Excessive Heat — Greater Phoenix Area, Arizona

2011-08-22 to 2011-08-31 · Greater Phoenix Area, Arizona

Event narrative

Strong high pressure and a dry airmass led to excessive heat over the lower deserts of Arizona, starting Monday August 22nd and continuing through the end of the month. The hottest days during the heat wave were the first five, Monday through Friday, when the highs at Phoenix ranged from 113 to 117 degrees. The five consecutive days at or above 113 ties for the third longest streak of days with a high of 113 or greater. The 117 degree maximum on Friday August 26 not only broke the record for the date, but was the latest 117 degree maximum ever recorded, and the highest temperature ever recorded for the month of August. The extreme head led to the deaths of two people in the Phoenix area. A 70 year old woman was found dead Wednesday morning in her Surprise home after her air conditioner failed and the temperature rose to 107 degrees. Surprise Fire Captain Renee Hambin indicated that the cause of death was obviously related to the excessive heat inside her home. Additionally, a 75 year old Glendale man was found dead in his home on Thursday August 25th. Police went to his home as part of a welfare check and found him dead with the air conditioner blowing hot air and the temperature in excess of 100 degrees. Police Sgt. Brent Coombs said that the heat was definitely a factor in the man's death.

Wider weather episode

Unseasonably strong high pressure developed over the desert southwest during late August. Coupled with a rather dry air mass, this led to a protracted heat wave over the lower deserts of southwest and southcentral Arizona beginning on August 22nd and continuing through the end of the month. The high temperatures at Phoenix ranged from 113 to 117 degrees from Monday through Friday, and the high heat led to at least 2 deaths in the greater Phoenix area. Overnight minimum temperatures remained very high each night, and this led to an excessive heat warning that ran 24/7 from Monday morning through the end of August.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 328107. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.