662  
WWUS75 KTWC 190628  
NPWTWC  
 
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ  
1128 PM MST TUE AUG 18 2026  
 
AZZ501-502-504>506-200500-  
/O.NEW.KTWC.DU.Y.0009.260819T2200Z-260820T0500Z/  
/O.CON.KTWC.XH.W.0006.000000T0000Z-260822T0300Z/  
WESTERN PIMA COUNTY-TOHONO O'ODHAM NATION-TUCSON METRO AREA-SOUTH  
CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY-SOUTHEAST PINAL COUNTY-  
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF MAMMOTH, MARANA, SELLS, ORGAN PIPE CACTUS  
N.M., AJO, TUCSON, ORACLE, GREEN VALLEY, PICACHO PEAK STATE PARK,  
AND VAIL  
1128 PM MST TUE AUG 18 2026  
 
...BLOWING DUST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM TO 10 PM MST  
WEDNESDAY...   
..EXTREME HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST FRIDAY
 
 
* WHAT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH ORGANIZED OUTFLOW WIND GUSTS OF  
45-55 MPH WILL RESULT IN BLOWING DUST, REDUCING VISIBILITY BETWEEN  
ONE-QUARTER MILE AND ONE MILE AT TIMES. HABOOB FORMATION IS  
POSSIBLE. DENSE BLOWING DUST WILL INITIALLY DEVELOP ACROSS  
SOUTHEAST PIMA AND WESTERN SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES DURING THE LATE  
AFTERNOON AND SPREAD WEST TO NORTHWEST ACROSS THE TOHONO O'ODHAM  
NATION AND INTO WESTERN PIMA AND SOUTHEAST PINAL COUNTIES THROUGH  
THE EVENING. DANGEROUSLY HOT CONDITIONS WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES  
RANGING BETWEEN 103 TO 110 DEGREES AND LOW TEMPERATURES 79 TO 85  
DEGREES. MAJOR HEATRISK IS EXPECTED.  
 
* WHERE...PINAL COUNTY, TOHONO O'ODHAM NATION, TUCSON METRO AREA, AND  
WESTERN PIMA COUNTY.  
 
* WHEN...FOR THE EXTREME HEAT WARNING, UNTIL 8 PM MST FRIDAY. FOR THE  
BLOWING DUST ADVISORY, FROM 3 PM TO 10 PM MST WEDNESDAY.  
 
* IMPACTS...BLOWING DUST CAN RESTRICT VISIBILITIES BELOW A MILE  
POSING A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD TO MOTORISTS. IN ADDITION, STRONG AND  
GUSTY WINDS WILL LIKELY SUSPEND DUST INTO THE AIR THAT PEOPLE AND  
ANIMALS BREATHE. INDIVIDUALS WITH HEART DISEASE AND RESPIRATORY  
SENSITIVITIES MAY WANT TO REDUCE THEIR LEVEL OF EXERTION TO LIMIT  
THE DUST THEY BREATHE INTO THEIR LUNGS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE NEAR  
DUST PRONE LOCATIONS. THOSE MOST AT RISK MAY FEEL BETTER IF THEY  
AVOID OUTSIDE EXERCISE TODAY, KEEPING WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED TO  
HELP REDUCE EXPOSURE. FOR THE EXTREME HEAT WARNING...HEAT RELATED  
ILLNESSES INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY DURING EXTREME HEAT EVENTS.  
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...  
 
PERSONS WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS SHOULD MAKE PREPARATIONS TO STAY  
INDOORS UNTIL THE STORM PASSES. BE READY FOR A SUDDEN DROP IN  
VISIBILITY TO NEAR ZERO. IF YOU ENCOUNTER BLOWING DUST OR BLOWING  
SAND ON THE ROADWAY OR SEE IT APPROACHING, PULL OFF THE ROAD AS FAR  
AS POSSIBLE AND PUT YOUR VEHICLE IN PARK. TURN THE LIGHTS ALL THE WAY  
OFF AND KEEP FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. REMEMBER, 'PULL ASIDE, STAY  
ALIVE'.  
 
TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK, THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND  
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN  
SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT  
SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN  
EMERGENCY! CALL 9 1 1.  
 
TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN  
POSSIBLE, RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR  
EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT  
STROKE. WEAR LIGHTWEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE AND  
DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.  
 

 
 

 
 
AZZ509-200500-  
/O.CON.KTWC.XH.W.0006.000000T0000Z-260822T0300Z/  
UPPER GILA RIVER VALLEY-  
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF CLIFTON AND SAFFORD  
1128 PM MST TUE AUG 18 2026  
   
..EXTREME HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST FRIDAY
 
 
* WHAT...DANGEROUSLY HOT CONDITIONS WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES RANGING  
BETWEEN 103 TO 110 DEGREES AND LOW TEMPERATURES 79 TO 85 DEGREES.  
MAJOR HEATRISK IS EXPECTED.  
 
* WHERE...PORTIONS OF GRAHAM AND SOUTHERN GREENLEE COUNTIES INCLUDING  
THE UPPER GILA RIVER VALLEY.  
 
* WHEN...UNTIL 8 PM MST FRIDAY.  
 
* IMPACTS...HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY DURING  
EXTREME HEAT EVENTS.  
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...  
 
TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK, THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND  
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN  
SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT  
SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN  
EMERGENCY! CALL 9 1 1.  
 
TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN  
POSSIBLE, RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR  
EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT  
STROKE. WEAR LIGHTWEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE AND  
DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.  
 

 
 

 
 
AZZ503-200500-  
/O.NEW.KTWC.DU.Y.0009.260819T2200Z-260820T0500Z/  
UPPER SANTA CRUZ RIVER VALLEY/ALTAR VALLEY-  
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF NOGALES  
1128 PM MST TUE AUG 18 2026  
 
...BLOWING DUST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM TO 10 PM MST  
WEDNESDAY...  
 
* WHAT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH ORGANIZED OUTFLOW WIND GUSTS OF  
45-55 MPH WILL RESULT IN BLOWING DUST, REDUCING VISIBILITY BETWEEN  
ONE-QUARTER MILE AND ONE MILE AT TIMES. DENSE BLOWING DUST WILL  
INITIALLY DEVELOP ACROSS SOUTHEAST PIMA AND WESTERN SANTA CRUZ  
COUNTIES DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND SPREAD WEST TO NORTHWEST  
ACROSS THE TOHONO O'ODHAM NATION AND INTO WESTERN PIMA AND  
SOUTHEAST PINAL COUNTIES THROUGH THE EVENING.  
 
* WHERE...UPPER SANTA CRUZ RIVER VALLEY/ALTAR VALLEY.  
 
* WHEN...FROM 3 PM TO 10 PM MST WEDNESDAY.  
 
* IMPACTS...BLOWING DUST CAN RESTRICT VISIBILITIES BELOW A MILE  
POSING A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD TO MOTORISTS. IN ADDITION, STRONG AND  
GUSTY WINDS WILL LIKELY SUSPEND DUST INTO THE AIR THAT PEOPLE AND  
ANIMALS BREATHE. INDIVIDUALS WITH HEART DISEASE AND RESPIRATORY  
SENSITIVITIES MAY WANT TO REDUCE THEIR LEVEL OF EXERTION TO LIMIT  
THE DUST THEY BREATHE INTO THEIR LUNGS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE NEAR  
DUST PRONE LOCATIONS. THOSE MOST AT RISK MAY FEEL BETTER IF THEY  
AVOID OUTSIDE EXERCISE TODAY, KEEPING WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED TO  
HELP REDUCE EXPOSURE.  
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...  
 
PERSONS WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS SHOULD MAKE PREPARATIONS TO STAY  
INDOORS UNTIL THE STORM PASSES. BE READY FOR A SUDDEN DROP IN  
VISIBILITY TO NEAR ZERO. IF YOU ENCOUNTER BLOWING DUST OR BLOWING  
SAND ON THE ROADWAY OR SEE IT APPROACHING, PULL OFF THE ROAD AS FAR  
AS POSSIBLE AND PUT YOUR VEHICLE IN PARK. TURN THE LIGHTS ALL THE WAY  
OFF AND KEEP FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. REMEMBER, 'PULL ASIDE, STAY  
ALIVE'.  
 

 
 

 
 
CWR  
 
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