Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 217, NWS Tucson, AZ
NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Sep 16, 2026, 11:06 AM MST for Pima 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 16, 2026, 11:06 AM MST (18:06 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 16, 2026, 2:00 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), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:08 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, 6.1 hours before the alert went out and 140 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
- 1115 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -35 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1275 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 14 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 46 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 94 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
523
WGUS55 KTWC 161806
FFWTWC
AZC019-162100-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0217.260916T1806Z-260916T2100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1106 AM MST Wed Sep 16 2026
The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
North Central Pima County in southeastern Arizona...
* Until 200 PM MST.
* At 1106 AM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain
have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1.5 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...
San Pedro, Queens Well, Santa Rosa Ranch and Pan Tak.
This includes Route 86 between mile markers 135 and 139.
This includes the following streams and drainages...
Aguirre Wash, Anegan Wash, Viopuli Wash, Pan Tak Wash, House Wash,
Sil Nakya Wash, Mendoza Wash and San Vicente Wash.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
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 3234 11178 3231 11182 3221 11180 3216 11177
3209 11170 3207 11165 3204 11160 3201 11156
3206 11144 3214 11153 3228 11160 3232 11166
3241 11175
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
JRM2 follow-up statements
857
WGUS75 KTWC 162029
FFSTWC
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
129 PM MST Wed Sep 16 2026
AZC019-162100-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0217.000000T0000Z-260916T2100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-
129 PM MST Wed Sep 16 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR NORTH CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY...
At 129 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain have
fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1.5 inches are possible
in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
San Pedro, Queens Well, Santa Rosa Ranch and Pan Tak.
This includes Route 86 between mile markers 135 and 139.
This includes the following streams and drainages...
Mendoza Wash, House Wash, Sil Nakya Wash, Aguirre Wash, Viopuli
Wash, San Vicente Wash, Anegan Wash and Pan Tak Wash.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain.
Washes, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.
&&
LAT...LON 3234 11178 3231 11182 3221 11180 3216 11177
3209 11170 3207 11165 3204 11160 3201 11156
3206 11144 3214 11153 3228 11160 3232 11166
3241 11175
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
GLZ452
WGUS75 KTWC 162102
FFSTWC
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
202 PM MST Wed Sep 16 2026
AZC019-162112-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0217.000000T0000Z-260916T2100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-
202 PM MST Wed Sep 16 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR NORTH CENTRAL PIMA 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 1100 PM MST Wednesday for a
portion of Southeast Arizona.
&&
LAT...LON 3234 11178 3231 11182 3221 11180 3216 11177
3209 11170 3207 11165 3204 11160 3201 11156
3206 11144 3214 11153 3228 11160 3232 11166
3241 11175
$$
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 16, 3:09 AM MST, 7 hours 57 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 16, 3:09 AM MST, 7 hours 57 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 309 AM MST Wed Sep 16 2026 .SYNOPSIS...A weather system moving in from northern Mexico today will bring widespread showers and thunderstorms into Thursday morning which will be capable of producing heavy rainfall. Drier conditions move in Friday limiting the daily chance through this weekend into early next week. High temperatures will be below normal today and Thursday, then be around normal Friday into early next week. && .DISCUSSION...A very moist atmosphere for mid-September is in place awaiting the dynamics from a small upper low that was south of Hermosillo, MX this morning. This feature will swing north across the area today bringing moderate to heavy rainfall to portions of southeast Arizona and the increased chances for flash flooding due to moist antecedent conditions. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect until 11 pm tonight. Satellite imagery showed southerly flow across the area which continues to slowly increase PWAT values into the 1.3" to 1.8" range which is 175%-200% of normal. Radar showing initial area of showers/storms moving into southern Cochise county. Expect areal coverage of showers/storms to slowly increase over the next 2-5 hours before more rapid development occurs later this morning as the upper low edges closer to the Intl border. Hourly rainfall rates of 1"-2.5" with some of the heavy showers with some storms over 3". The Weather Prediction Center has a Moderate risk for excessive rainfall for portions of Pima, Pinal, and Graham counties today. Thursday: Precipitable water remains elevated for this time of year with a slight risk for excessive rainfall continuing east and south of Tucson. Showers and storms that develop will still have the potential for locally heavy rainfall, but without the disturbance nearby there will be a lack of forcing to help aid in higher rainfall rates like Wednesday. Friday through Tuesday: Drier air finally begins to filter into southeast Arizona as flow aloft shifts more westerly/southwesterly. This could help limit thunderstorm activity somewhat and keep activity mainly east and south of Tucson. High temperatures return to at or slightly above normal. 8 to 14 day outlooks (Wed Sep 23 to Tue Sep 29) Temperature: Leaning above normal, 39-42% chance Precipitation: Leaning above normal, 39-42% chance && .AVIATION...Valid thru 17/12Z. SCT-BKN clouds 7k-10k ft AGL with ISOLD -SHRA/-TSRA bcmg thru much of the valid pd. After 16/17Z, SCT-NUM SHRA/TSRA thru end of valid pd. VSBYS nr 1 SM at times with SHRA+/TS. Gusty and erratic outflow winds to around 35-45 kts nr strongest TS. Outside of TS, SFC winds SLY/SWLY at 7-12 kts. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...A weather system moving in from northern Mexico today will bring widespread showers and thunderstorms into Thursday morning which will be capable of producing heavy rainfall. Drier conditions move in Friday limiting the daily chance through this weekend into early next week. High temperatures will be below normal today and Thursday, then be around normal Friday into early next week. 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... Flood Watch through this evening for AZZ501>515. && 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 16, 5:40 AM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Cochise | 2 hr |
| Sep 16, 6:58 AM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Graham | 3 hr |
| Sep 16, 8:09 AM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Graham, Greenlee | 5 hr |
| Sep 16, 9:27 AM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Pima | 2 hr |
| Sep 16, 11:40 AM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Pima | 5 hr |
| Sep 16, 12:18 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TWC | Pinal | 18 min |
| Sep 16, 12:59 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Pinal | 2 hr |
| Sep 16, 1:12 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Pima | 3 hr |
| Sep 16, 1:16 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Pima | 108 min |
| Sep 16, 2:23 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Cochise | 2 hr |
| Sep 16, 3:04 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Pima | 116 min |
| Sep 16, 3:11 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Sep 16, 3:57 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Sep 16, 4:22 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Cochise | 15 min |
| Sep 16, 4:37 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Pima | 113 min |
| Sep 16, 4:37 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise | 113 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.