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

Very hot high temperatures of 106 to 119 degrees, or 8 to 13 degrees above normal, occurred in the lower elevations of southeast Arizona June 12-20, and caused the High Heat Risk category to be reached. New record daily high temperature records were established at numerous sites on several days during this period. For Tucson International Airport, this nine day period contributed to the hottest June on record and the 4th hottest temperature on record of 115 degrees occurred on June 15. Sites that tied or broke all time hottest temperature records included Ajo with 119 degrees, Sasabe with 113, Green Valley with 112. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for 14 people found in the desert of Pima and Santa Cruz counties during this time period.

Very hot temperatures were experienced in much of southeast Arizona from June 12-20 with high temperatures exceeding established records in many locations. A number of heat-related deaths were reported of persons found in desert.