Arizona Extreme Heat Leads to Over 360 Deaths in Maricopa County Amid 'Hottest Summer on Record' [Report]

Extreme heat has impacted Arizona in recent months with at least 360 heat-related deaths being reported across Maricopa County, which includes the state capital city of Phoenix.

Being the most populous county in Arizona, Maricopa has suffered from the "hottest summer on record" amid the 2023 summer season, which reportedly spanned from June 21 to September 23. During this period, local authorities have linked hundreds of deaths to the extreme heat in Arizona.

While investigations are underway for potentially hundreds of other heat-associated deaths, authorities fear that the total death toll may exceed those of last year. The catastrophic Arizona extreme heat resembles the deadly '2021 Western North America heat wave' which affected the states of Washington and Oregon, as well as Canada's British Columbia province and other surrounding areas. The said natural disaster resulted in at least 1,400 heat-related deaths.

Arizona Extreme Heat

(Photo : Photo by David Banning on Unsplash)

Arizona public health officials have confirmed the deaths related to the extreme heat in the said area even if investigations are ongoing regarding the matter. In fact, the Maricopa County local government issued its report earlier this month that highlights the danger brought by the previous season.

In its assessment entitled 2023 Weekly Heat Report on October 7, the Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) confirmed a total of 361 heat-related deaths with 238 other related deaths being investigated in the country during the 2023 heat season. The MCDPH highlights that the heat-associated fatalities in the county are already larger compared to last year's summer season, which incurred 331 confirmed deaths.

As tallying for further casualties continue, this year's death toll in Maricopa County may further increase. According to MCDPH Medical Director Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, there is a possibility that 2023 will result in more heat-related deaths than last year and may even exceed 500 fatalities.

Also Read: El Niño Fuels Extreme Heat in the Pacific, Raising Fears of Droughts and Floods

US Heatwave Deaths

Unlike extreme heat, other weather events and natural disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, and earthquakes are widely known for causing mass casualties due to their immediate impact. Yet, deaths relating to high temperatures, hot weather, and dry conditions are overlooked in some cases.

However, experts indicate that extreme heat, also called heatwave or heat dome, is an invisible killer despite it not being plainly evident. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), heat-related deaths are caused by deadly illnesses like heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

The US EPA explains that hot temperatures can also contribute to cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks, highlighting that heat is the "leading weather-related killer" in the US. In this context, scientists have also blamed climate change and global warming for the record-breaking heat observed in different cities and towns nationwide, especially in the western US.

In other parts of the country, hot summer temperatures have also become common in recent decades, according to the US government agency. Previous reports have also shown that even parts of the East Coast are also affected.

Related Article: Heat Waves: Exposure to Increase 4-Fold by 2050