Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 28, NWS Tucson, AZ

July 13, 2026Pima County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 13, 2026, 3:42 PM MST for Pima County, Arizona. It was in force for 3 hr. 2 reports 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
Jul 13, 2026, 3:42 PM MST (22:42 UTC)
Expired
Jul 13, 2026, 6:45 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), 23 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:27 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
Jul 13, 4:28 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD6 Ese Tucson, AZFlash flooding at Pantano Wash and South Harrison Road. An estimated 1-2 feet of water moving over roadway.
Jul 13, 4:39 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD6 Ese Tucson, AZWater flowing over roadway at Pantano Wash and Escalante Rd. Estimate of 1 to 2 feet of water over roadway.

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 2 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 46 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, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 190 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 2026-07-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 96 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 2026-07-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -14 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
96 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-257 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1408 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-14 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
56 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

750 
WGUS55 KTWC 132242
FFWTWC
AZC019-140145-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0028.260713T2242Z-260714T0145Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
342 PM MST Mon Jul 13 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

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

* Until 645 PM MST.

* At 342 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Around 1 inch of rain has fallen
  along Houghton Rd north of Rita Ranch. 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...
  Tucson, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Vail, Corona De Tucson,
  Saguaro National Park East and Rita Ranch.

This includes the following highways...
Interstate 10 between mile markers 268 and 289. Route 83 between mile
markers 53 and 58.

This includes the following Flash Flood Prone Locations...
Harrison Rd at Pantano Wash, Old Spanish Trl at Rincon Creek,
Houghton Rd from I-10 & Sahuarita Rd, Escalante Rd at Atterbury Wash,
Andrada Rd east of Wentworth Rd, Camino Loma Alta at Rincon Creek,
Freeman Rd between Broadway and Old Spanish Trail, Old Spanish Trail
at Jeremy Wash and Calle Rinconada Rd from Andrada Rd to Sahuarita
Rd.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

&&

LAT...LON 3219 11062 3224 11076 3220 11087 3203 11091
      3191 11071 3195 11056 3206 11055

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

GEL
2 follow-up statements
594 
WGUS75 KTWC 132307
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
407 PM MST Mon Jul 13 2026

AZC019-140145-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0028.000000T0000Z-260714T0145Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-
407 PM MST Mon Jul 13 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM MST THIS
EVENING FOR EAST CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY...

At 407 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have
fallen, especially in the area of Houghton Rd north of Rita Ranch.
Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible in the warned
area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
         flash flooding.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban
         areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Tucson, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Vail, Corona De Tucson,
  Saguaro National Park East and Rita Ranch.

This includes the following highways...
Interstate 10 between mile markers 268 and 289. Route 83 between mile
markers 53 and 58.

This includes the following Flash Flood Prone Locations...
Harrison Rd at Pantano Wash, Old Spanish Trl at Rincon Creek,
Houghton Rd from I-10 & Sahuarita Rd, Escalante Rd at Atterbury Wash,
Andrada Rd east of Wentworth Rd, Camino Loma Alta at Rincon Creek,
Freeman Rd between Broadway and Old Spanish Trail, Old Spanish Trail
at Jeremy Wash and Calle Rinconada Rd from Andrada Rd to Sahuarita
Rd.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Chico, Arroyo, Tanque Verde Wash, Rincon Creek, Coyote Wash,
  Cienega Creek, Pantano Wash, Agua Verde Creek, Mescal Arroyo and
  Santa Cruz River.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

&&

LAT...LON 3219 11062 3224 11076 3220 11087 3203 11091
      3191 11071 3195 11056 3206 11055

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

GEL
667 
WGUS75 KTWC 140144
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
644 PM MST Mon Jul 13 2026

AZC019-140154-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0028.000000T0000Z-260714T0145Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-
644 PM MST Mon Jul 13 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 645 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
EAST CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3219 11062 3224 11076 3220 11087 3203 11091
      3191 11071 3195 11056 3206 11055

$$

GEL

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 Jul 13, 12:10 PM MST, 3 hours 32 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening, with the bulk of the activity extending along a line from Douglas to Tucson.
  • The primary concern with the storms today will be the potential for heavy rainfall. The secondary concern will be strong thunderstorm outflow winds to 45 mph with areas of blowing dust across SE Pinal and the northern portions of the Tohono O'odham Nation.
  • Thunderstorm chances will continue daily through the week with day to day variability in location and severity.
  • High temperatures are forecast to be near normal to just below normal through mid-week, with the potential for further cooling by the end of the work week.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 13, 12:10 PM MST, 3 hours 32 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1210 PM MST Mon Jul 13 2026

.SYNOPSIS...There will be thunderstorm chances each afternoon and
evening through the coming week with day to day variability in
location and severity. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to
develop this afternoon over areas of Southeast Arizona generally
along a line from Douglas to Tucson. Any thunderstorm today may
produce heavy rainfall and strong wind gusts. High temperatures
will be near normal to just below normal through mid week with
some further cooling possible by the end of the week.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and
  evening, with the bulk of the activity extending along a line
  from Douglas to Tucson.

- The primary concern with the storms today will be the
  potential for heavy rainfall. The secondary concern will be
  strong thunderstorm outflow winds to 45 mph with areas of
  blowing dust across SE Pinal and the northern portions of the
  Tohono O'odham Nation.

- Thunderstorm chances will continue daily through the week with
  day to day variability in location and severity.

- High temperatures are forecast to be near normal to just below
  normal through mid-week, with the potential for further
  cooling by the end of the work week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...The upper pattern is defined by a strong ridge of
high pressure extending from the Four Corners/ Rockies region
up into the Northern Plains. The southern periphery of this
feature will slightly re-orient itself today, resulting in a
weak deformation axis aloft extending from Douglas to Tucson.
This is where we can expect to see the best coverage of storms
this afternoon as the mid-level storm motions will be toward the
northwest along the deformation axis aloft. The GOES
Precipitable water imagery indicated deep moisture across our
neck of the woods, with values between 1.30-1.50 east of a line
from Nogales to Safford, around 1.50 inches near the Tucson
Metro and 1.75 to 2.00 across western Pima county. Given this
moisture and the potential for training storms moving along the
same axis, the primary concern for the storms today will be the
potential for heavy rainfall. The 13/12Z HREF agrees with this
assessment, with a 30-50% probability this afternoon for more
than an inch of rainfall (3-hour within 40 km of a given
location) extending from Douglas to the Tucson Metro Area.
Although we may see some mid-level dry air to our east get
entrained into some of the storms increasing the potential for
strong outflows, given the lack of modest mid-level shear like
we have seen the past few days, I don't think we will see
clustering of storms and the potential for organized outflows
is generally lower. Dont get me wrong, I do think we will see
strong outflows to 40-45 mph today resulting in areas of blowing
dust NW of Tucson in southeast Pinal and the northern Tohono
O'odham Nation). This too is supported by the 13/12Z HREF with a
70-90% probability of wind gusts from storms of 30+ kts.

Otherwise, an upper trough over the southeastern states today
will make its way west around the southern periphery of the
massive upper ridge expanding across the Upper Midwest into the
Mid Atlantic states. This will bring this feature into our neck
of the woods as inverted trough/easterly wave as early as
Wednesday but more likely Thursday and Friday. This 'rim-shot'
pattern will result in decent dynamics/deformation aloft thus
increasing the severe and flash flood potential. So, this is
like that roadway sign you see on a winding mountain road
informing you of 'dangerous curves ahead'. In this case, it
should read, 'active and strong storms ahead'.

&&

.AVIATION... Valid through 15/00Z. FEW-SCT 8-10k ft thru 13/20Z,
then SCT-BKN 7-10k ft AGL BKN 12-15k ft AGL with scattered -TSRA
/-SHRA through 14/03Z...then SCT-BKN 12-15k ft AGL overnight.
Cloud and storm re-development after 14/20Z Tuesday afternoon
Heavy rainfall, mountain obscurations, and erratic strong wind
gusts 35-40 kts possible with any thunderstorm. Outside of
thunderstorms winds mainly light and terrain driven, expect for
the Gila River Valley where 10-14 kt southeast winds and gusts
to 22 kts are expected thru 14/02Z this evening. Aviation
discussion not updated for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER... Daily chances for thunderstorms will continue
each afternoon and evening through the coming week with day to
day variability. Minimum relative humidity 25-30 percent in the
lower desert locations and above 40 percent in the mountains
this week. Wind today mainly light and terrain driven, with the
exception of the Gila River Valley with southeast winds 12-16
mph with gusts to 25 mph. Gusty and erratic wind gusts to 45 mph
will be possible near thunderstorms, especially from Tucson to
the northwest across southeast Pinal and north-central and
northeast Pima county. Winds this week will remain mainly under
15 mph, though strong and erratic winds will be possible with
any thunderstorm.

&&

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

&&

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In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 13, 3:31 PM MST, 11 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
331 PM MST Mon Jul 13 2026

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

0130 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     22 E Tombstone          31.67N 109.68W
07/12/2026                   Cochise            AZ   Emergency Mngr

            Delayed report. Winds ripped off half of a
            metal roof from a manufactured home in El
            Frida. Report relayed from Emergency
            Manager. Time estimated by radar.

&&

CLP

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 12, 5:08 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima52 min
Jul 12, 5:11 PM MSTDust Storm WarningTWCPima, Pinal79 min
Jul 12, 5:11 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima, Pinal49 min
Jul 12, 5:20 PM MSTDust Storm WarningTWCPima85 min
Jul 12, 5:23 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr
Jul 12, 5:41 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr
Jul 12, 5:47 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima, Pinal43 min
Jul 12, 6:01 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr
Jul 12, 6:18 PM MSTDust Storm WarningTWCPima, Pinal57 min
Jul 12, 6:24 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCSanta Cruz74 min
Jul 12, 6:28 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima, Pinal45 min
Jul 12, 6:50 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima2 hr
Jul 12, 7:22 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima2 hr
Jul 12, 7:38 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima, Pinal3 hr
Jul 12, 8:29 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima, Pinal6 hr
Jul 12, 11:40 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise3 hr
Jul 13, 12:01 AM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise36 min
Jul 13, 1:55 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise2 hr
Jul 13, 3:51 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr
Jul 13, 4:47 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPinal43 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.