TL/DR –
At least six people have died in Phoenix, Arizona due to heat-related causes as the city experienced temperatures of 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 Celsius). A further 87 deaths are being investigated for potential heat-related causes, and the city is enduring an excessive heat warning. Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, reported a staggering 645 heat-related deaths in 2023, a 50% increase on 2022’s figure of 425 deaths.
Heatwave in Metro Phoenix: Rising Death Toll
This year, a minimum of six people have succumbed to the intense heat in the sweltering metro Phoenix, registering temperatures of 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 Celsius). The Maricopa County Department of Public Health confirmed these deaths this week.
An additional 87 deaths are being probed for potential heat-related causes until the last Saturday, according to the latest online heat surveillance update by public health officials.
Phoenix witnessed a high of 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 Celsius) on both Thursday and Friday, marking the hottest days of 2024 so far. The metro area remains under an excessive heat warning due to a dome of high pressure.
US Sweats Under Heatwave
A significant part of the United States experienced a heat wave on Friday, with several regions bracing for record-breaking temperatures. Meteorologist Ryan Worley of the National Weather Service stated, ‘There’s a 30% chance for a slight cool down in Phoenix over the weekend with possible rainfall, but temperatures are expected to climb again next week.’
Maricopa County, located in the Sonoran desert, recorded an alarming 645 heat-related fatalities in 2023, a 50% increase from 2022’s 425 confirmed deaths.
State of Emergency Declared in 2023
Arizona’s Governor Katie Hobbs declared a state of emergency in 2023 when metro Phoenix saw a 31-day streak of temperatures touching at least 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius).
Among few jurisdictions providing regularly updated data on heat-related deaths publicly accessible, Maricopa County, the hottest large metro area in the U.S., stands out.
Pima County’s Heat Death Tracker
The Office of the Medical Examiner in Pima County, home to Tucson, Arizona’s second most populous city, launched a dashboard this year to monitor heat deaths. The county, along with the rural counties outsourcing forensic services to Pima, has reported a minimum of eight heat-related deaths this year.
In comparison, Pima County registered 176 such deaths last year, with an additional 51 in the five rural counties.
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