Arizona, 2024

Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, September 26 to 30, 2024

September 26 to 30, 2024 · NWS TWC · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

Hot temperatures 12 to 16 degrees above normal were experienced across much of southeast Arizona September 26-30 causing record temperatures. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for two individuals, one in Tucson and one in Nogales.

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
4
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 TWC wrote it up.

Hot temperatures 12 to 16 degrees above normal were experienced across much of southeast Arizona September 26-30 causing record temperatures. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for two individuals, one in Tucson and one in Nogales. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat contributed in the death for two other individuals in Tucson.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 excessive heat, 1 heat. Local standard time, as filed.

Excessive Heat, Tucson Metro Area

When
September 26, 10:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where
Tucson Metro Area forecast zone
Deaths
0 direct, 2 indirect
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
32.097, -111.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hot temperatures about 13 degrees above normal were experienced in the Tucson Metro Area September 26, causing the Major Heat Risk category to be reached. Tucson International Airport topped out at 105 degrees on September 26. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was a contributing factor in the death in two individuals.

Heat, Tucson Metro Area

When
September 29, 10:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where
Tucson Metro Area forecast zone
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
32.097, -111.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hot temperatures about 12 degrees above normal were experienced in the Tucson Metro Area September 29, causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached. Tucson International Airport topped out at 104 degrees on September 29. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary factor in the death in one individual.

Excessive Heat, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys

When
September 30, 10:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where
Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys forecast zone
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
31.812, -111.318 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hot temperatures about 12 degrees above normal were experienced in Nogales on September 30, causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached. Nogales International Airport topped out at 99 degrees on September 30. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary factor in the death in one individual.

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, Tucson Metro Area2024-09-2697FemaleOutside/Open AreasIndirect
Excessive Heat, Tucson Metro Area2024-09-2665MaleOutside/Open AreasIndirect
Heat, Tucson Metro Area2024-09-2931MaleOutside/Open AreasDirect
Excessive Heat, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys2024-09-3040FemaleOutside/Open AreasDirect

What these are

Excessive Heat
Heat at or above the local excessive heat warning criteria, or heat that caused deaths.
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 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, September 2024

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1217127, 1217128, 1218663.