Severe storms batter Arizona with large hail, power outages and widespread damage

Severe storms swept across Arizona this week, bringing large hail, widespread power outages and significant property damage as the state experienced its first tornado watch in 16 years.

(CNN)- Severe storms swept across Arizona this week, bringing large hail, widespread power outages and significant property damage as the state experienced its first tornado watch in 16 years.

Residents described intense rainfall, sudden power outages and loud noises as the storms moved through their communities.

“The lights went out, the power went out. It started raining really bad and then we heard this big boom,” one resident said.

In Phoenix, golf ball-sized hail fell Wednesday, damaging vehicles and leaving windshields shattered.

Phoenix resident Devin Nailor described extensive dents covering vehicles in the area.

“Everywhere you can look, you find one,” Nailor said, comparing the damage to repeated strikes from a hammer.

The community of Heber-Overgaard was also among the hardest-hit areas.

Heber-Overgaard Fire District Chief Jason Payne said crews responded to downed power lines and damaged propane tanks.

“We had a lot of power lines down. So most of power was down to Overgaard. And we had a lot of propane tanks that trees had hit, so we had to mitigate that,” Payne said.

The severe weather also affected neighboring states.

In Hurricane, Utah, major flooding prompted the city’s mayor to issue a local emergency proclamation.

Forecasters warned that additional severe weather could affect parts of the Southwest over the next several days. CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar said a line of storms could bring heavy rainfall to eastern New Mexico, western Texas and the Oklahoma Panhandle.

Residents across the affected areas are assessing damage as officials continue monitoring the potential for additional storms and flooding.