Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 129, NWS Tucson, AZ
NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Aug 11, 2026, 8:50 PM MST for Cochise County, Santa Cruz County, Arizona. It was in force for 3 hr. 3 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 11, 2026, 8:50 PM MST (03:50 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 11, 2026, 11:45 PM MST
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Tucson, AZ
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Cochise County, AZ, Santa Cruz County, AZ
The radar
The Tucson radar (KEMX), 56 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:49 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 9:00 PM MST | FLASH FLOOD | 10 Se Sierra Vista, AZ | Delayed report. Road impassable due to flooding. |
| Aug 11, 9:00 PM MST | FLASH FLOOD | 13 Se Sierra Vista, AZ | Delayed report. Hargis Ranch rd up to 1 foot of water on roadway making it impassable due to flooding. |
| Aug 11, 11:30 PM MST | FLASH FLOOD | 11 Wnw Bisbee, AZ | Delayed report. Hereford rd between mile post 8 and 9 closed due to flooding. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 3 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 10 minutes after it went out.
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
Santa Teresa, NM (KEPZ), launched 00:00Z, 3.8 hours before the alert went out and 343 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
- 146 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -30 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 3771 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 16 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -13 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -20 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
749
WGUS55 KTWC 120350
FFWTWC
AZC003-023-120645-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0129.260812T0350Z-260812T0645Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
850 PM MST Tue Aug 11 2026
The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Southwestern Cochise County in southeastern Arizona...
Southeastern Santa Cruz County in southeastern Arizona...
* Until 1145 PM MST.
* At 850 PM MST, trained weather spotters reported thunderstorms
producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches
of rain have fallen. Gauges in Sierra Vista ad Hereford have
recorded 1 to 1.5 inches in the past 45 minutes. Additional
rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible in the warned area.
Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Trained spotters reported.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Sierra Vista, Hereford, Fort Huachuca, Parker Canyon Lake,
Palominas, Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Coronado National Memorial and
Canelo.
This includes the following highways...
Route 90 between mile markers 315 and 333. Route 80 between mile
markers 323 and 327. Route 92 between mile markers 322 and 342. Route
83 between mile markers 3 and 16.
This includes the following Flash Flood Prone Locations...
Moson Rd from HWY 90 and Hereford Rd.
This includes the following streams and drainages...
Spring Creek, Santa Cruz River, Turkey Creek, San Pedro River,
Slaughter House Wash and Babocomari River.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3133 11055 3147 11059 3160 11051 3161 11025
3167 10997 3156 11005 3144 11007 3133 11008
FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
$$
AWH2 follow-up statements
991
WGUS75 KTWC 120513
FFSTWC
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1013 PM MST Tue Aug 11 2026
AZC003-023-120645-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0129.000000T0000Z-260812T0645Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-Santa Cruz AZ-
1013 PM MST Tue Aug 11 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM MST THIS
EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN COCHISE AND SOUTHEASTERN SANTA CRUZ
COUNTIES...
At 1013 PM MST, trained weather spotters reported thunderstorms
producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches
of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are
possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to
begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Trained spotters reported.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Sierra Vista, Hereford, Fort Huachuca, Parker Canyon Lake,
Palominas, Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Coronado National Memorial and
Canelo.
This includes the following highways...
Route 90 between mile markers 315 and 333. Route 80 between mile
markers 323 and 327. Route 92 between mile markers 322 and 342. Route
83 between mile markers 3 and 16.
This includes the following Flash Flood Prone Locations...
Moson Rd from HWY 90 and Hereford Rd.
This includes the following streams and drainages...
Spring Creek, Santa Cruz River, Turkey Creek, San Pedro River,
Slaughter House Wash and Babocomari River.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.
&&
LAT...LON 3167 10997 3156 11005 3144 11007 3133 11008
3133 11055 3147 11059 3160 11051 3161 11025
FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
$$
AWH277
WGUS75 KTWC 120639
FFSTWC
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1139 PM MST Tue Aug 11 2026
AZC003-023-120649-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0129.000000T0000Z-260812T0645Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-Santa Cruz AZ-
1139 PM MST Tue Aug 11 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1145 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
SOUTHWESTERN COCHISE AND SOUTHEASTERN SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES...
Flood waters are starting to recede as the heavy rain has ended.
However scattered light to moderate showers will continue through 1
am Wednesday. Flash flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat.
Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
&&
LAT...LON 3167 10997 3156 11005 3144 11007 3133 11008
3133 11055 3147 11059 3160 11051 3161 11025
$$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 Aug 11, 12:11 PM MST, 8 hours 39 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 11, 12:11 PM MST, 8 hours 39 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 1211 PM MST Tue Aug 11 2026 .SYNOPSIS...The combination of a shifting weather pattern aloft and deep moisture residing across the region will result in scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms across Southeast Arizona with the potential for heavy rain the next few days. Although most of the storms will produce between a half and one inch of rain, the stronger storms are capable of producing locally heavier amounts between 1-3 inches. Otherwise, a drier southwest flow aloft will bring a downturn in daily storm activity Friday into the weekend. High temperatures will be near normal today, then 3 to 6 degrees below normal tomorrow and Thursday before temperatures warm again into the weekend. && .DISCUSSION...The upper pattern late this morning is defined by an upper-level ridge of high pressure centered just east of the Four Corners and an inverted trough oriented SW-NE across Chihuahua Mexico. The moisture profile is defined by the GOES precipitable water imagery, indicating some drier air hanging out along the AZ/NM border (PWATs 1.00-1.10 inches), with deeper moisture moving east into Tucson (PWATs 1.25 inches) and very deep moisture PWATs between 1.50-2.00 inches across the western deserts. I have been around here long enough to know that the bigger and more active thunderstorm days for Southeast Arizona usually align with big movements of the upper high. Today is no different. The upper-high center near the Four Corners will move east over the next 24 to 36 hours, eventually making its way to central Oklahoma by 13/00Z Wednesday afternoon. As this happens, not only will we experience general deformation aloft assisting lift across the region, but that inverted trough in Chihuahua Mexico will rotate up into the far SE corner of AZ by this afternoon providing a better lifting mechanism. The best lift today will initially occur across SRN Cochise early this afternoon, then expand toward the NW into north-central Pima and SE Pinal counties by 12/06Z this evening. The drier airmass residing along the AZ/NM border today will increase the potential for strong organized thunderstorm outflows with the initial development. This is supported by the 11/12Z HREF which suggests a 10 percent probability for wind gusts 50+ kts in SE Cochise county this afternoon. As the storms progress to the northwest, they move into that deeper moist airmass which shifts the potential from wind to heavy rain. The 11/12Z HREF 3-hr probability-matched mean QPF indicates a 10 percent probability for rainfall in excess of 3 inches across southern Cochise and Santa Cruz counties between 2-5 pm MST, expanding across the eastern half of Pima county and SE Pinal counties between 5-8 pm MST. Given this, and the deep moisture to the west that would feed into the storms in the low-to-mid levels, we decided to expand the coverage of the Flash Flood Watch to include central Pima county (including the Tohono O'odham Nation) as well as SE Pinal county. My concern is that as the upper-high center moves east, the NW progress of the convection will stall out across the central portions of the CWA late this evening and stick around through the night. Granted, the convective complex will continue to weaken, but even moderate rainfall over the same spot will keep the concern for flash flooding into the early morning hours. Otherwise, Wednesday and Thursday still look quite wet as the flow becomes southerly and any wiggle/disturbance in the flow will easily result in convection across our neck of the woods. Re-iterating the previous forecast discussion...expect a downturn in daily thunderstorm activity Friday into the weekend as drier air pushes across the area under southwest flow aloft. Isolated thunderstorms at best, and mostly east of Tucson. Temperatures will be near normal today, then be about 3 to 6 degrees below normal Wednesday and Thursday, with warming thereafter to above normal values for this weekend. && .AVIATION... Valid thru 13/00Z. SCT-BKN 8-12k ft AGL with widely scattered -SHRA/-TSRA thru 11/22z then scattered to numerous -SHRA/TS contg thru end of valid pd. Isold vsbys 1SM +TSRA. Gusty erratic winds of 35-50 kts possible with any thunderstorm, especially near KDUG this afternoon. Outside of storms SFC winds WLY/NWLY at 8-12 kts with ocnl gusts to 20 kts this aftn and evening. SFC winds light and terrain driven after 12/06Z. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...The combination of a shifting weather pattern aloft and deep moisture residing across the region will result in scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms across Southeast Arizona with the potential for heavy rain the next few days. Although most of the storms will produce between a half and one inch of rain, the stronger storms are capable of producing locally heavier amounts between 1-3 inches. Otherwise, a drier southwest flow aloft will bring a downturn in daily storm activity Friday into the weekend. Minimum relative humidity will be 20-40 percent through Thursday lowering to around 15-30 percent thereafter. Temperatures will be near normal through Tuesday, dropping to below normal Wednesday and Thursday, then warming again next weekend. Outside of thunderstorms, winds terrain driven to around 10 mph with occasional afternoon gusts to 20 mph. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch from 2 PM MST this afternoon through this evening for AZZ502>509-511>515. && Visit us on Facebook, X, YouTube, and at weather.gov/Tucson
The office that day
Everything else NWS Tucson, AZ issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 5:10 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TWC | Cochise | 37 min |
| Aug 11, 5:14 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Greenlee | 3 hr |
| Aug 11, 5:38 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Cochise | 2 hr |
| Aug 11, 6:05 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TWC | Cochise | 40 min |
| Aug 11, 6:42 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TWC | Cochise | 63 min |
| Aug 11, 6:53 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Aug 11, 7:17 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Aug 11, 7:38 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TWC | Cochise | 25 min |
| Aug 11, 8:14 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Aug 11, 8:18 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TWC | Cochise | 42 min |
| Aug 11, 10:12 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Cochise, Santa Cruz | 2 hr |
| Aug 12, 1:34 AM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Aug 12, 2:20 AM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Pima | 3 hr |
| Aug 12, 9:00 AM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Pima | 13 hr |
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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.