Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Watches in 2021

Flash Flood Watch 6, NWS Tucson, AZ

August 17, 20214 counties in Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood watch at Aug 17, 2021, 9:37 PM MST for 4 counties in Arizona. It took effect at Aug 18, 2021, 12:00 AM MST. It was in force for 20 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 17, 2021, 9:37 PM MST (04:37 UTC)
In effect from
Aug 18, 2021, 12:00 AM MST
Expired
Aug 18, 2021, 8:00 PM MST
In force
20 hr
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Flood severity
None

Counties Cochise County, AZ, Graham County, AZ, Greenlee County, AZ, Pinal County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 108 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:39 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Tuscon, AZ (KTUS), launched 00:00Z, 4.6 hours before the alert went out and 101 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Tuscon, AZ at 00:00Z on 2021-08-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1326 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Tuscon, AZ at 00:00Z on 2021-08-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 22 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
1326 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-11 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1309 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
22 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-13 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

640 
WGUS65 KTWC 180437
FFATWC

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Flood Watch
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
937 PM MST Tue Aug 17 2021

AZZ505-506-509>511-181245-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.A.0006.210818T0700Z-210819T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
South Central Pinal County-Southeast Pinal County-Upper Gila River
Valley-White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties-Galiuro and
Pinaleno Mountains-
Including the cities of Picacho Peak State Park, Clifton, Mount 
Graham, Mammoth, Oracle, Hannagan Meadow, and Safford
937 PM MST Tue Aug 17 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

* Flash Flood Watch for a portion of Southeast Arizona, including 
  the following areas, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains, South Central 
  Pinal County, Southeast Pinal County, Upper Gila River Valley and 
  White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties.

* Through Wednesday evening.

* A storm system moving southwest to northeast from Sonora Mexico 
  will likely produce showers and thunderstorms later tonight into 
  tomorrow afternoon or evening. Multiple rounds of showers and 
  storms could lead to localized areas of 1 to 3 inches of rain.

* Locally heavy rainfall combined with a saturated ground will 
  likely result in flash flooding of washes, small streams, and poor 
  drainage areas. Burn scars from past and more recent wildfires 
  will be especially prone to flash flooding and debris flow. Flash 
  flooding may also lead to significant mainstem river rises through 
  Wednesday evening. This may result in some washes and rivers 
  reaching flood stage.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action 
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

&&

$$

JRM
3 follow-up statements
006 
WGUS65 KTWC 181127
FFATWC

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
427 AM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

AZZ505-506-509>511-181930-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.A.0006.000000T0000Z-210819T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
South Central Pinal County-Southeast Pinal County-Upper Gila River
Valley-White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties-Galiuro and
Pinaleno Mountains-
Including the cities of Picacho Peak State Park, Clifton, Mount 
Graham, Mammoth, Oracle, Hannagan Meadow, and Safford
427 AM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* A portion of Southeast Arizona, including the following areas, 
  Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains, South Central Pinal County, 
  Southeast Pinal County, Upper Gila River Valley and White 
  Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties.

* Through this evening.

* A storm system moving southwest to northeast from Sonora Mexico 
  will produce showers and thunderstorms this morning into this 
  afternoon before ending this evening. Multiple rounds of showers 
  and storms could lead to localized areas of 1 to 3 inches of rain.

* Locally heavy rainfall combined with a saturated ground will 
  likely result in flash flooding of washes, small streams, and poor 
  drainage areas. Burn scars from past and more recent wildfires 
  will be especially prone to flash flooding and debris flow. Flash 
  flooding may also lead to significant mainstem river rises through 
  Wednesday evening. This may result in some washes and rivers 
  reaching flood stage.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action 
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

&&

$$
231 
WGUS65 KTWC 181802
FFATWC

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1102 AM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

AZZ505-506-509>511-190300-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.A.0006.000000T0000Z-210819T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
South Central Pinal County-Southeast Pinal County-Upper Gila River
Valley-White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties-Galiuro and
Pinaleno Mountains-
Including the cities of Picacho Peak State Park, Clifton, Mount 
Graham, Mammoth, Oracle, Hannagan Meadow, and Safford
1102 AM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST THIS EVENING...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* A portion of Southeast Arizona, including the following areas, 
  Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains, South Central Pinal County, 
  Southeast Pinal County, Upper Gila River Valley and White 
  Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties.

* Until 8 PM MST this evening.

* A storm system moving southwest to northeast from Sonora Mexico 
  will produce showers and thunderstorms this morning into this 
  afternoon before ending this evening. Multiple rounds of showers 
  and storms could lead to localized areas of 1 to 3 inches of rain.

* Locally heavy rainfall combined with a saturated ground will 
  likely result in flash flooding of washes, small streams, and poor 
  drainage areas. Burn scars from past and more recent wildfires 
  will be especially prone to flash flooding and debris flow. Flash 
  flooding may also lead to significant mainstem river rises through 
  Wednesday evening. This may result in some washes and rivers 
  reaching flood stage.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action 
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

&&

$$

WJM
620 
WGUS65 KTWC 190301
FFATWC

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
801 PM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

AZZ505-506-509>511-190415-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.A.0006.000000T0000Z-210819T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
South Central Pinal County-Southeast Pinal County-Upper Gila River
Valley-White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties-Galiuro and
Pinaleno Mountains-
Including the cities of Picacho Peak State Park, Clifton, Mount 
Graham, Mammoth, Oracle, Hannagan Meadow, and Safford
801 PM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS EXPIRED...

The Flash Flood Watch for a portion of Southeast Arizona, including 
the following areas, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains, South Central 
Pinal County, Southeast Pinal County, Upper Gila River Valley and 
White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties has expired.

Flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat, therefore the watch 
will be allowed to expire. Please continue to heed remaining road 
closures.

$$

JRM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 17, 7:18 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima42 min
Aug 17, 7:33 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima4 min
Aug 17, 7:37 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatTWCPima113 min
Aug 17, 7:44 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCGraham, Pima, Pinal3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Watches in Arizona, 2021Every flash flood watch in 2021

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.