Hot temperatures typically 3 to 5 degrees above normal were experienced across western Pima County on August 7. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one individual found in the desert near Lukeville.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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 TWC wrote it up.
Hot temperatures typically 3 to 5 degrees above normal were experienced across western Pima County on August 7. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one individual found in the desert near Lukeville.
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 Aug 7, 9:01 AM MST, 59 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tucson AZ 901 AM MST Wed Aug 7 2024 .UPDATE...Visible satellite shows left over debris clouds from last night's showers and thunderstorms. The upper level low that helped kick off convection yesterday is now over Santa Cruz County and will move further west through the day. Upper level dynamics will not be as good as yesterday, but all the ingredients are still in place for another round of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. MLCAPE values will be around 1000 J/kg with 15-20 knots of 0-6 km shear. PWAT values will be above normal with the 07/12Z KTWC sounding measuring 1.78 inches of precipitable water. Initially storms will start over the higher terrain from Tucson south and eastward, then move into the lower deserts. The bulk of the activity will stay from Tucson eastward but a couple HREF members show isolated storms in the evening west of Tucson over the Tohono O'odham Nation. The main limiting factor for the western extent of storms will be the synoptic scale subsidence in the wake of the upper level low. Storms will be capable of strong winds, but the bigger threat today looks to be heavy rainfall thanks to the above normal moisture. HREF rainfall probabilities are highlighting areas just south of the Tucson metro, Santa Cruz County, and western Cochise County for the greatest chance of heavy rainfall. Three hour probability matched mean for greater than 1" of QPF is 70 percent for these areas this afternoon and evening. Isolated amounts of 2" will also be possible. Storms will also be slower moving with steering flow around 5-10 knots, which will aid the heavy rain threat. Temperatures will be on the "cooler" side today running a couple degree below normal. For longer term details see the previous discussion. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 300 AM MST Wed Aug 7 2024/ .SYNOPSIS...Scattered showers and thunderstorms each day into this weekend, with potential for heavy rainfall and strong wind gusts. Temperatures cool to near normal levels today through Thursday, then warm up to above normal levels Friday through the weekend. && .DISCUSSION...The overnight hours have been rather active with widespread showers/scattered thunderstorms moving across Pinal county and much of Pima county with Tucson metro on the eastern edge. This activity is occurring on the leading edge of an inverted trof which this morning, per water vapor imagery, showed that the axis was extending from northern Sonora MX into Cochise county. The above activity will continue to move to the west and gradually end by sunrise although a few showers will continue after sunrise. Focus this afternoon for scattered thunderstorms will be south and east of Tucson with Pinal and cntrl/wrn Pima county worked over and the inverted trof axis over wrn Pima county. A few thunderstorms this afternoon and evening will be capable of strong wind gusts and localized heavy rainfall with HREF painting portions of Cochise county with a 10% chance of 3-hour rainfall totals up to 3". Thursday: SE flow aloft between weakening inverted trof to our southwest and high pressure centered over west Texas. Areal coverage of storms will be greater from Tucson east and south with HREF painting a 50%-70% chance of 1 hour rainfall totals up to 1" across much of Cochise, Santa Cruz and ern Pima counties which could lead to localized flash flooding concerns. Friday has the potential to be a down day if Thursday is rather active. This weekend: Upper high centered over east-central Arizona with easterly flow over the area. At this time Saturday looks like a down day with Sunday potential more active as models are hinting at inverted trof approaching the area. Monday and Tuesday: Chance of afternoon and evening storms both days. Temperatures: Generally at or below normal highs today and Thursday then heating up again Friday into the weekend with Saturday likely the hottest day in the current 7 day package. && .AVIATION...Valid through 08/12Z. FEW-SCT clouds at 8k-11k ft AGL and BKN-OVC clouds AOA 15k ft AGL thru 07/19Z, then SCT-BKN clouds at 6k-9K ft AGL and BKN-OVC clouds at 10k-14k ft AGL thru the end of the forecast period. ISOLD-SCT -SHRA/-TSRA thru 07/19Z, then SCT SHRA/TSRA thru 08/05Z, slowly diminishing thereafter. MVFR conditions expected near TSRA, with VSBY restrictions, wind gusts to 45+ kts, heavy rain and mountain obscurations. Outside of thunderstorm wind gusts, wind speeds will be less than 12 kts, favoring an SWLY through NWLY direction in the afternoon and early evening hours and variable in direction at other times. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments. && .FIRE WEATHER...Isolated to scattered mainly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms are expected through the upcoming weekend. Min RH values will be in the 25-40 percent range in the valleys through Thursday (and higher in the mountains), decreasing to 20-30 percent Friday through the weekend. Outside of thunderstorm outflow winds, 20-foot winds will generally be 15 mph or less, with afternoon/early evening gusts to 20-25 mph and light winds overnight. && && .TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && Public...Public Forecaster Aviation...Aviation Forecaster Fire Weather....Fire Weather Forecaster Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heat. Local standard time, as filed.
Hot temperatures typically 3 to 5 degrees above normal were experienced across western Pima County on August 7. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for one individual found in the desert near Lukeville.
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, Western Pima County | 2024-08-07 | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, August 2024
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: 1209486.