Strong to severe thunderstorms moved northward through Southeastern Arizona the afternoon and evening of June 17th, 2026. These storms caused thunderstorm wind damage causing 8 power poles to be downed and 7,000 customers to be without power in the Tucson Metro and damage to a power transformer that caused a power outage for Tohono O'odham Nation.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
Strong to severe thunderstorms moved northward through Southeastern Arizona the afternoon and evening of June 17th, 2026. These storms caused thunderstorm wind damage causing 8 power poles to be downed and 7,000 customers to be without power in the Tucson Metro and damage to a power transformer that caused a power outage for Tohono O'odham Nation. Heavy rainfall from thunderstorms caused flash flooding in normally dry rivers and washes that resulted in multiple swift water rescues that resulted in 1 fatality and 2 injuries. Additionally, multiple roadways in Cochise County was impassible due to flooding. An estimated penny sized hail was reported on the SW side of Tucson.
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 Jun 17, 12:15 PM MST, 3 hours 5 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 1215 PM MST Wed Jun 17 2026 .SYNOPSIS...Increased moisture will result in potential afternoon showers and thunderstorms from Tucson south and eastward today. Some residual thunderstorm chances continue along the White Mountains Thursday then dry conditions Friday through the weekend. Otherwise, breezy afternoons with temperatures near normal through the weekend, then warming above normal next week. && .DISCUSSION...Still shaping up to be a bit more of an active day for storms today across southeast Arizona with the main concerns being strong to severe outflow winds resulting in blowing dust. Isolated instances of heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding cannot be ruled out. Best storm chances will be across eastern Pima County eastward. Timing of storms across the Tucson Metro look to be the start of the evening commute through about 7-8 pm MST. People traveling during this period should remain alert for possible sudden visibility changes and avoid driving through flooded roads. The pattern supporting the uptick in storms is a bit more nuanced setup for the Monsoon. The subtropical high is centered to our south near the Baja Spur putting southeast Arizona on the fringe of the upper circulation with a weak upper low nudging into Arizona from California. Between these features, the air will tend to spread out and allow for rising motion supporting the potential for taller storms. Without the high centered directly overhead, we see temperatures only slightly above normal for this time of year. We also have sufficient mid-level moisture in place for storms with GOES West Total Precipitable Water product estimating values of around 0.8 to 1.3 inches. With these numbers in mind and knowing we are anticipating a bit of drier air intruding into the mid/upper levels we will see a threat for both heavy rainfall and strong outflow wind this afternoon and evening. There are multiple avenues that would support convective initiation this afternoon including both surface and terrain convergence. High resolution guidance depicts storms first firing across higher terrain areas in the White and Chiricahua Mountains around 1-2 PM. Thereafter, storms start to develop in and around the Tucson Metro both from surface and terrain convergence. Guidance also suggests that outflows driven by these storms could be quite strong and trigger additional storms persisting into the evening hours. Dry air entrainment in the mid-levels of the storms could enhance their downdrafts with DCAPE values in the 1500-2000 J/kg range suggestive of a few gusts approaching or exceeding severe criteria (58 mph). Winds this strong can cause damage to structures and loft widespread areas of blowing dust. Therefore, we coordinated with the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) to add southeast Arizona into a Marginal Risk (level 1 of 5) for severe thunderstorms producing damaging winds. There is also a marginal risk (level 1 of 5) for isolated instances of flash flooding as locally heavy rainfall rates cannot be ruled out with any slower moving storms. The extended forecast continues to be on track as well with another day of storms tomorrow but with fewer of the ingredients lining up and for much less of the area. However, isolated showers and storms will form over the White Mountains with the potential for gusty winds again as the upper low continues to nudge east. By Friday, the upper low will phase in with the Western US longwave trough and eject northward. The result will be drier weather with broad westerly flow. Look for temperatures to remain within degrees of normal through the weekend, then trend warmer as high pressure builds into the region next week. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 208 AM MST Wed Jun 17 2026/ The overall weather pattern over the Southwestern US continues to be driven by a 500mb upper low centered off the Southern CA coast. A few afternoon thunderstorms formed yesterday with the presence of this upper low, but has since quieted down during the overnight period. Blended Total Precipitable Water satellite data suggests PW in the neighborhood of 1", good for 150-175% of normal for this time of year. Signs continue to point to a more active Wednesday afternoon relative to Tuesday. This is due to the 500mb low drifting eastward toward southeast CA. Supported by the left exit region of a passing upper jet streak and an upper trough axis, high resolution models are showing the most likely area of thunderstorm activity extending from Tucson south and east Wednesday afternoon and evening. Another area of activity looks to be over the White Mountains. Thermodynamic profiles are impressive, with forecast CAPE above 1500 J/kg and downdraft CAPE upwards of 2000 J/kg. With these indices in mind, gusty outflow winds and resulting blowing dust appear to be the greatest threats. Indeed, HREF and REFS ensembles show 10-25% chance of wind gusts >50 kts in portions of far southeast AZ and eastward Wednesday evening. We also can't rule out slow moving thunderstorms causing isolated very heavy rainfall; WPC has issued a marginal risk for flash flooding in our region. Thursday may be the last day in this round of convective activity. While the 500mb low remains close in proximity to the CA/AZ border, the upper jet streak drifts northeastward in the next 24 hours, also pushing the area of upper diffluence in the same direction. As such, the best chance of thunderstorms on Thursday will remain over the White Mountains. By Friday, the upper low will phase in with the Western US longwave trough and eject northward. The result will be drier weather with broad westerly flow. Look for temperatures to remain within degrees of normal through the weekend, then trend warmer as high pressure builds into the region next week. && .AVIATION... /Valid 18Z Wednesday through 00Z Friday/ SCT-BKN clouds AOA 8-12k ft AGL through 18/05Z with decreasing coverage from west to east thereafter. Isolated to scattered TSRA/SHRA mainly from KTUS eastward with initial development expected around 17/20Z lasting through about 18/04Z. SFC winds generally WLY/NWLY at 11-18 kts with ocnl gusts to 20-30 kts. Stronger SFC winds expected in the vicinity of KSAD and KALK. Reductions in surface and slantwise visibility from BLDU and TSRA. Gusty/erratic outflow winds possible near thunderstorms. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Winds will remain west/northwest through this week with speeds of 10-20 mph and gusts 25-30 mph across much of the area with stronger speeds of 15-25 mph and gusts to 35 mph in lower elevations of Graham county. Moisture levels will remain slightly elevated through Thursday, with minimum relative humidity 15-30 percent in lower elevations and 30-40 percent in the mountains. This will bring bring chances (20-30 percent) for showers and thunderstorms from Tucson south and eastward, along with the White Mountains Wednesday. Precipitation chances remain in the White Mountains Thursday but otherwise retreat to the Int'l border once again. Dry conditions area-wide Friday and beyond with minimum relative humidity lowering this weekend to 5 to 15 percent in the valleys and 10 to 20 percent in the mountains. For Wednesday and Thursday elevated to near critical fire weather conditions will be possible in the Gila River Valley as winds increase and RH drops below 15 percent. && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && DVS Visit us on Facebook, X, YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
The Phoenix radar (KIWA), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:22 UTC.
6 flash flood, 3 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Electrical substation transformer impacted by storm that caused a power outage across Tohono O'odham Nation. Power loss is unknown with estimated causes either thunderstorm winds or power line arcing.
Sahuarita road closed in multiple locations due to flash flooding. A nearby rain gauge recorded 0.91 inches of rainfall.
Report of penny sized hail. Time and placement estimated by radar. No injuries or damage reported.
Large palo verde tree downed due to thunderstorm wind gust. Time estimated from radar.
Reported 8 power poles reported down, leaving 7,000 customers without power in the Tucson Metro.
Emergency manager reports Highway 92 flooded due to heavy rains across both sides of highway. MRMS estimated that between 0.5 and 1.0 inches of rainfall fell in the area.
Flash flooding within the Black Wash that impacted a large area of the Pasqua Yaqui Tribe land.
Swift water rescue reported near Elm St and N Stone Rd. Nearby rainfall gauges recorded between 0.5 and 0.75 inches of rainfall. No injuries or fatalities reported.
Swift water rescue reported for two individuals in the Santa Cruz River, with one fatality and two injuries. MRMS Multi-Sensor estimated between 1.0-1.5 inches of rainfall fell in multiple locations nearby.
N Santa Rita Ave became impassible with a measured 6 inches of water moving across roadway. An estimated 0.5 to 0.75 inches of rainfall recorded nearby.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Pima | 2026-06-18 | 44 | Female | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, June 2026
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: 1353952, 1353939, 1353953, 1353948, 1353947, 1353941, 1353950, 1353942, 1353943, 1353951.