Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 22 to 27, 2018

Name: Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 22 to 27, 2018
Start: 2018-07-22T17:00
End: 2018-07-27T23:59
Location: Arizona

July 22 to 27, 2018 · NWS PSR · 39 events in 31 counties and zones

Strong high pressure building into the region resulted in excessive heat warning conditions across much of south-central and southwest Arizona. The deadly heatwave resulted in 25 fatalities (23 direct and 2 indirect) according to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 39 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 25
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 39

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PSR wrote it up.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

31 excessive heat, 8 heat. Local standard time, as filed.

Heat, Central Phoenix

When: July 22, 5:00 PM MST
Where: Central Phoenix forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One direct fatality was reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender and circumstances unavailable.

Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Central Phoenix forecast zone
Deaths: 10 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive heat warning conditions were observed with 10 direct fatalities due to the heat reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with the specifics, such as age, gender, and circumstances unavailable.

Excessive Heat, East Valley

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: East Valley forecast zone
Deaths: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive heat warning conditions were observed with 3 direct fatalities due to the heat reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with the specifics, such as age, gender, and circumstances unavailable.

Excessive Heat, Buckeye/Avondale

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where: Buckeye/Avondale forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive heat warning conditions were observed with one direct fatality due to the heat reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with the specifics, such as age, gender, and circumstances unavailable.

Excessive Heat, Southeast Yuma County

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Southeast Yuma County forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 32.769, -113.906 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Yuma

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Yuma forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 32.769, -113.906 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Gila River Valley

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Gila River Valley forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 32.769, -113.906 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Gila Bend

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Gila Bend forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Cave Creek/New River

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Cave Creek/New River forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Deer Valley

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Deer Valley forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: North Phoenix/Glendale forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Scottsdale/Paradise Valley forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, South Mountain/Ahwatukee

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: South Mountain/Ahwatukee forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Southeast Valley/Queen Creek

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Southeast Valley/Queen Creek forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Northwest Pinal County

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Northwest Pinal County forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 32.904, -111.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, West Pinal County

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: West Pinal County forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 32.904, -111.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Sonoran Desert Natl Monument

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Sonoran Desert Natl Monument forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Aguila Valley

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Aguila Valley forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Northwest Valley

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Northwest Valley forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Tonopah Desert

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Tonopah Desert forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, New River Mesa

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: New River Mesa forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Rio Verde/Salt River

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Rio Verde/Salt River forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Fountain Hills/East Mesa

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Fountain Hills/East Mesa forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Superior

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Superior forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 32.904, -111.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Apache Junction/Gold Canyon

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Apache Junction/Gold Canyon forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 32.904, -111.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Tonto Basin

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Tonto Basin forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.800, -110.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, San Carlos

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: San Carlos forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.800, -110.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Dripping Springs

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Dripping Springs forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.800, -110.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Globe/Miami

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Globe/Miami forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.800, -110.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Parker Valley

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Parker Valley forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.729, -113.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Kofa

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Kofa forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.249, -113.943 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Central la Paz

When: July 23, 10:00 AM MST to July 25, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Central la Paz forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.729, -113.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Central Phoenix

When: July 26, 12:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where: Central Phoenix forecast zone
Deaths: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three direct fatalities were reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender and circumstances unavailable.

Heat, East Valley

When: July 26, 12:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where: East Valley forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One direct fatality was reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender and circumstances unavailable.

Heat, Buckeye/Avondale

When: July 26, 12:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where: Buckeye/Avondale forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One direct fatality was reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender and circumstances unavailable.

Heat, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley

When: July 26, 12:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where: Scottsdale/Paradise Valley forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One indirect fatality was reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender and circumstances unavailable.

Heat, Central Phoenix

When: July 27, 12:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where: Central Phoenix forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One direct fatality was reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender and circumstances unavailable.

Heat, East Valley

When: July 27, 12:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where: East Valley forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One direct fatality was reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender and circumstances unavailable.

Heat, Northwest Valley

When: July 27, 12:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where: Northwest Valley forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two fatalities (one direct and one indirect) were reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender and circumstances unavailable.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Where	Kind
Heat, Central Phoenix	2018-07-22	Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2018-07-23	Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2018-07-23	Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2018-07-23	Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2018-07-23	Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2018-07-24	Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2018-07-24	Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2018-07-25	Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2018-07-25	Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2018-07-25	Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2018-07-24	Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, East Valley	2018-07-23	Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, East Valley	2018-07-25	Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, East Valley	2018-07-25	Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Buckeye/Avondale	2018-07-23	Unknown	Direct
Heat, Central Phoenix	2018-07-26	Unknown	Direct
Heat, Central Phoenix	2018-07-26	Unknown	Direct
Heat, Central Phoenix	2018-07-26	Unknown	Direct
Heat, East Valley	2018-07-26	Unknown	Direct
Heat, Buckeye/Avondale	2018-07-26	Unknown	Direct
Heat, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley	2018-07-26	Unknown	Indirect
Heat, Central Phoenix	2018-07-27	Unknown	Direct
Heat, East Valley	2018-07-27	Unknown	Direct
Heat, Northwest Valley	2018-07-27	Unknown	Direct
Heat, Northwest Valley	2018-07-27	Unknown	Indirect

What these are

Heat: Heat below excessive heat criteria that still caused deaths, injuries or significant impacts.
Excessive Heat: Heat at or above the local excessive heat warning criteria, or heat that caused deaths.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Arizona in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in Arizona, July 2018

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 864897, 864898, 864899, 864900, 865054, 865055, 865056, 865057, 865060, 865061, 865062, 865063, 865064, 865065, 865067, 865068, 865070, 865071, 865072, 865073, 865074, 865075, 865076, 865077, 865078, 865079, 865080, 865081, 865082, 865095, 865096, 865097, 864904, 864905, 864906, 864907, 864908, 864909, 864910.