Tornado warnings are in effect for Flagstaff, Sedona/Oak Creek Canyon and the area south of Tuba City.
BELLEMONT, Ariz. -- The National Weather Service has confirmed that two tornadoes touched down in the area of Interstate 40 between mileposts 180 and 190 west of Flagstaff Wednesday morning.
"That confirmation came because the tornado passed almost directly over our office here in Bellemont," said Dan LeBlanc of the National Weather Service.
The first hit Bellemont around 5:30 a.m. and the second touched down east of the small community about 45 minutes later. That's the one that passed by the NWS office. Damage to homes in the area is extensive with smashed windows and siding torn off some residences. Between 10 and 15 home are uninhabitable. Seven people reportedly were injured, but those injuries were not serious. No fatalities or missing persons have been reported.
The Red Cross is setting up a reception center at Flagstaff Middle School for some 30 people who have been displaced. That shelter should be operational by noon.
The Department of Public Safety reported several collisions in that area. No serious injuries were reported in those wreck. I-40 was closed for a time from Parks to the A-1 interchange, roughly milepost 170 to 190.
As of 10:15 a.m., Arizona Department of Transportation spokesman Doug Nintzel said I-40 was open between Flagstaff and Williams. Debris, however, was a major issue on several highways and roadways in the Flagstaff area, causing some significant backups. Drivers were being urged to go slowly and exercise extreme caution. DPS is advising people to avoid the area if possible. Crews were working to clear that debris. Intermittent closures are possible throughout the day.
According to Lena Kent off Burlington Northern Santa Fe, the severe weather up north derailed a 58-car train. One of the tornadoes blew 28 cars off the tracks. A crew of two was aboard the train at the time. Neither was hurt. The train, which was stopped in Bellemont because of the tornado warning, was heading east, hauling containerized cargo from ports in Los Angeles. It was not carrying any hazardous materials. Both the eastbound and westbound tracks are closed. Kent said crews are working to clear the tracks and expect to have them back open by midnight.
At the Camping World RV Park in Bellemont, some 30 RVs were blown over and the debris was scattered all over I-40.
DPS said a third tornado did hit the area, but the NWS has not yet confirmed that.
A tornado warning for central Coconino and northeastern Yavapai Counties, including Bellemont, expired at 8:15 a.m. Radar continues to show several super cells thunderstorms in central and north central Arizona capable of producing tornadoes with little or no advance notice, moving north-northeastward at approximately 50 mph.
Three new warnings were issued for Flagstaff, Sedona/Oak Creek Canyon and the area south of Tuba City shortly after 11 a.m. as a line of severe thunderstorms developed from east of Prescott to north to Bellemont and the Parks area.
The severe weather is expected to continue through Wednesday afternoon. A tornado watch continues for central and north-central Arizona until 5 p.m.
The Red Cross said it is on standby should a tornado touch down in Flagstaff.
A citizen hotline has been activated for the public to obtain information and updates about the emergency. The number is 1-888-679-8393.
In addition, an emergency operations center has been set up at the Sheriff’s Office in Flagstaff.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.azfamily.com/w(...)staff-104414284.html[ Bericht 1% gewijzigd door Drassss op 06-10-2010 20:44:57 ]