NWS confirms third tornado touched down near Flagstaff on Oct. 21

Northern Arizona Twister Confirmed as National Weather Service Details October Outbreak

Northern Arizona’s severe weather event now includes three confirmed tornadoes, following new data released by the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service confirmed the third twister, designated the Wing Mountain tornado, touched down on October 21 near Flagstaff, marking the last to be confirmed by officials from a series of severe storms that triggered multiple weather warnings across the region.

The Wing Mountain tornado developed about 3.5 miles north of Bellemont at 5:41 a.m. on October 21, positioning itself just west of Flagstaff. According to the National Weather Service Flagstaff office, the system carved a 2.3-mile path northeast through the forest, uprooting and snapping large ponderosa pines before dissipating just west of Highway 180. Meteorologists estimated peak winds reached 110 mph.

Storm Paths and Comparative Damage Across the Region

This newly confirmed event joins two other tornadoes verified days earlier from the same severe weather date.

The Spruce Mountain tornado touched down near Prescott that same morning at 7:32 a.m., maintaining a maximum wind speed of 105 mph. That system remained on the ground for 8 miles over a duration of 14 minutes, reaching a width of approximately 300 yards. Later that evening at 6:59 p.m., the Heber-Overgaard tornado struck with peak winds of 110 mph. Staying on the ground for 9.25 miles—spanning 11 minutes of travel—it measured roughly 350 yards wide.

Impacts and Safety

While the Wing Mountain system heavily impacted timberland near Highway 180 by snapping large ponderosa pines, no injuries were reported from that event or the Spruce Mountain touchdown near Prescott. The sole reported injury from the entire October 21 outbreak occurred during the Heber-Overgaard tornado.

Worth a look