Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 151, NWS Tucson, AZ

August 23, 2026Pima County, Pinal County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Aug 23, 2026, 8:12 PM MST for Pima County, Pinal 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 23, 2026, 8:12 PM MST (03:12 UTC)
Expired
Aug 23, 2026, 11:15 PM MST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Pima County, AZ, Pinal County, AZ

The radar

The Phoenix radar (KIWA), 90 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:15 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 23, 11:15 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD13 Nne Santa Rosa, AZWashes flowing in North Komelik.

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 183 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 00:00Z, 3.2 hours before the alert went out and 103 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 00:00Z on 2026-08-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 309 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 00:00Z on 2026-08-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -3 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
309 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-169 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3337 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-3 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
47 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

185 
WGUS55 KTWC 240312
FFWTWC
AZC019-021-240615-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0151.260824T0312Z-260824T0615Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
812 PM MST Sun Aug 23 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  North Central Pima County in southeastern Arizona...
  Southwestern Pinal County in southeastern Arizona...

* Until 1115 PM MST.

* At 812 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  between 1 and 2 inches of heavy rain along and east of Route 15
  near North Komelik. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
  shortly, especially normally dry washes and low-lying areas that
  eventually drain into Santa Rosa Wash near North Komelik.

  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...
  North Komelik.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3251 11196 3254 11196 3254 11189 3251 11186
      3246 11188 3246 11196

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

CWR
2 follow-up statements
820 
WGUS75 KTWC 240334
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
834 PM MST Sun Aug 23 2026

AZC019-021-240615-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0151.000000T0000Z-260824T0615Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-Pinal AZ-
834 PM MST Sun Aug 23 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1115 PM MST THIS
EVENING FOR NORTH CENTRAL PIMA AND SOUTHWESTERN PINAL COUNTIES...

At 834 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
between 1.50 and 2.50 inches of heavy rain along and east of Route 15
near North Komelik. Flash flooding is ongoing, especially in normally
dry washes and low-lying areas that eventually drain into Santa Rosa
Wash near North Komelik.

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...
  North Komelik.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3251 11196 3254 11196 3254 11189 3251 11186
      3246 11188 3246 11196

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

$$

CWR
246 
WGUS75 KTWC 240433
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
933 PM MST Sun Aug 23 2026

AZC019-021-240615-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0151.000000T0000Z-260824T0615Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-Pinal AZ-
933 PM MST Sun Aug 23 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1115 PM MST THIS
EVENING FOR NORTH CENTRAL PIMA AND SOUTHWESTERN PINAL COUNTIES...

At 933 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms earlier this
evening had produced between 2 and 3 inches of heavy rain along and
east of Route 15 near North Komelik. Thunderstorms south of the area
are expected to track through the impacted area with additional
rainfall amounts of 0.25 to 0.75 inches possible. Flash flooding is
ongoing, especially in normally dry washes and low-lying areas that
eventually drain into Santa Rosa Wash near North Komelik.

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...
  North Komelik.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3251 11196 3254 11196 3254 11189 3251 11186
      3246 11188 3246 11196

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

$$

CWR

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 23, 1:43 PM MST, 6 hours 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 23, 1:43 PM MST, 6 hours 29 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
143 PM MST Sun Aug 23 2026

.SYNOPSIS...
Isolated to scattered afternoon and early evening thunderstorms
through Monday, then reduced storm chances through much of the
remainder of the work week. Strong, gusty winds and locally
heavy rainfall will be possible with any thunderstorm. High
temperatures will remain well above normal through the week
with an Extreme Heat Warning in effect for much of southeast
Arizona.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
The Gulf Surge continues this hour with breezy S/SW winds across
the lower deserts west of Tucson. TDs have eclipse 70 degrees in
far western Pima County with with low to mid 60s for portions of
Pima County (west of Tucson) and Santa Cruz. Across the metro,
TDs are in the 50s to lower 60s. This will set the stage for a
rather robust T'storm day. The question will be where and the
intensity. Looking over the most current MesoA and CAMs, point
to areas across western and central Pima and Santa Cruz Cos. One
or more clusters, potentially forming into a N/NW moving MCS is
possible. Main threats will be strong gusty winds to 60 mph,
especially across central Pima Co where the HREF has a 10% prob
of gusts in excess of 58 mph. Secondary threat will be a
localized flash flood threat where heavier rainfall rates are
realized and any backbuilding/cell mergers in the deeper
moisture from the gulf surge.

For the Tucson Metro, coverage will be more isolated in nature.
Any convection will evolve off the higher terrain and/or OFB
interaction likely from storms south and/or southwest of the
City. Coverage is even less further east where drier air
resides.

The Monsoon still looks to a downturn with much of the region
dry through most of the work week. Best opportunity (10-30%)
daily will be along the International Border and the White Mtns.
By Friday, there could be an expansion in coverage for most of
SEAZ to see at least isolated activity.

Heat remains front and center through the week, with widespread
Major Heatrisk with areas of Extreme. The Extreme Heat Warning
remains in effect through Saturday evening, with most of Santa
Cruz and Cochise Cos starting Tuesday.

&&

.AVIATION /20Z SUNDAY THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/...
Generally FEW-SCT clouds 9-13k ft AGL through the forecast period
with locally BKN clouds between 23/21Z and 24/09Z. Expect isolated
to scattered SHRA/TSRA this afternoon into evening, mainly west of a
KFHU-KSAD line, diminishing by 24/06Z. Currently VCTS for
KTUS/KOLS in the TAFs at this time. Gusts in excess of 40 kts
are expected with the stronger storms. Otherwise surface winds
light and terrain driven. Aviation discussion not updated for
TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Isolated to scattered thunderstorms expected through Monday,
with the exception of along the NM border where mainly dry
conditions are expected. Thereafter, reduced chances for
thunderstorm activity for most of southeast Arizona for the rest
of the work week, though some isolated storms will continue
along the immediate Int'l border and White Mountain region.
Temperatures will remain well above normal through most of the
week with Monday being the coolest day of the period. Drier
conditions will return in the middle of the week with minimum
relative humidity values mainly 10-18 percent in the valleys
and 20-30 percent in the mountains. Winds will generally remain
less than 15 mph and terrain driven through the week.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Extreme Heat Warning until 8 PM MST Saturday for AZZ501-502-
504>506-509.
Extreme Heat Warning from 10 AM Tuesday to 8 PM MST Saturday
for AZZ503-507-508.

&&

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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 23, 5:10 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima50 min
Aug 23, 5:40 PM MSTDust Storm WarningTWCPima65 min
Aug 23, 6:09 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCSanta Cruz3 hr
Aug 23, 7:18 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPinal42 min
Aug 23, 7:39 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima, Pinal51 min
Aug 23, 7:50 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPinal3 hr
Aug 23, 7:58 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPinal47 min
Aug 23, 8:27 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPinal48 min
Aug 23, 10:55 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatTWCPima, Pinal3 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.