Flash flooding is the sharpest threat facing campers at Saguaro National Park, with 14 recorded flash flood events in Pima County compounding 34 thunderstorm wind incidents that together drove the area's hazard total. Arizona's desert terrain channels stormwater with almost no warning — a thunderstorm miles away can send a wall of water down a dry wash before a single raindrop falls at your campsite. These storms also produced 3 deaths and 2 injuries in the recorded period.
Before setting up camp, check the National Weather Service forecast specifically for flash flood watches, and never pitch a tent in a wash or low-lying drainage area, even if the sky looks clear. Pack a NOAA weather radio or download the Hi-NRG Alert app so you receive real-time warnings without cell service. If thunderstorm winds kick up, move your vehicle away from saguaro columns and dead limbs, which can topple or break with little warning.
Top recorded hazards in Pima County
County dataFrom NOAA Storm Events (2024). Counts of recorded incidents — not all occurred at this park.
- Thunderstorm Wind 34
- Flash Flood 14
- Hail 6
- Tornado 1
- Flood 1
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About Saguaro National Park
Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park, to the east and west of the modern city of Tucson. Here you have a chance to see these enormous cacti, silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset.
Weather
Winter Season With daytime temperature from the low 50's to the high 70's Summer Season As we get deeper into the summer season, temperatures will range from mid-90's to low 110's. This is a great time to experience the desert as the day breaks or in the late of the day as the sun disappears behind the surrounding mountain ranges. During the late spring and summer months Saguaro National Park only offers interpretive programs on an intermittent basis.