DEWEY-HUMBOLDT, AZ (AZFamily) — At least 10 tornado warnings were issued across the High Country on Wednesday, with a dark cloud formation stunning Arizonans.
Arizona’s Family chief meteorologist Royal Norman believes that a possible tornado formed over Dewey-Humboldt Wednesday morning. A video submitted by one viewer shows dark funnel clouds forming over the town.
“I thought it was pretty cool,” said Steve Banwart, a witness to the possible tornado. “I could see over in the distance there where the tornado was I could see bright flashes of lightning bolts coming all the way to the ground.”
Northeastern, northern and northwestern Arizona were under a tornado watch until 6 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of northern Arizona, lasting until 2 a.m. Thursday.
All seven Hopi tribally controlled schools will be closed on Thursday due to weather.
“I stepped outside to take out the garbage and that’s when I seen it clear as day just this spiraling thing happening,” said Danielle Johnson, a witness to the possible tornado. “I was left speechless.”
Johnson was worried her RV wouldn’t be enough shelter if a tornado did touch down so she headed to Phoenix for safety.
“It just freaks me out because I’ve never seen a tornado here in my life,” Johnson said. “So, it’s very nerve wracking.”
A seventh tornado warning was issued around 11:30 a.m. for Valle, and an eighth tornado warning was issued at 3:30 p.m. for an area near Show Low.
A sixth tornado warning was issued around 9:10 a.m. for Flagstaff areas, including Flagstaff, Fort Valley, Mt. Elden, University Heights, Rogers Lake, and A1 Mountain. Other areas also include Doney Park, Sunset Crater N.M., Timberline, East Flagstaff, and Wupatki Trails. The warning expired at 9:45 a.m.
Another brief tornado warning was issued for portions of Coconino County, including Valle and Red Butte Mountain, around 11:30 a.m. It has since expired.
Shortly before 8 a.m., a fourth tornado warning was issued for Prescott, Prescott Valley, Prescott Airport, Mingus Mountain, Lynx Lake and Willow Creek Reservoir. The warning was lifted at 8:15 a.m.
Moments later, a fifth tornado warning was issued for Jerome, Woodchute Mountain, Parsons Spring, Jerome State Historic Park, Parsons Trailhead, and Tapco Verde River Access. The warning lasted until 8:45 a.m.
The first round of warnings began around 5 a.m., when three tornado warnings were issued for portions of Yavapai and Coconino counties.
Areas of Perkinsville, J.D. Dam Lake, and Summit Mountain were included in the initial warnings. Between Flagstaff and Williams, areas of Bellemont, Parks, Camp Raymond, Fort Valley, Lava River Cave, and Whitehorse Lake in Coconino County were also issued warnings.
The warnings were initially set to expire at 5:45 a.m., but were briefly extended for Bellemont, Humphreys Peak, Lava River Cave, Abineau Canyon Trailhead, Wing Mountain, and Inner Basin Pumphouse areas. All warnings expired after 6 a.m.
The warnings were from radar-indicated rotation, not from ground observation, according to Arizona’s Family meteorologists.
Storm chasing in Arizona
Storm chaser and photographer Mike Olbinski chased storms overnight and into Wednesday morning, including a supercell near Prescott.
Olbinski said he began chasing around 9 p.m. Tuesday night, starting with a supercell near Fountain Hills.
“I actually haven’t slept. I’ve been chasing since about nine o’clock last night and was on that Fountain Hill Supercell, which was fantastic. I just got right in the core. And the hail is good,” he explained.
He then traveled to Prescott and Ash Fork before returning to Prescott, where he photographed a supercell moving into the area. Olbinski says he was able to catch the storm coming off the mountain at Prescott after trying to intercept it.
“And then it was by me. Then, my only route really is to go back to I-17 and then go north, and now it’s headed towards Sedona and Flagstaff. So you can’t really chase them that way. You kind of got to get lucky,” he said.
Other storm chasers, including Reed Timmer and Jim Tang, are coming to Arizona for the severe weather outbreak.
“So, you know, when there’s a 5% tornado enhanced in Arizona, all these chasers are like I’ve never bagged a tornado in Arizona. So I might as well go try,” Olbinski said.
Olbinski says he expects favorable storm conditions north of Flagstaff, in the Navajo and Utah area, but cited the Storm Prediction Center in explaining his decision to stay in north-central Arizona.
“SPC says a better low level shear is down more north central Arizona and temperatures are warmer. I’m kind of sticking down here,” he said.
Olbinski initially planned to travel to the Grand Canyon, where models showed a supercell forming, but changed plans after viewing conditions near Prescott.
“I’ve been all the way north and it’s 55 degrees up on I-40 and I was going to go to the Grand Canyon because the models are showing a supercell going right over the Grand Canyon. Well, from what I just saw at Prescott, they do not look photogenic. They’re very grungy and low,” he explained.
Olbinski plans to head south toward Phoenix and the Beeline Highway later Wednesday.
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