A minimum of 6 heat-related deaths reported in city Phoenix up until now this year as high hits 115 degrees

By ANITA SNOW

Associated Press

PHOENIX-- At least 6 people have died from heat-related causes this year up until now in sizzling city Phoenix, where the temperature levels today hit 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 Celsius), Arizona's Maricopa Department of Public Health reported this week.

Another 87 deaths are under examination for possible heat-related causes through last Saturday, public health officials stated in the most current weekly update to its online heat surveillance info.

Phoenix hit 115 degrees F (46 C) on Thursday and Friday, making them the hottest days of 2024 up to now. The metro location continued to swelter through an extreme heat cautioning under a dome of high pressure, with some wetness and a small cooling possible over the weekend.

" We might see a little rain over the next couple of days since there is a 30% possibility for Phoenix," stated meteorologist Ryan Worley of the National Weather Service. "There could be a slight cool off to around 110 degrees, but temperatures should go n back up next week."

Located in the Sonora desert, Maricopa County saw a spectacular 645 heat-related deaths last year, about 50% more than the 425 confirmed for 2022.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs declared a state of emergency situation in 2023 after metro Phoenix experienced a 31-day streak of temperature levels reaching a minimum of 110 degrees F (43.3 degrees C).

Maricopa County, the hottest big city location in the U.S., is amongst few jurisdictions that provide regularly upgraded information on heat-related deaths that can be quickly accessed by the public.

The Office of the Medical Examiner in Pima County, home to Arizona's 2nd most populated city of Tucson, this year included a dashboard to track heat deaths there. Far this year, there have been at least five heat-related deaths in Pima County, plus three more in the rural counties that contract with Pima for forensic services.

Last year in Pima County there were 176 heat-related deaths and another 51 such deaths in the five extra rural counties that the medical inspector deals with.