Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 86, NWS Tucson, AZ

July 28, 2026Greenlee County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 28, 2026, 2:10 PM MST for Greenlee 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 28, 2026, 2:10 PM MST (21:10 UTC)
Expired
Jul 28, 2026, 4:53 PM MST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Greenlee County, AZ

The radar

The Flagstaff radar (KFSX), 216 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:14 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, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 260 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 2026-07-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 664 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 2026-07-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 27 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
664 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-137 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1499 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
8 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
27 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
115 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

714 
WGUS55 KTWC 282110
FFWTWC
AZC011-290015-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0086.260728T2110Z-260729T0015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
210 PM MST Tue Jul 28 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northeastern Greenlee County in southeastern Arizona...

* Until 515 PM MST.

* At 210 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area of the Blue Range Wilderness.
  Between 1 and 1.8 inches of rain have fallen. 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...
  Blue and areas near the Blue River.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

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 3368 10909 3359 10905 3353 10912 3354 10917
      3350 10920 3350 10923 3354 10930 3359 10928
      3367 10922 3369 10916

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

EDWARDS
2 follow-up statements
616 
WGUS75 KTWC 282220
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
320 PM MST Tue Jul 28 2026

AZC011-290015-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0086.000000T0000Z-260729T0015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Greenlee AZ-
320 PM MST Tue Jul 28 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR NORTHEASTERN GREENLEE COUNTY...

At 320 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms produced heavy
rain across the warned area of the Blue Range Wilderness. Between 1
and 1.8 inches of rain have fallen. 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...
  Blue and areas along the Blue River.

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 3368 10909 3359 10905 3353 10912 3354 10917
      3350 10920 3350 10923 3354 10930 3359 10928
      3367 10922 3369 10916

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

EDWARDS
516 
WGUS75 KTWC 282353
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
453 PM MST Tue Jul 28 2026

AZC011-290003-
/O.CAN.KTWC.FF.W.0086.000000T0000Z-260729T0015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Greenlee AZ-
453 PM MST Tue Jul 28 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHEASTERN GREENLEE
COUNTY...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3368 10909 3359 10905 3353 10912 3354 10917
      3350 10920 3350 10923 3354 10930 3359 10928
      3367 10922 3369 10916

$$

EDWARDS

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 28, 11:55 AM MST, 2 hours 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 28, 11:55 AM MST, 2 hours 15 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1155 AM MST Tue Jul 28 2026

.UPDATE...
Quick late morning update. Several MCVs are exiting the CWA from
SE to NW with clearing in the wake. Expect convective initiation
in the next couple hrs across the higher terrain south and east
of Tucson, with more coverage by later afternoon into the
evening. Given the modest shear and instability, a strong to
locally severe thunderstorm cannot be ruled out. Please refer to
the previous discussion for more details. A new update will be
out this afternoon.

&&

.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
today and Wednesday then warm to 7-12 degrees above normal
Thursday into the weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
A large MCS is slowly moving northwestward through
Sonora and Santa Cruz County/southern Pima County and scattered
convection is moving through Graham County. An outflow recently
passed through Tucson with gusts 30-40 mph out of the south. IR
satellite shows the MCS cloud tops warming, but locally heavy
rainfall and gusts to 45 mph will be a threat through the night
and early morning. This overnight activity is being helped by
an easterly wave that is currently over north central Sonora as
well as 0-6 km shear of 25-35 kts and ample moisture. The
easterly wave will move northward this morning into the
afternoon through western Pima County and into western Arizona.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms will likely continue through
the morning south and west of Tucson. Hi-res guidance shows the
convection over Graham County dissipating over the next few
hours.

Left over debris clouds from the MCS will likely inhibit
convection from Tucson west this afternoon and evening. HREF and
REFS members show isolated to scattered convection east of
Tucson with the best chances along the AZ/NM border. The center
of the upper level high will be over northern New Mexico with
mid-level flow elevated at 15-20 kts. The environment east of
Tucson will be similar to Monday with PWAT values ranging from
1.2"-1.7", CAPE around 1000 J/kg where there is sufficient
insolation to erode any capping, and 0-6 km wind shear of 25-35
kts. Because of this any storms do form may have rotating
updrafts and be capable severe wind gusts along with heavy
rainfall. The main uncertainty today will be the extent of storm
coverage in the wake of the MCS. Right now the AZ/NM border
looks to have the best chances for convection.

Wednesday mid-level winds decrease 5-10 kts which also leads to
a reduction in wind shear with 0-6 km shear generally around 20
kts from Tucson eastward. All other ingredients will be in place
however with similar PWAT values to today and plenty of
instability once surface heating starts. Hi-res guidance again
favors convection south and east of Tucson with the
international border and White Mountains seeing the best
chances. Tucson will likely be on the northern periphery of
storm chances, but can't rule out an isolated thunderstorm or
two over town.

After Wednesday the ridge expands westward and strengthens with
NAEFS mean 500 mb heights at the 99.5 percentile or max compared
to the CFSR climatology Thursday into the weekend. Temperatures
warm 7-12 degrees above normal during this time frame leading
to widespread areas of Major to Extreme HeatRisk. Because of
this an Extreme Heat Warning is in place Thursday through
Sunday. The two warmest days look to be Friday and Saturday with
Tucson possibly seeing 110 degrees both days. NBM probabilities
for Tucson International to hit 110 degrees are 60-70 percent
both days. Storm chances and coverage will likely be limited to
mainly the White Mountains Thursday thanks to the placement of
the ridge and loss of moisture. PWAT values decrease by about
0.25" and surface dewpoints decrease to 50-55 degrees. Friday
into the weekend moisture returns leading to storm chances
slowly increasing and expanding to central Pima County eastward
by Sunday into early next week.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
Valid though 29/12Z.
Isolated to scattered TSRA possible from central Pima County
eastward through 28/15Z with cigs 6k-10k ft AGL. KDUG and KOLS
terminals will be most at risk of being impacted by TSRA. Then
expect a brief break in convection before storm chances increase
again mainly along the AZ/NM border this afternoon and evening.
KDUG and KSAD terminals will see the best chances to be
impacted by TSRA this afternoon and evening. Cigs will be
8k-12k ft AGL this afternoon and evening. 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 with an Extreme Heat Warning in place Thursday through
Saturday. Expect daily chances of afternoon and evening showers
and thunderstorms with day-to- day variability on coverage of
storms into the weekend. 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 10 AM Thursday to 8 PM MST Sunday
for AZZ501>509.

&&

UPDATE...
SYNOPSIS...Hardin
DISCUSSION...
AVIATION...
FIRE WEATHER...

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In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 28, 10:42 AM MST, 3 hours 28 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1042 AM MST Tue Jul 28 2026

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

1030 PM     Flash Flood      15 W Bisbee             31.38N 110.17W
07/27/2026                   Cochise            AZ   County Official

            Report of road closed due to flooding along
            S Kings Ranch Rd between MP8 and MP9.

&&

CLP
Local storm report, Jul 28, 11:01 AM MST, 3 hours 9 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1101 AM MST Tue Jul 28 2026

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

0940 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 E Bisbee              31.41N 109.88W
07/27/2026                   Cochise            AZ   County Official

            Report of downed tree at the junction of
            Arizona St and Hazzard St in Bisbee.

&&

CLP

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, 9:57 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatTWCCochise3 hr
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

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.