Arizona Actually Gets Tornadoes And Here Is What The Record Shows

On July 21st, 2026, a funnel cloud was spotted in the area of Globe, Arizona. It didn't hit the ground, meaning it wasn't a tornado, but it had me wondering, has there ever been a tornado in Arizona? The answer is yes; there have been a number of tornados in Arizona!

Drew Angerer, Getty Images

Historical Data

Tornados have been recorded in Arizona since 1680, with reliable records available beginning in 1950. Since 1956, the state has recorded 44 tornadoes, most of which were weak and short-lived, and never going above a EF3/F3.

One of the most destructive tornadoes in Arizona, according to the National Weather Service, happened in 2010 when an EF3 tornado struck Bellmont, Arizona. Planes in the Scottsdale airport were damaged, over 100 houses were destroyed, and $2.8 billion in damages were recorded.

READ: How Arizona’s Heat And Drought Fuel Wildfire Season

green grass field under white clouds during daytime

Why?

Every year during monsoon season, multiple funnel clouds are spotted all across the state, primarily in the north near Flagstaff. Although funnel clouds are relatively common, only a small number touch the ground and become tornadoes. As a result, Arizona averages fewer than one tornado per year.

Unlike states such as Texas, Arizona typically lacks the necessary weather for a tornado. The air is dry, and the state's mountainous terrain also disrupts storm organization, making it more difficult for powerful tornadoes to develop and persist. As a result, most Arizona tornadoes are relatively weak, brief, and cause only isolated damage.

READ: The Arizona Crater That Changed How We Study Space Impacts

a large tornado is coming out of a field

Notable Incidents

• In 1964, an EF2 Tornado struck Maricopa County, resulting in 2 fatalities and 9 injuries.
• In 2006, a multiple EF3 tornado struck Bumble Bee, Arizona, north of Phoenix. A fa dozen homes were damaged, and no one died.
• In 2025, an EF0 tornado touched down west of Wickenburg during a strong storm system, causing localized damage to vehicles, buildings, and an RV trailer. It is the most recent confirmed tornado in Arizona, although it only lasted a few minutes and caused minimal damage.

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a car driving down a road under a cloudy sky

Although Arizona is not commonly associated with tornadoes, the state experiences occasional tornado activity each year, particularly during the summer monsoon season. Most of these storms are weak and short-lived, but historical events have shown that damaging tornadoes can occur under the right conditions.

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