Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 97, NWS Tucson, AZ

August 5, 2026Cochise County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Aug 5, 2026, 6:19 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
Aug 5, 2026, 6:19 PM MST (01:19 UTC)
Expired
Aug 5, 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), 73 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:21 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 00:00Z, 1.3 hours before the alert went out and 269 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 00:00Z on 2026-08-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 791 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 00:00Z on 2026-08-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 20 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
791 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-242 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2327 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
20 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
55 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

883 
WGUS55 KTWC 060119
FFWTWC
AZC003-060415-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0097.260806T0119Z-260806T0415Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
619 PM MST Wed Aug 5 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

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

* Until 915 PM MST.

* At 619 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 0.9 and 1.5 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 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...
  Elfrida and McNeal.

This includes Route 191 between mile markers 18 and 37.

This includes the following Flash Flood Prone Locations...
Davis Rd between HWY 80 & HWY 191.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Slavin Wash, Whitewater Draw, Ash Creek, Gadwell Canyon, Haberstock
  Wash, Reeves Creek, Willow Wash, Henderson Wash, Walnut Gulch and
  Clifford Wash.

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 3189 11001 3188 10968 3159 10966 3160 11001

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

KJS
2 follow-up statements
126 
WGUS75 KTWC 060209
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
709 PM MST Wed Aug 5 2026

AZC003-060415-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0097.000000T0000Z-260806T0415Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-
709 PM MST Wed Aug 5 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM MST THIS
EVENING FOR CENTRAL COCHISE COUNTY...

At 709 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. 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...
  Elfrida and McNeal.

This includes Route 191 between mile markers 18 and 37.

This includes the following Flash Flood Prone Locations...
Davis Rd between HWY 80 & HWY 191.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Slavin Wash, Whitewater Draw, Ash Creek, Gadwell Canyon, Haberstock
  Wash, Reeves Creek, Willow Wash, Henderson Wash, Walnut Gulch and
  Clifford Wash.

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 3189 11001 3188 10968 3159 10966 3160 11001

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

KJS
463 
WGUS75 KTWC 060411
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
911 PM MST Wed Aug 5 2026

AZC003-060421-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0097.000000T0000Z-260806T0415Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-
911 PM MST Wed Aug 5 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 915 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
CENTRAL COCHISE COUNTY...

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

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM MST for a portion of
Southeast Arizona.

&&

LAT...LON 3189 11001 3188 10968 3159 10966 3160 11001

$$

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 Aug 5, 2:27 PM MST, 3 hours 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 5, 2:27 PM MST, 3 hours 52 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
227 PM MST Wed Aug 5 2026

.SYNOPSIS...Expect thunderstorm activity each afternoon and
evening this week with day to day variability. Thunderstorms may
produce severe outflow winds with areas of blowing dust, as
well as locally heavy rainfall with an isolated flash flooding
risk. High temperatures will remain a few degrees above normal
through the weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Current satellite shows a cumulus field over
central/eastern Pima County, Santa Cruz County, and parts of
Cochise and Graham Counties with an isolated thunderstorm over
northern Greenlee County and the Santa Ritas. This likely means
there is very little CIN left and with more surface heating the
atmosphere will be ready for convection.

All the ingredients are in place with seasonable PWAT values,
MLCAPE of 800-1800 J/kg, and effective bulk shear 20-30 kts.
Storms will continue to develop over the White Mountains early
this afternoon and over the Sky Islands by mid-afternoon. Storms
then move into the lower elevations and progress westward
through the late afternoon and evening. Storms could reach
Tucson as early as 5 PM, but between 6-8 PM looks more likely.
Storms will be capable of strong to severe wind gusts with an
isolated storm or two producing a 70+ mph wind gusts. Model
soundings show a dry nose just above 500 mb that could enhance
downdrafts and the 05/12Z HREF has a 30 percent chance for 50 kt
winds within 40 km of a point for central/eastern Pima County
and southern Pinal County this evening. This is being driven by
a couple HREF members that shows storms over Tucson that produce
a strong outflow that moves through the metro and then into the
Tohono O'odham Nation and Pinal County late this evening. If
this does happen expect blowing dust along I-10 in Pinal County.
Locally heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding will also be a
threat from central Pima County eastward late this afternoon
and evening. Most storms will be capable of one inch per hour
rainfall rates with isolated areas approaching 3 inch totals
through midnight. Because of this a Flood Watch has been issued
from 4 PM to 11 PM from central Pima County east to western
Cochise County including the Tucson metro and Santa Cruz County.

Overnight convection looks limited after midnight with maybe a
isolated showers over central or western Pima County. Thursday
thunderstorm coverage and intensity looks to be a little less
than today. 0-6 km shear values will be around 15-20 kts, but
there will be plenty of instability and moisture values will be
seasonable. CAMs show initial development over the White
Mountains and Sky Islands of Cochise and Graham Counties, then
spread into the lower elevations mainly south and east of
Tucson. Storms will be capable of strong outflow winds, with a
few storms possibly producing severe wind gusts. Storms will
also be capable of heavy rainfall with an isolated flash
flooding threat.

Friday into early next week the high remains in a favorable
position for daily afternoon and evening thunderstorms with some
day to day variation in coverage and strength due to the
strength of the high. Friday into Saturday the ridge increases
in strength which will lead to a 2-3 degree warmup compared to
today and Thursday. This could lead to a downturn in monsoon
activity Friday. Saturday ensembles and deterministic models
show an increase in mid-level flow, which could lead to an
increase in storm coverage and intensity even with the stronger
ridge in place. After Saturday heights decrease and
temperatures drop to around normal next week.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid through 07/00Z.
Scattered thunderstorms expected to develop this afternoon
mainly between 05/22Z to 06/05Z with lingering isolated activity
through 06/08Z. Coverage around KTUS more likely 06/01Z-06/06Z
and KOLS/KDUG 05/23Z-06/04Z. Gusty erratic winds of 35-50 kts
possible with any thunderstorm. Cigs will be BKN 8k-12k ft AGL
this afternoon and evening, slowly dissipating overnight. Expect
another round of TSRA Thursday afternoon and evening south and
east of Tucson. Outside of storms SFC winds WLY/NWLY at 8-12
kts with occasional afternoon gusts to 20 kts. SFC winds light
and terrain driven after 06/05Z. Aviation discussion not updated
for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...An active monsoon period looks favorable this
week with daily chances for showers and thunderstorms each
afternoon and evening, with day to day variability. Today storms
will be capable of heavy rainfall and strong to severe wind
gusts. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect from 4 PM to 11 PM.
Minimum relative humidity values will be 20-40 percent into
early next week with temperatures 2-7 degrees above normal.
Outside of thunderstorms, winds terrain driven to around 10 mph
with occasional afternoon gusts to 20 mph.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch until 11 PM MST this evening for AZZ502>504-507-
513>515.

&&

Hardin

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In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 5, 6:08 PM MST, 11 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
608 PM MST Wed Aug 5 2026

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

0557 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 ENE Safford           32.85N 109.63W
08/05/2026  M69 MPH          Graham             AZ   ASOS

            ASOS station KSAD Safford Regional Airport.

&&

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 5, 5:17 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCGraham, Greenlee58 min
Aug 5, 5:34 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise41 min
Aug 5, 5:46 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCGraham, Greenlee3 hr
Aug 5, 6:11 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCGraham49 min
Aug 5, 6:15 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise60 min
Aug 5, 6:23 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCSanta Cruz52 min
Aug 5, 6:34 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCSanta Cruz3 hr
Aug 5, 6:54 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise66 min
Aug 5, 6:56 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCGraham3 hr
Aug 5, 6:56 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCGraham43 min
Aug 5, 7:05 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCSanta Cruz55 min
Aug 5, 7:16 PM MSTTornado WarningTWCCochise44 min
Aug 5, 7:37 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise38 min
Aug 5, 7:43 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise, Graham62 min
Aug 5, 7:44 PM MSTTornado WarningTWCCochise31 min
Aug 5, 7:48 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima, Santa Cruz6 hr
Aug 5, 7:48 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima27 min
Aug 5, 7:57 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCSanta Cruz33 min
Aug 5, 8:00 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise3 hr
Aug 5, 8:14 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCSanta Cruz46 min
Aug 5, 8:26 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise45 min
Aug 5, 8:31 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise59 min
Aug 5, 8:33 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima, Santa Cruz57 min
Aug 5, 8:54 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise3 hr
Aug 5, 8:55 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise, Pima50 min
Aug 5, 9:01 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima44 min
Aug 5, 9:02 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise43 min
Aug 5, 9:10 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise35 min
Aug 5, 9:19 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTWCCochise56 min
Aug 5, 9:22 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatTWCPima, Santa Cruz3 hr
Aug 5, 9:35 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatTWCCochise40 min
Aug 5, 9:36 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise, Pima39 min
Aug 5, 9:37 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise3 hr
Aug 5, 9:52 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatTWCPima3 hr
Aug 5, 9:58 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise, Santa Cruz3 hr
Aug 5, 10:01 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise, Santa Cruz44 min
Aug 5, 10:09 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise3 hr
Aug 5, 10:18 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima57 min
Aug 5, 10:22 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise3 hr
Aug 5, 10:22 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima53 min
Aug 5, 10:54 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTWCPima44 min
Aug 5, 11:02 PM MSTDust Storm WarningTWCPima118 min
Aug 5, 11:08 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr
Aug 5, 11:30 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima60 min
Aug 5, 11:32 PM MSTDust Storm WarningTWCPima, Pinal48 min
Aug 5, 11:40 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima2 hr
Aug 6, 12:05 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise6 hr
Aug 6, 12:08 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima6 hr
Aug 6, 12:13 AM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima2 hr
Aug 6, 12:46 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima8 hr
Aug 6, 12:58 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise7 hr
Aug 6, 5:37 AM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatTWCPima3 hr
Aug 6, 8:07 AM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatTWCPima5 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.