Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS Flagstaff, AZ

July 12, 2026Gila County, Arizona

NWS Flagstaff, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 12, 2026, 2:46 PM MST for Gila County, Arizona. It was in force for 3 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 12, 2026, 2:46 PM MST (21:46 UTC)
Expired
Jul 12, 2026, 5:45 PM MST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Flagstaff, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Flood severity
None

County Gila County, AZ

The radar

The Flagstaff radar (KFSX), 49 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:48 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

Phoenix, AZ (KPSR), launched 12:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 107 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, Phoenix, AZ at 12:00Z on 2026-07-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 682 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Phoenix, AZ at 12:00Z on 2026-07-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -5 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
682 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-95 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1861 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-5 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
59 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

881 
WGUS55 KFGZ 122146
FFWFGZ
AZC007-130045-
/O.NEW.KFGZ.FF.W.0013.260712T2146Z-260713T0045Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ
246 PM MST Sun Jul 12 2026

The National Weather Service in Flagstaff has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Gila County in east central Arizona along Spring and Tonto Creek
  near Gisela...

* Until 545 PM MST.

* At 246 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 3 inches of rain
  have fallen in the past hour. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
  to begin shortly.

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

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Gisela and Hellsgate Wilderness.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Stay away or be swept away! The banks of creeks and washes are
unstable and unsafe during any flooding event.

Low water crossings will become dangerous in heavy rain. Do not
attempt to cross flooded roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 3414 11105 3420 11110 3422 11115 3419 11120
      3415 11126 3411 11130 3404 11131 3404 11127
      3413 11122 3411 11109 3411 11108

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

$$

MCT
2 follow-up statements
922 
WGUS75 KFGZ 122301
FFSFGZ

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ
401 PM MST Sun Jul 12 2026

AZC007-130045-
/O.CON.KFGZ.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260713T0045Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Gila AZ-
401 PM MST Sun Jul 12 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR GILA COUNTY NEAR GISELA...

At 401 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain has ended with only
light rain continuing at this time. Earlier heavy rainfall upstream
of Gisela is expected to cause flash flooding along Spring Creek and
Tonto Creek near Gisela.

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

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Gisela and Hellsgate Wilderness.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Stay away or be swept away! The banks of creeks and washes are
unstable and unsafe during any flooding event.

Low water crossings will become dangerous in heavy rain. Do not
attempt to cross flooded roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 3414 11105 3420 11110 3422 11115 3419 11120
      3415 11126 3411 11130 3404 11131 3404 11127
      3413 11122 3411 11109 3411 11108

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

$$

MCT
625 
WGUS75 KFGZ 130038
FFSFGZ

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ
538 PM MST Sun Jul 12 2026

AZC007-130048-
/O.EXP.KFGZ.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260713T0045Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Gila AZ-
538 PM MST Sun Jul 12 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 545 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
GILA COUNTY NEAR GISELA...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose an
immediate threat. However, Tonto Creek near Gisela may continue to
see elevated water levels this evening from heavy rain this
afternoon. Please continue to use caution and heed remaining road
closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3414 11105 3420 11110 3422 11115 3419 11120
      3415 11126 3411 11130 3404 11131 3404 11127
      3413 11122 3411 11109 3411 11108

$$

MCT

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 Flagstaff, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jul 12, 12:04 PM MST, 2 hours 42 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 12, 12:04 PM MST, 2 hours 42 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ
1204 PM MST Sun Jul 12 2026

.SYNOPSIS...Monsoon moisture will return to the area through the
coming week bringing better storm chances, especially for areas
along and south of the Mogollon Rim. With the added moisture,
hot temperatures begin to trend downward Monday ending up towards
seasonal averages later in the week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...A strong high pressure system aloft was in the
process of building over the north-central United States. The
position of the high will place much of Arizona in a favorable
position for increasing monsoon moisture over the coming week.

For today...Thunderstorm complexes over southern Arizona and
northwest Mexico last night collapsed pushing moisture northward
across portions of south and central Arizona. The result, deep
moisture is in place from about the Mogollon Rim southward. Model
sounding CAPE values range from around 200 J/kg across the
Mogollon Rim to 400-600 J/kg at lower elevation south of the
Rim. As storms build over the higher terrain of the Mogollon Rim,
White Mountains and San Francisco Peaks with daytime heating storm
motion to the west and southwest is expected (a combination of
steering flow aloft and downslope moving outflow). The strongest
storms are expected to be toward the southern edge of the Mogollon
Rim southward across Yavapai and Gila counties where the highest
CAPE values will be found. With hot temperatures continuing at the
lower elevations any thunderstorm downpours will be capable of
producing 45-60 mph winds gusts, the result of evaporational
cooling. As usual, localized downpours in excess of 1.0 inch in
less than an hour are likely. Values of CAPE south of the Rim are
such that an isolated storm or two will be capable of producing
nickle size hail. Elsewhere, further north and east weaker and
more isolated storms are expected as moisture is laking further
north.

For the remainder of the week...The high aloft will remain over
the north-central United States into Wednesday before an inverted
trough moving from east to west (south of the high center)
dominates the weather across the southwest United States through
next weekend. The net result is the door will remain open to the
continued intrusion of moisture from over the Gulf of California
and northwest Mexico, gradually working it's way further north.
Look for active monsoon weather to continue with the chances for
daily showers and thunderstorms continuing through into next
weekend.

&&

.AVIATION...Sunday 12/18Z through Monday 13/18Z...VFR with MVFR
possible near heaviest storms. Scattered showers/storms expected
between 18Z-04Z today, mainly south and west of a KGCN-KFLG-KJTC
line. Winds SW- SE 5-15kts daytime, light and variable or terrain
driven overnight. Gusty and erratic winds up to 30-40kts possible
in vicinity of storms.

OUTLOOK...Monday 13/18Z through Wednesday 15/18Z...VFR with MVFR
possible near heaviest storms. Scattered showers/storms each
afternoon mainly between 18Z-04Z throughout most of the area.
Winds SW-SE 5-15kts daytime, light and variable or terrain driven
overnight. Gusty and erratic winds up to 30-40kts possible in
vicinity of storms.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Monday and Tuesday...Temperatures trending back
towards normal as monsoon moisture increases across the area.
Showers and thunderstorms likely each afternoon along the higher
elevations with a 10-30% chance of showers or thunderstorms in the
high desert regions. Winds S-SE 5-15 mph Monday, S-W 5-15 mph
Tuesday.  Min RH's 15% deserts to 35% mountains Monday, 15% deserts
to 40% mountains Tuesday.

Wednesday through Friday...Afternoon and evening showers and
thunderstorms likely across most of the region each day with the
best chances over the higher elevations. Temperatures near seasonal
averages. Winds S-SW 5-15 mph. Min RH's 15-30% deserts to 50-60%
mountains.

&&

.FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Extreme Heat Warning until 8 PM MST /9 PM MDT/ this evening for
AZZ005-006.

&&

PUBLIC...McCollum
AVIATION...Bernhart
FIRE WEATHER...Bernhart

For Northern Arizona weather information visit
weather.gov/flagstaff

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 12, 1:30 PM MST, 1 hour 16 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ
130 PM MST Sun Jul 12 2026

AZZ008-015-037-038-122115-
Yavapai County Valleys and Basins AZ-Western Mogollon Rim AZ-Oak
Creek and Sycamore Canyons AZ-Yavapai County Mountains AZ-
130 PM MST Sun Jul 12 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT THE SEDONA AREA IN YAVAPAI AND
COCONINO COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM MST...

At 130 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Munds Mountain Wilderness, or 11 miles southeast of Sedona, moving
northwest at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and hail up to half inch size.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
  Sedona, Village of Oak Creek, Cornville, Munds Park, Page Springs,
  Sedona Airport, Munds Mountain Wilderness, Beaverhead Flat, Wet
  Beaver Creek Day Use Area, Slide Rock State Park, Bell Rock,
  Schnebly Hill Overlook, Cathedral Rock, Bell Crossing/The Crack,
  Wet Beaver Wilderness, Apache Maid Mountain, East Pocket Lookout
  Tower, Uptown Sedona, Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness and
  Indian Gardens.

This includes the following highways...
Interstate 17 between mile markers 299 and 323. State Route 179
between mile markers 299 and 313. State Route 89A between mile
markers 369 and 383.

This includes the following recreation areas and campgrounds...
Manzanita Campground.

This includes the following swimming holes...
Slide Rock, Encinoso, Grasshopper Point, Midgely Bridge, Buddha Beach
"Red Rock Crossing", Crescent Moon Ranch, Mormons Crossing and Bell
Crossing "The Crack".

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

&&

LAT...LON 3485 11186 3499 11179 3489 11148 3483 11150
      3480 11155 3472 11155 3465 11158 3471 11192
TIME...MOT...LOC 2028Z 113DEG 14KT 3479 11163

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

MCT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 12, 12:39 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryFGZYavapai28 min
Jul 12, 1:07 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZYavapai5 hr
Jul 12, 1:30 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementFGZ45 min
Jul 12, 2:29 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGZYavapai31 min
Jul 12, 2:56 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGZYavapai34 min
Jul 12, 3:05 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGZYavapai25 min
Jul 12, 3:16 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGZYavapai44 min
Jul 12, 3:28 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZYavapai3 hr
Jul 12, 4:25 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGZYavapai35 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026

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.