Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 178, NWS Tucson, AZ

September 2, 2026Pima County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Sep 2, 2026, 2:27 PM MST for Pima 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
Sep 2, 2026, 2:27 PM MST (21:27 UTC)
Expired
Sep 2, 2026, 5:00 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 Tucson radar (KEMX), 61 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:27 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
Sep 2, 3:30 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD10 Ne Arivaca, AZVideo of water rushing across Arivaca Road shared via social media. Reported that multiple washes through Arivaca Road were flowing.

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 63 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, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 209 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 12:00Z on 2026-09-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 466 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 12:00Z on 2026-09-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 17 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
466 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-79 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1631 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
17 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
78 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

053 
WGUS55 KTWC 022127
FFWTWC
AZC019-030000-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0178.260902T2127Z-260903T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
227 PM MST Wed Sep 2 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

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

* Until 500 PM MST.

* At 227 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain in areas along and near Arivaca Road north of Arivaca in
  Pima county. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain have fallen.
  Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 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, streets as
           well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Flood prone areas along Arivaca Road from Arivaca to the Pima and
  Santa Cruz county border.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

In hilly terrain there are many low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 3173 11117 3159 11117 3155 11124 3165 11134
      3172 11123

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

EDWARDS
2 follow-up statements
232 
WGUS75 KTWC 022246
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
346 PM MST Wed Sep 2 2026

AZC019-030000-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0178.000000T0000Z-260903T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-
346 PM MST Wed Sep 2 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTH CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY...

At 346 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms produced heavy
rain along and near Arivaca Road north of Arivaca in Pima County.
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, streets as well
         as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Flood prone areas along Arivaca Road from Arivaca to the Pima and
  Santa Cruz county border.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Guijas Wash, Las, Cedar Creek, Saucito Wash, Sopori Wash, Bolas
  Blancas Wash, Seco, Arroyo and Papalote Wash.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3172 11123 3165 11134 3155 11124 3159 11117
      3173 11117

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

EDWARDS
318 
WGUS75 KTWC 022356
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
456 PM MST Wed Sep 2 2026

AZC019-030006-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0178.000000T0000Z-260903T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-
456 PM MST Wed Sep 2 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 5 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
SOUTH CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat, though water may continue to impact some low lying points
along Arivaca Road. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3172 11123 3165 11134 3155 11124 3159 11117
      3173 11117

$$

EDWARDS

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 Sep 2, 2:11 PM MST, 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 2, 2:11 PM MST, 16 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
211 PM MST Wed Sep 2 2026

.SYNOPSIS...Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue this
afternoon into this evening, especially from Tucson southward.
Thursday into the weekend, elevated moisture continues with
scattered to numerous thunderstorms with the main threat being heavy
rainfall. High temperature will will fluctuate between normal and a
few degrees below normal.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Scattered thunderstorms have developed over the past
couple of hours, with the main area of convection from Tucson
southward. Most of the storms initially struggled with having
sustained updrafts, but we've been seeing some better storm
organization over the past hour or so, especially between Tucson and
Nogales. Main concern this afternoon into evening is locally heavy
rainfall resulting in isolated flash flooding with a secondary
threat of gusty winds to around 50 mph. Storm movement today is slow
(north-northeast about 5 to 10 mph) which will amplify the trend
towards those local areas of 1 to 2 inches of rain. While these
storms should diminish in scope during the evening hours, we'll
continue to keep an eye towards Sonora after midnight into the early
morning for potential MCS. This could push additional outflow or
even some overnight convection in our forecast area, especially
south of Tucson. The HRRR has latched onto this solution but the
other CAMs not as much, thus confidence is low but something we'll
be monitoring. Of course if late night convection were to occur or
remnants of an MCS pushing through Thursday morning, then leftover
clouds, subsidence or lower instability could reduce thunderstorm
chances Thursday afternoon.

Otherwise, more broadly speaking, we'll remain in an active pattern
Thursday/Friday and continuing into the weekend as lower level
southerly flow keeps reinforcing moisture from Sonora. Additionally,
the southerly flow will get some aid from Tropical Storm Marie (well
southwest of Baja) that will push additional moisture up the Gulf of
California towards southern Arizona. This will keep an above average
late monsoon pattern for us at least through the weekend with
primary threat continuing to be heavy rain with an isolated to
scattered flash flood threat. Note that the HREF shows this well for
Thursday with a 50% to 70% neighborhood probability (40-km) of 1" or
more in 3 hours across Santa Cruz, Ern Pima, far SE Pinal and
western Cochise Counties. There are no real well defined
disturbances/lift to really hone in on during this period for
southeast Arizona, so we'll continue to see day-to-day variability
in convection. Given the above normal moisture levels during the
period (PWAT averaging 1.3 to 1.7 inches), there will be higher than
normal chances for nocturnal convection, but confidence is quite low
on timing.

Elevated moisture levels look to continue early next week as well,
though the flow pattern become a bit more southeasterly at that
time.

Temperatures will be near or just slightly below normal through the
forecast period.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid through 04/00Z.
Expect SCT-BKN clouds 8-12k ft AGL through the forecast period.
Scattered SHRA/TSRA mainly from Tucson south and eastward continuing
through 03/04Z with slight chances of convection overnight into
Thursday morning. Additional SCT SHRA/TSRA once again mainly from
KTUS south and eastward aft 03/20Z. Near thunderstorms expect heavy
rainfall and gusty winds to 35 kts. Otherwise winds will be west
northwest 5-10 kts this afternoon and evening, and light and terrain
driven at other times. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF
amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Expect scattered thunderstorms this afternoon into
evening mainly from Tucson south and eastward. Elevated storm
chances are expected Thursday into the weekend as above normal
moisture (aided by the tropics) moves in. Heavy rainfall leading to
flash flooding will be the main threat. Temperatures will be around
normal to a few degrees below normal into early next 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...
None.

&&

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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 2, 6:46 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima14 hr
Sep 2, 1:28 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr
Sep 2, 1:41 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCSanta Cruz3 hr
Sep 2, 1:52 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima35 min
Sep 2, 2:50 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCSanta Cruz7 min
Sep 2, 2:57 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCSanta Cruz108 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.