Alert archive / Arizona / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Tucson, AZ

August 3, 2026Pima County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this tornado warning at Aug 3, 2026, 9:39 PM MST for Pima County, Arizona. It was in force for 21 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
Aug 3, 2026, 9:39 PM MST (04:39 UTC)
Expired
Aug 3, 2026, 10:00 PM MST
In force
21 min
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.5 in

County Pima County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 126 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:39 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Phoenix, AZ (KPSR), launched 00:00Z, 4.7 hours before the alert went out and 151 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 2026-08-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 119 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Phoenix, AZ at 00:00Z on 2026-08-04The 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
119 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-158 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3631 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
27 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
52 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

916 
WFUS55 KTWC 040439
TORTWC
AZC019-040530-
/O.NEW.KTWC.TO.W.0002.260804T0439Z-260804T0530Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
939 PM MST Mon Aug 3 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Central Pima County in southeastern Arizona...

* Until 1030 PM MST.

* At 939 PM MST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 11 miles north of Sells, moving west at 10 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
           to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
           likely.

* Locations impacted include...
  No:ligk, Cababi, San Luis - Sells District, Rincon and Sikul
  Himathk.

This includes Route 86 between mile markers 96 and 105.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself
from flying debris.

Tornadoes are difficult to observe at night. Take cover now!

&&

LAT...LON 3212 11188 3204 11185 3198 11206 3212 11209
TIME...MOT...LOC 0439Z 75DEG 9KT 3208 11190

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

JRM
3 follow-up statements
092 
WWUS55 KTWC 040449
SVSTWC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
949 PM MST Mon Aug 3 2026

AZC019-040530-
/O.CON.KTWC.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260804T0530Z/
Pima AZ-
949 PM MST Mon Aug 3 2026

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 PM MST FOR
SOUTHWESTERN PIMA COUNTY...

At 949 PM MST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 11 miles north of Sells, moving west at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
         to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
  No:ligk, San Luis - Sells District and Rincon.

This includes Route 86 between mile markers 98 and 105.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself
from flying debris.

Tornadoes are difficult to observe at night. Take cover now!

&&

LAT...LON 3209 11192 3203 11189 3198 11206 3210 11209
TIME...MOT...LOC 0439Z 75DEG 9KT 3208 11191

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

JRM
367 
WWUS55 KTWC 040456
SVSTWC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
956 PM MST Mon Aug 3 2026

AZC019-040530-
/O.CON.KTWC.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260804T0530Z/
Pima AZ-
956 PM MST Mon Aug 3 2026

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 PM MST FOR
SOUTHWESTERN PIMA COUNTY...

At 956 PM MST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 9 miles north of Sells, moving southwest at 5 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
         to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
  No:ligk.

This includes Route 86 between mile markers 102 and 105.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself
from flying debris.

Tornadoes are difficult to observe at night. Take cover now!

&&

LAT...LON 3206 11192 3203 11189 3198 11206 3204 11207
TIME...MOT...LOC 0449Z 59DEG 3KT 3204 11193

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN

$$

JRM
157 
WWUS55 KTWC 040500
SVSTWC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
1000 PM MST Mon Aug 3 2026

AZC019-040510-
/O.CAN.KTWC.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260804T0530Z/
Pima AZ-
1000 PM MST Mon Aug 3 2026

...TORNADO WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHWESTERN PIMA COUNTY...

The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been
cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.

&&

LAT...LON 3206 11192 3203 11189 3198 11206 3204 11207
TIME...MOT...LOC 0456Z 59DEG 3KT 3204 11194

$$

JRM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 3, 5:07 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise53 min
Aug 3, 5:13 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise3 hr
Aug 3, 5:29 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise61 min
Aug 3, 5:29 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTWCCochise46 min
Aug 3, 5:42 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise, Pima, Santa Cruz63 min
Aug 3, 6:13 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise32 min
Aug 3, 6:21 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise, Graham54 min
Aug 3, 6:33 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima42 min
Aug 3, 6:58 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima47 min
Aug 3, 7:09 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima51 min
Aug 3, 7:23 PM MSTDust Storm WarningTWCPima, Pinal85 min
Aug 3, 7:28 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTWCPima, Santa Cruz62 min
Aug 3, 7:50 PM MSTDust Storm WarningTWCPima, Santa Cruz115 min
Aug 3, 8:02 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise118 min
Aug 3, 8:18 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima57 min
Aug 3, 8:43 PM MSTDust Storm WarningTWCPinal62 min
Aug 3, 8:57 PM MSTTornado WarningTWCPima34 min
Aug 3, 9:15 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima60 min
Aug 3, 9:18 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima36 min
Aug 4, 1:41 AM MSTBlowing Dust AdvisoryTWCCochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz18 hr
Aug 4, 8:04 AM MSTFlood WatchTWCCochise, Graham, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz14 hr
Aug 4, 4:39 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCGreenlee51 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Arizona, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.