Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2020

Flash Flood Warning 15, NWS Tucson, AZ

July 23, 2020Pima County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 23, 2020, 11:59 AM MST for Pima County, Arizona. It was in force for 5 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Jul 23, 2020, 11:59 AM MST (18:59 UTC)
Expired: Jul 23, 2020, 4:30 PM MST
In force: 5 hr
Issued by: NWS Tucson, AZ
Area: Storm-based polygon
Damage threat: Considerable
Flood severity: None

County Pima County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 105 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:02 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Tuscon, AZ (KTUS), launched 12:00Z, 7.0 hours before the alert went out and 91 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 1304 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -52 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1495 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 6 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 20 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 28 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

506 
WGUS55 KTWC 231859
FFWTWC
AZC019-232200-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0015.200723T1859Z-200723T2200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1159 AM MST Thu Jul 23 2020

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  South Central Pima County in southeastern Arizona...

* Until 300 PM MST.

* At 1159 AM MST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 
  1 and 2.5 inches of rain have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or 
  expected to begin shortly.

Expect flash flooding on the western slopes of the Baboquivari 
Mountains and washes flowing from the mountain range.

  HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms
           producing flash flooding.

  SOURCE...Doppler radar and automated gauges.

  IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
           urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Topawa, Vamori, Coldfields, Fresnal Canyon and South Komelik.

This includes the following Flash Flood Prone Locations...
	Indian Route 19 south of Topawa.

Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible in the warned 
area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small 
creeks and streams, country roads, farmland, and other low lying 
spots.

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are 
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded 
roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 3187 11153 3177 11152 3167 11158 3167 11177
      3162 11180 3169 11186 3171 11190 3175 11195
      3180 11187 3183 11182 3183 11178 3188 11165

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
EXPECTED RAINFALL...1-3 INCHES IN 3 HOURS 

$$

JM

3 follow-up statements

970 
WGUS75 KTWC 232121
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
221 PM MST Thu Jul 23 2020

AZC019-232200-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0015.000000T0000Z-200723T2200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-
221 PM MST Thu Jul 23 2020

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM MST THIS 
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTH CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY...

At 221 PM MST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
moderate to locally heavy showers continue across the warned area. 
Between 2 and 4.5 inches of rain have fallen in the Baboquivari 
Mountains. Flash flooding is likely ongoing.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
         flash flooding.

SOURCE...Doppler radar and automated gauges.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
         urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Topawa, Vamori, Coldfields, Fresnal Canyon and South Komelik.

This includes the following Flash Flood Prone Locations...
	Indian Route 19 south of Topawa.

Additional rainfall amounts up to one half inch are possible in the 
warned area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small 
creeks and streams, country roads, farmland, and other low lying 
spots.

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are 
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded 
roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 3187 11153 3177 11152 3167 11158 3167 11177
      3162 11180 3169 11186 3171 11190 3175 11195
      3180 11187 3183 11182 3183 11178 3188 11165

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
EXPECTED RAINFALL...2-4.5 INCHES IN 6 HOURS 

$$

JM

323 
WGUS55 KTWC 232147
FFWTWC
AZC019-232330-
/O.EXT.KTWC.FF.W.0015.000000T0000Z-200723T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
247 PM MST Thu Jul 23 2020

The National Weather Service in Tucson has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  South Central Pima County in southeastern Arizona...

* Until 430 PM MST.

* At 247 PM MST, Doppler radar continued to indicate showers 
  producing moderate to locally heavy rain across the warned area. 
  Flash flooding is already occurring.

  HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms
           producing flash flooding.

  SOURCE...Doppler radar.

  IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
           highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Topawa, Vamori, Coldfields, Fresnal Canyon and South Komelik.

This includes the following Flash Flood Prone Locations...
	Indian Route 19 south of Topawa.

Additional rainfall amounts up to one quarter of an inch are 
possible in the warned area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small 
creeks and streams, country roads, farmland, and other low lying 
spots.

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are 
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded 
roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 3187 11153 3177 11152 3167 11158 3167 11177
      3162 11180 3169 11186 3171 11190 3175 11195
      3180 11187 3183 11182 3183 11178 3188 11165

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

JM

359 
WGUS75 KTWC 232324
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
424 PM MST Thu Jul 23 2020

AZC019-232334-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0015.000000T0000Z-200723T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-
424 PM MST Thu Jul 23 2020

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 430 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR 
SOUTH CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY...

Flood waters have receded. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a 
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

LAT...LON 3187 11153 3177 11152 3167 11158 3167 11177
      3162 11180 3169 11186 3171 11190 3175 11195
      3180 11187 3183 11182 3183 11178 3188 11165

$$

JD

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jul 23, 2:51 AM MST, 9 hours 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 23, 2:51 AM MST, 9 hours 8 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
251 AM MST Thu Jul 23 2020

.SYNOPSIS...An increase in shower and thunderstorm activity is
expected through Friday with some of the thunderstorms producing
heavy rain and strong gusty winds. These showers and storms can be
expected to continue into or through the overnight hours as well.
There will be a small decrease in activity later this weekend and
early next week into a more typical monsoon pattern.

&&

.DISCUSSION...The southerly flow and deeper moisture we have been
discussing continues to behave as expected. Surface dew points in
the 60s with precipitable water values now pushing into the 1.6
inch range and probably higher later today. We continue to see
showers with isolated embedded thunderstorms this morning. We're
not going to start the day with sunny skies most places, but it
won't take much today with a convective temperature likely
dropping into the lower 90s with increasing instability
compensating for a little less surface heating. The HRRR organizes
stronger storms in the Santa Rita Mtns south of Tucson in the
late morning hours before pushing slowly northward, with outflows
responsible for an increased apparent movement. Main threat will
be heavy rainfall and flooding over burn scars, with possible
localized flooding issues elsewhere.

Shorter range mesoscale models and our typical ensembles continue
to push a mid level impulse up from the south Friday, which should
serve as another focus for showers and thunderstorms and
additional heavy rainfall concerns.

As the ridge builds back westward and the high center temporarily
reconsolidates overhead early next week, a less favorable
thunderstorm environment will develop despite plenty of moisture
still in place. Storms won't go away but they will slow down. A
favorable high position is expected to return later in the week
for another upswing in thunderstorms.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid through 24/12Z.
Isolated -TSRA/-SHRA into this morning, increasing this afternoon
and evening. SCT-BKN clouds 10-15k ft MSL and BKN clouds above
15k ft MSL through the period. Sfc winds will be out of the south
to southeast for the entire period 8-12 kts with occasional gusts
in the afternoon hours. Near -TSRA winds gusts to 40 kts will be
possible. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Today into the weekend storm coverage intensity
will increase with Thursday and Friday likely being the most
active. The main threats will be thunderstorm gusts of 45 mph or
higher and locally heavy rainfall, which bring an increased risk
of flash flooding/mud flows on area burn scars. Otherwise normal
wind trends, with 20-ft winds generally less than 15 mph through
the period. With the moisture increase comes high humidity levels
resulting in good to excellent overnight recoveries and day time
mins of 25 percent or higher Thursday onward.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flash Flood Watch from 7 AM MST this morning through Friday
evening for AZZ504-506-507-514.

&&

Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 23, 6:18 AM MST, 5 hours 41 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
618 AM MST Thu Jul 23 2020

AZZ508-512-231400-
Chiricahua Mountains including Chiricahua National Monument-Eastern
Cochise County Below 5000 Feet including Douglas/Willcox-
618 AM MST Thu Jul 23 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL COCHISE COUNTY UNTIL
700 AM MST...

At 617 AM MST, Doppler radar was tracking an area of strong
thunderstorms 14 miles southwest of Chiricahua National Monument, or
10 miles southwest of Sunizona, moving west at 5 to 10 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm along
with heavy rain.

Locations impacted include...
Elfrida and Rucker Canyon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3192 10925 3167 10938 3160 10973 3207 10961
TIME...MOT...LOC 1317Z 104DEG 9KT 3182 10944

Meyer

Special weather statement, Jul 23, 7:39 AM MST, 4 hours 20 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
739 AM MST Thu Jul 23 2020

AZZ504-505-231515-
Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail-South
Central Pinal County including Eloy/Picacho Peak State Park-
739 AM MST Thu Jul 23 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN PIMA AND SOUTH
CENTRAL PINAL COUNTIES UNTIL 815 AM MST...

At 739 AM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles northeast of Picacho Peak State Park, or 19 miles southeast of
Coolidge, moving north at 15 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Eloy, Picacho, Picacho Peak State Park, Red Rock and Cactus Forest.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3269 11107 3245 11139 3275 11164 3276 11161
      3286 11151 3304 11125
TIME...MOT...LOC 1439Z 170DEG 11KT 3275 11136

RH

Special weather statement, Jul 23, 9:14 AM MST, 2 hours 45 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
914 AM MST Thu Jul 23 2020

AZZ504-507-514-231645-
Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains including Mount
Lemmon/Summerhaven-Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra
Vista/Benson-Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green
Valley/Marana/Vail-
914 AM MST Thu Jul 23 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN PIMA COUNTY UNTIL
945 AM MST...

At 914 AM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Saguaro National Park East, or 8 miles east of Davis-Monthan Air
Force Base, moving west at 10 mph.

Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.

Locations impacted include...
Tucson, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tanque Verde, Vail, Mount
Lemmon/Summerhaven, Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, Catalina
Foothills, Saguaro National Park East, Tucson International Airport,
Summit, Rita Ranch, Seven Falls and Redington.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3251 11046 3198 11052 3205 11096 3251 11083
TIME...MOT...LOC 1614Z 096DEG 10KT 3216 11072

RH

Special weather statement, Jul 23, 9:53 AM MST, 2 hours 6 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
953 AM MST Thu Jul 23 2020

AZZ503-504-507-513-231730-
Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra
Vista/Benson-Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains including
Bisbee/Canelo Hills/Madera Canyon-Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar
Valleys including Nogales-Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green
Valley/Marana/Vail-
953 AM MST Thu Jul 23 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL PIMA AND NORTH
CENTRAL SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES UNTIL 1030 AM MST...

At 952 AM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Green Valley, moving northwest at 10 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Sahuarita, Green Valley, Three Points, East Sahuarita, Amado, Madera
Canyon and Arivaca Junction.

LAT...LON 3188 11072 3158 11087 3180 11138 3210 11124
TIME...MOT...LOC 1652Z 112DEG 7KT 3178 11100

RH

Local storm report, Jul 23, 10:25 AM MST, 1 hour 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
1025 AM MST THU JUL 23 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1009 AM     FLASH FLOOD      4 NNE TUCSON            32.26N 110.88W
07/23/2020                   PIMA               AZ   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            FLOOD WATERS UP TO CAR DOORS AT GLENN AND
            CRAYCROFT.

&&

KD

Local storm report, Jul 23, 10:45 AM MST, 1 hour 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
1045 AM MST THU JUL 23 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1032 AM     FLASH FLOOD      8 NW TUCSON             32.29N 110.97W
07/23/2020                   PIMA               AZ   STORM CHASER

            VEHICLE STALLED IN FLOOD WATERS NEAR WETMORE
            AND ORACLE.

&&

KD

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tucson, AZ issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 22, 5:43 PM MST	Special Weather Statement	TWC	Santa Cruz	32 min
Jul 23, 6:18 AM MST	Special Weather Statement	TWC	Cochise	42 min
Jul 23, 6:32 AM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	TWC	Pima	118 min
Jul 23, 6:39 AM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	TWC	Pima	111 min
Jul 23, 7:37 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima, Pinal	57 min
Jul 23, 7:39 AM MST	Special Weather Statement	TWC	Pinal	36 min
Jul 23, 7:48 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima	2 hr
Jul 23, 7:53 AM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	TWC	Pima	5 hr
Jul 23, 8:02 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Cochise	3 hr
Jul 23, 8:16 AM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	TWC	Pima, Pinal	5 hr
Jul 23, 8:18 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Cochise	2 hr
Jul 23, 8:23 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Cochise	3 hr
Jul 23, 9:03 AM MST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TWC	Pima, Santa Cruz	42 min
Jul 23, 9:14 AM MST	Special Weather Statement	TWC		31 min
Jul 23, 9:24 AM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	TWC	Pima	5 hr
Jul 23, 9:36 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima	3 hr
Jul 23, 9:38 AM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	TWC	Pima, Pinal	4 hr
Jul 23, 9:45 AM MST	Areal Flood Warning	TWC	Pima	5 hr
Jul 23, 9:53 AM MST	Special Weather Statement	TWC	Santa Cruz	37 min
Jul 23, 10:22 AM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	TWC	Pima	3 hr
Jul 23, 11:03 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima	5 hr
Jul 23, 11:57 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima, Santa Cruz	3 hr
Jul 23, 12:47 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	TWC	Pima	3 hr
Jul 23, 1:28 PM MST	Special Weather Statement	TWC		32 min
Jul 23, 1:49 PM MST	Areal Flood Warning	TWC	Pima	3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 2020 Every flash flood warning in 2020

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.