Excessive Heat — Tonopah Desert, Arizona

2023-07-16 · Tonopah Desert, Arizona

Event narrative

A 73-year-old man went on a bike ride in the Sun City Festival area around 1130MST on the 16th before experiencing a flat tire about an hour into his ride. He then called his wife and agreed to walk and meet her at a nearby fire department on Wagner Complex Drive so she could pick him up. His wife then called 911 after he didn't show up. Police and Buckeye Fire Department searched for the man and found his body in the desert less than a mile from the meeting location where he was planning to meet his wife. The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner determined that his death was due to the heat. Temperatures during the early afternoon hours in this area were around 107-110 degrees.

Wider weather episode

Strong persistent high pressure centered over the Desert Southwest led to dangerous excessive heat conditions across the region during the middle part of July. Anomalous, record-breaking heat was observed during the month, providing little relief. On the 16th, an elderly man went on a bike ride around noon in the Sun City Festival area when he then experienced a flat tire about an hour into his ride. After failing to meet his wife at their agreed upon meeting location, she called 911. First responders located the man deceased less than a mile from the meeting location. The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was due to the heat. Temperatures at the time this occurred were around 107-110 degrees.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1123498. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.