A ridge of high pressure built in across the western United States for the end of May, allowing temperatures to climb several degrees above normal in Phoenix. At Phoenix Sky Harbor, temperatures peaked on the 27th at 106 degrees.
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.
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.
The episode as NWS PSR wrote it up.
A ridge of high pressure built in across the western United States for the end of May, allowing temperatures to climb several degrees above normal in Phoenix. At Phoenix Sky Harbor, temperatures peaked on the 27th at 106 degrees. According to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, this heat led to four heat-associated fatalities.
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 Phoenix, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 27, 3:54 PM MST, 1 hour 6 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
354 PM MST Fri May 27 2022
.Update...00Z Aviation Discussion.
.SYNOPSIS...
A weather system this weekend will bring gusty winds, increased
fire weather dangers, and noticeably cooler temperatures to the
region. By Sunday, temperatures are expected to drop into the low
to mid 90s for highs. Temperatures quickly rebound above 100
degrees by the middle part of next week. Dry conditions will
prevail through next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Dry conditions and above normal temperatures remain in place across
the region this afternoon as the Southwest remains under the
influence of an upper level ridge. The high temperature so far
this afternoon at Phoenix Sky Harbor has climbed to 106 degrees,
making it the warmest day so far this year. The above normal
temperatures won't stick around for long as the ridge departs to
the east as a trough moves into the region this weekend from the
Pacific Northwest.
As this trough progresses into our region, heights will fall and
gradients will tighten, leading to cooler temperatures as well as
gusty winds and fire weather concerns. On Saturday, the strongest
winds are expected to remain across southeast California,
particularly across Imperial County where Wind Advisories are in
effect. Gusts up to 45 mph will be possible across the Imperial
Valley, with stronger gusts upwards of 45-55 mph remaining
focused across southwest Imperial County. In addition to the
strong winds, blowing dust will be possible in these areas,
particularly for places that are more dust prone. The focus of
strongest winds shift to the east Sunday across Arizona, primarily
across the higher terrain areas. Gusts upwards of 35-40 mph will
be possible by Sunday afternoon across southern Gila County, which
combined with the dry conditions will lead to the potential for
critical fire weather conditions. Thus, a Fire Weather Watch has
been issued for late Sunday morning through Sunday evening for
southern Gila County. Anyone planning to travel to high terrain
for Memorial Day weekend should exercise caution to prevent any
new wildfire starts.
In terms of temperatures for this weekend, afternoon highs will cool
off through the weekend only topping out in the low to mid 90s by
Sunday. Heights will begin to rise next week as the trough departs,
allowing for temperatures to once again rebound into the 100s. By
the middle part of next week, widespread moderate HeatRisk is seen
increasing across the region. Dry conditions are expected to persist
through the next week.
&&
.AVIATION...Updated at 2350Z.
South-Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT:
Diurnal westerly winds are expected thru the evening hours with
gusts up to 20 kt at the Valley terminals. These westerly winds to
diminish later this evening, then switch to typical diurnal easterly
around/shortly after midnight. After typical easterly winds in the
morning, another breezy afternoon is expected Saturday as a low
pressure system moves into the intermountain West (after a brief
period of southerly crosswinds in the 8-10 kt range around midday).
There is a 70 percent chance wind gusts will reach 25 kt at KPHX
late Saturday afternoon and evening. Lighter westerly winds to
prevail from late evening Saturday into early Sunday morning.
Otherwise, skies will remain mostly clear, except for some
occasional high clouds.
Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH:
At KIPL, southerly gusts to 20-25 kts will be possible late this
afternoon through ~5Z. At KBLH, winds will favor the south through
the TAF period. Gusts to 20-25 kts will be possible from mid-
afternoon through the early evening. The breezy conditions will
subside overnight and into Saturday morning. Thereafter, windy
conditions are expected to develop Saturday afternoon with gusts
potentially reaching 30-35 kt at KIPL and 25 kt at KBLH late
Saturday afternoon thru Saturday evening.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Another (rather strong for this time of year) weather disturbance
moving across the western states over the weekend into early next
week will bring widespread windy conditions and cooling
temperatures Saturday and Sunday. Wind gusts commonly upwards of
45 mph can be expected across the Imperial Valley Saturday
evening, whiles gusts upwards of 45-55 mph are expected across
southwest Imperial County each night through Sunday night.
Although minimum RHs will improve slightly by Sunday to around
10-15%, the increased winds and continued dry conditions are
likely to result in elevated to critical fire danger levels this
weekend. Critical fire weather conditions will be possible,
primarily across the high terrain north and east of Phoenix. A
Fire Weather Watch has been issued for southern Gila County late
Sunday morning through Sunday evening. Lighter winds, warmer
temperatures and lower fire danger levels can be expected early
next week as high pressure begins to build back over the region.
&&
.PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AZ...Fire Weather Watch from Sunday morning through Sunday evening
for AZZ133.
CA...Wind Advisory from 5 PM Saturday to 2 AM PDT Sunday for CAZ563-
566-567.
Wind Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 5 AM PDT Saturday for
CAZ562.
Wind Advisory from 3 PM Saturday to 8 AM PDT Sunday for CAZ562.
Wind Advisory from 5 PM Sunday to 2 AM PDT Monday for CAZ562.
&&
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DISCUSSION...Smith
AVIATION...Percha/Hirsch
FIRE WEATHER...Smith/FeldkircherThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 heat. Local standard time, as filed.
Two indirect fatalities were reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender, circumstances, and exact location unavailable.
One direct fatality was reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender, circumstances, and exact location unavailable.
One indirect fatality was reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender, circumstances, and exact location unavailable.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat, Central Phoenix | 2022-05-27 | Unknown | Indirect | ||
| Heat, Central Phoenix | 2022-05-27 | Unknown | Indirect | ||
| Heat, Buckeye/Avondale | 2022-05-27 | Unknown | Direct | ||
| Heat, Central Phoenix | 2022-05-28 | Unknown | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, May 2022
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: 1140913, 1140914, 1140915.