At least six people have tragically died from heat-related causes in the scorching metro Phoenix area so far this year, as reported by Arizona's Maricopa Department of Public Health. An additional 87 deaths are currently under investigation for potential heat-related factors up to last Saturday, according to the latest weekly update on the department's online heat surveillance information.
Temperatures soared to a blistering 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 Celsius) in Phoenix on Thursday and Friday, marking the hottest days of 2024 thus far. The region remains under an excessive heat warning due to a dome of high pressure, with a slight chance of moisture and cooling over the upcoming weekend.
Meteorologist Ryan Worley of the National Weather Service mentioned a 30% possibility of rain in Phoenix over the next few days, potentially leading to a minor drop in temperatures to around 110 degrees before rising again next week.
Maricopa County, situated in the Sonoran Desert, recorded a staggering 645 heat-related deaths last year, a significant increase from the 425 confirmed in 2022. In response to a 31-day streak of temperatures exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit in metro Phoenix, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs declared a state of emergency in 2023.
Maricopa County stands out as one of the few jurisdictions that regularly updates and provides easily accessible data on heat-related deaths to the public. Additionally, the Office of the Medical Examiner in Pima County, which includes Tucson, introduced a dashboard this year to monitor heat-related fatalities. As of now, Pima County has reported at least five heat-related deaths, with an additional three in the rural counties that rely on Pima for forensic services. Last year, Pima County documented 176 heat-related deaths, along with 51 such fatalities in the surrounding rural areas handled by the medical examiner.
