Arizona, 2022Heat in Arizona, May 18, 2022
May 18, 2022 · NWS TWC · 1 event in 1 county or zone
Hot temperatures in the mid to upper 90s were experienced in the lower elevations of southeast Arizona on May 18. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one elderly individual found outdoors in Saint David.
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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 in the mid to upper 90s were experienced in the lower elevations of southeast Arizona on May 18. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one elderly individual found outdoors in Saint David.
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 May 18, 2:40 AM MST, 8 hours 20 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 18, 2:40 AM MST, 8 hours 20 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
240 AM MST Wed May 18 2022
.SYNOPSIS...The hot and dry conditions will continue into at least
early next week. Breezy at times in the afternoon, especially
Friday into early next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...A broad zonal flow across the area continues to see
heights and thicknesses diminishing with temperatures subsequently
easing a few more degrees over the next couple of days. Typical
breeziness in the afternoons with the heat of the day enhancing
terrain trends.
A broad trough will dig into northern tier states over the next 72
hours. By Friday afternoon we'll be seeing the tighter gradient
associated with the trough influencing SE AZ with gusty winds.
Some fire weather concerns with that, but not enough for wind
headlines. Smaller scale details with the trough consolidation
could keep gusty winds in the forecast into early next week
before a strong ridge brings another round of heat.
Still keeping an eye out for favorable convective conditions
developing across Mexico and pushing northward on the eastern
slopes of the Sierra Madres next week. Dry lightning potential if
we can get the right flow regime (as currently hinted at by ECMWF
ensemble means).
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 19/12z.
Clear skies. Typical diurnal wind trends with some gustiness in
the afternoon out of the west to northwest. Aviation discussion
not updated for TAF amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...No rain in sight as a hot and dry weather pattern
continues into early next week. Minimum relative humidity values
will be in the low single digits to lower teens with generally poor
overnight recoveries. Typical diurnal wind trends with afternoon
gustiness through Thursday. Then some elevated fire weather concerns
Friday into the weekend with somewhat stronger winds possible as a
system passes north of the area. At this time the breeziest day looks
to be Friday with widespread elevated and local critical fire weather
conditions a good bet.
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&
Meyer
Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
Heat, Upper San Pedro River Valley
- When
- May 18, 11:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Upper San Pedro River Valley forecast zone
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 32.109, -110.569 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Hot temperatures around 5 degrees above normal, in the mid to upper 90s, caused the moderate heat risk category to be reached on May 18. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one elderly individual found outdoors in Saint David.
- 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.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Missouri, May 18, 2022$50,000 · 1.75 in hail · 11 events
- Tornado and Hail in Minnesota, May 18, 2022$3,000 · EF0 · 40 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, May 18 to 19, 2022$16,000 · 1 in hail · 23 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, May 18, 2022$25,000 · 1.75 in hail · 13 events
- High Wind and Strong Wind in Washington, May 18, 2022$32,000 · 4 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kentucky, May 18, 2022$18,000 · 1 in hail · 13 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, May 18 to 19, 20222 in hail · 16 events
- Damaging Winds in Kansas, May 18, 202270 kt wind · 13 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kentucky, May 18, 20221.5 in hail · 11 events
- Strong Wind in Hawaii, May 18 to 19, 2022$12,000 · 6 events
- Damaging Wind in Oklahoma, May 18, 2022$15,000 · 61 kt wind · 1 event
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, May 18, 20222.75 in hail · 7 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: 1131612.