Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, August 1 to 7, 2023

Name: Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, August 1 to 7, 2023
Start: 2023-08-01T00:00
End: 2023-08-07T20:00
Location: Arizona

August 1 to 7, 2023 · NWS PSR · 38 events in 29 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 38 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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Wind
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Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 58
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 38

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 Southern Plains expanded westward into the Desert Southwest, leading to excessive heat conditions across the region. Record high temperatures were set on the 5th (116 degrees) and the 6th (114 degrees) in Phoenix, while record warm low temperatures were set on the 2nd (93 degrees), 3rd (92 degrees), and 7th (91 degrees). According to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, there were a total of 55 heat-associated fatalities during this heat event. One of the heat fatalities that occurred during this time include a 34-year-old woman who went hiking at Deem Hills Recreation Area during the morning of the 4th but was later found deceased in a remote area near a trail. Additionally, two heat-associated fatalities occurred in La Paz County during this time.

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 Phoenix, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 31, 2:17 PM MST, 9 hours 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 2:17 PM MST, 9 hours 43 minutes before

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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

30 excessive heat, 8 heat. Local standard time, as filed.

Heat, Central Phoenix

When: August 1, 12:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where: Central Phoenix forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 4 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Five heat-associated fatalities (1 direct and 4 indirect) were 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: August 1, 12:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where: North Phoenix/Glendale forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 2 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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.

Heat, Buckeye/Avondale

When: August 1, 12:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where: Buckeye/Avondale forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 2 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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.

Heat, Central Phoenix

When: August 2, 12:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where: Central Phoenix forecast zone
Deaths: 2 direct, 3 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Five heat-associated fatalities (2 direct and 3 indirect) were reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender, circumstances, and exact location unavailable.

Heat, East Valley

When: August 2, 12:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where: East Valley forecast zone
Deaths: 2 direct, 2 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four heat-associated fatalities (2 direct and 2 indirect) were reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender, circumstances, and exact location unavailable.

Heat, Central Phoenix

When: August 3, 12:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where: Central Phoenix forecast zone
Deaths: 3 direct, 2 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Five heat-associated fatalities (3 direct and 2 indirect) were reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender, circumstances, and exact location unavailable.

Heat, East Valley

When: August 3, 12:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where: East Valley forecast zone
Deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two direct fatalities were 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: August 3, 12:00 AM MST to 11:59 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.

Excessive Heat, Deer Valley

When: August 4, 9:30 AM MST to 12:30 PM MST
Where: Deer Valley forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A 34-year-old woman went hiking at the Deem Hills Recreation Area around 0830MST when temperatures were in the low 90s, according to a nearby observation. She was then reported missing around noon after failing to return from her hike. Midday temperatures in the area were around 100-105 degrees. Family and friends searched for the missing hiker with firefighters and police. Her body was later discovered around 1700MST in a remote area near a trail. According to the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner, heat was a contributing factor in the hiker's death.

Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Central Phoenix forecast zone
Deaths: 10 direct, 5 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Fifteen heat-associated fatalities (10 direct and 5 indirect) were reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender, circumstances, and exact location unavailable.

Excessive Heat, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Scottsdale/Paradise Valley forecast zone
Deaths: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three direct fatalities were reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender, circumstances, and exact location unavailable.

Excessive Heat, Northwest Valley

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Northwest Valley 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.

Excessive Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: North Phoenix/Glendale forecast zone
Deaths: 4 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four direct fatalities were reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender, circumstances, and exact location unavailable.

Excessive Heat, East Valley

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: East Valley forecast zone
Deaths: 4 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four direct fatalities were reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender, circumstances, and exact location unavailable.

Excessive Heat, Buckeye/Avondale

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Buckeye/Avondale forecast zone
Deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two direct fatalities were reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, with their details, such as age, gender, circumstances, and exact location unavailable.

Excessive Heat, Deer Valley

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Deer Valley forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, South Mountain/Ahwatukee

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: South Mountain/Ahwatukee forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Southeast Valley/Queen Creek

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Southeast Valley/Queen Creek forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Aguila Valley

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Aguila Valley forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Tonopah Desert

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Tonopah Desert forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Gila Bend

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Gila Bend forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Cave Creek/New River

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Cave Creek/New River forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, New River Mesa

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: New River Mesa forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Rio Verde/Salt River

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Rio Verde/Salt River forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Fountain Hills/East Mesa

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Fountain Hills/East Mesa forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Superior

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Superior forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 32.904, -111.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Northwest Pinal County

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Northwest Pinal County forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 32.904, -111.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, West Pinal County

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: West Pinal County forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 32.904, -111.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Apache Junction/Gold Canyon

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Apache Junction/Gold Canyon forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 32.904, -111.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Sonoran Desert Natl Monument

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Sonoran Desert Natl Monument forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, San Carlos

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: San Carlos forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.800, -110.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Dripping Springs

When: August 4, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Dripping Springs forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.800, -110.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Central la Paz

When: August 5, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Central la Paz forecast zone
Deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.729, -113.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two direct fatalities were reported in La Paz County, with their details, such as age, gender, circumstances, and exact location unavailable.

Excessive Heat, Parker Valley

When: August 5, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Parker Valley forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.729, -113.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Kofa

When: August 5, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Kofa forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.249, -113.943 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Yuma

When: August 5, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Yuma forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 32.769, -113.906 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Southeast Yuma County

When: August 5, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Southeast Yuma County forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 32.769, -113.906 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Gila River Valley

When: August 5, 10:00 AM MST to August 7, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Gila River Valley forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 32.769, -113.906 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-01			Unknown	Indirect
Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-01			Unknown	Direct
Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-01			Unknown	Indirect
Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-01			Unknown	Indirect
Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-01			Unknown	Indirect
Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale	2023-08-01			Unknown	Indirect
Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale	2023-08-01			Unknown	Indirect
Heat, Buckeye/Avondale	2023-08-01			Unknown	Indirect
Heat, Buckeye/Avondale	2023-08-01			Unknown	Indirect
Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-02			Unknown	Direct
Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-02			Unknown	Direct
Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-02			Unknown	Indirect
Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-02			Unknown	Indirect
Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-02			Unknown	Indirect
Heat, East Valley	2023-08-02			Unknown	Direct
Heat, East Valley	2023-08-02			Unknown	Indirect
Heat, East Valley	2023-08-02			Unknown	Indirect
Heat, East Valley	2023-08-02			Unknown	Direct
Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-03			Unknown	Indirect
Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-03			Unknown	Direct
Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-03			Unknown	Direct
Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-03			Unknown	Direct
Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-03			Unknown	Indirect
Heat, East Valley	2023-08-03			Unknown	Direct
Heat, East Valley	2023-08-03			Unknown	Direct
Heat, Buckeye/Avondale	2023-08-03			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Deer Valley	2023-08-04	34	Female	Outside/Open Areas	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-07			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-04			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-04			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-04			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-05			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-05			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-06			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-06			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-07			Unknown	Indirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-08			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-08			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-08			Unknown	Indirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-08			Unknown	Indirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-08			Unknown	Indirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix	2023-08-08			Unknown	Indirect
Excessive Heat, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley	2023-08-06			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley	2023-08-06			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley	2023-08-07			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Northwest Valley	2023-08-06			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale	2023-08-05			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale	2023-08-06			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale	2023-08-06			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale	2023-08-07			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, East Valley	2023-08-04			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, East Valley	2023-08-04			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, East Valley	2023-08-05			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, East Valley	2023-08-06			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Buckeye/Avondale	2023-08-07			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Buckeye/Avondale	2023-08-07			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central la Paz	2023-08-05			Unknown	Direct
Excessive Heat, Central la Paz	2023-08-06			Unknown	Direct

What these are

Heat: Heat below excessive heat criteria that still caused deaths, injuries or significant impacts.
Excessive Heat: Heat at or above the local excessive heat warning criteria, or heat that caused deaths.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Arizona in 2023 Every state in 2023 This day in weather history Warnings in Arizona, August 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: 1212043, 1212044, 1212045, 1212643, 1212644, 1212645, 1212646, 1212647, 1217370, 1212650, 1212651, 1212652, 1212653, 1212654, 1212655, 1218034, 1218039, 1218040, 1218041, 1218042, 1218043, 1218044, 1218045, 1218046, 1218047, 1218048, 1218049, 1218050, 1218051, 1218052, 1218053, 1218054, 1215517, 1218055, 1218056, 1218058, 1218060, 1218061.