Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 40, NWS Phoenix, AZ
NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Aug 12, 2026, 7:24 PM MST for La Paz 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
- Aug 12, 2026, 7:24 PM MST (02:24 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 13, 2026, 12:15 AM MST
- In force
- 5 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Phoenix, AZ
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Damage threat
- Considerable
- Flood severity
- None
County La Paz County, AZ
The radar
The Yuma radar (KYUX), 129 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:26 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 00:00Z, 2.4 hours before the alert went out and 207 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 559 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -32 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2150 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 10 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 3 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 36 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
013
WGUS55 KPSR 130224
FFWPSR
AZC012-130630-
/O.NEW.KPSR.FF.W.0040.260813T0224Z-260813T0630Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
724 PM MST Wed Aug 12 2026
The National Weather Service in Phoenix has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Southwestern La Paz County in west central Arizona...
* Until 1130 PM MST.
* At 724 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain
have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are
possible in the warned area. 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,
urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Mainly rural areas of Southwestern La Paz County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.
Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.
&&
LAT...LON 3363 11425 3352 11427 3354 11416 3361 11407
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
$$
TW3 follow-up statements
140
WGUS75 KPSR 130332
FFSPSR
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
832 PM MST Wed Aug 12 2026
AZC012-130630-
/O.CON.KPSR.FF.W.0040.000000T0000Z-260813T0630Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
La Paz AZ-
832 PM MST Wed Aug 12 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1130 PM MST THIS
EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN LA PAZ COUNTY...
At 832 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3.5 inches of rain have
fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are possible in
the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly.
HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
flash flooding.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban
areas, highways, streets and underpasses.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Mainly rural areas of Southwestern La Paz County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.
Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.
&&
LAT...LON 3363 11425 3352 11427 3354 11416 3361 11407
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
$$
TW824
WGUS55 KPSR 130537
FFWPSR
AZC012-130715-
/O.EXT.KPSR.FF.W.0040.000000T0000Z-260813T0715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
1037 PM MST Wed Aug 12 2026
The National Weather Service in Phoenix has extended the
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Southwestern La Paz County in west central Arizona...
* Until 1215 AM MST.
* At 1037 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3.5 inches of rain
have fallen. Flooding impacts will continue, but no additional
rainfall is expected. 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,
urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Mainly rural areas of Southwestern La Paz County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.
Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.
&&
LAT...LON 3363 11425 3352 11427 3354 11416 3361 11407
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
$$
TW977 WGUS75 KPSR 130717 FFSPSR Flash Flood Statement National Weather Service Phoenix AZ 1217 AM MST Thu Aug 13 2026 AZC012-130727- /O.EXP.KPSR.FF.W.0040.000000T0000Z-260813T0715Z/ /00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/ La Paz AZ- 1217 AM MST Thu Aug 13 2026 ...FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR SOUTHWESTERN LA PAZ COUNTY... The Flash Flood Warning has been replaced by a Flood Warning. Please continue to heed remaining road closures as flooding impacts may be ongoing. && LAT...LON 3363 11425 3352 11427 3354 11416 3361 11407 $$ RW
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 Phoenix, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Aug 12, 5:00 PM MST, 2 hours 24 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Better moisture and more favorable conditions for showers and storms are expected by this evening, lasting into Thursday morning.
- A Flood Watch has been issued for the high terrain across central and portions of eastern Arizona from late afternoon through tonight. Locally heavy rainfall will also be possible into the south-central Arizona lower deserts.
- Near to below normal temperatures are forecast through Friday before warming back up over the weekend into early next week.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 12, 5:00 PM MST, 2 hours 24 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
500 PM MST Wed Aug 12 2026
.UPDATE...00Z Aviation Discussion
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Better moisture and more favorable conditions for showers and
storms are expected by this evening, lasting into Thursday
morning.
- A Flood Watch has been issued for the high terrain across
central and portions of eastern Arizona from late afternoon
through tonight. Locally heavy rainfall will also be possible
into the south-central Arizona lower deserts.
- Near to below normal temperatures are forecast through Friday
before warming back up over the weekend into early next week.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
This afternoon and tonight continue to point towards being quite
busy, with the main forecast concern being the potential for
heavy rainfall stemming from a high likelihood of localized
rainfall rates of 1-2"/hr and training of storms in the higher
terrain areas, as depicted by CAMs. Due to this a Flood Watch has
been issued for all of Gila County as well as over far northern
Pinal and northeast Maricopa Counties from late this afternoon
through tonight.
The upper level pattern shows the Desert SW sandwiched between
the subtropical ridge, that has moved into Texas, and the upper
level trough along the California coast line. This set up has
promoted southerly flow aloft into our region and will be able to
tap into plenty of moisture from a decaying MCV from earlier this
morning over the Sonoran Desert. Current meso analysis along with
this morning's 12Z sounding have PWATs near 1.7" and closer to
1.8-1.9" in the western lower deserts. The morning sounding also
revealed a decent amount of MUCAPE, with most of the CIN near the
surface. The 12Z convective temperature was only 95F, and with an
afternoon high expected to to climb near to slightly above 100
degrees in the lower deserts, convection is likely to break
through any lingering surface level CIN. Model soundings are
forecasting MUCAPEs mainly between 750-1500 J/kg in the lower
deserts and will steadily diminish through the late evening hours,
into the overnight period, making late this afternoon and into the
evening hours the expected peak time for storms, similar to earlier
this week. However, CAMs still show storms likely continuing past
midnight, mostly in the higher terrain, while the lower deserts, to
include La Paz County, have the highest chance, 50-70%, of showers
during the evening hours, as mentioned previously. Additional
isolated showers and thunderstorms will again be possible Thursday
afternoon, but with the atmosphere drying out and forcing waining
there will be a significantly lower chance of localized heavy
rainfall.
Temperatures will be quite pleasant compared to what is normally
expected for mid August with afternoon highs mostly in the high
90s to low 100s, with many areas struggling to reach 100F. The
only exception will be areas in the western lower deserts where
temperatures will range in the low to mid 100s, keeping pockets of
Moderate HeatRisk in place. Otherwise, widespread Minor HeatRisk
is expected through the end of the week.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Dry air will continue to spread northeastward through Arizona on
Friday with low level mixing ratios dropping to around 8 g/kg over
the lower deserts to 9-10 g/kg over the eastern Arizona high
terrain. These moisture levels during the summer monsoon season
typically prohibit convection across the area with at most a
10-20% chance of isolated showers or weak storms across the far
eastern Arizona high terrain. However, even with the drying
conditions surface dew points well into the 50s will still keep
that slight muggy feeling in the air. The trough will continue to
influence the region through Friday keeping temperatures a few
degrees below normal under partly cloudy skies.
Saturday looks to be quite similar to Friday with periods of
higher clouds persisting, but temperatures will begin to tick
upward again as the subtropical high begins to nudge back into our
region. Guidance shows H5 heights gradually rising into a
592-595dm range by early next week, or back to around the 90th
percentile of climatology. Moisture levels look to stay fairly
steady for the rest of the weekend into early next week keeping at
most low grade monsoon storm chances in place. The increased
heights and somewhat dry conditions will help to push daytime
highs to above normal by Monday with readings right around 110
degrees for next Monday and Tuesday.
&&
.AVIATION...Updated at 0000Z.
South Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT:
Main aviation concern during the TAF period will be convective
activity around metro terminals this evening, and potentially once
again overnight. First SHRA/TSRA will occur between now and around
05Z-06Z, with the second, but less certain window, being between
07Z-12Z. Main impacts will be sub-VFR VIS and gusty and erratic
winds. How strong winds become remain uncertain, but there is
currently not a strong signal indicating gusts will exceed 30 kt.
Convective activity should begin to clear the area after 12Z at
the latest, but lingering SHRA for a few hours beyond that cannot
be completely ruled out. Outside of the variability and
uncertainty of the convective timeframe, winds are expected to
follow familiar diurnal trends.
Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH:
Main aviation concern will be SHRA/TSRA this evening into early
tonight. Impacts associated with convective activity will be
reduced VIS and winds exceeding 30 kt at times. Activity at KIPL
will end within in the next few hours, but KBLH could see
lingering activity until around 06Z tonight, potentially
resulting in numerous strong outflows. Conditions through the
remainder of the night into Thursday morning should be much
calmer, with familiar diurnal wind trends and drier conditions
returning.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Elevated humidity levels, cooler temperatures, and good chances
for wetting rains are anticipated through Thursday morning over
at least the eastern districts. The best rain chances will be
during the evening and overnight hours tonight with lingering
chances through Thursday afternoon. Afternoon MinRHs will range
between 25-35% across the lower deserts and 40-50% for the
eastern high terrain, while overnight recoveries will remain
excellent. Winds will predominately be out of the south southwest
much of the period with the exception of any modest outflows from
thunderstorm activity. Drying conditions will move into the
region Friday and through the weekend dropping MinRHs to between
15-25% while temperatures gradually rise back to above normal.
&&
.PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AZ...Flood Watch through late tonight for AZZ541-545-547-549-552-
555>558-560>563.
CA...None.
&&
SHORT TERM...Ryan/Kuhlman
LONG TERM...Kuhlman
AVIATION...RW
FIRE WEATHER...KuhlmanIn the hours before
Local storm report, Aug 12, 6:14 PM MST, 1 hour 10 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
614 PM MST Wed Aug 12 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0545 PM Dust Storm 4 N Salton City 33.32N 115.96W
08/12/2026 Imperial CA Utility Company
Webcam showed a large wall of dust moving
north. Visibility fell to near zero.
&&
SBLocal storm report, Aug 12, 6:16 PM MST, 1 hour 8 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
616 PM MST Wed Aug 12 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0540 PM Dust Storm 5 SSW Imperial Hot Mine 33.35N 115.73W
08/12/2026 Imperial CA Utility Company
Webcam showed a large wall of dust moving
north. Visibility fell to less than 1/4
mile.
&&
SBLocal storm report, Aug 12, 6:33 PM MST, 51 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
633 PM MST Wed Aug 12 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0455 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 WNW El Centro 32.79N 115.57W
08/12/2026 Imperial CA Public
Photo of a large tree down.
&&
SBLocal storm report, Aug 12, 6:58 PM MST, 26 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
658 PM MST Wed Aug 12 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0535 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 5 SSE Avondale 33.38N 112.31W
08/12/2026 M63 MPH Maricopa AZ Mesonet
Mesonet station GW3424 PHOENIX RACEWAY
INFIELD.
&&
SBLocal storm report, Aug 12, 6:59 PM MST, 25 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
659 PM MST Wed Aug 12 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0645 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 N Gilbert 33.39N 111.79W
08/12/2026 M52 MPH Maricopa AZ Mesonet
Mesonet station AT933 Mesa.
&&
SBLocal storm report, Aug 12, 7:07 PM MST, 17 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
707 PM MST Wed Aug 12 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0620 PM Flash Flood 2 ENE Calexico 32.69N 115.47W
08/12/2026 Imperial CA Dept of Highways
Bowker Road closed due to flooding between
CA-98 and Jasper Rd.
&&
SBThe office that day
Everything else NWS Phoenix, AZ issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 12, 5:05 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PSR | La Paz | 40 min |
| Aug 12, 5:13 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | Maricopa | 32 min |
| Aug 12, 5:20 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PSR | Maricopa | 40 min |
| Aug 12, 5:24 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | PSR | La Paz | 7 hr |
| Aug 12, 5:45 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | PSR | La Paz | 3 hr |
| Aug 12, 5:48 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PSR | Maricopa | 27 min |
| Aug 12, 6:11 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | La Paz, Yuma | 2 hr |
| Aug 12, 6:19 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | PSR | La Paz | 6 hr |
| Aug 12, 6:25 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | PSR | La Paz | 5 hr |
| Aug 12, 6:26 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PSR | La Paz | 34 min |
| Aug 12, 6:40 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | PSR | Maricopa | 3 hr |
| Aug 12, 6:43 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PSR | Maricopa | 32 min |
| Aug 12, 7:08 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PSR | La Paz | 37 min |
| Aug 12, 7:45 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PSR | La Paz | 45 min |
| Aug 12, 8:19 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | PSR | Maricopa | 79 min |
| Aug 12, 9:11 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | PSR | La Paz, Maricopa | 3 hr |
| Aug 12, 9:38 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | PSR | Maricopa | 3 hr |
| Aug 12, 9:56 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | La Paz | 34 min |
| Aug 12, 10:11 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | PSR | Maricopa | 3 hr |
| Aug 12, 10:36 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | PSR | La Paz | 3 hr |
| Aug 12, 10:48 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | La Paz | 42 min |
| Aug 12, 11:33 PM MST | Extreme Heat Watch | PSR | La Paz, Maricopa, Pinal, Yuma | 59 hr |
| Aug 13, 12:10 AM MST | Areal Flood Warning | PSR | La Paz | 6 hr |
| Aug 13, 4:08 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | Maricopa | 37 min |
| Aug 13, 4:24 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | PSR | Maricopa, Pinal | 36 min |
| Aug 13, 4:40 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | PSR | Maricopa | 3 hr |
| Aug 13, 4:46 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | Maricopa | 29 min |
| Aug 13, 4:54 PM MST | Special Weather Statement | PSR | Maricopa | 36 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.