Arizona faces a severe-weather day the state almost never sees in October. The NOAA Storm Prediction Center has placed parts of central and northwestern Arizona under an Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms for Wednesday — Level 3 out of 5 — with storms along the Mogollon Rim capable of producing hail larger than two inches, severe wind gusts and a couple of tornadoes from afternoon into evening, FOX Weather and Weather Scope reported.

Source: FOX Weather

Flagstaff and Prescott are inside the Level 3 risk area, and forecast coverage put the wider risk zone across interior central and northern Arizona, including Camp Verde and Payson. Severe thunderstorms were already moving through parts of the state early Wednesday, ahead of a threat expected to intensify through the day and into the evening.

Source: Weather Scope

Flood Watch alongside the storm risk

The same Pacific system is dragging tropical moisture inland. A Flood Watch covers much of Arizona, as well as parts of southern Utah, southwestern Colorado and western New Mexico, FOX Weather reported, and the Weather Prediction Center put portions of central and southern California and the Four Corners under a slight risk of excessive rainfall, where flash flooding is possible. The system also brought an isolated tornado threat to parts of the southern and central California coast.

The National Weather Service said the severe risk is expected to peak Wednesday afternoon and evening, but multiple rounds of severe storms are possible, with the risk potentially persisting into Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.

For Punjabi and other diaspora readers in Arizona — and for truckers crossing the state on I-17 and I-40 on Wednesday — the practical advice is to check forecasts and road conditions before setting out, expect possible hail damage and flash flooding on desert roads, and never cross a flooded wash.