# Tornado Warning Issued for Apache and Navajo Counties in Arizona

> The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for parts of Apache and Navajo counties, including Show Low, Arizona, on Wednesday afternoon, October 21, 2026, as a severe thunderstorm with radar-indicated rotation moved northeast. This warning was part of a broader severe weather threat for northern Arizona, which included a rare tornado watch.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-22T00:50:46.940260Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/tornado-warning-issued-for-apache-and-navajo-counties-in-arizona-000d1ba1

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Flagstaff, Arizona, issued a tornado warning on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, for portions of Apache and Navajo counties [1]. The warning, active from 3:34 PM MST until 4:00 PM MST, indicated a severe thunderstorm near Wagon Wheel, or over Show Low, moving northeast at 50 mph [1]. This storm was capable of producing a tornado and ping pong ball-sized hail, with radar indicating rotation [1].

Potential impacts included dangerous flying debris, damage to or destruction of mobile homes, and harm to roofs, windows, vehicles, and trees [1]. Locations specifically impacted by this warning included Show Low, Taylor, Pinetop-Lakeside, Lake of the Woods, White Mountain Lake Estates, Linden, Wagon Wheel, Shumway, Vernon, Show Low Regional Airport, Show Low Lake, Mesa Redonda, White Mountain Lake Airport, Pintail Lake, Telephone Lake, Porter Mountain Outlook, Ned Lake, Fool Hollow Lake, and Red Top Mountain [1].

This specific warning occurred amidst a larger severe weather threat for Arizona [2][3]. A potent weather system was expected to bring risks of damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes across central and northern parts of the state [3][4]. The NWS Storm Prediction Center issued Tornado Watch 688 at 10:00 AM MST on October 21, which remained in effect until 6:00 PM MST [5][11]. This watch covered Coconino, Mohave, Navajo, and Yavapai counties in northern Arizona [5][8][11]. The watch highlighted the threat of tornadoes, tennis ball-sized hail, and wind gusts up to 70 mph [8]. The area covered by this watch included 675,516 people, 355 schools, and 20 hospitals [8]. This was Arizona's first tornado watch since October 6, 2010 [8][9]. A tornado watch means tornadoes are possible, while a warning means one has been sighted or indicated by radar, requiring immediate shelter [5][8].

Forecasters had noted an "Enhanced Risk" (level 3 of 5) for severe thunderstorms over Flagstaff, Prescott, Sedona, and Payson, with Show Low included in a "Slight Risk" category [7]. Strong wind shear supported rotating thunderstorms in the eastern Mogollon Rim and White Mountains [3]. Multiple tornado warnings were issued earlier Wednesday in Arizona, including in the Flagstaff area, which prompted emergency alerts for residents to take shelter [5][8]. By 1:00 PM MST, these earlier tornado warnings had expired without any confirmed sightings [8][9].

A flood watch was also in effect for much of northern and central Arizona through Thursday evening, October 22 [6][9]. Travelers were advised to consider altering plans to avoid normally dry washes, slot canyons, streams, backcountry roads, and low water crossings due to potential flash flooding [2][6]. The specific tornado warning for Apache and Navajo counties expired as scheduled at 4:00 PM MST [1].

## Evidence cited
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