Heat — Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys, Arizona

2022-07-18 · Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys, Arizona

Event narrative

Hot high temperatures around 105 degrees, or 5 to 7 degrees above normal, occurred on July 18, 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 who dies in the hospital shortly after being found in their Safford home.

Wider weather episode

Hot temperatures 5 to 7 degrees above normal were experienced across parts of southeast Arizona July 17 and 18. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one individual found outdoors in Tucson on the 17th and for an additional five individuals on the 18th. Of those, four were found in the desert: two on the Tohono O'odham Nation; one in east central Pima County; and one in Cochise County. A fifth individual died in the hospital shortly after being found in their Safford residence.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1141390. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.