Arizona, 2022Heat in Arizona, April 18, 2022
April 18, 2022 · NWS TWC · 3 events in 3 counties and zones
Hot temperatures in the mid to upper 90s were experienced in the lower elevations of southeast Arizona on April 18. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for three individuals found in the desert, one southwest of Topawa on the Tohono O'odham Nation, one southeast of Arivaca in Pima County and a third northeast of Douglas in Cochise County.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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- Deaths
- 3
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
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 in the mid to upper 90s were experienced in the lower elevations of southeast Arizona on April 18. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for three individuals found in the desert, one southwest of Topawa on the Tohono O'odham Nation, one southeast of Arivaca in Pima County and a third northeast of Douglas in 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 Apr 18, 2:56 AM MST, 9 hours 4 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 18, 2:56 AM MST, 9 hours 4 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
256 AM MST Mon Apr 18 2022
.SYNOPSIS...Dry conditions with a warming trend pushing temperatures
back to well above average today into most of this week. Breezy
at times, especially Friday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...Today will be a hot one for April with highs in the
90s across most of the lower elevations with record to near record
high temperatures. See climate section below. A few isolated spots
across western Pima county will be near 100 degrees today. High
clouds will also be on the increase late this morning into this
afternoon. Remaining very warm to hot for April tomorrow under
zonal flow aloft. Cooler temperatures Wed/Thu but still above
normal before more substantial cooling occurs Friday and Saturday
as a Pacific trof moves through the western CONUS. Gusty winds,
blowing dust and fire weather issues main concerns for Friday.
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 19/12z.
SKC thru 18/18z then high clouds AOA 20k ft MSL increase from the
west thru 19/00z. After 19/00z thru end of valid pd, BKN clouds
AOA 20k ft MSL. SFC winds west/northwest 8-12 kts with gusts to
20 kts this afternoon. Otherwise expect terrain driven winds less
than 10 mph. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Drier air will remain in place for the next seven
days with minimum relative humidity values less than 10 percent.
20-foot winds will mostly be terrain driven with typical
springtime afternoon gustiness due to surface heating, especially
for areas east of Tucson. Tuesday could see brief and localized
fire weather conditions for parts of northern Graham and Greenlee
counties. A weather system is expected to impact the region late
in the week with strong gusty winds expected Friday. Critical
fire weather conditions will be possible for areas east of Tucson
Friday.
&&
.CLIMATE...
Record or near record high temperatures today, April 18.
Forecast Record/Year
Tucson Intl Airport 97 98 /1989
Ajo 97 101 /1962
Kitt Peak 81 80 /1962
Organ Pipe Cactus 99 101 /1962
Picacho Peak 98 100 /1989
Safford Ag Station 97 95 /1962
Sierra Vista 92 92 /1989
Tombstone 93 95 /1989
Willcox 93 92 /1962
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None.
&&
Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/TucsonHeat, Tohono O Odham Nation
- When
- April 18, 12:00 PM MST to 5:00 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)
Hot temperatures 15 degrees above normal, in the mid to upper 90s, were experienced on the Tohono O'odham Nation on April 18 causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one individual found in the desert fifteen miles southwest of Topawa.
Heat, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys
- When
- April 18, 12:00 PM MST to 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys forecast zone
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 31.812, -111.318 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Hot temperatures 15 degrees above normal, in the mid to upper 90s, were experienced in Pima County on April 18 causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one individual found in the desert two miles southeast of Arivaca.
Heat, Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet
- When
- April 18, 12:00 PM MST to 5:00 PM 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)
Hot temperatures 15 degrees above normal, in the mid to upper 90s, were experienced in Cochise County on April 18 causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one individual found in the desert fifteen miles northeast of Douglas.
- 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.
- Dense Fog in North Dakota, April 18, 20221 death · $25,000 · 1 event
- Heavy Snow in New York, April 18 to 19, 2022$627,000 · 11 events
- Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, April 18 to 19, 2022$303,000 · 4 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New York, April 18 to 19, 202216 events
- Winter Weather in West Virginia, April 18, 20229 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Virginia, April 18, 20229 events
- Coastal Flood in New Jersey, April 18 to 19, 20226 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Maryland, April 18, 20224 events
- Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, April 18 to 19, 20224 events
- High Wind in Nevada, April 18 to 19, 202297 kt wind · 4 events
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, April 18 to 19, 20223 events
- Coastal Flood in Delaware, April 18 to 19, 20223 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1025201, 1025202, 1025203.