Heat played role in 645 deaths in Arizona's largest county last year

At least 645 people died from heat-related illnesses in Arizona’s largest county last year, a preliminary report from its Public Health Department found Wednesday.

Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, said it saw a record-setting heat wave in July 2023 that caused a 52% increase in heat-related deaths from the previous year. Every day of July reported temperatures of 110 degrees and above, according to the report.