Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys storm history

High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 6 degrees above normal, causing Major HeatRisk. The Safford Agriculture Center reached a high temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was a contributing factor in the cause of death for…

High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 13 degrees above normal, causing Major HeatRisk. The Safford Agricultural Center reached a high temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was a contributing factor in the cause of death f…

High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 9 degrees above normal, causing Moderate HeatRisk. The Safford COOP site reached a high temperature of 107 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was a factor in the cause of death for an individual in S…

High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 3 degrees above normal, causing Minor HeatRisk. The Safford Regional Airport reached a high temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that the cause of death for an individual in Solomon was heat c…

High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 4 degrees below normal and a low temperature 8 degrees above normal, causing Low HeatRisk. The Black Hills RAWS near Bylas reached a high temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that the cause of …

Cold morning temperatures were 4 to 7 degrees below normal across Southeastern Arizona. The Safford Airport reached a low temperature of 28 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that environmental cold exposure was the primary factor in the cause of death…

Hot temperatures about 3 to 5 degrees above normal were experienced in the Safford area on August 18. The high in Safford was 100 degrees and moderate Heat Risk category was reached. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was a contributing factor in the cause of de…

Hot temperatures about 4 to 8 degrees above normal were experienced in the Upper Gila River Valley on July 10 through July 12, causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached. The County Medical Examiner Office reported two deaths, both with the primary cause as heat in Saf…

Very hot temperatures up to 15 degrees above normal caused the Major Heat Risk category to be reached in the lower elevations of Graham and Greenlee counties July 15-28. Record highs at Safford Airport included 113 degrees July 19; 112 on July 20 and 26; and 111 on July 17, 21, 2…

Very hot temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees above normal caused the Major Heat Risk category to be reached July 2-9. Record highs of 110 degrees on July 3 and 108 on July 7 occurred at the Safford Airport, 109 degrees on July 2 and 6 at the Safford Ag Station, and 107 degrees on Jul…

Hot high temperatures around 105 degrees, or 5 to 7 degrees above normal, occurred on July 18, causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one individual who dies in the hospital sh…

For the month of December, Graham county ranked the 11th driest for the period of record and Greenlee county ranked the 13th driest for the period of record. Soil moisture readings continued to range between the 30th and 70th percentile for the month of December.

For the month of November, Graham county ranked the 17th driest for the period of record and Greenlee county ranked the 19th driest for the period of record. Soil moisture readings continued to range between the 30th and 70th percentile for the month of November.

For the month of October, Graham county ranked the 12th driest for the period of record and Greenlee county ranked the 15th driest for the period of record. Soil moisture readings increased to range between the 30th and 70th percentile for the month of October.

For the month of September, Graham county ranked the 9th driest for the period of record and Greenlee county ranked the 11th driest for the period of record. Soil moisture readings decreased to range between the 1st and 10th percentile for the month of September.

Arizona DOT web camera showed dust storm reducing visibilities to less than 0.25 miles.

The Goodwin Wildfire was discovered on August 6th at the base of the Pinaleno Mountains and was caused by lightning. The Goodwin wildfire reached 1059 acres with no damage to property or injury. As of this publication the wildfire is still burning.

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.

Strong thunderstorms with winds observed between 40 to 53 mph was able to produce a dust storm through Safford. A trained spotter reported visibility at 0.25 miles.

Extreme Drought (D3) continued in the Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys in the month of July. For the month of July, Graham county ranked the 22nd driest for the period of record. Soil moisture readings increased to between the 30th and 70th percentile for the month of July.

The Bryce Wildfire began on May 7th, near Bryce, AZ, was active through June 13th. There was no damage to any property with this wildfire and was human caused. The fire reached 3294 acres and injured one firefighter.

Extreme Drought (D3) continued in the upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys in the month of June. For the month of June, Graham county ranked the 41st wettest for the period of record and Greenlee county ranked the 52nd wettest for the period of record. Soil moisture readings inc…

The Bryce Wildfire began on May 7th, near Bryce, AZ, was active through June 13th. There was no damage to any property with this wildfire and was human caused. The fire reached 3294 acres and injured one firefighter.

The extreme (D3) drought category continued in Graham county in May. The drought area remained the same. For the month of May, Graham county ranked the 57th driest for the period of record. Soil moisture readings increased to between the 1st and 5th percentile for the month of Ma…

Guthrie RAWS reported a max non thunderstorm wind gust of 74 mph.

The extreme (D3) drought category continued in western sections of southeast Arizona during March. The drought area remained the same. For the month of March, Graham county ranked the 47th wettest for the period of record and Greenlee county ranked the 64th driest for the period …

The extreme (D3) drought category was introduced to northeastern sections of southeast Arizona during beginning of February. The drought area began with portions of southern Greenlee and southeast Graham counties. For the month of February, Greenlee County ranked 10th driest and …

Hot temperatures about 7 to 11 degrees above normal were experienced in the Safford area, causing the Major Heat Risk category to be reached.

Hot temperatures 7 to 10 degrees above normal were experienced in the Upper Gila River Valley July 8 through July 9 causing the Major Heat Risk category to be reached.

Hot temperatures about 6 to 10 degrees above normal were experienced in the Upper Gila River Valley, causing the Major Heat Risk category to be reached.

The Safford area experienced major Heat Risk on June 16 with high temperatures of 106 degrees. These temperatures were about 4 to 6 degrees above normal.

Hot temperatures 8 to 12 degrees above normal were experienced in the Upper Gila River Valley, causing the Major Heat Risk category to be reached. Safford topped out at as high as 111 degrees on June 12.

Hot temperatures 8 to 10 degrees above normal were experienced in the Upper Gila River Valley on June 6 and June 7, causing the Major Heat Risk category to be reached. Safford Airport recorded highs of 110 degrees and 108 degrees for June 6 and June 7.

The extreme (D3) drought category across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona ended on April 22. This area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains. A storm system r…

The extreme (D3) drought category continued across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona during March. The area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains. While rain o…

The extreme (D3) drought category continued across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona during February. The area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains. While rai…

The extreme (D3) drought category continued across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona during much of January. The area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains; wh…

The extreme (D3) drought category continued across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona during December. The area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains; while are…

The extreme (D3) drought category continued across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona during November. The area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains; while are…

The extreme (D3) drought category continued across far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona during October. The area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua Mountains; while area…

The extreme (D3) drought category was introduced to far southern and eastern sections of southeast Arizona during the latter half of September. The area near the New Mexico line encompassed southern Greenlee, southeast Graham and eastern Cochise counties, including the Chiricahua…

Two lightning-caused fires began on Black Mountain, 18 miles north of Safford, on July 29. Winds and complex terrain caused the fires to merge on July 30 to form the Treadway Fire. A total of 8400 acres were consumed before extreme fire behavior was tempered by firefighting effor…

Two lightning-caused fires began on Black Mountain, 18 miles north of Safford, on July 29. Winds and complex terrain caused the fires to merge on July 30 to form the Treadway Fire. A total of 8400 acres were consumed before extreme fire behavior was tempered by firefighting effor…

The lightning caused Red Point Tank Fire started on July 17 and burned 5,169 acres on the far east side of the San Carlos Apache Tribe Reservation in eastern Graham County before becoming contained on July 21. Fire suppression costs tallied $300,000.

The lightning caused Homestead Fire started on July 13 and burned 1,835 acres on the southwest side of the Pinaleno Mountains in southern Graham County before becoming contained on July 16. Fire suppression costs tallied $765,000.

Very hot temperatures 6 to 11 degrees above normal were experienced in the lower elevations of Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Santa Cruz and southeast Pinal counties June 26-27, causing the Major Heat Risk category to be reached. Some of the hottest temperatures during the period wer…

In the Sulphur Springs Valley of northern Cochise and southern Graham counties, temperatures remained below 20 degrees for several hours from midnight to 7 am with a low temperature of 14 degrees. This late season hard freeze caused the total loss of the cherry and peach crops wi…

About 4 inches of snow fell in the Klondyke area resulting in difficult travel, especially on secondary roadways.

Guthrie RAWS at 6300 ft MSL recorded several gusts higher than 65 mph and a peak gust of 92 mph at 1203MST. A portable RAWS at 4800 ft MSL near the Galiuro Mountains recorded a gust to 65 mph at 1128MST.

Very hot high temperatures around 10 degrees above normal occurred across the lower elevations of southeast Arizona on July 22, causing the High Heat Risk category to be reached. The hottest temperature was 112 at Ajo. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Sells, Picacho, and Saff…