Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 55, NWS Tucson, AZ
NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 17, 2026, 1:51 PM MST for Pima County, Arizona. It was in force for 2 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 17, 2026, 1:51 PM MST (20:51 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 17, 2026, 4:15 PM MST
- In force
- 2 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Tucson, AZ
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
County Pima County, AZ
The radar
The Tucson radar (KEMX), 29 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:50 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, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 199 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
- 57 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -106 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1188 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 9 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 22 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 59 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
097
WGUS55 KTWC 172051
FFWTWC
AZC019-172315-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0055.260717T2051Z-260717T2315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
151 PM MST Fri Jul 17 2026
The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
East Central Pima County in southeastern Arizona...
* Until 415 PM MST.
* At 151 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area, especially around Green Valley.
Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain have fallen in portions of Green
Valley. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 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...
Sahuarita, Green Valley, Corona De Tucson and East Sahuarita.
This includes Interstate 19 between mile markers 33 and 47.
This includes the following Flash Flood Prone Locations...
Sahuarita Rd west of Wilmot Rd.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
&&
LAT...LON 3199 11094 3188 11116 3176 11107 3175 11100
3176 11090 3183 11078 3192 11077 3197 11082
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
GEL2 follow-up statements
934
WGUS75 KTWC 172147
FFSTWC
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
247 PM MST Fri Jul 17 2026
AZC019-172315-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0055.000000T0000Z-260717T2315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-
247 PM MST Fri Jul 17 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR EAST CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY...
At 247 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have
fallen between Green Valley and Corona De Tucson Flooding impacts
will continue, but limited additional rainfall is expected. Flash
flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Sahuarita, Green Valley, Corona De Tucson and East Sahuarita.
This includes Interstate 19 between mile markers 33 and 47.
This includes the following Flash Flood Prone Locations...
Sahuarita Rd west of Wilmot Rd.
This includes the following streams and drainages...
Box Canyon Wash, Santa Cruz River and Demetrie Wash.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
&&
LAT...LON 3199 11094 3188 11116 3176 11107 3175 11100
3176 11090 3183 11078 3192 11077 3197 11082
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
GEL438
WGUS75 KTWC 172315
FFSTWC
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
415 PM MST Fri Jul 17 2026
AZC019-172325-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0055.000000T0000Z-260717T2315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-
415 PM MST Fri Jul 17 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS EXPIRED 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 3199 11094 3188 11116 3176 11107 3175 11100
3176 11090 3183 11078 3192 11077 3197 11082
$$
GELWhat 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 17, 9:30 AM MST, 4 hours 21 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 17, 9:30 AM MST, 4 hours 21 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...correction to update section National Weather Service Tucson AZ 930 AM MST Fri Jul 17 2026 .UPDATE...Considerable cloud cover exits across southeast Arizona this morning with a persistent area of light to moderate showers across the northern part of the Tohono O'odham nation where up to a inch of rain has fallen in the past 3 hours. Ended up issuing a small stream advisory for that area for a couple hours with washes likely running. Updated the remainder of the morning forecast to remove the mention of thunderstorms this morning and reduce PoPs across the rest of the area. A relatively down day is expected this afternoon and evening versus yesterday. However there is weak diffluent flow at 300 mb and with a moist atmosphere in place, the threat of localized heavy rain and flash flooding still exits with any thunderstorm that develops, especially for areas that were hit pretty good yesterday. A quick look at visible imagery also showed that a weak MCV was developing near Douglas. && .SYNOPSIS... Scattered showers and thunderstorms will again impact Southeast Arizona this afternoon and this evening with an elevated risk of flash flooding, especially across those areas that received heavy rainfall Thursday. Otherwise, chances for thunderstorms will continue through the coming week with day to day variability in location and severity. && .DISCUSSION... The upper pattern this morning is defined by an upper-low positioned over the SE corner of New Mexico with an elongated upper ridge of high pressure at 300 mb across NW Arizona into Utah and a bit farther north into WY at 500 mb. Yesterday was quite an active day across Southeast Arizona as the precipitable water values were moist enough to be in the 90-95 percentile of climatology. What made it active was the modest diffluence initially at 300 mb across Cochise county given the proximity of the upper-low to our east, followed up by a stretching divergence across Santa Cruz into eastern Pima county as the 300 mb high moved north during the late afternoon into the evening. The movement of the upper high has assisted in the MCS that has developed across central Arizona early this morning. Past experience has taught me that usually after a big 'active' day, the atmosphere struggles the following day because it has been worked over and it is hard to reload. The moisture profile will look similar today than yesterday, but what is missing is any form of modest lift via deformation aloft for more widespread heavy rainfall. However, given the deep moisture in place, it wont take much for showers and thunderstorms to develop and that can be problematic on saturated soils from those locations that received heavy rainfall Thursday. This though is supported by the 17/00Z HREF probability between 30-50% across ern Pima/Santa Cruz/SW Cochise for a 3-hour rainfall in excess of an inch within 25 miles of a point tomorrow afternoon...far less than the probabilities we saw Thursday. So expect scattered showers and thunderstorms today across Southeast Arizona, with the primary threat from the storms being heavy rainfall...which could lead to isolated flash flooding problems in areas that received a lot of heavy rainfall yesterday. The upper-low to the east remains quasi-stationary into the weekend with a more favorable easterly flow developing as the upper-ridge consolidated farther north. with the upper-low eventually moving across Southeast Arizona along the southern periphery Tuesday. The Monsoon season rolls-on with a ramp-up in storms this weekend, but especially Tuesday of next week. && .AVIATION /16Z FRIDAY THROUGH 16Z SATURDAY/... Valid through 18/12Z. SCT-BKN 11-15k ft AGL thru 17/19Z, then SCT-BKN 7-10k ft AGL BKN-OVC 12-15k ft AGL with scattered showers and thunderstorms with 3-5SM in heavy rain, mountain obscurations, and erratic strong wind gusts of 30-40 kts possible with any storm. Outside of thunderstorms, surface 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. 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. && && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && Visit us on Facebook, X, YouTube, and at weather.gov/Tucson
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 17, 9:29 AM MST, 4 hours 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
929 AM MST Fri Jul 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0513 PM Flash Flood 1 SW Rio Rico 31.47N 110.99W
07/16/2026 Santa Cruz AZ County Official
*** 2 FATAL ***
[Delayed report]: 2 deceased individuals
reported in the Santa Cruz River. Recovery
ongoing.
&&
KLMLocal storm report, Jul 17, 10:00 AM MST, 3 hours 51 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1000 AM MST Fri Jul 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 AM Flood 4 S Santa Rosa 32.28N 112.06W
07/17/2026 Pima AZ Emergency Mngr
Washes running on Route 15.
&&
KLMLocal storm report, Jul 17, 10:16 AM MST, 3 hours 35 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1016 AM MST Fri Jul 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0535 PM Flash Flood 14 NW Sells 32.03N 112.07W
07/16/2026 Pima AZ Emergency Mngr
[Delayed report] Several washes running
across HWY 86 between mile marker 99-106.
&&
KLMLocal storm report, Jul 17, 10:50 AM MST, 3 hours 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1050 AM MST Fri Jul 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0630 PM Flash Flood 6 ENE Tombstone 31.74N 109.96W
07/16/2026 Cochise AZ Fire Dept/Rescue
[Delayed report] Wash flowing across Gleeson
Rd.
0630 PM Flash Flood 2 WSW Tombstone 31.71N 110.08W
07/16/2026 Cochise AZ Fire Dept/Rescue
[Delayed report] Wash flowing across
Charleston Rd.
&&Local storm report, Jul 17, 11:28 AM MST, 2 hours 23 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1128 AM MST Fri Jul 17 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM Flash Flood 11 W Huachuca City 31.66N 110.53W
07/16/2026 Santa Cruz AZ Trained Spotter
[Delayed report] 4 to 6 inches of water
flowing across roadway near Rochelle and
Lower Elgin Rd.
&&
KLMThe office that day
Everything else NWS Tucson, AZ issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 5:01 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Jul 16, 5:12 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Santa Cruz | 3 hr |
| Jul 16, 5:23 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Pima | 3 hr |
| Jul 16, 5:33 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Graham | 3 hr |
| Jul 16, 5:33 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Pima | 3 hr |
| Jul 16, 6:26 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Pima | 114 min |
| Jul 16, 6:31 PM MST | Dust Storm Advisory | TWC | Pinal | 74 min |
| Jul 16, 7:41 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Pima | 3 hr |
| Jul 16, 8:16 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Pima | 4 hr |
| Jul 17, 8:53 AM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Pima | 112 min |
| Jul 17, 2:57 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Jul 17, 3:04 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Pima | 3 hr |
| Jul 17, 3:05 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TWC | Pima | 31 min |
| Jul 17, 4:54 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Pinal | 66 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.