Arizona, 2022Heat in Arizona, May 26, 2022
May 26, 2022 · NWS TWC · 4 events in 4 counties and zones
Hot temperatures in the upper 90s to low 100s were experienced in the lower elevations of southeast Arizona on May 26-27. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for seven individuals.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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
- 7
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 4
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 upper 90s to low 100s were experienced in the lower elevations of southeast Arizona on May 26-27. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for seven individuals. Four were found in the desert, two on the Tohono O'odham Nation, and two in Cochise County. The other three victims were elderly individuals in Tucson.
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 26, 2:40 AM MST, 8 hours 20 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 26, 2:40 AM MST, 8 hours 20 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
240 AM MST Thu May 26 2022
.SYNOPSIS...Dry weather with above normal temperatures will be with
us for the remainder of the work week and into the weekend.
Thereafter, as a weather system approaches, afternoon winds will
increase this weekend into early next week with temperatures briefly
dropping to below normal levels early next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...Satellite imagery this morning showed a clear sky
over Arizona under high pressure aloft. Highs today will be 3-6
degrees warmer than yesterday. Although the ridge axis moves east
highs Friday will be similar to what occurs today. A few locals
will be near highs today and tomorrow.
Cooler high temperatures this weekend into early next week as a
storm system moves into the PacNW. This system will tighten the
pressure gradient for strong gusty winds across the area Sunday
and Monday. May eventually need some fire headlines on those two
days. Temperatures rebound back above normal next Wednesday.
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 27/12Z.
Clear skies/SKC conditions thru the forecast period. SFC wind
generally less than 12 kts thru the forecast period, with a SWLY/WLY
direction during the afternoon/early evening hours and variable in
direction at other times. A few afternoon/early evening gusts to
between 20-25 kts. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF
amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Dry conditions will continue the next 7 days, with
above normal temperatures prevailing through Saturday. Afternoon
gustiness is expected through Friday due to strong daytime heating.
As a weather system approaches this weekend into early next week, an
increase in wind speeds is expected. Some locations east of Tucson
may see winds strong enough to warrant fire weather headlines Sunday
and Monday. Slightly cooler temperatures are expected late in the
weekend into early next week, with temperatures briefly lowering to
below normal levels on Tuesday.
&&
.CLIMATE...A few places will be approaching record highs today
and tomorrow.
DATE May 26 May 27
FCST RCD/YR FCST RCD/YR
AJO 102 104/1951
SAFFORD AG STATION 102 103/1949 104 104/1951
SIERRA VISTA FD 96 97/1984
TOMBSTONE 97 100/1974 98 101/1958
Memorial Day climate tidbit for Tucson. The last time rain was
recorded at the airport on Memorial Day was in 1992 (0.04").
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None.
&&
Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/TucsonHeat, Tohono O Odham Nation
- When
- May 26, 11:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Tohono O Odham Nation forecast zone
- Deaths
- 2 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 32.501, -111.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Hot temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above normal, around 100 degrees, were experienced on the Tohono O'odham Nation on May 26 causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for two individuals found in the desert, one north of San Miguel and another east of Sells.
Heat, Upper San Pedro River Valley
- When
- May 26, 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 5 to 10 degrees above normal, in the upper 90s, were experienced in southwest Cochise County on May 26 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 northwest of Naco.
Heat, Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet
- When
- May 26, 11:00 AM MST to 8:00 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 5 to 10 degrees above normal, in the upper 90s, were experienced in southeast Cochise County on May 26 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 southwest of McNeal.
Heat, Tucson Metro Area
- When
- May 26, 11:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Tucson Metro Area forecast zone
- Deaths
- 3 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 32.097, -111.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Hot temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above normal, between 100 and 104 degrees, were experienced in the Tucson Metro May 26-27 causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for three elderly individuals.
- 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 South Carolina, May 26, 20221 death · $100,000 · 1 in hail · 3 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in North Carolina, May 26 to 27, 20221 injured · $74,000 · EF2 · 14 events
- Flooding in South Dakota, May 26 to 31, 2022$636,000 · 5 events
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, May 26, 2022$46,000 · EF1 · 14 events
- Flash Flood in Alabama, May 26, 2022$250,000 · 1 event
- Flooding and Damaging Winds in Ohio, May 26, 2022$70,000 · 50 kt wind · 13 events
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in Alabama, May 26, 2022$20,000 · EF1 · 3 events
- Tornado in Kentucky, May 26, 2022$20,000 · EF1 · 1 event
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Kentucky, May 26, 2022$13,000 · 50 kt wind · 15 events
- Damaging Winds and High Wind in Nevada, May 26 to 27, 2022$16,000 · 59 kt wind · 8 events
- Damaging Winds in Virginia, May 26, 2022$13,000 · 55 kt wind · 10 events
- Damaging Winds in Kentucky, May 26, 202253 kt wind · 10 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: 1033604, 1033605, 1033606, 1131611.