The Newshound

Possible tornado and golf-ball-sized hail batter Arizona as the US state gets its first tornado watches since 2010

Hailstones two to three inches across crushed car bodies, shattered windows and battered roofs across central and northern Arizona. In the Coconino National Forest, northwest of Flagstaff, a few dozen ponderosa pines taller than 30 feet came crashing down. 'This is very unusual for this area at this time of the year,' said National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Bernhart. Phoenix now faces flash flooding into Thursday morning.

Fierce gusts brought trees down onto carports and walls in Mesa and Flagstaff.

Bernhart warned: 'These are not small trees that are down.'

Meteorologist Mark O'Malley said heavy rain is now the biggest danger for the Phoenix metro area.

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