Arizona
More people die from heat in Maricopa County than from any natural disaster anywhere else in the country. Add monsoon flash floods that fill dry washes in minutes, wildfires in the ponderosa forests, and haboobs that erase the highway, and Arizona demands a different kind of preparedness.
Enter your Arizona ZIP for live alerts, forecasts, and county-specific data.
Know your region
Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe. The Valley of the Sun is the hottest major metro in the country. Maricopa County recorded over 600 heat-associated deaths in 2023. Monsoon microbursts hit with 80 mph winds. Flash flooding turns underpasses into death traps.
Primary hazards: extreme heat, flash flooding, dust storms, severe thunderstorms
Flagstaff, Sedona, Prescott, Payson, the White Mountains. Ponderosa pine forests at 7,000 feet burn in catastrophic wildfires. The 2002 Rodeo-Chediski fire forced the evacuation of 30,000 people. Winter brings heavy snow to Flagstaff. Flash floods funnel through Oak Creek Canyon and the Mogollon Rim.
Primary hazards: wildfire, flash floods, winter storms, severe thunderstorms
Tucson, Sierra Vista, Yuma, Nogales. Sonoran Desert heat is relentless but monsoon season transforms the landscape. Tucson averages 55 days above 100 degrees F. The Santa Cruz and Rillito rivers, dry most of the year, become dangerous torrents during summer storms.
Primary hazards: extreme heat, flash flooding, drought, monsoon storms
Your hazard profile
Each links to a full guide with during-event protocol, recovery steps, and resources specific to AZ.
Maricopa County recorded 645 heat-associated deaths in 2023. Phoenix hit 110 degrees F or higher for 31 consecutive days that summer. Pavement surface temperatures exceed 160 degrees F. Heat kills more people in Arizona than all other natural hazards combined.
Read the extreme heat guide →
The 2002 Rodeo-Chediski fire burned 468,000 acres and forced the evacuation of 30,000 people from mountain communities. The 2021 Telegraph Fire burned 180,000 acres east of Phoenix. Northern Arizona's ponderosa forests and the desert grasslands of central Arizona both burn.
Read the wildfires guide →
Arizona's monsoon season turns bone-dry washes into raging rivers without warning. Flash floods kill more people in Arizona than any weather event except heat. The state's Stupid Motorist Law holds drivers financially liable for their own rescue if they drive into flooded roads.
Read the flash flooding guide →
Monsoon microbursts produce 80 mph wind gusts. Haboobs roll across the Valley at 60 mph, reducing visibility to zero. Lightning kills hikers on exposed ridgelines. Dust storms cause multi-vehicle pileups on I-10 and I-8 every season.
Read the monsoon storms guide →
Arizona has been in drought conditions for over twenty years. Lake Mead and Lake Powell have hit record lows. The Colorado River, which supplies 40 percent of the state's water, is being rationed. Water conservation is permanent policy, not a temporary measure.
Read the drought guide →
Arizona resources
Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs. Coordinates disaster response, activates the state emergency operations center, and manages FEMA programs for the state.
Cooling station locations, heat relief district maps, hydration station network. The county's heat response system that activates every summer from May through October.
Central and southern Arizona forecasts. Monsoon outlooks, dust storm warnings, excessive heat watches, and flash flood warnings. The primary source for monsoon season updates.
Wildfire risk maps, fire restrictions, burn permits, and community wildfire protection plans. Northern Arizona households should check current fire danger levels through this office.
Drought status, Colorado River allocation updates, groundwater management, and conservation programs. Tracks the state's long-term water supply picture.
Real-time road conditions, dust storm closures, flooding alerts, and wildfire-related road closures. Essential during monsoon season and winter travel to Flagstaff.
The summer of 2023
In the summer of 2023, Phoenix experienced 31 consecutive days at or above 110 degrees F. Maricopa County recorded 645 heat-associated deaths, the highest in the county's history. Many of the dead were found outdoors. Some were found in homes without functioning air conditioning.
Heat does not arrive with sirens or breaking news banners. It builds quietly. The danger is not a single afternoon but the accumulation: pavement that never cools below 90 degrees at night, indoor temperatures that climb when AC units fail, dehydration that compounds over days. The people most at risk are those who work outdoors, those without reliable cooling, and those who live alone.
For every Arizona household, the preparation starts with cooling. Know where the nearest cooling center is. Keep your AC maintained. Stock water in your vehicle and your home. Check on neighbors who live alone. Heat is Arizona's most lethal hazard, and it comes back every year.