Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 201, NWS Tucson, AZ

September 12, 2026Pima County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Sep 12, 2026, 2:28 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 12, 2026, 2:28 PM MST (21:28 UTC)
Expired: Sep 12, 2026, 5:30 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), 50 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:29 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Sep 12, 3:15 PM MST	FLASH FLOOD	5 Nne Arivaca, AZ	Deep flowing water across West Arivaca Road around mile marker 8. Reported via social media.

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 47 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 200 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 178 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -203 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1843 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 6 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 44 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

351 
WGUS55 KTWC 122128
FFWTWC
AZC019-130030-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0201.260912T2128Z-260913T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
228 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

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

* Until 530 PM MST.

* At 228 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area with the heaviest rain just west
  of Green Valley. Between 1 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...
  Sahuarita and Green Valley.

This includes Interstate 19 between mile markers 32 and 43.

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.

Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain.
Washes, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.

&&

LAT...LON 3169 11116 3169 11117 3162 11125 3164 11135
      3175 11135 3194 11126 3196 11108 3196 11099
      3187 11098 3178 11099 3174 11100 3174 11108
      3173 11111 3173 11116

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

GEL

2 follow-up statements

414 
WGUS75 KTWC 122243
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
343 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

AZC019-130030-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0201.000000T0000Z-260913T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-
343 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHEASTERN PIMA COUNTY...

At 343 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms have weakened
which produced heavy rain just to the west of Green Valley. Between 1
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...
  Sahuarita and Green Valley.

This includes Interstate 19 between mile markers 32 and 43.

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.

Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain.
Washes, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.

&&

LAT...LON 3169 11116 3169 11117 3162 11125 3164 11135
      3175 11135 3194 11126 3196 11108 3196 11099
      3187 11098 3178 11099 3174 11100 3174 11108
      3173 11111 3173 11116

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

GEL

794 
WGUS75 KTWC 130027
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
527 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

AZC019-130037-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0201.000000T0000Z-260913T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-
527 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 530 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
SOUTHEASTERN PIMA COUNTY...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3169 11116 3169 11117 3162 11125 3164 11135
      3175 11135 3194 11126 3196 11108 3196 11099
      3187 11098 3178 11099 3174 11100 3174 11108
      3173 11111 3173 11116

$$

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 12, 1:14 PM MST, 1 hour 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 12, 1:14 PM MST, 1 hour 14 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
114 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

.SYNOPSIS...A more typical isolated to scattered coverage of storms
is forecast this weekend into next week. Daily high temperatures
will fluctuate between near normal and a few degrees below
normal.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Scattered storms already ongoing and continue to fill
into the Tucson Metro which is no surprise given the moisture
profile in place today in conjunction with sufficient instability.
We'll mainly be monitoring for heavy rainfall this afternoon as
scattered storms with frequent lightning continue to evolve, but
can't rule out strong gusty outflow winds. With very weak flow in
the atmosphere, the storms that do form have the potential to dump
an impactful amount of rain over the same spot resulting in water
flowing in normally dry washes and low water crossings becoming
inundated with swift moving water. HREF depicts a slight chance
(10%) for rainfall totals exceeding 3 inches. If storms do gradually
evolve into the Tucson Metro proper, we could see urban street
flooding with ponding of water on roadways and in poor drainage
areas. This weekend chances for isolated to scattered storms
continues, again with the moisture we have in place the primary
concern continues to lean toward heavy rainfall and localized
flash flooding.

Monday still looks to be a bit more active as a weak disturbance
moves across southeast Arizona. Combined with the additional
moisture we have in place, any lifting mechanism can help provide
confidence in a heavy rainfall event. QPF continues to trend up
with WPC placing portions of the forecast area under slight
risk for excessive rainfall with the potential for stronger
storms producing rainfall rates of 1-2"/hr leading to the
increased risk of localized flash flooding. Time will tell as
its difficult to time disturbances this far out.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid thru 14/00Z.
SCT SHRA/TSRA thru 13/04Z. SFC winds WLY/NWLY 6-10 kts thru 13/05
becoming terrain driven and less than 10 kts thereafter. Tomorrow,
ISOLD-SCT SHRA/TSRA aft 13/17Z. SFC winds WLY/NWLY at 6-10 kts.
Visibility 1-3 SM possible in TSRA. Aviation discussion not
updated for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...A typical isolated to scattered coverage of storms
is forecast this weekend into next week. High temperatures will will
fluctuate between near normal and a few degrees below normal.
Min RH values mainly 20 to 45 percent in the valleys and 35 to 65
percent in the mountains over the next week. RH recoveries will
continue to be excellent overnight. Winds will generally remain less
than 15 mph and terrain driven. Gusty and erratic winds will
accompany thunderstorms.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None.

&&

DVS

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

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 12, 1:09 PM MST, 1 hour 19 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
109 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

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

1255 PM     Flash Flood      2 S Picture Rocks       32.31N 111.24W
09/12/2026                   Pima               AZ   Fire Dept/Rescue

            Swift water rescue on W Rudasill rd and N
            Chaparral Rd.

&&

AJE

Local storm report, Sep 12, 1:18 PM MST, 1 hour 10 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
118 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

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

0107 PM     Flash Flood      4 SSE Picture Rocks     32.29N 111.22W
09/12/2026                   Pima               AZ   Fire Dept/Rescue

            Swift water rescue on W Manville Rd and N
            Sandario Rd.

&&

AJE

Local storm report, Sep 12, 1:50 PM MST, 38 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
150 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

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

0146 PM     Flash Flood      15 SE Tucson            32.03N 110.72W
09/12/2026                   Pima               AZ   Fire Dept/Rescue

            Swift water rescue on Wentworth near I10.

&&

AJE

Local storm report, Sep 12, 2:27 PM MST, 1 minute before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
227 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

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

0219 PM     Flash Flood      15 SE Tucson            32.03N 110.72W
09/12/2026                   Pima               AZ   Fire Dept/Rescue

            Swift water rescue on E Colossal Cave Rd and
            E Dawn Rd.

&&

AJE

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Sep 11, 5:18 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Cochise	3 hr
Sep 11, 5:30 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima	2 hr
Sep 11, 6:24 PM MST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TWC	Cochise	44 min
Sep 11, 6:31 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	TWC	Pima	3 hr
Sep 11, 7:01 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	TWC	Pima	119 min
Sep 11, 7:03 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pinal	117 min
Sep 11, 7:07 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Cochise	3 hr
Sep 11, 8:41 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Cochise, Graham	3 hr
Sep 11, 9:20 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	TWC	Cochise, Graham	3 hr
Sep 12, 11:38 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima, Pinal	3 hr
Sep 12, 11:43 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Cochise	3 hr
Sep 12, 12:10 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	TWC	Pima	3 hr
Sep 12, 12:16 PM MST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TWC	Cochise, Pima, Santa Cruz	20 min
Sep 12, 12:37 PM MST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TWC	Pima	38 min
Sep 12, 12:44 PM MST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TWC	Pima	46 min
Sep 12, 12:52 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	TWC	Pima	3 hr
Sep 12, 1:06 PM MST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TWC	Pima, Santa Cruz	39 min
Sep 12, 1:18 PM MST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TWC	Pima	29 min
Sep 12, 1:21 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	TWC	Pima	3 hr
Sep 12, 1:31 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	TWC	Pima, Santa Cruz	3 hr
Sep 12, 1:44 PM MST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TWC	Santa Cruz	46 min
Sep 12, 1:50 PM MST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TWC	Pima	40 min
Sep 12, 2:01 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	TWC	Santa Cruz	3 hr
Sep 12, 2:45 PM MST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TWC	Santa Cruz	19 min
Sep 12, 3:06 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima	3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 2026 Every 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.