Heat-Related Deaths Triple As Phoenix Area Sees Record-High Temperatures

By Lauren Gilger
Published: Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - 11:36am
Updated: Thursday, August 22, 2019 - 8:35am

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We had an excessive heat warning in the Phoenix area for the second day in a row.

On Tuesday, Phoenix set a new high temperature record of 113 degrees. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service forecasts a high of 114, four degrees higher than the previous record for this day.

New numbers show just how deadly our high temperatures have been this summer. The Maricopa County Department of Public Health reports 27 people have died from heat-associated causes so far this year, with another 122 deaths under investigation. Those 27 deaths are three times the number they were at this time last year.  

Rebecca Sunenshine is the director of the Maricopa County Department of Public Health. She joined The Show to talk about the new numbers. 

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