Maricopa County, Arizona, on Thursday set a new record for annual heat-related deaths, with 425 deaths tallied so far this year and the same number confirmed for all of 2022.
Maricopa County, the hottest metropolitan area in the United States and home to Phoenix, announced 425 confirmed deaths as of Oct. 14. An additional 199 deaths are under investigation.
As of the same time last year, there were 359 confirmed heatstroke-related deaths, and a further 91 deaths are still under investigation.
“These deaths are preventable, even in the extreme heat we've seen this summer,” said Dr. Rebecca Sunenschein, medical director of the Maricopa County Health Department. “This tragic record is a reminder that as a community, we need to do more to prevent these deaths.”
No other metropolitan area in the United States reports such high numbers of heat-related deaths or spends so much time tracking and studying them.
This summer, Phoenix experienced its three hottest months since records began in 1895, including the hottest July and second-hottest August. The average daily temperature of 97°F (36.1°C) in June, July, and August exceeded the previous record of 96.7°F (35.9°C) set three years ago.
Phoenix also set a record in July with 31 consecutive days of high temperatures above 110°F (43.3°C).
