Excessive Heat, Yuma/Martinez Lake and Vicinity
- When
- July 9, 2:00 PM MST to July 11, 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Yuma/Martinez Lake and Vicinity forecast zone
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- Newspaper
Strong high pressure aloft over the desert southwest led to excessive heat across the southwestern Arizona deserts on July 11th. An excessive heat warning had been in effect since 2 pm Monday, and remained in effect through 8 pm Wednesday. Although high temperatures lowered to around 110 on Wednesday, highs across the western Arizona and southeast California deserts reached between 115 and 118 on the 9th and 10th. Despite the excessive heat warning the heat proved deadly for a Somerton man on July 11th. According to an article in the Yuma Sun, shortly after 8 pm, firefighters were dispatched to a residence in the 3300 block of West Mandarina Street. When the firefighters entered the home, they realized there was no air conditioning and temperatures were in excess of 100 degrees. They found a 72 year old man in his bedroom, unconcious and unresponsive. They removed him from the home and treated him in their ambulance before transferring him to the Yuma Regional Medical Center. Despite the medical care, he passed away. Earlier in the day, at 1130 am, firefighters treated a 37 year old man working outside at the West Cocopah Reservation. The man was experiencing a heat emergency, and was having seizures. He was transported to YRMC and survived.