Excessive Heat in Arizona
Every excessive heat event the National Weather Service has filed in Arizona, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Heat at or above the local excessive heat warning criteria, or heat that caused deaths.
The most significant on the map
The most significant excessive heat episodes in Arizona.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 1,871
- Deaths
- 1,512
- Injuries
- 140
- Damage
- $25,000
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Excessive Heat in Arizona, July 11 to 22, 2023A very strong ridge of high pressure strengthened over the Desert Southwest during the middle part of the month, resulting in well above normal temperatures and excessive heat conditions.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 23 to 29, 2023A persistent strong ridge of high pressure over the region led to well above normal temperatures for the end of July. Afternoon highs during this time exceeded 110 degrees each day in Phoenix with the 25th recording a high of 119 degrees.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 19 to 23, 2022An anomalously strong ridge of high pressure over the Desert Southwest persisted into the latter part of July, leading to temperatures in excess of 110 degrees in Phoenix most days during this time.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 14 to 30, 2023Persistent strong high pressure aloft created an extended period of very hot temperatures July 14-30 across southeast Arizona. High temperatures were 5 to 14 degrees above normal causing the Major Heat Risk category to be reached and numerous high temperatures to be established.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 14 to 18, 2022A strong upper level ridge situated over the Desert Southwest led to well above normal temperatures along with excessive heat conditions at times. Temperatures during this time at Phoenix Sky Harbor peaked on the 16th at 114 degrees.
- Excessive Heat in Arizona, June 12 to 20, 2021A strong upper level ridge strengthened over the Desert Southwest during the middle part of June with the center of high pressure becoming focused over the Four Corners region. As a result, temperatures warmed up well above normal reaching excessive heat conditions.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, August 1 to 7, 2023A strong ridge of high pressure over the Southern Plains expanded westward into the Desert Southwest, leading to excessive heat conditions across the region.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 8 to 13, 2022A strong ridge of high pressure became situated over the Four Corners region, leading to dangerous temperatures as well as excessive heat conditions at times across the Phoenix area.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 6 to 11, 2021Strong high pressure encompassing the Desert Southwest led to above normal temperatures, with excessive heat conditions occurring across the Phoenix area between the 9th and 11th.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 9 to 14, 2020A very strong area of high pressure strengthened over the southwest United States, leading to excessive heat conditions across the region. Temperatures in Phoenix exceeded 110 degrees each day with afternoon highs reaching or exceeding 115 degrees on the 11th and the 12th.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, June 26 to 30, 2024The Desert Southwest was under the influence of a strong ridge of high pressure, leading to afternoon temperatures topping out each day at or above 110 degrees in Phoenix.
- Excessive Heat in Arizona, August 12 to 20, 2020A very strong and expansive area of high pressure remained situated over the Desert Southwest for multiple days, allowing for temperatures to reach or exceed 115 degrees most days during this time.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, August 1 to 6, 2020A very strong area of high pressure parked over the Southwest United States led to continued excessive heat conditions across the region from the end of July into the beginning of August.
- Excessive Heat in Arizona, July 22 to 31, 2018Strong high pressure over the Desert Southwest allowed for temperatures to climb into record territory across the Phoenix area, resulting in deadly excessive heat conditions. Phoenix Sky Harbor airport recorded temperatures getting as high as 116 degrees during this period.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, June 6 to 12, 2022A strong ridge of high pressure built in across the Southwest heading into the middle part of June, bringing excessive heat conditions to the region.
- Excessive Heat in Arizona, August 25 to 30, 2023A strong upper level ridge of high pressure over the Great Plains retrograded westward to the western United States, leading to excessive heat conditions across the region.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, August 2 to 7, 2018Strong high pressure over the Desert Southwest led to excessive heat warning conditions near the beginning of the month. The deadly heatwave resulted in 31 fatalities (27 direct and 4 indirect) according to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 18 to 22, 2020Strong high pressure led to temperatures climbing near to slightly above 110 degrees during a several day period for the latter part of July. According to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, 31 heat-associated fatalities occurred during this time.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, June 9 to 16, 2024A ridge of high pressure over the Desert Southwest resulted in excessive heat conditions during the middle part of June.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 26 to 31, 2020Anomalously strong high pressure over the Southwest led to temperatures climbing at or above 115 degrees. Temperatures peaked in Phoenix on the 30th at 118 degrees, which ended up being the hottest day of the year.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 6 to 10, 2023The Desert Southwest continued to remain under the influence of an upper level ridge of high pressure during the July 6-10th time period. As a result, high temperatures in Phoenix continued to reach or exceed 110 degrees each day with the 6th reaching a high of 115 degrees.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 8 to 12, 2024Hot temperatures typically 7 to 11 degrees above normal were experienced across southeast Arizona July 8-12.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 22 to 27, 2018Strong high pressure building into the region resulted in excessive heat warning conditions across much of south-central and southwest Arizona. The deadly heatwave resulted in 25 fatalities (23 direct and 2 indirect) according to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, August 1 to 6, 2021A strong ridge of high pressure over the Desert Southwest resulted in excessive heat conditions as temperatures climbed well above normal. The hottest day in Phoenix occurred on the 4th with a high of 115 degrees.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 27 to 31, 2019Strong high pressure over the Desert Southwest near the end of the month led excessive heat warning conditions for parts of the region. The deadly heat resulted in 25 fatalities (20 direct and 5 indirect) according to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
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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.