Excessive Heat — Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys, Arizona

2023-07-15 to 2023-07-28 · Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys, Arizona

Event narrative

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, 27. Record highs at Safford Ag Station included 112 degrees on July 26; and 111 on July 15, 17, 25 and 27. Record highs at Duncan included 111 degrees on July 18 and 27; and 110 on July 15, 21 and 26. The Pima County Medical Examiner determined that heat was a contributing factor in the death of one individual found in a shack in rural Graham County between Fort Thomas and Pima on July 23. A complicating factor in the fatality was drug toxicity.

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 1127103. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.