Arizona, 2021Cold in Arizona, January 23, 2021
January 23, 2021 · NWS TWC · 1 event in 1 county or zone
Temperatures in the lower 30s were observed with wind chills in the 20s during the predawn hours of January 23rd. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that hypothermia was the primary cause of death for one adult male in the Peloncillo Mountains of southeast Cochise County.
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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.
Temperatures in the lower 30s were observed with wind chills in the 20s during the predawn hours of January 23rd. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that hypothermia was the primary cause of death for one adult male in the Peloncillo Mountains of southeast Cochise County.
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 Jan 22, 3:26 PM MST, 10 hours 34 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 22, 3:26 PM MST, 10 hours 34 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
326 PM MST Fri Jan 22 2021
.SYNOPSIS...A pair of winter storm systems will impact the area
Sunday and Monday afternoon into Tuesday with a good chance of
valley rain and mountain snow. The strongest and coldest storm is
expected to start Monday afternoon with lower snow levels possible
and more significant accumulations in the mountains. Gusty winds
at times along with temperatures well below average.
&&
.DISCUSSION...The first of 2 winter storms that will move across
the state is currently near northern California and will dig into
Arizona Sunday. There is already some residual moisture for it to
work with along with whatever it manages to bring along. A cooler
airmass will see snow levels falling to 5000 feet with several
inches possible above 6000 feet. Some higher mountain locations
may exceed 6 inches so a Winter Weather Advisory has been issued
for Sunday. Valley rainfall amounts in the .1 to .3 inch range for
most locations.
A potentially colder and stronger system is expected to drop into
Arizona Monday and Tuesday. We will probably not see a whole lot
until Monday afternoon, but an even colder airmass may drop snow
levels to 4500 feet Monday, and below 4000 feet Tuesday morning.
Snow showers are not out of the question in some valley locations
Tuesday. Significant accumulations are possible in the mountains,
potentially well in excess of the Sunday system.
Depending on clearing, a widespread hard freeze is possible
Wednesday morning, and may include the Tucson metro area. Lots of
timing issues before that is nailed down.
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 24/00Z.
Generally FEW to at times SCT clouds at 5k-9k ft AGL through the
next 24 hours. Some increasing mid-high levels cloudiness is likely
between 15k-20k ft AGL Saturday afternoon. Clouds may thicken and
lower by later Saturday evening into Sunday morning as another storm
system begins to impact the region. VCSH or -SHRA is possible at TAF
locales by 06Z Sunday. SFC winds from the SW around 12-18 kts with
gusts up to 28 kts are likely Saturday afternoon. Aviation
discussion not updated for TAF amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...A series of colder storm systems will move
across the region this weekend into next week, for a continued
chance of valley rain and much lower snow levels late Saturday into
Sunday and then again Monday through Tuesday. Some breezy winds are
expected during this unsettled weather period, however RH levels
will remain high with plenty of moisture. A drier pattern is
expected Wednesday and Thursday of next week.
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory from 1 AM to 8 PM MST Sunday for
AZZ510>512-514.
&&
Public...Meyer
Aviation...Michael
Fire Weather....Michael
Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
Cold/Wind Chill, Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet
- When
- January 23, 2:00 AM MST to 9:00 AM MST
- Where
- Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet forecast zone
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 31.880, -109.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Temperatures in the lower 30s were observed with wind chills in the 20s during the predawn hours of January 23rd. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that hypothermia was the primary cause of death for one adult male in the Peloncillo Mountains of southeast Cochise County.
- Cold/Wind Chill
- Cold or wind chill below warning criteria that caused deaths, injuries or damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Winter Weather in South Dakota, January 23, 202124 events
- High Surf in Hawaii, January 23 to 24, 202114 events
- Winter Weather in Iowa, January 23, 202111 events
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New Mexico, January 23 to 26, 20219 events
- Winter Weather in Minnesota, January 23, 20218 events
- Winter Weather in Nebraska, January 23, 20212 events
- Marine Dense Fog in Gulf of Mexico, January 23, 20211 event
- Heavy Snow in Alaska, January 23 to 24, 20211 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: 939286.