Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 172, NWS Tucson, AZ

August 30, 2026Pima County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Aug 30, 2026, 7:11 PM MST for Pima 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 30, 2026, 7:11 PM MST (02:11 UTC)
Expired
Aug 30, 2026, 10:15 PM MST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Pima County, AZ

The radar

The Phoenix radar (KIWA), 124 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:12 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, 2.2 hours before the alert went out and 129 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 2026-08-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1058 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 2026-08-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -9 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1058 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-82 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2426 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-9 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
13 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

132 
WGUS55 KTWC 310211
FFWTWC
AZC019-310515-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0172.260831T0211Z-260831T0515Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
711 PM MST Sun Aug 30 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

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

* Until 1015 PM MST.

* At 711 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 0.7 inches 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...
  San Simon, Vaya Chin and San Simon West.

This includes Route 86 between mile markers 70 and 89.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Santa Rosa Wash, Quijotoa Wash, Hickiwan Wash, San Simon Wash,
  Anegam Wash and Gu Achi Wash.

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 3237 11243 3244 11221 3236 11211 3225 11218
      3214 11215 3217 11250

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

DVS
2 follow-up statements
974 
WGUS75 KTWC 310347
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
847 PM MST Sun Aug 30 2026

AZC019-310515-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0172.000000T0000Z-260831T0515Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-
847 PM MST Sun Aug 30 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1015 PM MST THIS
EVENING FOR NORTH CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY...

At 847 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 0.7 inches 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...
  San Simon, Vaya Chin and San Simon West.

This includes Route 86 between mile markers 70 and 89.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Santa Rosa Wash, Quijotoa Wash, Hickiwan Wash, San Simon Wash,
  Anegam Wash and Gu Achi Wash.

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 3217 11250 3214 11215 3225 11218 3236 11211
      3244 11221 3237 11243

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

DVS
071 
WGUS75 KTWC 310510
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1010 PM MST Sun Aug 30 2026

AZC019-310520-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0172.000000T0000Z-260831T0515Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-
1010 PM MST Sun Aug 30 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1015 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
NORTH CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY...

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 3217 11250 3214 11215 3225 11218 3236 11211
      3244 11221 3237 11243

$$

JRM

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 30, 2:35 PM MST, 4 hours 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 30, 2:35 PM MST, 4 hours 36 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
235 PM MST Sun Aug 30 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
temperature will be below normal to start the week then near
normal Wednesday into next weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Type IV Monsoon pattern in place today with the
upper high well to our east and an upper level trof along the
California coast. This pattern usually brings an increased
threat of severe storms, flash flooding, and nocturnal storms.

Storms a little slower to get going this afternoon, which was not
overly unexpected with some overnight activity and morning cloud
cover leading to the delay. PWATs across the area this afternoon
ranged from near 1" along the AZ/NM border to 1.70" across western
Pima county. Once storms get going, the main concern will be strong
to near severe winds, heavy rain with potential rainfall rates with
some of the stronger cores being 1-2"/hr leading to flash flooding,
especially west of Tucson, which was hit rather hard last evening.
Flash flood watch remains in effect until 5 am Monday for Pinal,
Pima and Santa Cruz counties.

Water vapor satellite imagery this afternoon showed a weak upper
level short-wave trof along central-CA coast. This feature will
continue to move east over the next 24 hours and extend from ern NV
south to SW AZ. Dynamics from this feature may produce some storms
around sunrise west of Tucson otherwise looking for another day of
scattered showers and thunderstorms, with main threats being heavy
rain and flash flooding, especially west of Tucson. In
anticipation of heavy rains across the Tohono O'odham nation
tonight and again on Monday aftn/eve, decided to extend the
flash flood watch for the nation through 10 pm Monday.

Tuesday and Thursday: 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 a tropical wave with
disorganized showers and thunderstorms well south of SW Mexico. This
may become the next named eastern Pacific tropical storm late this
week with some model guidance (30/12z GFS) indicating that the
potential track will be further east than where current Tropical
storm Karina is at, and possibly closer to Baja by the end this week
into next weekend. Confidence low this far out on how much tropical
moisture would be advected across the area but something to keep an
eye on.

Temperature wise, below normal highs to start the week then near
normal highs Wednesday into next weekend.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid through 01/00Z.
SCT -SHRA/-TSRA thru 31/06z, bcmg ISOLD btwn 30/06z and 30/12z.
Chance of storms returning to the area aft 31/20z. 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). There is also a chance storms continue
overnight Monday. 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 be around normal today through the coming work
week. Minimum relative humidity values mainly 20 to 45 percent in
the valleys and 30 to 60 percent in the mountains over the next
week. Winds will generally remain less than 15 mph and terrain
driven through the week.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
 Flood Watch through late tonight for AZZ503>507-513>515.
 Flood Watch through Monday evening for AZZ502.

&&

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

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 30, 6:22 PM MST, 49 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
622 PM MST Sun Aug 30 2026

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

0603 PM     Dust Storm       Pisinemo                32.04N 112.32W
08/30/2026                   Pima               AZ   Storm Chaser

            Social media photo of blowing dust with
            visibility at least below one mile. Likely
            lower in areas.

&&

JRM
Local storm report, Aug 30, 6:43 PM MST, 28 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
643 PM MST Sun Aug 30 2026

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

0632 PM     Dust Storm       10 ENE Ajo              32.42N 112.71W
08/30/2026                   Pima               AZ   Storm Chaser

            Dust storm east of Ajo moving north.
            Visibility at least below one mile. Social
            media photos likely shows as low as one
            quarter of a mile.

&&

JRM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 30, 5:04 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima41 min
Aug 30, 5:11 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima3 hr
Aug 30, 5:40 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima20 min
Aug 30, 5:43 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima47 min
Aug 30, 5:44 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima, Pinal3 hr
Aug 30, 5:53 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima3 hr
Aug 30, 6:00 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr
Aug 30, 6:07 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima38 min
Aug 30, 6:08 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr
Aug 30, 6:17 PM MSTDust Storm WarningTWCPima58 min
Aug 30, 6:44 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima46 min
Aug 30, 6:46 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima25 min
Aug 30, 8:13 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise3 hr
Aug 30, 9:39 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise, Pima51 min
Aug 30, 10:16 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise3 hr
Aug 30, 10:30 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise45 min
Aug 31, 1:46 AM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise, Graham59 min
Aug 31, 2:20 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise, Graham115 min
Aug 31, 3:09 AM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima51 min
Aug 31, 4:00 AM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima5 hr
Aug 31, 5:09 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima2 hr
Aug 31, 5:39 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima2 hr
Aug 31, 8:11 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima3 hr
Aug 31, 9:11 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima3 hr
Aug 31, 9:47 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima, Pinal3 hr
Aug 31, 10:42 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima, Pinal, Santa Cruz3 hr
Aug 31, 11:18 AM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr
Aug 31, 12:14 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCSanta Cruz3 hr
Aug 31, 2:03 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise3 hr
Aug 31, 2:38 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima7 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.