Excessive Heat — New River Mesa, Arizona

2022-09-05 · New River Mesa, Arizona

Event narrative

In the early afternoon, 6 hikers were 4 miles in on Spur Cross Trail when they became lost and ran out of water. The hikers' phones were also dead and had to borrow someone else's phone to call for help. After calling for help, first responders were able to rescue the hikers and airlift them off the trail. One hiker was taken to the hospital but did not survive. A Scottsdale Fire Captain said the individual died due to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner listed the primary cause of death as dehydration and heat exposure. Temperatures in the early afternoon were around 103-105 degrees.

Wider weather episode

An anomalously strong ridge of high pressure, with 500 mb heights around 594 dm, was parked over the western CONUS for the start of September. This resulted in well above normal temperatures as well as excessive heat conditions at times. Temperatures during this time in Phoenix officially peaked at 110 degrees on the 6th, while daily highs leading up to the 6th were around 108-109 degrees. Overnight temperatures during this time provided little relief from the heat as morning low temperatures only bottomed out in the upper 80s. According to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, 25 heat-associated fatalities occurred during this time. One of these fatalities was that of a hiker who died due to the heat after hiking Spur Cross Trail near Cave Creek.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1149106. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.