Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 183, NWS Tucson, AZ
NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Sep 3, 2026, 3:21 PM MST for Cochise 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
- Sep 3, 2026, 3:21 PM MST (22:21 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 3, 2026, 6:15 PM MST
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Tucson, AZ
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
County Cochise County, AZ
The radar
The Tucson radar (KEMX), 113 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:24 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, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 286 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
- 556 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -53 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1454 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 14 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 10 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 61 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
866
WGUS55 KTWC 032221
FFWTWC
AZC003-040115-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0183.260903T2221Z-260904T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
321 PM MST Thu Sep 3 2026
The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Northeastern Cochise County in southeastern Arizona...
* Until 615 PM MST.
* At 321 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area, especially near the junction of
Arizona Route 181 and 186 near Chiricahua National Monument.
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, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Arizona Route 181 and 186 leading to Chiricahua National Monument.
This includes the following highways...
Route 181 between mile markers 53 and 64. Route 186 between mile
markers 355 and 359.
This includes the following streams and drainages...
Pinery Creek, Big Sand Wash, Turkey Creek, Witch Creek, West
Whitetail Creek and Fivemile Creek.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
&&
LAT...LON 3206 10937 3190 10935 3187 10940 3188 10944
3190 10950 3195 10953 3201 10953 3204 10950
3207 10946 3208 10942
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
EDWARDS2 follow-up statements
348
WGUS75 KTWC 032300
FFSTWC
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
400 PM MST Thu Sep 3 2026
AZC003-040115-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0183.000000T0000Z-260904T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-
400 PM MST Thu Sep 3 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM MST THIS
EVENING FOR NORTHEASTERN COCHISE COUNTY...
At 400 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain have
fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Chiricahua National Monument.
This includes the following highways...
Route 181 between mile markers 53 and 64. Route 186 between mile
markers 355 and 359.
This includes the following streams and drainages...
Witch Creek, Pinery Creek, Turkey Creek, Fivemile Creek, West
Whitetail Creek and Big Sand Wash.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.
&&
LAT...LON 3206 10937 3190 10935 3187 10940 3188 10944
3190 10950 3195 10953 3201 10953 3204 10950
3207 10946 3208 10942
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
GLZ817
WGUS75 KTWC 040112
FFSTWC
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
612 PM MST Thu Sep 3 2026
AZC003-040122-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0183.000000T0000Z-260904T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-
612 PM MST Thu Sep 3 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 615 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
NORTHEASTERN COCHISE COUNTY...
The heavy rain has ended. Flash flooding is no longer expected to
pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
&&
LAT...LON 3206 10937 3190 10935 3187 10940 3188 10944
3190 10950 3195 10953 3201 10953 3204 10950
3207 10946 3208 10942
$$
GLZWhat 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 3, 12:08 PM MST, 3 hours 13 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 3, 12:08 PM MST, 3 hours 13 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 1208 PM MST Thu Sep 3 2026 .SYNOPSIS... Expect scattered to numerous thunderstorms each afternoon and evening through the weekend as tropical moisture moves in. The main threat will be heavy rainfall leading to areas of flash flooding. High temperature will will fluctuate between normal and a few degrees below normal. && .DISCUSSION... Southwest flow has set up across the region, pulling in tropical moisture from Hurricane Marie. PWATS over Southeast Arizona are at the 90th percentile or higher for this early September. The above normal moisture will prime the day for heavy rainfall risk. The latest CAM model have confidence for this afternoon storms to produce up to 1-1.5 inches with pockets up to 2 inches in a short amount of time. Ground conditions are primed and can react quickly to heavy rainfall because of the previous 48 hour rainfall. Areas south of Tucson will be the most susceptible to quicker response in washes and creeks and heighten risk for flash flooding. As result, there is a Flash Flood Watch for the eastern Pima (including Tucson metro), Santa Cruz County, and eastern Cochise County (Benson south to Sierra Vista/Hereford) for today and through the early tomorrow morning. Several models continue to show activity lasting through the nighttime and adding more rainfall accumulation. Tomorrow, moisture will shift more east of Tucson, allowing Cochise, Graham, and Greenlee Counties to have better chances for rain showers and thunderstorms. Rainfall amounts can be an inch with localized higher amounts. WPC has a slight risk (<15%) for flash flooding those counties. Thunderstorm activity will drop around sunset. Looking into the holiday weekend. The upper pattern will generally stay the same with a closed low over the Pacific Northwest and ridging to the east. Yet, the best chances for rain showers and thunderstorms will mainly be confined to the International Border and east of Tucson through the weekend. Better widespread chances will return by next week with a reemergence of deeper moisture. Temperatures will be hovering near normal to slightly below normal through the forecast period. The 8-14 day CPC outlook has a 50-60% likely above normal precipitation and 33-50% leaning above normal temperatures. && .AVIATION...valid through 05/00Z. SCT-BKN clouds 7-12k ft AGL through much of the forecast period. Scattered TSRA/SHRA this afternoon and lasting through the overnight period. Although the overnight TSRA/SHRA activity will be more isolated. Near any thunderstorm will have strong gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and brief lowering of ceilings. Outside of thunderstorm winds, winds will be west to southwesterly 5-10 kts and again after 04/18z. Light and terrain driven at other times. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER... Expect daily scattered thunderstorms each afternoon and evening today into early next week. There will be some variation in coverage day to day, but expect the bulk of the activity from central Pima County eastward. 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... Flood Watch through late tonight for AZZ503-504-507-513-514. && 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 3, 10:37 AM MST | Flood Watch | TWC | Cochise, Graham, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz | 16 hr |
| Sep 3, 12:47 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Graham | 99 min |
| Sep 3, 1:48 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Graham | 3 hr |
| Sep 3, 2:26 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Graham, Pinal | 5 hr |
| Sep 3, 2:53 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Sep 3, 3:02 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Graham | 118 min |
| Sep 3, 3:02 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Sep 3, 3:17 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Graham | 3 hr |
| Sep 3, 3:28 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Pima | 2 hr |
| Sep 3, 3:39 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Sep 3, 3:43 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Sep 3, 3:54 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Sep 3, 4:35 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Pima | 115 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.