BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. — A tornado watch for Bullhead City and much of Mohave County has residents facing an unusual severe weather threat Wednesday afternoon. While tornadoes are uncommon in the Colorado River Valley, historical weather records show they have occurred surprisingly close to Bullhead City.
The National Weather Service issued Tornado Watch 688 on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, with the watch remaining in effect until 6 p.m. Arizona time.
The watch includes Bullhead City, Kingman, Mohave Valley, Golden Valley, and other communities throughout Mohave County. Portions of Coconino, Navajo, and Yavapai counties are also included.
According to the National Weather Service in Las Vegas, a storm system moving across the Southwest is creating conditions favorable for strong to severe thunderstorms. Forecasters warn that damaging wind gusts, large hail, and even a tornado or two are possible.
But just how unusual is a tornado in Bullhead City?
A Look Back at Mohave County's Tornado History
Although tornadoes are more commonly associated with the Great Plains, northwest Arizona has experienced its share of tornado activity.
Historical tornado records maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) document tornadoes across Mohave County dating back decades.
One of the closest recorded tornadoes to Bullhead City occurred on September 18, 1972. Historical storm-track data identifies an F1 tornado approximately seven miles from Bullhead City. Records indicate the tornado caused one injury.
More than two decades later, November 22, 1996, brought another unusual severe weather event to Mohave County.
Multiple tornadoes were recorded across the Kingman region that afternoon.
NOAA records document an F0 tornado northeast of Kingman that traveled approximately two miles, damaging a barn and tool shed. Doors were torn from their hinges, windows were broken, and part of the roof was blown off.
Another F0 tornado touched down west of Kingman near U.S. Highway 93. That tornado was relatively brief, and no damage was reported.
The county's tornado history did not end there. Records also identify tornado activity on April 21, 2001, and more recent events, including August 21, 2022.
These historical events demonstrate that while tornadoes are relatively rare in northwest Arizona, the possibility is real.
Why Tornadoes Can Develop in the Arizona Desert
Tornadoes are not limited to humid, flat regions of the country.
When sufficient atmospheric moisture, instability, and changing wind speeds or directions combine, thunderstorms can develop rotating updrafts capable of producing tornadoes.
Arizona's mountainous terrain and desert climate do not eliminate that risk.
In fact, thunderstorms across the Southwest can produce a variety of dangerous conditions, including sudden damaging winds, large hail, intense lightning, flash flooding, and occasionally tornadoes.
For the Bullhead City area, flash flooding and strong thunderstorm winds are generally more familiar hazards. However, Wednesday's tornado watch highlights the potential for a less common type of severe weather.
What Wednesday's Tornado Watch Means
A tornado watch does not mean a tornado has been spotted or is currently approaching Bullhead City.
Instead, it means atmospheric conditions are favorable for thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes.
A tornado warning is more urgent and indicates that a tornado has been detected by radar or reported by a reliable observer, requiring immediate protective action.
Residents should remain alert throughout the afternoon and evening, particularly if thunderstorms begin developing nearby.
Anyone receiving a tornado warning should move to a sturdy building and take shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows.
Residents should also remain aware of the potential for flash flooding, especially around washes and low-lying roadways.
An Unusual Weather Day for Bullhead City
For a community better known for extreme summer heat, desert winds, and Colorado River recreation, a tornado watch is certainly not an everyday occurrence.
But the historical record serves as a reminder that even the Arizona desert is not immune to tornado-producing storms.
The National Weather Service continues monitoring the developing storm system, with Tornado Watch 688 scheduled to remain in effect until 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Code3News will continue following severe weather developments throughout Bullhead City and Mohave County.
Official weather information is available at https://www.weather.gov/vef.
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