Arizona, 2021Heat in Arizona, July 21, 2021
July 21, 2021 · NWS TWC · 1 event in 1 county or zone
Hot temperatures of 100 to 105 degrees on the Tohono O'odham Nation were experienced on July 21. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one male found in the desert near Ali Chugk and a contributing factor of another male found near Vamori.
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- Deaths
- 2
- 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 of 100 to 105 degrees on the Tohono O'odham Nation were experienced on July 21. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one male found in the desert near Ali Chugk and a contributing factor of another male found near Vamori.
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 Jul 21, 2:59 AM MST, 7 hours 1 minute earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 2:59 AM MST, 7 hours 1 minute before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
259 AM MST Wed Jul 21 2021
.SYNOPSIS...An approaching weather system from the east will bring
widespread showers and thunderstorms to the area, especially from
Thursday evening through late Saturday. Locally heavy rainfall
combined with a saturated ground from recent rains may result in
flash flooding and flooding by Saturday night. Thereafter, a
decrease in daily shower and thunderstorm activity can be
anticipated Sunday afternoon into early next week. Otherwise, high
temperatures will be near normal with the exception of Friday into
the weekend when below average readings can be expected.
&&
.DISCUSSION...An interesting weather pattern will evolve Thursday
into the weekend as an upper low approaches from the east and
becomes quasi-stationary over east-central AZ/west-central NM late
Friday through late Saturday. This scenario resembles an historic
flooding and debris flow event in SE AZ which played out nearly 15
years ago during the last few days of July into August 1st of the
2006 monsoon season. That said, have posted a flash flood watch for
Thursday evening through Saturday evening for all of SE AZ.
Ensembles favored this feature tracking farther west and lifting
northward on Sunday with subsidence in the wake of it over SE AZ.
Thus, expect improving weather Sunday with limited shower and
thunderstorm coverage early next week. High temperatures will remain
near normal except on Friday through Sunday when below normal
readings will occur due to the anticipated rain and cloudiness.
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 22/12Z.
SCT-BKN clouds at 8k-12k ft MSL much of the period. Widespread
SHRA/TSRA developing this afternoon and evening. Expect brief MVFR
CIGS/VSBYS and mountain obscurations around TSRA along with gusty
outflow winds, potentially in excess of 45 kts with the strongest
storms. Otherwise, SFC wind generally less than 12 kts following
diurnal trends. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Monsoon continues to be active into this weekend
with scattered to widespread showers and thunderstorms. In
particular, Thursday through Saturday look extremely active with
heavy rainfall and flooding issues anticipated. While in this
pattern, showers and storms will be possible at all hours of the day
and overnight. Storms will also be capable of producing very gusty
winds in excess of 35 mph and numerous lightning strikes. Daytime
temperatures will remain below normal. 20-foot winds will generally
be less than 15 mph when not influenced by thunderstorms. Daytime RH
mainly above 25 percent into next Monday, with very good overnight
recoveries.
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flash Flood Watch from Thursday evening through Saturday evening
for AZZ501>515.
&&
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Heat, Tohono O Odham Nation
- When
- July 21, 10:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Tohono O Odham Nation forecast zone
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 1 indirect
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 32.501, -111.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Temperatures 5 to 9 degrees above normal of 100 to 105 degrees, occurred on the Tohono O'odham Nation causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached on July 21. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one male found in the desert near Ali Chugk and a contributing factor to one male found near Vamori.
- 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.
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Arizona, July 21, 2021$500,000 · 65 kt wind · 3 events
- Flash Flood in New Mexico, July 21, 2021$500,000 · 1 event
- Flash Flood in New Mexico, July 21, 2021$150,000 · 1 event
- Damaging Wind in District of Columbia, July 21, 2021$50,000 · 60 kt wind · 1 event
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Maryland, July 21, 2021$28,000 · 55 kt wind · 7 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, July 21, 20211.25 in hail · 23 events
- Flash Flood in Texas, July 21, 2021$25,000 · 1 event
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, July 21, 202156 kt wind · 20 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in New Jersey, July 21, 20211.25 in hail · 19 events
- Flash Flooding in Colorado, July 21, 2021$15,000 · 2 events
- Flash Flooding in Arizona, July 21, 20217 events
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Colorado, July 21 to 22, 20216 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: 976595.