Alert archive / Arizona / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 261, NWS Tucson, AZ
NWS Tucson, AZ issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 11, 2026, 3:39 PM MST for Pima County, Santa Cruz County, Arizona. It was in force for 51 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 11, 2026, 3:39 PM MST (22:39 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 11, 2026, 4:30 PM MST
- In force
- 51 min
- Issued by
- NWS Tucson, AZ
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 0.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Pima County, AZ, Santa Cruz County, AZ
The radar
The Tucson radar (KEMX), 48 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:39 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, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 202 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
- 843 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -151 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1773 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 12 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 72 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 54 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
278
WUUS55 KTWC 112239
SVRTWC
AZC019-023-112330-
/O.NEW.KTWC.SV.W.0261.260911T2239Z-260911T2330Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
339 PM MST Fri Sep 11 2026
The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
East Central Pima County in southeastern Arizona...
North Central Santa Cruz County in southeastern Arizona...
* Until 430 PM MST.
* At 339 PM MST, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles south of
Green Valley, moving northwest at 10 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
* Locations impacted include...
Sahuarita, Green Valley, Amado and Arivaca Junction.
This includes Interstate 19 between mile markers 25 and 42.
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 3170 11116 3183 11132 3190 11121 3190 11096
3166 11088 3165 11111
TIME...MOT...LOC 2238Z 142DEG 9KT 3174 11105
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
EDWARDS/PATEL2 follow-up statements
251
WWUS55 KTWC 112254
SVSTWC
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
354 PM MST Fri Sep 11 2026
AZC019-023-112330-
/O.CON.KTWC.SV.W.0261.000000T0000Z-260911T2330Z/
Pima AZ-Santa Cruz AZ-
354 PM MST Fri Sep 11 2026
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM MST FOR
EAST CENTRAL PIMA AND NORTH CENTRAL SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES...
At 354 PM MST, a severe thunderstorm was located over Arivaca
Junction or 7 miles southwest of Green Valley, moving northwest at 5
mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include...
Sahuarita, Green Valley, Amado and Arivaca Junction.
This includes Interstate 19 between mile markers 27 and 42.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and large
hail.
&&
LAT...LON 3170 11116 3183 11132 3190 11121 3190 11096
3168 11089 3167 11113
TIME...MOT...LOC 2239Z 146DEG 2KT 3174 11107
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
EDWARDS/PATEL697
WWUS55 KTWC 112327
SVSTWC
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
427 PM MST Fri Sep 11 2026
AZC019-023-112337-
/O.EXP.KTWC.SV.W.0261.000000T0000Z-260911T2330Z/
Pima AZ-Santa Cruz AZ-
427 PM MST Fri Sep 11 2026
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 430 PM MST FOR EAST
CENTRAL PIMA AND NORTH CENTRAL SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES...
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, small hail
and heavy rain are still possible with this thunderstorm.
&&
LAT...LON 3170 11116 3183 11132 3190 11121 3190 11096
3168 11089 3167 11113
TIME...MOT...LOC 2254Z 146DEG 2KT 3175 11107
$$
EDWARDSWhat 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 11, 1:23 PM MST, 2 hours 16 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- -Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon mainly south and east of Tucson capable of producing potentially heavy rainfall. -Slight Risk (Level 2 of 4) today for excessive rainfall that may lead to localized instances of flash flooding in flood prone areas. Sensitive low water crossings may become impassible. -Above normal moisture for mid September continues over the weekend into early next week resulting in continued chances for showers and storms and a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 4) for excessive rainfall.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 11, 1:23 PM MST, 2 hours 16 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 123 PM MST Fri Sep 11 2026 .SYNOPSIS...A more active day is forecast across southeast Arizona today with isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms. Main threat from storms today will be heavy rain and localized flash flooding, especially across Santa Cruz county and southwest Cochise county. A more typical isolated to scattered coverage of storms is forecast this weekend into next week. Daily high temperatures will fluctuate between near normal and a few degrees below normal. && .KEY MESSAGES... -Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon mainly south and east of Tucson capable of producing potentially heavy rainfall. -Slight Risk (Level 2 of 4) today for excessive rainfall that may lead to localized instances of flash flooding in flood prone areas. Sensitive low water crossings may become impassible. -Above normal moisture for mid September continues over the weekend into early next week resulting in continued chances for showers and storms and a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 4) for excessive rainfall. && .DISCUSSION...Storms started forming early over high terrain areas including the Huachuca and White Mountains around 11 am MST which was a bit sooner than convective allowing models suggested. Additional storm activity is anticipated to continue this afternoon and evening with the strongest activity mainly focused south and east of Tucson. The primary concerns with storms this afternoon continues to be heavy rainfall (rates 1.0 to 2.5 inches per hour) and frequent lightning. However, gusty and erratic outflow winds to around 45 mph cannot be ruled out with the strongest storms as well. Heavy rainfall may result in isolated instances of flash flooding, especially across Santa Cruz County, southwest Cochise County, and far southeast Pima County. Portions of eastern Santa Cruz county and SW Cochise county has seen heavy rain over the past 72 hours, so the soils are wet, and the San Pedro has had some increased flow several days ago making them more susceptible to saturation this afternoon. Flowing water can be expected in normally dry washes. Sensitive low water crossings may become impassible with swift moving water. Remember to remain alert, avoid driving through flooded roads, and obey road closures. The extent of showers and storms tomorrow will largely depend on how the evolution of storm activity this afternoon and evening. But even if we see less coverage of storms tomorrow, sufficient moisture in place could again be supportive of heavy rainfall. The 11/12Z HREF depicts a slight chance (10-30%) for heavy rain exceeding 2 inches in a 3 hour period across Santa Cruz County and southeast portions of Pima County. Sunday through Thursday monsoonal moisture continues to remain in place daily chances (20-50%) for showers and storms. Otherwise, high temperatures will remain near normal through Monday afternoon before we cool off and highs sag slightly below normal. && .AVIATION...Valid thru 13/00Z. SCT-BKN 6k-9k ft AGL. ISOLD to SCT SHRA/TSRA mainly S and E of KTUS thru 12/02Z and again aft 12/21Z. Isold VSBY 1-3 miles nr TS. Lclzd TS outflow winds of 30-40 kts. Otrw, SFC winds WLY/NWLY at 6-10 kts thru 12/04Z and again aft 12/17Z. At other times, SFC winds will be terrain driven and less than 10 kts. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Scattered showers and thunderstorms today. A more typical isolated to scattered coverage of storms is forecast this weekend into next week. High temperatures will will fluctuate between near normal and a few degrees below normal. Min RH values mainly 20 to 45 percent in the valleys and 35 to 65 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. Gusty and erratic winds will accompany thunderstorms. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && Visit us on Facebook, X, YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
The office that day
Everything else NWS Tucson, AZ issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 11, 12:20 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Cochise, Santa Cruz | 3 hr |
| Sep 11, 3:05 PM MST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TWC | Santa Cruz | 40 min |
| Sep 11, 4:08 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Pima, Santa Cruz | 3 hr |
| Sep 11, 4:36 PM MST | Areal Flood Advisory | TWC | Cochise | 3 hr |
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.