The Desert Southwest remained under the influence of high pressure during the early part of August and led to above normal temperatures on the 7th and 8th. Five heat-associated fatalities (1 direct and 4 indirect) were reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS PSR wrote it up.
The Desert Southwest remained under the influence of high pressure during the early part of August and led to above normal temperatures on the 7th and 8th. Five heat-associated fatalities (1 direct and 4 indirect) were reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Phoenix, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 6, 10:22 PM MST, 1 hour 38 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Phoenix AZ 1022 PM MST Tue Aug 6 2019 .UPDATE...Updated Aviation Discussion... && .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will continue to slowly drift east through the week as an upper trough approaches the west coast. This will allow for near normal temperatures through the rest of the week. Moisture levels will remain sufficient for shower and thunderstorm chances through the rest of the week, focused more over higher terrain areas, but also including the lower deserts. && .DISCUSSION... Extensive cloud cover over much of the region along with a warm layer aloft led to a fairly quiet day across southeast California through central Arizona. Southerly flow aloft in combination with low level outflows last night have raised moisture levels substantially with PWATS of 1.5-1.7" now over much of the area. The 00Z Phoenix raob sampled 1.74" PWAT and 11 g/kg mean mixing ratio, plenty of moisture to work with, but a strong mid level inversion is also present. A weakening inverted trough that moved northward through eastern Arizona earlier today also provided subsidence in its wake over much of central Arizona. For the rest of tonight, mostly cloudy skies look to continue with cirrus blow-off from an MCS over northern Mexico making its way into Arizona. Across southern California, Hi-Res CAMs are picking up on shower and possibly some weak thunderstorm potential by 12Z Wed morning. This is likely in response to another inverted trough moving northwestward out of Mexico into the Lower Colorado River Valley late tonight. An unseasonably strong upper level jet max to our west will also provide additional ascent for any activity that gets going late tonight into Wednesday morning. For the rest of Wednesday, storm activity will have to contend with somewhat limited instability, but any substantial breaks in the clouds could help with storm development. For now it seems the best chances will be across far southern Arizona into southeast California. Have made some adjustments to PoPs to account for these chances through Wednesday evening. && PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... Through the remainder of the week the upper high will continue to drift east placing much of the area under a southerly flow which will be more favorable for allowing some moisture to work across at least the eastern half to two thirds of the area. A few disturbances will rotate up into central Arizona enhancing the threat for thunderstorms across the area. Meanwhile an upper trough will be approaching the west coast inducing a bit more of a SW flow across southern California which will act to force drier air across this area. With this setup, moisture will ebb and flow back and forth across the forecast area as the disturbances pass across the region altering where storm development will be favorable. That will be the forecast challenge through the remainder of the week into the weekend. At least with this pattern, lower heights and thicknesses will allow for cooler temperatures than we have seen lately, generally remaining closer to normal into early next week. && .AVIATION...Updated at 0520 UTC. South-Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT: A weak southerly outflow boundary moving through late this evening will turn winds out of the south to southeast with gusts into the teens possible through around 06-07Z. High level cloudiness should persist through at least Wednesday morning, but bases should remain at or above 10-12K feet. Forecast confidence for storm activity Wednesday afternoon/evening is still fairly low and looks likely to stay well west and south of Phoenix. However, storm outflows from the southwest are more likely to affect the Phoenix metro sometime during the evening. Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH: A weak disturbance is seen moving through southern California Wednesday morning with scattered showers and possibly a few thunderstorms. Shower activity could linger into the early afternoon before diminishing and moving to the northeast. Southerly winds will dominate into Wednesday with occasional gustiness to around 15 kts. Aviation Discussion not updated for amended TAFs. && .FIRE WEATHER... Friday through Tuesday: Afternoon thunderstorms will continue to favor the higher terrain districts into Monday with less lower odds of storms surviving into lower elevations. However, gusty thunderstorm outflow winds will continue to be a concern for any ongoing incidents. A trend toward drier conditions is becoming more likely beyond Monday due to increasing southwest flow aloft. Otherwise, temperatures will hover around seasonal normal values while winds follow typical diurnal trends, outside of any thunderstorms. Humidity values will generally drop into the teens across the lower elevations while remaining slightly higher above 20% over higher terrain. Overnight recoveries will increase into the upper 30s-40s for most locations. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters should follow standard reporting procedures. && .PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AZ...None. CA...None. && DISCUSSION...Kuhlman PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...Cerniglia AVIATION...Kuhlman FIRE WEATHER...Cerniglia
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 heat. Local standard time, as filed.
One indirect fatality was reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender and circumstances unavailable.
One indirect fatality was reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender and circumstances unavailable.
One indirect fatality was reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender and circumstances unavailable.
One direct fatality was reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender and circumstances unavailable.
One indirect fatality was reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender and circumstances unavailable.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat, Central Phoenix | 2019-08-07 | Unknown | Indirect | ||
| Heat, East Valley | 2019-08-07 | Unknown | Indirect | ||
| Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale | 2019-08-07 | Unknown | Indirect | ||
| Heat, Buckeye/Avondale | 2019-08-08 | Unknown | Direct | ||
| Heat, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley | 2019-08-08 | Unknown | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, August 2019
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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 931018, 931019, 931020, 931021, 931022.