Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 67, NWS Tucson, AZ
NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 20, 2026, 6:18 PM MST for Cochise 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 20, 2026, 6:18 PM MST (01:18 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 20, 2026, 9:15 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), 43 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:19 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 20, 6:39 PM MST | FLASH FLOOD | 8 E Sierra Vista, AZ | Moson Rd between Charleston Rd and Highway 90 is closed due to flooding. |
| Jul 20, 7:00 PM MST | FLASH FLOOD | 2 E Sierra Vista, AZ | Palo Verde Wash where it crosses Catalina Dr in Sierra Vista flooded with 2 feet of flowing water across 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 2 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 21 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 00:00Z, 1.3 hours before the alert went out and 253 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
- 107 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -200 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2659 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 23 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 2 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 86 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.0
The text
As transmitted.
940
WGUS55 KTWC 210118
FFWTWC
AZC003-210415-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0067.260721T0118Z-260721T0415Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
618 PM MST Mon Jul 20 2026
The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Southwestern Cochise County in southeastern Arizona...
* Until 915 PM MST.
* At 618 PM MST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges 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 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...
Sierra Vista, Whetstone, Huachuca City and Fort Huachuca.
This includes the following highways...
Route 90 between mile markers 305 and 326. Route 92 between mile
markers 322 and 324. Route 82 between mile markers 47 and 60.
This includes the following streams and drainages...
Slaughter House Wash, Babocomari River and San Pedro River.
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 3175 11022 3155 11016 3146 11035 3175 11045
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
$$
KJS2 follow-up statements
783
WGUS75 KTWC 210153
FFSTWC
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
653 PM MST Mon Jul 20 2026
AZC003-210415-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0067.000000T0000Z-260721T0415Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-
653 PM MST Mon Jul 20 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM MST THIS
EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN COCHISE COUNTY...
At 653 PM MST, local law enforcement reported thunderstorms producing
heavy rain. Between 0.5 and 1.8 inches of rain have fallen.
Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are possible in the
warned area. Flash flooding is already occurring. Moson Road between
Charleston Road and HWY 90 is closed.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Law enforcement reported.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Sierra Vista, Whetstone, Huachuca City and Fort Huachuca.
This includes the following highways...
Route 90 between mile markers 305 and 326. Route 92 between mile
markers 322 and 324. Route 82 between mile markers 47 and 60.
This includes the following streams and drainages...
Slaughter House Wash, Babocomari River and San Pedro River.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain.
Washes, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.
&&
LAT...LON 3175 11022 3155 11016 3146 11035 3175 11045
FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
$$
KJS758 WGUS75 KTWC 210413 FFSTWC Flash Flood Statement National Weather Service Tucson AZ 913 PM MST Mon Jul 20 2026 AZC003-210423- /O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0067.000000T0000Z-260721T0415Z/ /00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/ Cochise AZ- 913 PM MST Mon Jul 20 2026 ...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 915 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN COCHISE COUNTY... The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Washes and streams will be elevated and continue to flow through the rest of the night. Please continue to heed remaining road closures. A Flood Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM MST Tuesday for a portion of Southeast Arizona. && LAT...LON 3175 11022 3155 11016 3146 11035 3175 11045 $$ 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 20, 1:12 PM MST, 5 hours 6 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 20, 1:12 PM MST, 5 hours 6 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 112 PM MST Mon Jul 20 2026 .SYNOPSIS... The combination of ample moisture across Southeast Arizona and an upper-level disturbance moving into the area from New Mexico today will result in widespread showers and thunderstorms, especially to the east and south of Tucson. These storms will be capable of producing heavy rainfall. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for Graham, Greenlee, Cochise and Santa Cruz counties this through Tuesday evening. Otherwise, daytime temperatures will remain below average by several degrees into midweek increasing to above normal late this week into the weekend. && .DISCUSSION... Biggest change from this morning is extending the Flash Flood Watch through tomorrow evening for Graham, Greenlee, Cochise, and Santa Cruz Counties. The main threat will be very heavy rainfall and flash flooding, with gusty winds a secondary threat. There could be a localized gust to 50 kts as convection moves off the terrain, but 30-40kts are more likely. A deeper dive into the flash flood setup shows abundant moisture and a susceptible area. Widespread 0.5"+ with localized amounts of 2"+ fell across a good chunk of far SEAZ, especially Cochise County yesterday. This area will be the most vulnerable. In addition, CAMs show weakly organized clusters/single cell with the potential for cell mergers and at least some training/backbuilding as flow remains relatively weak. The best chance for training or backbuilding will be across Cochise and Santa Cruz Counties this evening. As the mid/upper level low noses into SEAZ from NM/MX, convection could go well into the evening and perhaps into the overnight. Confidence is low at this time regarding the overnight, but there is at least some signal in the HREF of higher rainfall totals across central Pima County. In addition, at least some higher res solutions now show additional convective development early morning across areas from Tucson south to Nogales and west toward Sells. There still is not enough confidence to expand the Flash Flood Watch west into eastern/central Pima County, but its is not out of the question we have a flash flood warning or two this evening or even tomorrow morning. As for the Tucson Metro, confidence is again low on the evolution and propagation of storms off the rim this evening/overnight. We will likely have storms in the metro, but once again favoring the Catalina Foothills, Oracle/Catalina, the far east side, and south into the Corona De Tucson. We cannot rule out localized flash flooding, but probabilities are rather low. The more likely scenario is seeing light to moderate rain showers with embedded storms late evening into overnight/early morning hours as the mid/upper level low begins to provide more lift and elevated instability to the area. Moving into Tuesday still remains a little tricky given how active today will be and how convection lingers into tomorrow morning, but enough CAMS, HREF probs of 3"+ amounts, and the mid/upper level low moving across the CWA is more than enough to bump up confidence. So the watch for tomorrow looks good, with uncertainty remaining for areas along the watch in Pinal/Pima County. As we move into Wed/Thu/Fri, there should be a noticeable downtrend in daily showers/storms. While it will trend drier, there will still be daily convection, most likely favoring the typical areas south and east of Tucson. The flash flood threat will also lessen and allow for soils to recover as we heat up. While the flash flood threat trends down, the threat for gusty winds will increase with better mid and upper level flow/drier air. Monsoon activity looks to ramp back up for the weekend as the high moves into a more favorable region and multiple waves look to track across the area. Daytime temps below average early this week, transitioning to above average by midweek. Spotty major heat risk is possible for portions of Pima County, generally around the metro and across the western third of the county. In addition, the upper Gila River Valley has some spotty major heat risk. As of now, confidence is not high enough for an Extreme Heat Watch, due to the limited coverage and possibility of monsoon activity/clouds lowering aftn temps. We will monitor for now and message an overall upward trend in temps and heat risk by mid week. && .AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/... FEW/SCT cloud decks AOA 8-11k ft agl this afternoon, becoming BKN/OVC as coverage of SHRA/TSRA expands through the evening. KOLS/KDUG has the best chance to see TS with brief MVFR possible under heavy +TSRA. Sfc winds generally less than 12kts, except for around storms where VRB gusts to 40kts will be possible. -TSRA/-SHRA continues into the evening and perhaps overnight with BKN/OVC decks lowering, but VFR will prevail. && .FIRE WEATHER... Daily chances for thunderstorms will continue each afternoon and evening through the next 7 days with day to day variability. Widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected east and south of Tucson today, and again Tuesday. These storms will be capable of producing heavy rainfall with the potential for flash flooding. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect today/tomorrow for the eastern portions of Southeast Arizona. Min RH 25-30% in the lower desert locations and above 40% in the mountains through mid-week. By Thursday into the weekend, RH could dip into the 17-22% range for the lower deserts west of Tucson and the upper Gila River Valley as temperatures warm to above average. 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... Flood Watch through Tuesday evening for AZZ503-507>513. && Visit us on Facebook, X, YouTube, and at weather.gov/Tucson
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 20, 3:19 PM MST, 2 hours 59 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
319 PM MST Mon Jul 20 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0235 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 10 S Clifton 32.88N 109.31W
07/20/2026 M54 MPH Greenlee AZ Mesonet
Mesonet station QGTA3 Guthrie gusted to 54
mph. Time estimated by radar.
&&
JVTThe office that day
Everything else NWS Tucson, AZ issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 20, 5:09 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Jul 20, 5:38 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Jul 20, 5:53 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Jul 20, 6:21 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Jul 20, 7:21 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise, Santa Cruz | 3 hr |
| Jul 20, 8:02 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Jul 20, 9:05 PM MST | Dust Storm Advisory | TWC | Pima, Pinal | 55 min |
| Jul 20, 9:11 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Jul 20, 9:39 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Pima | 2 hr |
| Jul 20, 10:12 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Santa Cruz | 3 hr |
| Jul 21, 10:47 AM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
| Jul 21, 2:03 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TWC | Cochise | 42 min |
| Jul 21, 2:11 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TWC | Pinal | 49 min |
| Jul 21, 2:14 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Graham, Pinal | 3 hr |
| Jul 21, 2:25 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise, Pima | 3 hr |
| Jul 21, 2:52 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TWC | Pima | 38 min |
| Jul 21, 3:02 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise, Pima | 3 hr |
| Jul 21, 3:26 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Cochise, Pima, Pinal | 3 hr |
| Jul 21, 3:27 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TWC | Santa Cruz | 48 min |
| Jul 21, 3:32 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Santa Cruz | 3 hr |
| Jul 21, 3:53 PM MST | Flash Flood Warning | TWC | Cochise | 111 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.