Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 83, NWS Tucson, AZ

July 27, 2026Cochise County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 27, 2026, 9:57 PM MST for Cochise County, Arizona. It was in force for 3 hr. 5 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 27, 2026, 9:57 PM MST (04:57 UTC)
Expired
Jul 28, 2026, 12:48 AM MST
In force
3 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), 81 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:00 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 27, 10:03 PM MSTRAIN 1.463 N Bisbee, AZRain gauge measured 1.46 inches of rainfall in 30 minutes in Bisbee.
Jul 27, 10:30 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD15 W Bisbee, AZReport of road closed due to flooding along S Kings Ranch Rd between MP8 and MP9.
Jul 27, 11:00 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD11 Wnw Bisbee, AZHereford Rd closed between MP 8-9 due to flooding.
Jul 27, 11:00 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD3 Nnw Bisbee, AZCochise County Sherriff reported flooding in Bisbee at the Main St and Traffic Circle intersection.
Jul 27, 11:15 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD15 Se Sierra Vista, AZS Kings Ranch Rd north of Hwy 92 closed due to flooding.

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 4 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 33 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

Santa Teresa, NM (KEPZ), launched 00:00Z, 5.0 hours before the alert went out and 318 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, Santa Teresa, NM at 00:00Z on 2026-07-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 34 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, Santa Teresa, NM at 00:00Z on 2026-07-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -6 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
34 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-78 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
4010 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
14 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-6 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-30 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

754 
WGUS55 KTWC 280457
FFWTWC
AZC003-280800-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0083.260728T0457Z-260728T0800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
957 PM MST Mon Jul 27 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

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

* Until 100 AM MST.

* At 957 PM MST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated
  thunderstorms producing between 1 and 2 inches of heavy rain. An
  automated rain gage in Bisbee reported 1.34 inches of rain has
  fallen in the last half hour. 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...
  Bisbee, Hereford, Naco and Palominas.

This includes the following highways...
Route 80 between mile markers 338 and 346. Route 92 between mile
markers 337 and 355.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3133 11018 3146 11016 3147 10995 3144 10985
      3133 10975

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

$$

CWR
1 follow-up statement
542 
WGUS75 KTWC 280748
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1248 AM MST Tue Jul 28 2026

AZC003-280758-
/O.CAN.KTWC.FF.W.0083.000000T0000Z-260728T0800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-
1248 AM MST Tue Jul 28 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTH CENTRAL COCHISE
COUNTY...

Flash flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Please
continue to heed remaining road closures.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 500 AM MST for a portion of
Southeast Arizona.

&&

LAT...LON 3133 10975 3144 10985 3147 10995 3146 11016
      3133 11018

$$

CWR

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 27, 12:30 PM MST, 9 hours 27 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 27, 12:30 PM MST, 9 hours 27 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1230 PM MST Mon Jul 27 2026

.SYNOPSIS...

Expect daily afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms
this week with day to day variability in coverage and strength.
High temperatures will be 2-6 degrees above normal through the
middle of this week then warm to 7-12 degrees above normal late
this week into next weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Cumulus and towering cumulus are beginning to form along the
terrain. Suitable moisture is in place with satellite derived
PWATs around 1.0 to 1.75 inches, higher values Sells westward.
High pressure overhead is centered over New Mexico and western
TX today leading to southeast flow in the mid levels helping to
pull moisture in from the Gulf of California. As surface heating
continues today and low level drying occurs, an inverted V
sounding will develop leading to DCAPE values around 1500 to
1700 J/kg. There will be a fair bit of mid-level shear as well,
25 to 35 kts, with decent updraft helicity thus there is the
potential for strong, longer- lived storms to develop. Storms
today will be focused to the Arizona/ Mexico international
border and the Arizona/ New Mexico border. Stronger storms more
likely be located along the Arizona/ Mexico international
border. CAMs continue to have storms beginning to develop
between 12 and 2 pm, initially on the higher terrain then moving
west to northwest.

Tomorrow, most of the ingredients seen today will be present.
Mid level shear will remain elevated at 25 to 35 kts, DCAPE of
1500-1800 J/kg, and PWATs between 1.0 to 1.6 inches. Storms
again will be focused to the Arizona/ Mexico international
border and the the Arizona/ New Mexico border. Wednesday,
chances for storms and showers begin to diminish as the high
pressure center begins to move westward. By Thursday, high
temperatures will be 7 to 12 degrees above normal leading to
Major to Extreme HeatRisk. Therefore, an Extreme Heat Warning
has been issued for most of southern Arizona (with the exception
of the higher terrain) from Thursday morning through Sunday
evening. At this level of HeatRisk, everyone should take proper
precautions to prepare for the heat as anyone is at risk for
heat related illnesses if not staying hydrated or cool. Friday
and Saturday look to be the hottest days in the forecast during
this stretch, with a 55% to 65% chance of 110 degrees for
locales Tucson westward both days. Chances for storms and
showers returns early next week as the center of high pressure
oscillates eastward.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid though 30/00Z

FEW to SCT clouds AOA 10-12k ft AGL KTUS eastward becoming SCT
to BKN 8-12k ft AGL aft 28/00Z. Isold to sct TSRA will be
possible south and east of KTUS starting around 27/20Z through
28/04Z. KDUG and KOLS terminals will be most at risk of being
impacted by TSRA. Any thunderstorm may produce wind gusts in
excess of 40 kts. Outside of storms surface winds variable less
than 8 kts this morning becoming NWLY 6-10 kts with occasional
gusts this afternoon and evening. Aviation discussion not
updated for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

High temperatures will remain above normal this week. Expect
daily chances of afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms
with day-to-day variability on coverage of storms. Any
thunderstorm will bring a threat of severe, erratic wind gusts
as well as brief heavy rainfall and an isolated threat of flash
flooding. Minimum relative humidity values will be 20-40 percent
in the lower deserts through at least mid-week. Winds this
weekend will mainly be light and under 12 mph outside of
thunderstorms.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Extreme Heat Warning from 8 PM Saturday to 8 PM MST Sunday for
AZZ501>509.

&&

Malarkey

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In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 27, 9:57 PM MST, 0 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
957 PM MST Mon Jul 27 2026

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

0933 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 N Bisbee              31.44N 109.91W
07/27/2026  M61 MPH          Cochise            AZ   Mesonet

            Mesonet station CW7706 Bisbee.

&&

DVS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 27, 6:09 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima3 hr
Jul 27, 6:39 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima51 min
Jul 27, 6:40 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima2 hr
Jul 27, 8:39 PM MSTFlood WatchTWCCochise, Graham, Pima, Santa Cruz8 hr
Jul 27, 9:33 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise42 min
Jul 27, 10:11 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise49 min
Jul 27, 10:31 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatTWCCochise2 hr
Jul 27, 11:02 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCSanta Cruz106 min
Jul 27, 11:33 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCSanta Cruz42 min
Jul 28, 12:59 AM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCGraham46 min
Jul 28, 1:26 AM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise49 min
Jul 28, 2:18 AM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima42 min
Jul 28, 7:54 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise3 hr
Jul 28, 11:22 AM MSTAreal Flood WarningTWCCochise6 hr
Jul 28, 1:33 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCGreenlee42 min
Jul 28, 2:10 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCGreenlee3 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.