A ridge of high pressure over the region resulted in above normal temperatures across the region. According to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, two heat-associated fatalities occurred during this time.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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 over the region resulted in above normal temperatures across the region. According to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, two heat-associated fatalities occurred during this time. One fatality also occurred in La Paz County.
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 15, 11:09 PM MST, 51 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Phoenix AZ 1109 PM MST Wed May 15 2024 .UPDATE...Updated Aviation Discussion. && .SYNOPSIS... Above normal temperatures will continue through at least the weekend with lower desert highs warming from the mid to upper 90s Thursday to just over 100 degrees on Saturday. Typical late afternoon and early evening breeziness along with mainly dry conditions will persist. Isolated afternoon shower and thunderstorm activity will occur over the high country through Thursday, which could cause some erratic, gusty winds that could make their way into portions of the lower deserts each evening. && .DISCUSSION... The main concern through the forecast period will be the continued elevated fire weather concerns due to the hot temperatures, low humidity, and late afternoon/early evening breezy conditions. Ensembles in overall agreement with lowering heights through Thursday as a weak upper low moves across the region. This system will induce isolated showers and thunderstorms across the high country to the north. Not seeing any rainfall across the Phoenix valley, but some virga and a few sprinkles are possible overnight tonight and in eastern areas late Thursday. With steering flow from the north, a bit higher outflow winds from the north could penetrate south this evening and again late Thursday. The best chance for this would be for La Paz and northern Maricopa Counties this evening and then eastern Maricopa County and over Gila County late on Thursday. There could be some local gusts upwards of 30 mph, especially in eastern areas on Thursday. This system will keep temperatures in check, but still hot, mainly into the middle to upper 90s for Thursday. For Friday and through the weekend, heights again build across the area ahead of troughiness developing along the west coast into early next week. This will push temperatures up several degrees. Lower deserts will see more widespread 100 to 105 degree readings. The minor HeatRisk will increase into the moderate category beginning Friday and into Saturday. This higher heat will be short lived with temperatures coming down a few degrees and closer to normal levels by next week. For next week, a southwesterly flow will dominate with the trough across the western CONUS. This will keep the daily risk for afternoon breezy to windy conditions with temperatures closer to normal levels in the mid 90s. This along with relative humidities in the single digits, will maintain an elevated fire weather risk. && .AVIATION...Updated at 0609Z. South-Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT: Northerly winds continue to weaken following the passage of an outflow boundary that pushed through the metro this evening. Northerly winds are expected to further weaken, becoming light and variable by around midnight while favoring the west at times. Winds are eventually expected to switch to the east overnight before switching back to the west around 18-19Z tomorrow with a few afternoon gusts to around 15-20 kts. Could see a light shower/virga Thursday morning which could generate some gusty erratic winds. Uncertainty increases tomorrow afternoon as convection fires up across the high terrain to the north. Isolated showers and thunderstorms over the high terrain are not expected to make it into the lower elevations tomorrow afternoon but may generate gusty outflow winds (~30% chance of >30 kts) that make it to the terminals. However, the timing and magnitude of outflows are uncertain at this point and have not been reflected in the TAFs for now. Otherwise, SCT-BKN mid/high clouds will continue throughout the period. Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH: Winds at KIPL will favor the west throughout the next 24 hours with extended periods of light and variable winds. At KBLH, directions will vary between the N and S, becoming light and variable at times. A light shower or sprinkle will be possible at KBLH going into the overnight period, which may lead to some erratic wind directions. Otherwise, SCT-BKN mid/high clouds will give way to mostly clear skies overnight. && .FIRE WEATHER... Elevated fire weather conditions will remain across the area through the forecast period as dry fine fuels combine with localized gusty winds, hot temperatures and low relative humidity. Late day gusty winds of 20 to 25 mph will be common each day. Although, into Thursday, the higher terrain will also see isolated high based shower and thunderstorm activity which could result a few higher gusts and erratic winds dropping south into the valley. These stronger winds will be most likely across northern portions of Maricopa and La Paz counties this evening and over Maricopa and Gila counties Thursday afternoon/early evening. Minimum humidity values will mainly be in the 10 to 15 percent range into Friday, before dropping back into the single digits for Saturday and beyond. Temperatures will top out about 5 to 10 degrees normal through the weekend before coming down closer to normal for next week. && .PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AZ...None. CA...None. && DISCUSSION...Frieders AVIATION...Smith FIRE WEATHER...Frieders
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 heat. Local standard time, as filed.
One indirect fatality was reported in La Paz County, 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.
One indirect fatality was reported in La Paz County, 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 la Paz | 2024-05-16 | Unknown | Indirect | ||
| Heat, Central Phoenix | 2024-05-18 | Unknown | Direct | ||
| Heat, Central Phoenix | 2024-05-19 | Unknown | Indirect | ||
| Heat, Central la Paz | 2024-05-20 | Unknown | Indirect |
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, May 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: 1293406, 1293402, 1293403, 1293407.