PHOENIX: With a baking summer tight in its grip, the U.S. West saw a marked surge in heat-related deaths just this week across several major states in the country, namely Oregon, California, and Arizona. The list of the toll includes retirees, a motorcyclist in Death Valley, California, and a young boy hiking in Phoenix.
This week’s heat wave starting July 1 added to a rising toll — heat remains the No. 1 weather-related killer in the country, with an exact number not tallied yet because different counties count differently.
“This is just a harbinger of things to come,” said University of Arizona climate scientist Joellen Russell, adding that such extreme weather events are coming more frequently with increased carbon dioxide.
Where Deaths Occurred
– Northern California: Nineteen deaths are under investigation in Santa Clara County, with temperatures reaching triple digits.
– Oregon: That state has had at least 16 suspected heat-related deaths, several of them around the Portland area, as temperatures reached record highs.
– Nevada: Clark County — which includes Las Vegas — reported nine confirmed heat-related deaths this year.
Scorching Heat Sets Records
– California: Palm Springs hit a record high 124°F on July 5, and Death Valley matched its all-time record at 129°F.
– Nevada: Las Vegas set a record for seven straight days above 115°F, breaking 18 total heat records since June.
– Arizona: Phoenix matched its daily record high of 115°F, with other records broken elsewhere in the state.
Death Toll Is Difficult to Tabulate
Jurisdictions all have different ways to count heat-related deaths; the exact number is hard to report. Some, like Pima County, Arizona, have set up new dashboards for such fatalities, but the inconsistencies still recur.
Delayed Confirmations
Determinations of heat-related death often take months, making rapid reporting and public responsiveness quite challenging. Pathologists have to run comprehensive toxicological tests to determine heat as a factor in death; hence, the official counts usually come very late.
Forecast Ahead
While Portland, Oregon, has eased off a bit, excessive heat warnings persist for Phoenix and Las Vegas. Highs will likely stay above 110°F into the coming weeks, underscoring ongoing heat risks.
Conclusion
Full-bore summer means the Western US is in store for sustained, extreme heat conditions, raising the stakes for a linked-up response from heat resilience and public health entities.
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