Excessive Heat — Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys, Arizona

2020-08-13 to 2020-08-16 · Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys, Arizona

Event narrative

Very hot temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above normal occurred in parts of southeast Arizona, causing the High Heat Risk category to be reached August 13 through August 16. Record high temperatures were tied or set at most locations on multiple days during the period. The hottest record temperatures during this stretch were 113 degrees at Safford Airport on August 15; 111 at both Fort Thomas on the 15th and 16th and Sasabe on the 14th; 110 at Duncan on the 15th; and 104 at Nogales Airport on the 13th and 15th. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one adult male near Ruby on August 16th.

Wider weather episode

An extended period of very hot temperatures were experienced in southeast Arizona from August 13th-19th. Many locations approached or exceeded 110 degrees and set new daily record high temperatures. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for four adult males during the period, two each in Pima and Santa Cruz counties.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 919167. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.