Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 134, NWS Tucson, AZ

August 13, 2026Cochise County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Aug 13, 2026, 12:35 PM MST for Cochise County, Arizona. It was in force for 3 hr. 1 report 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 13, 2026, 12:35 PM MST (19:35 UTC)
Expired: Aug 13, 2026, 3:30 PM MST
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Tucson, AZ
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

County Cochise County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 45 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:36 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 13, 2:00 PM MST	FLASH FLOOD	1 Wnw Sierra Vista, AZ	Arizona St and Hunt Rd intersection flooded with rushing water overspilling ditch.

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 one storm report to this flash flood warning; the first came 85 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

Phoenix, AZ (KPSR), launched 12:00Z, 7.6 hours before the alert went out and 257 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: 70 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -100 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1318 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 64 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 55 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

535 
WGUS55 KTWC 131935
FFWTWC
AZC003-132230-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0134.260813T1935Z-260813T2230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1235 PM MST Thu Aug 13 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Western Cochise County in southeastern Arizona...

* Until 330 PM MST.

* At 1235 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or
  expected to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  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, Huachuca City and Fort Huachuca.

This includes the following highways...
Route 90 between mile markers 313 and 323. Route 92 between mile
markers 322 and 323.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3161 11039 3165 11032 3166 11025 3162 11021
      3157 11020 3151 11027 3150 11037 3158 11043

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

MJS

1 follow-up statement

052 
WGUS75 KTWC 132222
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
322 PM MST Thu Aug 13 2026

AZC003-132232-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0134.000000T0000Z-260813T2230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-
322 PM MST Thu Aug 13 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 330 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
WESTERN COCHISE COUNTY...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat at this time. However, additional showers and storms remain
possible this afternoon and evening. Please continue to heed
remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3161 11039 3165 11032 3166 11025 3162 11021
      3157 11020 3151 11027 3150 11037 3158 11043

$$

DVS

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 13, 9:13 AM MST, 3 hours 22 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 13, 9:13 AM MST, 3 hours 22 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
913 AM MST Thu Aug 13 2026

.SYNOPSIS...

An upper level weather system to our west will
bring the needed dynamics today for scattered showers and
thunderstorms. Some of the storms will produce brief heavy rain.
This system will also draw in drier air Friday into the weekend
resulting in a low-grade monsoon pattern with chance of storms
each day mainly south and east of Tucson. A little more active
monsoon pattern sets in early next week. Temperatures will be
below normal today, then warm up again to above normal this
weekend into next week with moderate HeatRisk

&&

.UPDATE...

Lingering showers from overnight are now focused in southern
Cochise county. These showers will continue to move eastward for
the next few hours. Decent clearing is underway for areas Tucson
westward this morning with some high cirrus moving into western
Pima county. Substantial moisture remains in place this morning
with satellite derived PWATs around 1.3" to 1.7", higher Tucson
westward an surface dewpoints in the upper 60s. Today, the
Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has areas Tucson eastward in
Slight risk for excessive rainfall. The 12Z HREF highlights this
area with a 10-30% chance for greater than 1 inch of rainfall,
in a 3 hour period, with pockets of up to 2 inches possible.
While there is suitable instability in place, the main concern
today is flash flooding. Rainfall overnight and over the past
several days has made the area highly susceptible for flash
flooding thus any more rain that falls will have a much higher
chance to cause impacts. Temperatures today will be 5 to 7
degrees below normal.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Been a busy solo morning with showers and isolated
thunderstorms moving across eastern Pinal, eastern Pima, southern
Graham and northwest Cochise county. Some of the heavier
showers have had some impressive rainfall rates, up to 2"/hr,
which resulted a few small stream advisories and a flash flood
warning being issued. Some washes across the above mentioned
areas have seen some good responses to the rainfall. All of this
is associated with an upper level trof to our west that
extended from wrn NV to srn CA. These showers/storms will
continue to move to the east-northeast this morning and
gradually decrease in areal coverage as the morning progresses.
Satellite imagery this morning showed clearer skies across
southwest Arizona. So expect partly cloudy skies once the
showers end and then see scattered redevelopment of low-topped
showers/storms with the afternoon heating and the dynamics
associated with the above mentioned trof. Can't rule out a
frisky storm or two producing very small hail with the cool
summer mid-level 500 mb temps of -6C.

Drier does filters in across the area tomorrow and continuing
into this weekend. Still enough moisture around for a chance of
afternoon/evening storms mainly south and east of Tucson. The
once caveat to this is the potential for an easterly wave, which
is currently along the Mexican coast of the GoA, moving across
northern Mexico on Sunday. Something to keep an eye one as this
may bring a better chance of storms that what is currently in
the forecast.

Temperatures will be below normal today, then warm up again to
above normal this weekend into next week with moderate to
localized Major HeatRisk and triple digit highs returning to
most of the area.

&&

.AVIATION /14Z THURSDAY THROUGH 14Z FRIDAY/...
Valid through 14/12Z.
Area of showers and isolated thunderstorms with ceiling bases
7-11k ft AGL from KTUS east diminishing and cond improving by
13/18z. Aft 13/19z, WDLY SCTD -SHRA/-TSRA with gusty erratic
winds of 30-40 kts possible with any thunderstorm. Outside of
storms SFC winds WLY/NWLY at 8-12 kts with ocnl gusts to 20 kts.
SFC winds light and terrain driven between 14/06Z and 14/16Z.
Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
An upper level weather system to our west will
bring the needed dynamics today for scattered showers and
thunderstorms. Some of the storms will produce brief heavy rain.
This system will also draw in drier air Friday into the weekend
resulting in a low-grade monsoon pattern with chance of storms
each day mainly south and east of Tucson. A little more active
monsoon pattern sets in early next week. Minimum relative
humidity will be 20-40 percent today lowering to around 15-30
percent thereafter. Temperatures will be below normal today,
then warm up again to above normal this. Outside of
thunderstorms, winds terrain driven to around 10 mph with
occasional afternoon gusts to 20 mph.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

UPDATE...Malarkey

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

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 13, 7:40 AM MST, 4 hours 55 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
740 AM MST Thu Aug 13 2026

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

0232 AM     Flash Flood      12 ENE Three Points     32.11N 111.08W
08/13/2026                   Pima               AZ   911 Call Center

            Pascua Yaqui Dispatch reported a swift water
            rescue with 1 adult and 2 juveniles with the
            vehicle submerged to chin level. No reported
            injuries.

&&

CLP

Local storm report, Aug 13, 8:10 AM MST, 4 hours 25 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
810 AM MST Thu Aug 13 2026

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

0230 AM     Flash Flood      11 WSW Tucson           32.12N 111.06W
08/13/2026                   Pima               AZ   911 Call Center

            Pascua Yaqui Dispatch reported the entirety
            of the Black Wash was flowing across Pascua
            Yaqui Tribe with several roads that
            intercept the wash were impassable due to
            flash flooding. Time was estimated from
            initial impact calls from dispatch.

&&

CLP

Local storm report, Aug 13, 8:50 AM MST, 3 hours 45 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
850 AM MST Thu Aug 13 2026

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

0257 AM     Flash Flood      12 WSW Tucson           32.13N 111.08W
08/13/2026                   Pima               AZ   911 Call Center

            Dispatch center reported swift water rescue
            with a submerged vehicle in standing water
            at the junction of Black Wash and W Camino
            Tierra. No injuries.

&&

CLP

Local storm report, Aug 13, 8:54 AM MST, 3 hours 41 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
854 AM MST Thu Aug 13 2026

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

0312 AM     Flash Flood      12 WSW Tucson           32.13N 111.07W
08/13/2026                   Pima               AZ   911 Call Center

            Dispatch center reported swift water rescue
            near W Jeffrey Road and Mark Rd near Black
            Wash vehicle stuck in standing water. No
            injuries reported.

&&

CLP

Local storm report, Aug 13, 9:44 AM MST, 2 hours 51 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
944 AM MST Thu Aug 13 2026

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

0756 AM     Flash Flood      8 SSW Summerhaven       32.33N 110.80W
08/13/2026                   Pima               AZ   County Official

            Pima County Sheriff Office reports a swift
            water rescue on the north end of Sabino
            Canyon performed by bystanders; Minor
            injuries sustained.

&&

MJS

Local storm report, Aug 13, 9:56 AM MST, 2 hours 39 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
956 AM MST Thu Aug 13 2026

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

0946 AM     Flash Flood      4 SSW Picture Rocks     32.29N 111.28W
08/13/2026                   Pima               AZ   County Official

            Road closed due to flash flooding at
            intersection of Manville Rd and North
            Reservation Road.

&&

MJS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 12, 9:58 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima	28 hr
Aug 12, 11:40 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima, Pinal	2 hr
Aug 13, 12:28 AM MST	Flash Flood Warning	TWC	Pinal	3 hr
Aug 13, 1:49 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima	3 hr
Aug 13, 3:20 AM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	TWC	Pima	3 hr
Aug 13, 8:56 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima	6 hr
Aug 13, 11:19 AM MST	Extreme Heat Watch	TWC	Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal	46 hr
Aug 13, 1:00 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	TWC	Graham	3 hr
Aug 13, 1:37 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	TWC	Cochise	5 hr
Aug 13, 2:11 PM MST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TWC	Cochise	49 min
Aug 13, 2:45 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Santa Cruz	3 hr
Aug 13, 2:47 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima, Santa Cruz	3 hr
Aug 13, 4:38 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	TWC	Pima	3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 2026 Every 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.