Arizona, 2020Heat in Arizona, September 20, 2020
September 20, 2020 · NWS TWC · 1 event in 1 county or zone
Hot temperatures were experienced on September 20th with high temperatures around 100 degrees in eastern Pima County. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one male found in the desert near Sahuarita.
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- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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.
Hot temperatures were experienced on September 20th with high temperatures around 100 degrees in eastern Pima County. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one male found in the desert near Sahuarita.
What forecasters said that day
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 Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 20, 3:40 AM MST, 7 hours 20 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 20, 3:40 AM MST, 7 hours 20 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
340 AM MST Sun Sep 20 2020
.SYNOPSIS...High temperatures will remain several degrees above
normal through much of next week. A stray shower or thunderstorm
will be possible mainly in Santa Cruz County this afternoon. There
will also be a slight chance of thunderstorms in the White
Mountains next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...Biggest change in the forecast this morning was to
account for an increase in shower and thunderstorm coverage this
afternoon. The best chance will be across Santa Cruz and the
southern portions of Pima County. Any activity should stay south
of Tucson. Moisture and instability are meager, but an approaching
upper level jet streak will traverse across the International
Border today. This will provide an area of enhanced lift to
account for lackluster moisture/instability. Don't get too excited
though, as activity should be isolated and rain amounts light.
There are hints some lingering moisture could help kick off a
couple more showers and thunderstorms again on Monday for the
sdame areas. Then any activity seems to switch to the White Mtns
for the rest of the week. Any activity will remain isolated.
Persistent high temperatures for the next 7 days, basically
running 3-6 degrees above normal. Regional haze will remain from
western wildfires, but significant smoke is not expected.
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 21/12Z.
Hazy skies from wildfire smoke will remain over the area. Otherwise
expect SCT to locally BKN 14-16k ft MSL through the period, mainly
west of Willcox. ISOLD -SHRA/-TSRA this afternoon south of KTUS,
potentially affecting KOLS. Surface winds ELY-SELY at 8-15 kt with
gusts to 25 kts through this morning and diminishing this afternoon.
Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...A bit of moisture moved over southern AZ for a
slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm south of Tucson from Kitt
Peak east to Sierra Vista this afternoon and possibly again Monday
afternoon. Otherwise it will remain warm and primarily dry with a
slight chance of showers or thunderstorms over the White
Mountains each afternoon starting the middle of next week. Minimum
RH amounts hover around 12 to 20 percent in the valleys with 20
to 30 percent in the higher elevations. East or southeast 20-ft
winds will continue in a few locations today with gusts up to 25
mph at times in terrain favored locations. otherwise mainly light
and terrain driven winds expected Monday onward.
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None.
&&
Public...Michael
Aviation...Cerniglia
Fire Weather....Cerniglia
Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
Heat, Tucson Metro Area
- When
- September 20, 11:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
- Where
- Tucson Metro Area forecast zone
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 32.097, -111.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Temperatures 6 to 9 degrees above normal around 100 degrees occurred in eastern Pima County causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached on September 20th. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one male near Sahuarita.
- Heat
- Heat below excessive heat criteria that still caused deaths, injuries or significant impacts.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Gulf of Mexico, September 20 to 21, 202055 kt wind · 13 events
- Storm Surge in Louisiana, September 20 to 22, 202012 events
- Coastal Flood in Florida, September 20 to 23, 20205 events
- Coastal Flood in Florida, September 20, 20204 events
- Marine Tropical Storm in Gulf of Mexico, September 20 to 22, 20203 events
- Flooding in Florida, September 20, 20202 events
- Coastal Flood in Georgia, September 20, 20201 event
- Marine Thunderstorm Wind in South Atlantic Coastal Waters, September 20, 20201 event
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: 922402.