Arizona, 2025

Heat in Arizona, August 9 to 13, 2025

August 9 to 13, 2025 · NWS TWC · 7 events in 3 counties and zones

Temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were near 2 to 6 degrees above normal with Moderate HeatRisk. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was a factor in the cause of death for 14 individuals.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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
14
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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.

Temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were near 2 to 6 degrees above normal with Moderate HeatRisk. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was a factor in the cause of death for 14 individuals. Heat was the primary factor for one person and thirteen were heat contributed.

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 Aug 9, 3:28 AM MST, 6 hours 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 9, 3:28 AM MST, 6 hours 32 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
328 AM MST Sat Aug 9 2025

.SYNOPSIS...The very hot temperatures of the past several days
will be trending down this weekend. A low grade monsoon pattern
continues this weekend with best chances being east and south of
Tucson. Precipitation chances increase next week with high
temperatures remaining above normal.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Partly to mostly cloudy sky this morning with a few
elevated showers/t-storms. For today, mid to late afternoon
storms will mainly be south and east of Tucson with main threats
being brief heavy rain and strong gusty outflow winds. The
outflows pushing west will bring a chance of storms into the
Tucson area this evening. Slight uptick in thunderstorms chances
tomorrow with main focus again being south and east of Tucson. Not
as hot this weekend as what occurred Wed and Thu but still
running above normal.

Next week: Daily chances of showers and thunderstorms with day to
day variability in areal coverage. Highs will remain several
degrees above normal.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid through 10/12Z.
Isolated -SHRA/TS this morning increasing in areal coverage mainly
S and E of Tucson after 09/19z. Gusty winds up to 45 kts possible
near thunderstorms. Otherwise SFC winds light and terrain driven
winds with some afternoon gustiness. Aviation discussion not
updated for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...High temperatures will be on a trend down this
weekend then remain several degrees above normal through next
week. Thunderstorm coverage this afternoon and evening mainly
south and east of Tucson. Daily chances for thunderstorms and
wetting rain showers will continue through the new week with daily
variability on coverage and intensity of thunderstorms and rain
showers. Min RHs will generally be around 14-22 percent in the
lower elevations and 20-30 percent in the mountains. Winds will
generally be less than 15 mph with typical afternoon gusts up to
20 mph into the new week.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None.

&&

Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 heat. Local standard time, as filed.

Heat, Tucson Metro Area

When
August 9, 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)

High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 5 degrees above normal, causing Moderate HeatRisk. The Tucson International Airport reached a high temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was the a contributing factor in the cause of death for two individuals in Tucson.

Heat, Tucson Metro Area

When
August 10, 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)

High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 2 degrees above normal, causing Moderate HeatRisk. The Tucson International Airport reached a high temperature of 101 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was the a contributing factor in the cause of death for an individual in Tucson.

Heat, Tucson Metro Area

When
August 11, 10:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where
Tucson Metro Area forecast zone
Deaths
1 direct, 4 indirect
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
32.097, -111.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 5 degrees above normal, causing Moderate HeatRisk. The Tucson International Airport reached a high temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was a contributing factor in the cause of death for three individuals in Tucson and one individual in Marana. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was the primary factor in the death of one individual in Tucson.

Heat, Tohono O Odham Nation

When
August 11, 10:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where
Tohono O Odham Nation forecast zone
Deaths
0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
32.501, -111.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 5 degrees above normal, causing Moderate HeatRisk. The Sells RAWS reached a high temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was a contributing factor in the cause of death for an individual in Sells.

Heat, Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet

When
August 12, 10:00 AM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where
Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet forecast zone
Deaths
0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
31.880, -109.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 5 degrees above normal, causing Low HeatRisk. A Willcox Mesonet site reached a high temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was a contributing factor in the cause of death for an individual in Willcox.

Heat, Tucson Metro Area

When
August 12, 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)

High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 6 degrees above normal, causing Moderate HeatRisk. The Tucson International Airport ASOS reached a high temperature of 106 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was a contributing factor in the cause of death for two individuals in Tucson.

Heat, Tucson Metro Area

When
August 13, 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)

High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 3 degrees above normal, causing Low HeatRisk. The Tucson International Airport ASOS reached a high temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was a contributing factor in the cause of death for two individuals in Tucson.

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
Heat, Tucson Metro Area2025-08-0926MaleOutside/Open AreasIndirect
Heat, Tucson Metro Area2025-08-0936MaleOutside/Open AreasIndirect
Heat, Tucson Metro Area2025-08-1035MaleOutside/Open AreasIndirect
Heat, Tucson Metro Area2025-08-1178MaleMobile/Trailer HomeIndirect
Heat, Tucson Metro Area2025-08-1131MaleOutside/Open AreasIndirect
Heat, Tucson Metro Area2025-08-1174MaleOutside/Open AreasIndirect
Heat, Tucson Metro Area2025-08-1179MalePermanent HomeIndirect
Heat, Tucson Metro Area2025-08-1168MalePermanent HomeDirect
Heat, Tohono O Odham Nation2025-08-1179MalePermanent HomeIndirect
Heat, Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet2025-08-1286MaleOutside/Open AreasIndirect
Heat, Tucson Metro Area2025-08-1278FemaleMobile/Trailer HomeIndirect
Heat, Tucson Metro Area2025-08-1274MalePermanent HomeIndirect
Heat, Tucson Metro Area2025-08-1363FemaleOutside/Open AreasIndirect
Heat, Tucson Metro Area2025-08-1379MalePermanent HomeIndirect

What these are

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 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, August 2025

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: 1291105, 1291107, 1291109, 1291136, 1291501, 1291506, 1291509.