Arizona, 2023

Excessive Heat in Arizona, August 25 to 30, 2023

August 25 to 30, 2023 · NWS PSR · 28 events in 27 counties and zones

A strong upper level ridge of high pressure over the Great Plains retrograded westward to the western United States, leading to excessive heat conditions across the region. High temperatures observed at Phoenix Sky Harbor for the end of the month reached between 109-117 degrees with record highs in Phoenix set on the 27-29th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 28 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
35
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
28

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 upper level ridge of high pressure over the Great Plains retrograded westward to the western United States, leading to excessive heat conditions across the region. High temperatures observed at Phoenix Sky Harbor for the end of the month reached between 109-117 degrees with record highs in Phoenix set on the 27-29th. According to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, there were 35 heat-associated fatalities that 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

28 excessive heat. Local standard time, as filed.

Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix

When
August 25, 12:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where
Central Phoenix 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.

Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix

When
August 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 8:00 PM MST
Where
Central Phoenix forecast zone
Deaths
10 direct, 10 indirect
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Twenty heat-associated fatalities (10 direct and 10 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 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 8:00 PM MST
Where
Scottsdale/Paradise Valley 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.

Excessive Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale

When
August 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 8:00 PM MST
Where
North Phoenix/Glendale forecast zone
Deaths
3 direct, 3 indirect
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Six heat-associated fatalities (3 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.

Excessive Heat, East Valley

When
August 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 8:00 PM MST
Where
East Valley forecast zone
Deaths
1 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two heat-associated fatalities (1 direct and 1 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, Buckeye/Avondale

When
August 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 8:00 PM MST
Where
Buckeye/Avondale 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.

Excessive Heat, Northwest Valley

When
August 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 8:00 PM MST
Where
Northwest Valley forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
33.349, -112.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive Heat, Deer Valley

When
August 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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, Parker Valley

When
August 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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, Yuma

When
August 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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 26, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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)

Excessive Heat, Kofa

When
August 28, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 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, Central la Paz

When
August 28, 10:00 AM MST to August 30, 8:00 PM MST
Where
Central la Paz forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
33.729, -113.981 (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.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-25UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-27UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-29UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-26UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-26UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-26UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-27UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-27UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-28UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-28UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-28UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-28UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-28UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-29UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-29UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-29UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-29UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-29UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-30UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-30UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, Central Phoenix2023-08-30UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley2023-08-26UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale2023-08-26UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale2023-08-27UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale2023-08-28UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale2023-08-28UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale2023-08-29UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, North Phoenix/Glendale2023-08-30UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, East Valley2023-08-28UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, East Valley2023-08-28UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, Buckeye/Avondale2023-08-28UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, Buckeye/Avondale2023-08-28UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, Buckeye/Avondale2023-08-29UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, Buckeye/Avondale2023-08-29UnknownIndirect
Excessive Heat, Buckeye/Avondale2023-08-30UnknownIndirect

What these are

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

More

Every storm in Arizona in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1214446, 1214447, 1214448, 1214449, 1214450, 1214451, 1218128, 1218130, 1218136, 1218137, 1218140, 1218141, 1218142, 1218143, 1218144, 1218145, 1218147, 1218148, 1218149, 1218150, 1218151, 1218152, 1218153, 1218154, 1218155, 1218156, 1218348, 1218349.