Phoenix Hit by Hail and Strong Winds, Damaging Vehicles Across Valley

Arizona is not usually known as a hot spot for severe weather, but this week the state experienced hail, flooding and even a rare tornado. A severe storm on Wednesday produced hail the size of golf balls in metro Phoenix, damaging cars windshields across the Valley. Reports on social media showed vehicle windshields destroyed by hail. North Phoenix, Glendale, Tempe and Mesa were among the Valley communities that felt the worst of the hail. Winds of up to 60 mph were responsible for downed trees across the metro. While hailstorms are infrequent in Phoenix, the metro has experienced multiple severe storms in the past year, including a November 2025 storm that produced hail in the West Valley. In October 2010, Phoenix was hit by successive hailstorms that caused an estimated $2.7 billion in insured losses. The worst of the severe weather on Wednesday missed Phoenix to the north. Communities near Prescott and Flagstaff saw extensive damage caused by winds of up to 70 mph and heavy rainfall. Overgaard, which is part of Navajo Country, reported heavy damage from strong winds. Local reports suggested a possible tornado hit the community, but the National Weather Service has not yet confirmed whether a tornado is responsible. Dry conditions are expected across most of the state in the coming days. Top photo: An uprooted tree damaged vehicles at a local apartment complex after storms hit, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Was this article valuable? Thank you! Please tell us what we can do to improve this article. Thank you! % of people found this article valuable. Please tell us what you liked about it. Here are more articles you may enjoy.