Tornados in Arizona?

Tornados are most common in the American mid-west—in an area known as “tornado alley.” Yet, last week, four tornados touched down in the mountains of northern Arizona, bringing the destructive power of 100-mile-per-hour winds.

Normally, Arizona averages four tornados per year. “‘The hammering that northern Arizona is getting right now is exceptional,’ said National Weather Service meteorologist Ken Waters in Phoenix. ‘It’s not uncommon this time of year to have one or two tornado reports or a warning, but this is quite an outbreak’” (Associated Press, October 7, 2010).

This severe weather is not the beginning of the end, but appears to be in keeping with unusual “severe weather” events that are happening with increasing frequency around the globe. As prophecy marches on, God will allow powerful events to impact the world—like earthquakes and famines (see Matthew 24:7-8) and alternating rains and drought (Amos 4:7). These will be just the beginning, as God gains the attention of the nations so they can choose to repent.