Heat — Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys, Arizona

2022-07-11 · Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys, Arizona

Event narrative

Hot high temperatures around 100 degrees, or 5 degrees above normal, occurred on July 11, 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 found in the desert north of Nogales.

Wider weather episode

Very hot temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above normal were experienced across the western deserts of southeast Arizona on July 10 and 11. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one individual found in outdoors in Ajo on the 10th and for four individuals found the desert on the 11th: two on the Tohono O'odham Nation; one in east central Pima County; and one in Santa Cruz County.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1050403. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.