The extreme (D3) drought category continued in the western, southern, and eastern sections of Southeastern Arizona and expanded in the northern sections of Southeastern Arizona. The total area from western Pima County into Graham and Greenlee counties and portions of Santa Cruz, Pinal, and Cochise counties.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS TWC wrote it up.
The extreme (D3) drought category continued in the western, southern, and eastern sections of Southeastern Arizona and expanded in the northern sections of Southeastern Arizona. The total area from western Pima County into Graham and Greenlee counties and portions of Santa Cruz, Pinal, and Cochise counties. The overall precipitation for Arizona ranking was 16th driest for the month of August. Soil moisture readings decreased to between the 1st percentile to 10th percentile ranking for the area.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Jul 31, 1:04 PM MST, 10 hours 56 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 104 PM MST Thu Jul 31 2025 .SYNOPSIS...Scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening across much of southeastern Arizona. Periods of heavy rain, isolated strong wind gusts, and blowing dust will be hazards with any thunderstorm today. An isolated flash flood threat accompanies today's thunderstorm activity. Thunderstorm chances begin to decrease Friday as dry air moves in through the weekend. Extreme heat is expected Friday through the weekend as high temperatures become 7 to near 10 degrees above normal. Temperatures remain above normal through next week. && .KEY MESSAGES... -Scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening across much of southeastern Arizona. Chances begin to decrease Friday as dry air moves in through the weekend. -Periods of heavy rain, isolated strong wind gusts, and blowing dust will be hazards with any thunderstorm today. An isolated flash flood threat accompanies today's thunderstorm activity. -Extreme heat is expected Friday through the weekend as high temperatures become 7 to near 10 degrees above normal. Temperatures remain above normal through next week. && .DISCUSSION...There are currently isolated thunderstorms in areas south and east of Tucson in the mountains. There have been a few lightning strikes so far, with some gusty winds in the 20-30 mph so far. The storms have been struggling to get tall updrafts thanks the the very dry layer aloft shown very well in the 18Z sounding. Overall, the main threats continue to be strong gusty outflow winds, possible blowing dust, and locally heavy rainfall. The threat for isolated areas of flash flooding continues as the storm motion is light at 5-10 kts, making the storms nearly stationary and rain on the same area in a short period of time. The push of moisture from the Gulf of California and Sonora, Mexico continues with current surface dew points in Western Pima County is in the low to mid 60s and satellite estimated PWs in the 1.3 to 1.4 inch range. This moisture may be able to work its way eastward through the NE flow aloft and/or outflows from thunderstorms this afternoon. The 18Z sounding showed 1.27 inches of PW, which is a tad more than yesterday, so storm activity in Tucson is certainly possible this afternoon and evening. In terms of wind, the HREF model is showing wind gusts of 30-40 mph with thunderstorms, however that may be a tad underdone as the RAP model is showing 1400-2000 J/kg of DCAPE allowing for dropping thunderstorm cores to evaporate, cool, then accelerate the overall collapse. This is shown by the 18Z sounding where there is roughly 1800 J/kg of DCAPE in Tucson. After today, a drying and warming trend begins Friday into the weekend, thanks to the high pressure system will build to our west. Temperatures will be 7 to 10 degrees above normal during this time, with an Extreme Heat Warning in effect those days. Major HeatRisk is expected for much of the valley locations, so much of the population and those without adequate hydration and air conditioning should prepare. Be sure to know where cooling centers are, move outdoor plans to the morning or evening, and keeping hydrated Friday into the weekend. Forecast models are still in disagreement with how much moisture can make it into the area early next week as the high pressure shifts back to the east. This will determine how hot the area will get mid to late next week. Some heat headlines may be needed during this timeframe, so stay tuned. && .AVIATION...Valid through 02/00Z. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms thru 01/05Z. Brief periods of heavy rainfall and gusty erratic winds possible with any thunderstorm. Winds generally below 12 kts away from thunderstorm activity, with occasional afternoon gusts to 20 kts. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Minimum relative humidities mainly above 20 percent today across southeastern Arizona. Scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. Overall winds are expected to remain under 15 mph with occasional afternoon gustiness, however strong erratic winds are possible with any thunderstorm. A drying trend is expected through the weekend with high temperatures bumping up. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Extreme Heat Warning from 10 AM Friday to 8 PM MST Sunday for AZZ501>507-509-515. && Tetrault Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
613 PM MST Thu Jul 31 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0540 PM Flash Flood Saint David 31.90N 110.23W
07/31/2025 Cochise AZ Public
Video of flash flooding near Saint David via
social media.
&&
DVSThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
For the month of August, Pima county ranked the 21st driest for the period of record. Soil moisture readings decreased to range between the 5th through 10th percentile for the month of August.
For the month of August, Pima county ranked the 21st driest and Santa Cruz county ranked the 5th driest for the period of record. Soil moisture readings decreased to range between the 5th through 10th percentile for the month of August.
For the month of August, Graham county ranked the 4th driest for the period of record and Greenlee county ranked the 17th driest for the period of record. Soil moisture readings increased to between the 5th and 10th percentile for the month of August.
For the month of August, Graham county ranked the 4th driest for the period of record and Greenlee county ranked the 17th driest for the period of record. Soil moisture readings increased to between the 5th and 10th percentile for the month of August.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, August 2025
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1288478, 1288481, 1288483, 1288484.