Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 43, NWS Tucson, AZ

July 16, 2026Cochise County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 16, 2026, 3:30 PM MST for Cochise County, Arizona. It was in force for 4 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
Jul 16, 2026, 3:30 PM MST (22:30 UTC)
Expired
Jul 16, 2026, 7:30 PM MST
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Flood severity
None

County Cochise County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 135 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:29 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 16, 4:45 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD42 Ese Willcox, AZSouth Turkey Creek Rd and Paradise-Portal Rd is Flooding. South Turkey Creek is bank to bank with 3 feet of water in it and flooding most of Turkey Creek Rd. Forest 42B Rd and Portal Paradise Rd has flash flooding along the road.

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 75 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, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 305 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 2026-07-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 33 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 2026-07-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 22 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
33 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-256 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2003 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
8 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
22 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
84 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

072 
WGUS55 KTWC 162230
FFWTWC
AZC003-170130-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0043.260716T2230Z-260717T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
330 PM MST Thu Jul 16 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

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

* Until 630 PM MST.

* At 330 PM MST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated
  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between
  1.5 and 2.5 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...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
           flash flooding.

  SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

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

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Portal and Paradise.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Cave Creek, Silver Creek, Keating Creek, Onion Creek, East
  Whitetail Creek, East Turkey Creek, Turkey Creek, San Simon River,
  South Fork Keating Creek and Pinery Creek.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3191 10934 3209 10923 3211 10913 3209 10905
      3193 10909 3183 10920 3190 10925

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

$$

KJS
4 follow-up statements
868 
WGUS75 KTWC 162243
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
343 PM MST Thu Jul 16 2026

AZC003-170130-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0043.000000T0000Z-260717T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-
343 PM MST Thu Jul 16 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM MST THIS
EVENING FOR EAST CENTRAL COCHISE COUNTY...

At 343 PM MST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated
thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2
and 3 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...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
         flash flooding.

SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

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

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Portal and Paradise.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Cave Creek, Silver Creek, Keating Creek, Onion Creek, East
  Whitetail Creek, East Turkey Creek, Turkey Creek, San Simon River,
  South Fork Keating Creek and Pinery Creek.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where
you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become
killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or
creeks.

&&

LAT...LON 3191 10934 3209 10923 3211 10913 3209 10905
      3193 10909 3183 10920 3190 10925

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

$$

KJS
870 
WGUS75 KTWC 162354
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
454 PM MST Thu Jul 16 2026

AZC003-170130-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0043.000000T0000Z-260717T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-
454 PM MST Thu Jul 16 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM MST THIS
EVENING FOR EAST CENTRAL COCHISE COUNTY...

At 454 PM MST, trained weather spotters reported thunderstorms
producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 inches
of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are
possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is already occurring.
South Turkey Creek, Forest Road 42B, and Paradise Road are flooded.
East Turkey Creek is bankfull.

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

SOURCE...Trained spotters reported.

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

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Portal and Paradise.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Cave Creek, Silver Creek, Keating Creek, Onion Creek, East
  Whitetail Creek, East Turkey Creek, Turkey Creek, San Simon River,
  South Fork Keating Creek and Pinery Creek.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where
you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become
killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or
creeks.

&&

LAT...LON 3191 10934 3209 10923 3211 10913 3209 10905
      3193 10909 3183 10920 3190 10925

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

KJS
779 
WGUS55 KTWC 170051
FFWTWC
AZC003-170230-
/O.EXT.KTWC.FF.W.0043.000000T0000Z-260717T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
551 PM MST Thu Jul 16 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has extended the

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

* Until 730 PM MST.

* At 551 PM MST, trained weather spotters reported thunderstorms
  producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 inches
  of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.1 to 0.2 inch
  are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is already
  occurring. South Turkey Creek, Forest Road 42B, and Paradise Road
  are flooded. East Turkey Creek is bankfull.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Trained spotters reported.

  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...
  Portal and Paradise.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Cave Creek, Silver Creek, Keating Creek, Onion Creek, East
  Whitetail Creek, East Turkey Creek, Turkey Creek, San Simon River,
  South Fork Keating Creek and Pinery Creek.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where
you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become
killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or
creeks.

&&

LAT...LON 3191 10934 3209 10923 3211 10913 3209 10905
      3193 10909 3183 10920 3190 10925

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED

$$

KJS
175 
WGUS75 KTWC 170224
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
724 PM MST Thu Jul 16 2026

AZC003-170234-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0043.000000T0000Z-260717T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-
724 PM MST Thu Jul 16 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 730 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
EAST CENTRAL COCHISE COUNTY...

Flood waters have started to recede and continue to lower for the
next hour. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 900 PM MST for a portion of
Southeast Arizona.

&&

LAT...LON 3191 10934 3209 10923 3211 10913 3209 10905
      3193 10909 3183 10920 3190 10925

$$

KJS

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 16, 2:33 PM MST, 57 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 16, 2:33 PM MST, 57 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
233 PM MST Thu Jul 16 2026

.SYNOPSIS...Showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and
evening across southeast Arizona with an increased risk of
flash flooding. Gusty winds and blowing dust will also be
possible with any thunderstorm. Chances for thunderstorms will
continue through the coming week with day to day variability in
location and severity.

&&

.DISCUSSION...My concern when hoisting a flash flood watch 24
hours in advance during the monsoon is what happens the day
before and will there be considerable debris clouds starting the
morning to mess with the flash flood day forecast. Well that
happened this morning, an OH NO moment, with a considerable
cloud deck and very light showers/virga across the area. This
cloud deck has been slowly eroding this afternoon with storms
developing rather quick in the cloud breaks in a rather moist
and unstable atmosphere. The upper air pattern today is rather
chaotic today with upper low over wrn TX and an upper high
centered over NW AZ bringing a northerly diffluent flow aloft
across the area. In addition, there is an MCV west of Organ Pipe
Ntl Mon that is developing storms in western Pima county.

PWATs across the area ranged from 1.3" near AZ/NM border to
almost 2" over wrn AZ. The unstable atmosphere combined with the
above normal moisture will bring an increased flash flooding
threat to most of the area. Hourly rainfall rates from some of
the strongest storms could exceed 2"/hour so some of the flash
flooding could be considerable on a localized basis. Flash Flood
Watch continues for Graham/Cochise counties thru 9 pm, and for
Pinal, Pima and Santa Cruz counties until 12 am Friday. The
threat for severe storms is limited with isolated gusts up to 55
mph possible.

Activity diminishing overnight with likely considerable cloud
cover around Friday morning. Likely to have another slow start
to the convection, with CAMs hitting the Intl border with heavy
rain.

Thunderstorm chances continue daily this weekend and into next
week with day to day variability. Ensemble models show the
upper level ridge becoming centered again over or near the Four
Corners region next week keeping an active monsoon pattern
across the area.

High temperatures over the next 7 days will remain below normal.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid through 18/00Z
Showers and thunderstorms will continue 17/07Z before slowly
diminishing thru 17/13z. Heavy rain, mountain obscurations, and
erratic strong wind gusts of 35-45 kts possible with any storm,
with ceilings mainly 9k-12k feet. Outside of thunderstorms,
surface winds generally under 10 kts. Chance of -SHRA/TS
developing aft 17/19z. 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. 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...
Heavy rains through tonight may lead to significant rises in
washes, creeks and rivers, especially from western Cochise
county west through Santa Cruz and into central Pima county.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
 Flood Watch until 9 PM MST this evening for AZZ507>509-511>513.
 Flood Watch through late tonight for AZZ502>506-514-515.

&&

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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 15, 5:40 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPinal3 hr
Jul 15, 5:48 PM MSTDust Storm AdvisoryTWCPima, Pinal69 min
Jul 15, 5:53 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr
Jul 15, 6:02 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima3 hr
Jul 15, 6:21 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatTWCPima3 hr
Jul 15, 6:57 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr
Jul 15, 6:59 PM MSTDust Storm WarningTWCPima, Pinal61 min
Jul 15, 9:18 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima3 hr
Jul 16, 1:51 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise4 hr
Jul 16, 2:02 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise5 hr
Jul 16, 2:18 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCSanta Cruz3 hr
Jul 16, 2:42 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise3 hr
Jul 16, 2:51 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCSanta Cruz3 hr
Jul 16, 3:05 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise, Santa Cruz3 hr
Jul 16, 3:57 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCSanta Cruz3 hr
Jul 16, 4:02 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise3 hr
Jul 16, 4:13 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise3 hr
Jul 16, 4:55 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr

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.