Excessive Heat — Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet, Arizona

2023-07-15 to 2023-07-22 · Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet, Arizona

Event narrative

Very hot temperatures of 10 to 15 degrees above normal caused the Major Heat Risk category to be reached in Cochise County July 15-22. Record highs included 111 degrees July 17-18, and 110 July 20-21 at Cascabel; 104 July 21-22 at Tombstone; 106 on July 21, and 105 July 18-20 and 22 at Sierra Vista; 107 on July 19, and 106 on July 18, 20-21 at Bisbee-Douglas Airport; 110 on July 21, 109 on July 22, and 108 on July 16 at Willcox; 107 on July 17 and 20 at San Simon. The Pima County Medical Examiner determined that heat was the primary cause of death for one individual on July 16 whose A/C was turned off in Sierra Vista and for another who was found in the desert near the International Border and New Mexico state line on the 20th.

Wider weather episode

Persistent strong high pressure aloft created an extended period of very hot temperatures July 14-30 across southeast Arizona. High temperatures were 5 to 14 degrees above normal causing the Major Heat Risk category to be reached and numerous high temperatures to be established. Several dozen heat-related fatalities were reported by the Pima County Medical Examiner.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1127102. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.