Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Gila and Yavapai Counties Through 4:45 PM
Payson, AZ — A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Gila County and Yavapai County in central Arizona until 4:45 PM Mountain time.
**What is happening:** At 4:22 PM Mountain time, the National Weather Service in Flagstaff tracked a severe thunderstorm about 22 miles south of Childs Power Plant — roughly 25 miles southwest of Payson — racing northeast at 50 mph.
**Local impacts:** The storm is dropping ping pong ball-size hail. People and animals outdoors could be injured, and damage to roofs, siding and vehicles is expected. A tornado watch remains in effect for the area until 6:00 PM, so conditions could turn more dangerous quickly.
**What to do:**
- Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from windows.
- With a tornado watch in effect, know where your safe room is — an interior room on the lowest floor.
- Report severe weather to local law enforcement or the National Weather Service in Flagstaff.
*Source: National Weather Service, Flagstaff, AZ. Issued October 21, 2026.*
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