Tornado warning issued near Show Low as watch in effect for other parts of eastern Arizona

A tornado warning was issued Thursday afternoon for parts of Navajo County as a watch remained in place for other parts of eastern Arizona.

The warning is in effect until 5:15 p.m. for areas near Show Low, including Shumway, Pinedale, Linden, Red Top Mountain, Fool Hollow Lake and Schoens Lake.

⚠️ Tornado Warning ⚠️ in effect until 5:15 PM MST for portions of Navajo County.

This includes Shumway, Pinedale, Linden, Red Top Mountain, Fool Hollow Lake, and Schoens Lake. More info: https://t.co/fnC1TKcwg3. #azwx https://t.co/RI1x19D5HM

— NWS Flagstaff (@NWSFlagstaff) October 22, 2026

Tornado watch issued for parts of Arizona and New Mexico

A broader tornado watch remains in effect for parts of Arizona and New Mexico through 8 p.m. MST.

A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Arizona and New Mexico until 9 PM MDT https://t.co/uVeCdCi204

— NWS Flagstaff (@NWSFlagstaff) October 22, 2026

The Apache County warning expired at 1:30 p.m., following a morning warning for parts of Yavapai County near Sedona that expired at 10 a.m.

The warnings came as the National Weather Service expanded its severe weather alerts across the region Thursday.

A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop. A tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted or indicated by radar. The warnings do not, by themselves, confirm that tornadoes touched down.

What’s the severe weather forecast for northern Arizona?

Severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts of more than 60 mph and hail larger than 1 inch in diameter are possible across northern Arizona, with the best chances in the eastern part of the state, according to the weather service in Flagstaff.

The storms are expected to taper off from west to east during the afternoon and evening.

People should move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building if a tornado warning is issued for their area. More information is available on the weather service’s website.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Kylie Werner contributed to this report. 

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