Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 32, NWS Tucson, AZ

July 15, 2026Pinal County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 15, 2026, 4:49 PM MST for Pinal 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
Jul 15, 2026, 4:49 PM MST (23:49 UTC)
Expired
Jul 15, 2026, 7:45 PM MST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Pinal County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 87 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:53 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, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 138 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 2026-07-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 136 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 2026-07-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 45 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
136 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-201 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2281 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
45 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
65 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

859 
WGUS55 KTWC 152349
FFWTWC
AZC021-160245-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0032.260715T2349Z-260716T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
449 PM MST Wed Jul 15 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

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

* Until 745 PM MST.

* At 449 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 0.5 and 1.5 inches of
  rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch 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...
  Oracle, Saddlebrooke, Saddlebrooke Ranch and Biosphere 2.

This includes Route 77 between mile markers 94 and 109.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 3265 11064 3268 11069 3281 11092 3278 11102
      3270 11096 3252 11087 3257 11077 3261 11074

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

JRM
2 follow-up statements
706 
WGUS75 KTWC 160125
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
625 PM MST Wed Jul 15 2026

AZC021-160245-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0032.000000T0000Z-260716T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pinal AZ-
625 PM MST Wed Jul 15 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM MST THIS
EVENING FOR SOUTHEASTERN PINAL COUNTY...

At 625 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated another round of thunderstorms
producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2 inches
of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are
possible in the warned area from the next round of storms. 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...
  Oracle, Saddlebrooke, Saddlebrooke Ranch and Biosphere 2.

This includes Route 77 between mile markers 94 and 109.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 3265 11064 3268 11069 3281 11092 3278 11102
      3270 11096 3252 11087 3257 11077 3261 11074

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

JRM
530 
WGUS75 KTWC 160239
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
739 PM MST Wed Jul 15 2026

AZC021-160249-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0032.000000T0000Z-260716T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pinal AZ-
739 PM MST Wed Jul 15 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 745 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
SOUTHEASTERN PINAL COUNTY...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures. Lingering
showers may bring 0.25 to 0.5 inches of rain over the next few hours.

&&

LAT...LON 3265 11064 3268 11069 3281 11092 3278 11102
      3270 11096 3252 11087 3257 11077 3261 11074

$$

KM

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 15, 3:00 PM MST, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 15, 3:00 PM MST, 1 hour 49 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
300 PM MST Wed Jul 15 2026

.SYNOPSIS...Scattered thunderstorms this evening with heavy rain
and strong gusty winds possible near any thunderstorm. More
widespread chances for showers and thunderstorms are forecast on
Thursday and potentially Friday with an increased risk of flash
flooding. High temperatures will be below normal for the next 7
days.

&&

.DISCUSSION...A very active monsoon pattern will continue for
the foreseeable future. Rather chaotic upper air pattern via
water vapor imagery which shows an upper low over srn Baja, an
upper low over cntrl TX, large expansive upper ridge that
extends from ern CONUS west to the interior west with a high
centered near Salt Lake City. And in the tropics, there is TS
Elida, which was located 570 miles SSW off the srn tip of Baja
per the latest NHC advisory.

We have NE flow over the area today between the upper high near
Salt Lake City and the cntrl TX upper low. Ample moisture is in
place for scattered showers and thunderstorms as they propagate
NE-SW. Main threats will be strong gusty outflow winds, some of
which may briefly be severe, localized heavy rain and flash
flooding.

Thursday: Flash flooding concerns will be heightened thanks to
additional moisture advection into the area with PWATs ranging
from 1.25" far east to over 2" west of Tucson and sufficient
dynamics over the area. Thunderstorms developing over the
mountains will propagate to the SW under NE flow aloft. Outflow
interactions will continue to develop strong wet microbursts
from Tucson west late Thursday afternoon into Thursday night.
Localized rainfall rates up to 2"/hr are possible with some of
the very wet storms leading to flash flooding. From WPC,
HREF/REFS guidance had low end chances, (10-30%), of rainfall
totals exceeding 5", especially west of Tucson. With that said,
and in coordination with WPC, added a rare Moderate Risk (MDT,
at least 40%) in the Excessive Rainfall Outlook (ERO) for
excessive rainfall within 25 miles of a point, for SW Cochise
county, all of Santa Cruz county, ern Pima county (mainly S of
Tucson at this time) and central Pima county. A Flash Flood
watch was issued for most of the area Thursday afternoon into
early Friday morning. We may see some interesting average
recurrence intervals (ARI) on Thursday. Of note: the last time
SE AZ had an area MDT ERO was on Sept 21, 2022.

Friday has the potential to be another active day but confidence
is low due to what happens on Thursday. Could end up with an MCV
moving thru which will diminish chances.

Wet monsoon pattern continues this weekend into the first half
of next week with daily chance of showers and thunderstorms.

High temperatures will run below normal for the next 7 days.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid through 17/00Z.
Widely SCTD -SHRA/-TS thru 16/04z then SCTD -SHRA/TS aft 16/19z.
Ceilings mostly 9k-12k ft. Hvy rain, mtn OBSCN and erratic
strong wind gusts of 35-45 kts psbl with any TS. Outside of TS,
SFC winds generally under 10 kts. Aviation discussion not updated
for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Daily chances for thunderstorms will continue
each afternoon and evening through the next 7 days with day to
day variability. More widespread chances for showers and
thunderstorms are likely Thursday and potentially Friday.
Minimum relative humidity 25-30 percent in the lower desert
locations and above 40 percent in the mountains this week. Winds
this week will remain mainly light and under 15 mph, though
strong and erratic winds will be possible with any thunderstorm.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...The heavy rains on Thursday may lead to some
significant rises in washes, creeks and rivers, especially from
western Cochise county west into central Pima county.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
 Flood Watch from Thursday afternoon through late Thursday
  night for AZZ502>506-514-515.
 Flood Watch from Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening
  for AZZ507>509-511>513.

&&

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

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 15, 3:52 PM MST, 57 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
352 PM MST Wed Jul 15 2026

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

0122 PM     Flash Flood      Rio Rico                31.48N 110.98W
07/15/2026                   Santa Cruz         AZ   Trained Spotter

            Video of washed out roadway with rocks and
            small boulders due to flash flooding on
            roadway.

&&

JVT
Local storm report, Jul 15, 3:58 PM MST, 51 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
358 PM MST Wed Jul 15 2026

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

1250 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 SW Rio Rico           31.44N 111.00W
07/15/2026  M55 MPH          Santa Cruz         AZ   Trained Spotter

            Recorded wind gust on personal weather
            station. Rainfall of 1.01 inches in 20
            minutes.

&&

JVT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 14, 5:35 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise, Graham40 min
Jul 14, 5:54 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise, Graham2 hr
Jul 14, 6:09 PM MSTDust Storm AdvisoryTWCCochise81 min
Jul 15, 10:44 AM MSTFlood WatchTWCCochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz34 hr
Jul 15, 12:29 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCSanta Cruz46 min
Jul 15, 1:03 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCSanta Cruz42 min
Jul 15, 1:26 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCSanta Cruz3 hr
Jul 15, 3:40 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCGraham50 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.