Arizona, 2023

Heat in Arizona, April 29 to 30, 2023

April 29 to 30, 2023 · NWS PSR · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

A strong ridge of high pressure over the western United States led to temperatures climbing in excess of 10 degrees above normal in Phoenix at the end of April. On the 30th, a high temperature of 102 degrees was recorded in Phoenix, tying the record high for the date last set in 1943.

Where it happened

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.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS PSR wrote it up.

A strong ridge of high pressure over the western United States led to temperatures climbing in excess of 10 degrees above normal in Phoenix at the end of April. On the 30th, a high temperature of 102 degrees was recorded in Phoenix, tying the record high for the date last set in 1943. According to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, three heat-associated fatalities occurred during this time.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 heat. Local standard time, as filed.

Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale

When
April 29, 5:00 PM MST
Where
North Phoenix/Glendale forecast zone
Deaths
0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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.

Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale

When
April 30, 5:00 PM MST
Where
North Phoenix/Glendale forecast zone
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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.

Heat, Buckeye/Avondale

When
April 30, 5:00 PM MST
Where
Buckeye/Avondale forecast zone
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale2023-04-29UnknownIndirect
Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale2023-04-30UnknownDirect
Heat, Buckeye/Avondale2023-04-30UnknownDirect

What these are

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.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, April 2023

Sources

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: 1209324, 1209325, 1209326.