Arizona, 2024Heat in Arizona, September 5 to 8, 2024
September 5 to 8, 2024 · NWS TWC · 6 events in 3 counties and zones
Hot temperatures 8 to 10 degrees above normal were experienced across much of southeast Arizona September 5-8. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for six individuals, two in Tucson, two in Sells, one in Nogales, and one in Kuakatch.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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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- Deaths
- 7
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 6
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.
Hot temperatures 8 to 10 degrees above normal were experienced across much of southeast Arizona September 5-8. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for six individuals, two in Tucson, two in Sells, one in Nogales, and one in Kuakatch. Additionally, the Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was a contributing factor in the cause of death for one other individual in Tucson.
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 Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 5, 9:01 AM MST, 59 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 5, 9:01 AM MST, 59 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
901 AM MST Thu Sep 5 2024
.SYNOPSIS...Drier conditions will prevail for much of this week.
High pressure will bring hotter temperatures, with well above
average temperatures expected through the remainder of the week.
.UPDATE...
Today is still on track to be the hottest day of the
week with the hottest places in the Western Deserts that can see
temperatures between 108-113 degrees and 104-109 for the Tucson
metro and surrounding areas. Storm-wise is still on track to be
dry as well.
.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 201 AM MST Thu Sep 5 2024/
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Strong high pressure across southern CA and Arizona will bring
hotter temperatures the remainder of the week, with near record
heat in some locations today.
Meanwhile, dewpoints are sagging into the 40s and precipitable
water values below 3/4 of an inch as moisture ebbs. Flow
reversals will become more frequent with longer breaks between
thunderstorm days as the transition pattern digs in. We could see
a few mountain thunderstorms late in the week or next weekend, but
there's still no sign of a deep return of moisture any time soon
as ensemble means continue to suggest the ridge keeps rebuilding
in a blocking position.
Conditions are becoming more favorable for storm formation in the
eastern Pacific tropics next week, and while there's no mechanism
in place to draw anything directly up here, we could see another
deeper moisture push assisted by tropical features around mid
month.
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 06/12Z
SKC-SCT clouds AOA 10k ft AGL thru the forecast period. Sfc winds
E/SE at 10-15kts gusts up to 25kts thru 05/03Z then decreasing to
less than 10 kts overnight. Sfc winds shift to the NW aft 05/20Z
thru the end of the period.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...A dry period is expected this week with hotter
temperatures. A few thunderstorms possible near the White
Mountains late week. Minimum RH values below 15 percent at times
in lower elevations. Winds 5 to 15 mph with gusts to 20 mph and
generally out of the east. Stronger Friday and Saturday with
gusts up to 30 mph possible.
&&
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM MST Friday for AZZ501-502.
Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM MST Friday for AZZ503>506.
&&
Update...Tetrault
Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at
weather.gov/Tucson
Heat, Tohono O Odham Nation
- When
- September 5, 10:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Tohono O Odham Nation forecast zone
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 32.501, -111.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Hot temperatures about 6 to 8 degrees above normal were experienced in Sells on September 5, causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached. The Sells RAWS reached 105 degrees on September 5. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary factor in the death in one individual.
Heat, Tucson Metro Area
- When
- September 6, 10:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Tucson Metro Area forecast zone
- Deaths
- 0 direct, 1 indirect
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 32.097, -111.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Hot temperatures about 6 degrees above normal were experienced in the Tucson Metro Area September 6, causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached. Tucson International Airport topped out at 103 degrees on September 6. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was contributing factor in the death in one individual.
Heat, Tohono O Odham Nation
- When
- September 6, 10:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
- Where
- Tohono O Odham Nation forecast zone
- Deaths
- 2 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 32.501, -111.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Hot temperatures about 6 degrees above normal were experienced in Sells on September 6, causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached. The Sells RAWS topped out at 107 degrees on September 6. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was primary factor in the death in two individuals.
Heat, Tucson Metro Area
- When
- September 7, 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 2 degrees above normal were experienced in the Tucson Metro Area September 7, causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached. Tucson International Airport topped out at 99 degrees on September 7. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was contributing factor in the death in one individual.
Heat, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys
- When
- September 7, 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 3 to 5 degrees above normal were experienced in Nogales on September 7, causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached. The Nogales International Airport topped out at 93 degrees on September 7. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was contributing factor in the death in one individual.
Heat, Tucson Metro Area
- When
- September 8, 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 3 degrees above normal were experienced in the Tucson Metro Area September 8, causing the Minor Heat Risk category to be reached. Tucson International Airport topped out at 100 degrees on September 7. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was contributing factor in the death in one individual.
- 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.
- Wildfire in California, September 5 to 30, 202434 injured · $81 million · 4 events
- Wildfire in Oregon, September 5 to 26, 2024$300,000 · 1 event
- Flash Flooding and Hail in New Mexico, September 5, 2024$20,000 · 1 in hail · 12 events
- Debris Flow and Damaging Wind in Puerto Rico, September 5 to 7, 2024$8,000 · 4 events
- Flash Flooding in Louisiana, September 5, 20243 events
- Heat in Washington, September 5, 20242 events
- Excessive Heat in Oregon, September 5, 20242 events
- Waterspout in South Atlantic Coastal Waters, September 5, 20241 event
- Tornado in Oklahoma, September 5, 2024EF0 · 1 event
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: 1218660, 1217121, 1217122, 1217123, 1218662, 1217124.