Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 159, NWS Tucson, AZ
NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Aug 29, 2026, 2:30 PM MST for Pima County, Santa Cruz 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
- Aug 29, 2026, 2:30 PM MST (21:30 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 29, 2026, 5:30 PM MST
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Tucson, AZ
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Pima County, AZ, Santa Cruz County, AZ
The radar
The Tucson radar (KEMX), 23 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:33 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, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 232 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
- 769 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -162 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2570 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 19 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 12 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 53 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
030
WGUS55 KTWC 292130
FFWTWC
AZC019-023-300030-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0159.260829T2130Z-260830T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
230 PM MST Sat Aug 29 2026
The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Southeastern Pima County in southeastern Arizona...
Northeastern Santa Cruz County in southeastern Arizona...
* Until 530 PM MST.
* At 230 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 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...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...
Sonoita and Elgin.
This includes the following highways...
Route 82 between mile markers 23 and 43. Route 83 between mile
markers 22 and 36.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.
Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain.
Washes, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.
&&
LAT...LON 3173 11065 3174 11061 3178 11059 3177 11051
3175 11046 3167 11049 3164 11053 3157 11058
3158 11064 3157 11075 3170 11070 3173 11066
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
JRM2 follow-up statements
553
WGUS75 KTWC 292337
FFSTWC
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
437 PM MST Sat Aug 29 2026
AZC019-023-300030-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0159.000000T0000Z-260830T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-Santa Cruz AZ-
437 PM MST Sat Aug 29 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHEASTERN PIMA AND NORTHEASTERN SANTA CRUZ
COUNTIES...
At 437 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain have
fallen. Flooding impacts will continue, but no additional rainfall is
expected. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Sonoita and Elgin.
This includes the following highways...
Route 82 between mile markers 24 and 27...and between mile markers 30
and 40. Route 83 between mile markers 22 and 34.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.
Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain.
Washes, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.
&&
LAT...LON 3172 11065 3172 11060 3178 11059 3176 11053
3172 11053 3167 11052 3164 11053 3162 11055
3157 11058 3158 11063 3161 11063 3160 11066
3159 11073 3165 11071 3169 11066
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
JRM237
WGUS75 KTWC 300022
FFSTWC
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
522 PM MST Sat Aug 29 2026
AZC019-023-300032-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0159.000000T0000Z-260830T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-Santa Cruz AZ-
522 PM MST Sat Aug 29 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 530 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
SOUTHEASTERN PIMA AND NORTHEASTERN SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES...
The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
A Flood Watch remains in effect until 500 AM MST Monday for a portion
of Southeast Arizona.
&&
LAT...LON 3172 11065 3172 11060 3178 11059 3176 11053
3172 11053 3167 11052 3164 11053 3162 11055
3157 11058 3158 11063 3161 11063 3160 11066
3159 11073 3165 11071 3169 11066
$$
JRMWhat 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 29, 2:20 PM MST, 10 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 29, 2:20 PM MST, 10 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 220 PM MST Sat Aug 29 2026 .SYNOPSIS...Expect daily thunderstorms through at least Monday with storms capable of strong to severe wind gusts and heavy rainfall. After Monday storm chances begin to decrease. High temperatures will remain above normal Sunday through much of next week. && .DISCUSSION...The upper air pattern across Arizona continues to transition into a Monsoon Type IV pattern with the upper high to our east and an upper level trof to the NW. This pattern brings an increased threat of severe storms, flash flooding, and nocturnal storms this weekend into Monday. Storms have been forming over the higher terrain early this afternoon with further development over the next 3 to 6 hours. Main threat from storms today will be strong gusty outflow winds, some which may be briefly severe, blowing dust and heavy rain. The strong outflow winds may produce areas of blowing dust across Pima and Pinal counties where a blowing dust advisory is in effect from 4 pm to 8 pm. With potential rainfall rates with some of the stronger cores being 1-2"/hr, flash flooding is a threat, especially across Pinal, Pima and Santa Cruz county where a flash flood watch is in effect. Not everyone will see heavy rain or rain at all in the flash flood watch area. Tonight, across central Sonora MX near Hermosillo, a decaying MCS may send a strong outflow north towards the area and kick off some elevated storms across the central part of the forecast, or mainly across Santa Cruz, eastern Pima and western Cochise counties. Sunday: after lingering morning convection ends, storms will be developing over the higher terrain early afternoon and work their way into the lower elevations. Another chance of localized severe storms and flash flooding. Can't rule out storms continuing late Sunday night into early Monday morning. Monday: Likely a later start to convection with less areal coverage of storms. Tuesday and Wednesday: Low-grade monsoon days as the monsoon calendar turns to September and possible tropical influences during the month. Speaking of the tropics, NHC is monitoring an area of disturbed weather, associated with a tropical wave, well south of SW Mexico. This may become the next named eastern Pacific tropical storm with some model guidance indicating that the potential track will be further east than where current Tropical storm Karina is at, and closer to Baja by the end of next week. Confidence low this far out but something to keep an eye on. Temperature wise, today is the last day of the almost two-week long Extreme Heat Warning. Highs will thus be cooler during the next 7 days but still running, except for Monday and Tuesday, above normal for the most part. && .AVIATION...Valid through 31/00Z. SCT -SHRA/-TSRA thru 30/06z, bcmg ISOLD btwn 30/06z and 30/12z. Chance of storms returning to the area aft 30/20z. Outflow SFC winds nr TSRA 35-45 kts otrw SFC winds mostly less than 10 kts and terrain driven. Clouds thru much of valid pd, SCT-BKN 8k-12k ft AGL. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Expect scattered afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms through Monday (30 to 70 percent daily thunderstorm chances). Storms will be capable of strong to severe wind gusts and heavy rainfall. After Monday storm chances and coverage decrease with activity mainly from Tucson south and eastward. Temperatures will remain above normal today with a cooling trend this weekend into early next week. Minimum relative humidity values mainly 15 to 30 percent in the valleys and 20 to 40 percent in the mountains today. Minimum RH values increase to 20 to 50 percent starting Sunday into next week. 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 this evening for AZZ501>509. Flood Watch through late Sunday night for AZZ502>507-513>515. Blowing Dust Advisory until 8 PM MST this evening for AZZ501- 502-504-505. && 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 28, 5:13 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Pima | 2 hr |
| Aug 29, 9:39 AM MST | Blowing Dust Advisory | TWC | Pima, Pinal | 10 hr |
| Aug 29, 2:22 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TWC | Santa Cruz | 38 min |
| Aug 29, 3:01 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Pima | 3 hr |
| Aug 29, 3:19 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TWC | Pima | 41 min |
| Aug 29, 3:31 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Pima, Santa Cruz | 3 hr |
| Aug 29, 3:48 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Pima | 7 min |
| Aug 29, 3:55 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Pima | 3 hr |
| Aug 29, 4:22 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TWC | Pima | 31 min |
| Aug 29, 4:26 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Pima | 3 hr |
| Aug 29, 4:51 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TWC | Pima, Pinal | 39 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.