Weak tornado hits Maricopa County, NWS says
Arizona tornado flips RV, man survives
A man miraculously survived after a tornado lifted and flipped his RV while he was still inside during a damaging storm near Wickenburg. FOX 10's Steve Nielsen has the details.
MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. - A "weak, short-lived" tornado touched down in Maricopa County on Nov. 18, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Phoenix confirmed.
What we know:
It happened in Forepaugh, which is near Wickenburg along US 60.
"The preliminary rating is EF-0 ... This tornado produced damage to a property near HWY 60 including flipping over an RV trailer. Thanks to public and eyewitness accounts of this event which helped us conduct this survey," NWS said on Nov. 24.
NWS says EF-0 tornadoes have maximum wind speeds between 65–85.
This happened when Arizona was seeing a statewide storm system that lasted about a week and brought record rainfall to some parts of the state.
What they're saying:
A man miraculously survived after the tornado lifted and flipped his RV while he was still inside during the damaging storm near Wickenburg.
The tornado, which the National Weather Service confirmed struck the Forepaugh property west of Wickenburg, also caused damage and was part of the same storm system that led to vehicle washouts and dramatic rescues in rushing waters.
Janet Zachary was watching the storm from her porch when the weather suddenly changed. "I just saw things start flying," Zachary said.
She recounted feeling her porch begin to lift before her nephew rushed her to safety.
Immediately after, Zachary watched the tornado lift the RV containing her nephew's son. "I could see out the window it had been flipped," she said.
The man inside broke a window and crawled out to safety, sustaining only minor bumps and bruises.
National Weather Service Lead Meteorologist Matt Salerno confirmed the event.
"We were able to tell the tornado was in progress and it must have crossed right over the US 60 and caused that damage at that property before it lifted," Salerno said.
The tornado, which Zachary said lasted about 10 to 20 seconds, struck during a hailstorm but caused significant damage. Everyone involved was reported to be physically fine.