pines more than 30ft (9 metres) tall fell down. Trees that large and strong being uprooted is itself proof of the storm's intensity.

In Bernhart's words, 'These are not small trees that are down. These are pretty strong trees that had been knocked down.' His comment makes clear how abnormal the wind's force was, that even old, sturdy pines could not remain standing.

After the storm, the suffering of families without power is now the biggest crisis in the area. Repairing broken poles, removing uprooted trees and accounting for damaged homes together mean recovery work will take time. If the emergency declaration request is granted, that work could receive extra support.

According to the weather service's warnings, residents still need to remain alert about the storm pattern and flood risk. This Arizona incident stands as another example of how a single night's storm can throw an entire community's life into disarray.