Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 185, NWS Tucson, AZ
NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Sep 3, 2026, 3:54 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, 3:54 PM MST (22:54 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 3, 2026, 7:00 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), 67 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:54 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, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 243 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.
461
WGUS55 KTWC 032254
FFWTWC
AZC003-040200-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0185.260903T2254Z-260904T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
354 PM MST Thu Sep 3 2026
The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Central Cochise County in southeastern Arizona...
* Until 700 PM MST.
* At 354 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 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...
Cochise.
This includes Route 191 between mile markers 59 and 62.
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 3213 10996 3213 10988 3198 10992 3197 10997
3204 10999
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
GLZ2 follow-up statements
491
WGUS75 KTWC 032324 RRA
FFSTWC
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
424 PM MST Thu Sep 3 2026
AZC003-040200-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0185.000000T0000Z-260904T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-
424 PM MST Thu Sep 3 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MST THIS EVENING
FOR CENTRAL COCHISE COUNTY...
At 424 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain have
fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Cochise.
This includes Route 191 between mile markers 59 and 62.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.
&&
LAT...LON 3213 10996 3213 10988 3198 10992 3197 10997
3204 10999
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
GLZ893
WGUS75 KTWC 040159
FFSTWC
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
659 PM MST Thu Sep 3 2026
AZC003-040209-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0185.000000T0000Z-260904T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-
659 PM MST Thu Sep 3 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
CENTRAL COCHISE COUNTY...
The heavy rain has ended. Flash 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 Friday for a portion
of Southeast Arizona.
&&
LAT...LON 3213 10996 3213 10988 3198 10992 3197 10997
3204 10999
$$
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 46 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 3, 12:08 PM MST, 3 hours 46 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
In the hours before
Local storm report, Sep 3, 3:50 PM MST, 4 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
350 PM MST Thu Sep 3 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0340 PM Flash Flood 10 S Safford 32.69N 109.71W
09/03/2026 Graham AZ Trained Spotter
Water flowing across area roadways. 1.8
inches of rain so far.
&&
JRMThe 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, 3:21 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise | 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, 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.