Arizona, 2020Heat in Arizona, September 29, 2020
September 29, 2020 · NWS TWC · 2 events in 2 counties and zones
Hot temperatures were experienced on September 29th with high temperatures around 100 degrees in southeastern Pima County. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for two males found in the desert, one near Three Points and another on the Tohono O'odham Nation southeast of San Miguel.
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- Deaths
- 2
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
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 29th with high temperatures around 100 degrees in southeastern Pima County. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for two males found in the desert, one near Three Points and another on the Tohono O'odham Nation southeast of San Miguel.
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 29, 3:21 AM MST, 7 hours 39 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 29, 3:21 AM MST, 7 hours 39 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
321 AM MST Tue Sep 29 2020
.SYNOPSIS...High pressure will push temperatures back to near
record levels the second half of the week into the weekend.
&&
.DISCUSSION...Our weather will be dominated by a strong ridge of
high pressure from the west coast into the Great Basin and desert
southwest for the next 7 days. That will mean dry conditions with
afternoon highs running 8 to 12 degrees above average.
The hottest days will be Wednesday through Saturday with near
record highs and Tucson continuing to flirt with adding 100 degree
days to the total for the year. We currently stand at 98, only 1
behind the record of 99. October is going to start out way above
average, following what is now guaranteed to be the warmest
September on record. The all time record hottest temperature in
October is 102, and that will be threatened Thursday and/or
Friday.
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 30/12Z.
Clear skies. Surface winds out of the east and southeast at 12 to
18 kts this morning, diminishing this afternoon. Aviation
discussion not updated for TAF amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Dry conditions and warmer than normal for the next
7 days. 20-ft winds will be easterly through Wednesday morning then
settle into normal diurnal trends Wednesday afternoon into the
weekend. Wind speeds will be elevated this morning. Min RH values
will be in the low teens today then drop into the single digits
for some locales Wednesday through the weekend.
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&
Meyer/Rasmussen
Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
Heat, Tohono O Odham Nation
- When
- September 29, 11:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
- Where
- Tohono O Odham Nation forecast zone
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 32.501, -111.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Temperatures 9 to 13 degrees above normal around 100 degrees occurred in southeastern Pima County causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached on September 29th. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for two males, one 10 miles southeast of San Miguel on the Tohono O'odham Nation and another near Three Points.
Heat, Tucson Metro Area
- When
- September 29, 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 9 to 13 degrees above normal around 100 degrees occurred in southeastern Pima County causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached on September 29th. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for two males, one 10 miles southeast of San Miguel on the Tohono O'odham Nation and another near Three Points.
- 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.
- Rip Currents in Puerto Rico, September 29, 20202 deaths · 2 events
- Tornadoes in Virginia, September 29, 2020$70,000 · EF0 · 2 events
- Damaging Winds in North Carolina, September 29, 2020$20,000 · 50 kt wind · 11 events
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, September 29 to 30, 202017 events
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in South Atlantic Coastal Waters, September 29, 202058 kt wind · 14 events
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, September 29, 202050 kt wind · 7 events
- Drought in California, September 29 to 30, 20205 events
- Excessive Heat and Wildfire in California, September 29 to 30, 20205 events
- Damaging Winds in North Carolina, September 29, 2020$3,000 · 50 kt wind · 5 events
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in South Atlantic Coastal Waters, September 29, 20204 events
- Damaging Winds in Georgia, September 29, 202050 kt wind · 4 events
- Damaging Winds in South Carolina, September 29, 2020$10,000 · 58 kt wind · 4 events
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: 922403, 922404.