Alert archive / Arizona / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 252, NWS Tucson, AZ

September 9, 2026Graham County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 9, 2026, 4:47 PM MST for Graham County, Arizona. It was in force for 43 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Sep 9, 2026, 4:47 PM MST (23:47 UTC)
Expired
Sep 9, 2026, 5:30 PM MST
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Graham County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 97 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:50 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 severe thunderstorm 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, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 208 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 2026-09-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 169 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 2026-09-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 32 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
169 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-258 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2297 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
32 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
95 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

204 
WUUS55 KTWC 092347
SVRTWC
AZC009-100030-
/O.NEW.KTWC.SV.W.0252.260909T2347Z-260910T0030Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
447 PM MST Wed Sep 9 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  South Central Graham County in southeastern Arizona...

* Until 530 PM MST.

* At 447 PM MST, a severe thunderstorm was located 22 miles northwest
  of Willcox, moving southwest at 10 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and small hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Bonita and Fort Grant.

This includes Route 266 between mile markers 118 and 126.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds.

&&

LAT...LON 3267 10989 3248 10985 3245 11011 3262 11021
TIME...MOT...LOC 2347Z 62DEG 7KT 3254 11001

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

GEL
2 follow-up statements
989 
WWUS55 KTWC 100000 RRA
SVSTWC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
500 PM MST Wed Sep 9 2026

AZC009-100030-
/O.CON.KTWC.SV.W.0252.000000T0000Z-260910T0030Z/
Graham AZ-
500 PM MST Wed Sep 9 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM MST FOR
SOUTH CENTRAL GRAHAM COUNTY...

At 500 PM MST, a severe thunderstorm was located 22 miles northwest
of Willcox, moving southwest at 5 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
  Bonita and Fort Grant.

This includes Route 266 between mile markers 118 and 126.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds.

&&

LAT...LON 3267 10989 3248 10985 3245 11011 3262 11021
TIME...MOT...LOC 2347Z 58DEG 5KT 3254 10999

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

GEL
697 
WWUS55 KTWC 100027
SVSTWC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
527 PM MST Wed Sep 9 2026

AZC009-100037-
/O.EXP.KTWC.SV.W.0252.000000T0000Z-260910T0030Z/
Graham AZ-
527 PM MST Wed Sep 9 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 530 PM MST FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL GRAHAM COUNTY...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. However, gusty
winds and heavy rain are still possible with this thunderstorm.

&&

LAT...LON 3267 10989 3248 10985 3245 11011 3262 11021
TIME...MOT...LOC 0000Z 58DEG 5KT 3253 11001

$$

GEL

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at Sep 9, 1:57 PM MST, 2 hours 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 9, 1:57 PM MST, 2 hours 50 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
157 PM MST Wed Sep 9 2026

.SYNOPSIS...Scattered thunderstorms this afternoon and this
evening, especially south and east of Tucson. Storms will be
stronger than we have seen the past several days, with heavy
rainfall leading to localized flash flooding as the primary
hazard from these storms, with a secondary hazard of strong
outflow winds to 40-50 mph east of Tucson. Thunderstorms chances
continue Thursday into the weekend. High temperatures will will
fluctuate between near normal and a few degrees below normal.

&&

.DISCUSSION...This morning's MCS has now turned into an MCV and
is moving towards Puerto Penasco with isolated storms over the
White Mountains, Chiricahuas, and Pinalenos. The atmosphere is
very moist with surface dewpoints in the low to mid 60s across
southeast Arizona. PWATs are 1.3" along the AZ/NM border, 1.5"
over Tucson, and 2" over far western Pima County. Aloft broad
high pressure covers most of the southern half of the country
with two centers over the AZ/NM border and the coast of South
Carolina. This will put southeast Arizona under east to
northeast steering flow, allowing for a possible rim shot day.
Storm movement will probably be more NE-SW coming off the rim
and more east to west elsewhere. CAMs show continued development
over the higher terrain east of Tucson as well as south through
the afternoon with storms then moving into the lower deserts
late afternoon into the evening. The last couple HRRR runs have
kept Tucson on the northern periphery of storm coverage, with
best chances for Tucson seeing storms this evening. The biggest
threat today will be heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding
with the best chances for this south and east of Tucson. The
09/12Z HREF is also hinting at a slight chance for isolated
strong to severe winds late this afternoon and evening over
Graham and eastern Pinal Counties as storms move off the rim.

High pressure stays centered to the west northwest over the next
couple of days keeping southeast Arizona under northeast flow.
Above normal moisture will still be in place leading to
continued storm chances south and east of Tucson Thursday and
Friday.

This weekend into early next week a closed low moves in the
Pacific Northwest and moves inland towards the northern Rockies.
This will shunt the ridge to the east over Texas or the
southeast U.S. Mid-level flow may briefly turn southwest but for
the most part will stay southerly to easterly, which will allow
moisture to stick around. Expect continued daily isolated to
scattered thunderstorms mainly from central Pima County eastward
with the main threat being heavy rainfall. As September
continues the sun angle will continue to lower with less intense
surface hearing. This will result in a slight reduction of
storm intensity without more upper level support, even with
above normal moisture.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid thru 11/00Z.
SCT-BKN 7-10k ft AGL BKN 14-18k ft AGL this afternoon into the
early evening as storms form. Scattered SHRA/TSRA mainly south
and east of Tucson thru 10/04Z. KTUS will be on the northern
periphery of storm activity and could see vicinity TSRA.
Localized thunderstorm outflow winds 30-40 kts possible.
Otherwise, SFC winds will generally be WLY/NWLY 5-10 kts during
the afternoon and evening, then light and terrain driven at
other times. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF
amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Scattered thunderstorms this afternoon and this
evening, especially south and east of Tucson. Storms will be
stronger than we have seen the past several days, with heavy
rainfall leading to localized flash flooding as the primary
hazard from these storms, with a secondary hazard of strong
outflow winds to 40-45 mph east of Tucson. Isolated to scattered
thunderstorms continue daily into early next week. High
temperatures will will fluctuate between near normal and a few
degrees below normal into early next week. Min RH values mainly
20 to 45 percent in the valleys and 30 to 60 percent in the
mountains over the next week. RH recoveries will continue to be
excellent overnight. Winds will generally remain less than 15
mph and terrain driven through the week. Expect gusty and
erratic winds around thunderstorms.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

Hardin

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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 8, 5:39 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise3 hr
Sep 9, 3:17 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCSanta Cruz43 min
Sep 9, 3:54 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise2 hr
Sep 9, 4:13 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCSanta Cruz47 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arizona, 2026Every severe thunderstorm 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.