Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 56, NWS Tucson, AZ

July 17, 2026Cochise County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 17, 2026, 2:57 PM MST for Cochise 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 17, 2026, 2:57 PM MST (21:57 UTC)
Expired: Jul 17, 2026, 6:00 PM MST
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Tucson, AZ
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

County Cochise County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 39 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:57 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, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 248 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

283 
WGUS55 KTWC 172157
FFWTWC
AZC003-180100-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0056.260717T2157Z-260718T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
257 PM MST Fri Jul 17 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

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

* Until 600 PM MST.

* At 257 PM MST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated
  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between
  0.7 and 1.2 inches of rain have fallen. 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 and automated gauges.

  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...
  Whetstone.

This includes Route 82 between mile markers 52 and 61.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  San Pedro River, Babocomari River and Walnut Gulch.

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 3171 11035 3164 11033 3168 11021 3172 11019
      3176 11021 3177 11030

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED

$$

KJS

2 follow-up statements

645 
WGUS75 KTWC 172246
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
346 PM MST Fri Jul 17 2026

AZC003-180100-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0056.000000T0000Z-260718T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-
346 PM MST Fri Jul 17 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MST THIS EVENING
FOR WEST CENTRAL COCHISE COUNTY...

At 346 PM MST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated
thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between
0.7 and 1.3 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts
up to 0.5 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is
ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

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...
  Whetstone.

This includes Route 82 between mile markers 52 and 61.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  San Pedro River, Babocomari River and Walnut Gulch.

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 3171 11035 3164 11033 3168 11021 3172 11019
      3176 11021 3177 11030

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED

$$

KJS

340 
WGUS75 KTWC 180052 RRA
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
552 PM MST Fri Jul 17 2026

AZC003-180102-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0056.000000T0000Z-260718T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-
552 PM MST Fri Jul 17 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 6 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR WEST
CENTRAL COCHISE COUNTY...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3171 11035 3164 11033 3168 11021 3172 11019
      3176 11021 3177 11030

$$

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 17, 2:55 PM MST, 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 17, 2:55 PM MST, 2 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
255 PM MST Fri Jul 17 2026

.SYNOPSIS...Scattered showers and thunderstorms into this evening
with an elevated risk of flash flooding, especially across
those areas that received heavy rainfall Thursday. Otherwise,
chances for thunderstorms will continue into this weekend with
possible uptick in activity next Monday and Tuesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Not surprising that thunderstorm activity today
has been much less than what occurred on Thursday. Atmosphere is
a little worked over but is still rather moist that any
thunderstorm will be capable of producing rain rates of >1"/hour
leading to continued threat of localized flash flooding. Very
low end severe threat with max gusts up to 45 mph. Activity will
be diminishing later this evening with some model guidance
indicating an area of showers/storms may develop overnight
between Phoenix & Tucson. The upper low currently over west
Texas will become a player in our forecast next week.

This weekend: Afternoon/evening storm activity mainly east and
south of Tucson.

Monday and Tuesday: Uptick in daily activity as the above
mentioned upper low that is currently over west Texas moves
across the area in a weakened state.

Wednesday and Friday: Daily chance of showers and thunderstorms
continue.

High temperatures will remain below normal thru Tuesday then
warm up to above normal by the end of next week.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid through 19/00Z.
Widely scattered to scattered showers and thunderstorms will
continue 18/07Z before slowly diminishing thru 18/13z. Heavy
rain, mountain obscurations, and erratic strong wind gusts of
30-40 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 18/19z. 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.

&&

.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, 5 hours 28 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.

&&

KLM

Local storm report, Jul 17, 10:00 AM MST, 4 hours 57 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.

&&

KLM

Local storm report, Jul 17, 10:16 AM MST, 4 hours 41 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.

&&

KLM

Local storm report, Jul 17, 10:50 AM MST, 4 hours 7 minutes 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, 3 hours 29 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.

&&

KLM

The 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, 1:51 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	TWC	Pima	2 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, 2026 Every 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.