Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 174, NWS Tucson, AZ

August 31, 2026Pima County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Aug 31, 2026, 4:00 AM MST for Pima County, Arizona. It was in force for 5 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 31, 2026, 4:00 AM MST (11:00 UTC)
Expired
Aug 31, 2026, 8:30 AM MST
In force
5 hr
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Pima County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 63 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:02 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, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 168 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.

570 
WGUS55 KTWC 311100
FFWTWC
AZC019-311400-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0174.260831T1100Z-260831T1400Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
400 AM MST Mon Aug 31 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

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

* Until 700 AM MST.

* At 400 AM MST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated
  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. The
  AZGFD 3 gauge reported 1.22 inches in 30 minutes, the Diamond Bell
  Ranch alert gauge reported 0.98 inches in 30 minutes, and the Altar
  Wash at Hwy 286 gauge reported 0.83 inches in 30 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...Radar and automated gauges.

  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...
  Three Points, Tucson Estates, Tucson Mountain Park and Ryan
  AirField.

This includes the following highways...
Route 86 between mile markers 146 and 160. Route 286 between mile
markers 25 and 45.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Alambre Wash, Cerro Prieto Wash, Saucito Wash, Altar Wash, Brown
  Wash, Brawley Wash, Banner Wash, Fresno Wash, Mendoza Wash, South
  Mendoza Wash and Soto Wash.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3185 11125 3202 11115 3226 11117 3225 11132
      3220 11138 3181 11144

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED

$$

AWH
3 follow-up statements
171 
WGUS75 KTWC 311143
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
443 AM MST Mon Aug 31 2026

AZC019-311400-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0174.000000T0000Z-260831T1400Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-
443 AM MST Mon Aug 31 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM MST THIS MORNING
FOR CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY...

At 443 AM MST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated
thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1
and 2 inches of rain have fallen. The AZGFD3 and Diamond Bell Ranch
alert gauges have recorded 1.5 inches in the last hour and a half.
Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

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...
  Three Points, Tucson Estates, Tucson Mountain Park and Ryan
  AirField.

This includes the following highways...
Route 86 between mile markers 146 and 160. Route 286 between mile
markers 25 and 45.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Alambre Wash, Cerro Prieto Wash, Saucito Wash, Altar Wash, Brown
  Wash, Brawley Wash, Banner Wash, Fresno Wash, Mendoza Wash, South
  Mendoza Wash and Soto Wash.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3185 11125 3202 11115 3226 11117 3225 11132
      3220 11138 3181 11144

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED

$$

AWH
483 
WGUS55 KTWC 311338
FFWTWC
AZC019-311530-
/O.EXT.KTWC.FF.W.0174.000000T0000Z-260831T1530Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
638 AM MST Mon Aug 31 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has extended the

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

* Until 830 AM MST.

* At 638 AM MST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated
  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between
  1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. The AZGFD3 and Diamond Bell
  Ranch alert gauges have recorded 1.65 and 1.57 with more storms
  moving into the area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to
  begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

  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...
  Three Points, Tucson Estates, Tucson Mountain Park and Ryan
  AirField.

This includes the following highways...
Route 86 between mile markers 146 and 160. Route 286 between mile
markers 25 and 45.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Alambre Wash, Cerro Prieto Wash, Saucito Wash, Altar Wash, Brown
  Wash, Brawley Wash, Banner Wash, Fresno Wash, Mendoza Wash, South
  Mendoza Wash and Soto Wash.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3185 11125 3202 11115 3226 11117 3225 11132
      3220 11138 3181 11144

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED

$$

AWH
019 
WGUS75 KTWC 311528
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
828 AM MST Mon Aug 31 2026

AZC019-311538-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0174.000000T0000Z-260831T1530Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-
828 AM MST Mon Aug 31 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 830 AM MST THIS MORNING FOR
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 1000 PM MST Monday for a
portion of Southeast Arizona.

&&

LAT...LON 3185 11125 3202 11115 3226 11117 3225 11132
      3220 11138 3181 11144

$$

KJS

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 31, 1:32 AM MST, 2 hours 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 31, 1:32 AM MST, 2 hours 28 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
132 AM MST Mon Aug 31 2026

.SYNOPSIS...Expect scattered shower and thunderstorm activity
early this morning, brief break mid-morning, then another round
of scattered storms this afternoon and evening. Storm chances
and coverage decease Tuesday and Wednesday, then increase again
Thursday into the weekend. High temperature will be below
normal to start the week then near normal Wednesday into the
weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Current radar shows scattered thunderstorms east
of Tucson with a few isolated storms west and north of Tucson
over Pinal County and central Pima County. The latest HRRR run
seems to be handling the convection east of Tucson well, but
does not show any of the convection west and north of Tucson.
These storms are likely being aided by a weak shortwave moving
through central Arizona. Storms east of Tucson will likely keep
moving north and produce moderate to heavy rainfall. At this
moment it is uncertain if Tucson will see any storms, there are
a couple outflows heading towards the metro from the east as
well as the north. This could kick off storms over the metro,
but confidence is low. This activity will likely continue
through the early morning, then a brief break or reduction in
coverage by mid to late morning. CAMs are showing another round
of scattered storms forming this afternoon and evening, but
activity from this morning could delay initiation and reduce
coverage or change where storms form. Still some uncertainty in
the forecast, but the threat is there for scattered convection.
Heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding looks to be the main
threat with strong to severe wind gusts a secondary threat. For
this afternoon and evening hi-res guidance is favoring areas
west of Tucson over the Tohono O'Odham Nation. Because of this
the Flash Flood Watch has been extended west of Tucson through
10 PM today.

After today moisture values decrease some thanks to southwest
flow aloft ahead of trough over the west coast. The ridge will
be centered well to the east. The upper air pattern will remain
like this through the work week. Expect a downturn in monsoon
thunderstorm activity and coverage Tuesday and Wednesday with
isolated storms mainly south and east of Tucson. High
temperatures will be 2-6 degrees cooler than normal today into
Wednesday.

Down in the tropics the NHC is monitoring a tropical wave with
disorganized showers and thunderstorms well south of SW Mexico.
This will likely become the next named eastern Pacific tropical
storm in a couple days. Models bring this tropical system north
along the west coast of Baja late in the work week into the
weekend. Still fairly large differences in how close to the
coast the center will be. However there is growing confidence
that it will send tropical moisture up to southeast Arizona.
PWATs begin to increase as early as Thursday and could reach as
high as 2" over far western Pima County by this weekend. This
far out still hard to pin down exact impacts from this potential
increase in moisture, but do expect an increase in thunderstorm
coverage and chances as early as Thursday, continuing into the
weekend.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid through 01/12Z.
SCT -SHRA/-TSRA east of KTUS through 31/14Z with KDUG and KSAD
the main terminals impacted. Storms may form from outflows
moving into the Tucson metro this morning, but confidence is too
low to put mention of thunder in the TAF. Brief break in
convection later this morning then storm chances return to the
area after 31/20z through 01/04Z. Expect BKN cigs 7k-12k ft AGL
for most of the period. Outflow SFC winds near TSRA 30-40 kts
otherwise SFC winds mostly less than 10 kts and terrain driven.
Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms this
morning continuing into the afternoon and evening today. Storms
will be capable of strong to severe wind gusts and heavy
rainfall. Storm chances and coverage decrease Tuesday and
Wednesday with activity mainly from Tucson south and eastward.
Then expect another increase in storm chances Thursday into the
weekend. 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 this evening for AZZ502.
Flood Watch until 5 AM MST early this morning for AZZ503>507-
513>515.

&&

Hardin

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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, 7:11 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr
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, 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.