Excessive Heat — Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys, Arizona

2022-06-09 to 2022-06-12 · Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys, Arizona

Event narrative

Very hot high temperatures of 102 to 109 degrees occurred and caused the High Heat Risk category to be reached. Nogales airport set a record with 105 degrees on the 10th and Sasabe reached 109 degrees on the 11th and 12th. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one individual found in the desert near Ruby on the 10th.

Wider weather episode

Very hot temperatures 7 to 10 degrees above normal were experienced in the lower elevations of Pima, Santa Cruz, Graham, Greenlee and southeast Pinal counties June 9-12, with high temperatures equaling or exceeding established records in several locations. Hot temperatures 4 to 7 degrees above normal were experienced in Cochise County. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for a total of 11 individuals. Six individuals found in the desert, two on the Tohono O'odham Nation, one in Santa Cruz County, two in southeast Pima County and one in Tucson Mountain Park. Four victims were found in the Tucson (2 indoors and 2 outdoors), and another individual perished in his home in Bowie.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1040201. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.