These Are the 25 Deadliest Heat Waves of the Last 10 Years
https://climatecrisis247.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/585759-150x150.jpegAs climate change worsens, the frequency and severity of deadly heat waves will continue to increase. More than 21,000 Americans have died due to heat-related causes since 1999, many during intense periods of abnormally high temperatures concentrated over a few days.
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Many of the deadliest heat waves occur in major metropolitan areas like Phoenix and Las Vegas, where older, high-risk Americans are more exposed to warm weather. And while global warming has unequivocally accelerated over the last century, the deadliest heat waves are rare, one-in-10,000-year events, such as the 118-degree heat dome in Portland in 2021, or the heat wave that killed 53 migrants stuck in an abandoned trailer in San Antonio in 2022. A look at NOAA data reveals the heat waves that caused the most deaths in the past 10 years.
To determine the deadliest heat waves of the last 10 years, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on storm event mortality from the NOAA. Heat wave events were ranked based on the total number of direct and indirect deaths that occurred due to abnormally high temperatures over a period of at least one day. Heat mortality reports are from county officials, official National Weather Service observations, and broadcast media. Supplemental data on maximum temperature is based on daily summaries from the NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information.
25. July 29-31, 2020 (Phoenix, AZ)
- Official death toll: 15 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 118°F
- Population exposed: 1,609,000
24. August 24-28, 2020 (Phoenix, AZ)
- Official death toll: 16 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 113°F
- Population exposed: 1,609,000
23. June 8-12, 2022 (Phoenix, AZ)
- Official death toll: 16 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 114°F
- Population exposed: 1,609,000
22. June 21-26, 2024 (Las Vegas, NV)
- Official death toll: 16 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 112°F
- Population exposed: 644,000
21. June 19-21, 2016 (Las Vegas, NV)
- Official death toll: 17 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 117°F
- Population exposed: 644,000
20. July 24-28, 2018 (Las Vegas, NV)
- Official death toll: 17 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 117°F
- Population exposed: 644,000
19. June 17-25, 2017 (Las Vegas, NV)
- Official death toll: 18 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 119°F
- Population exposed: 644,000
18. August 1-5, 2018 (Las Vegas, NV)
- Official death toll: 18 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 112°F
- Population exposed: 644,000
17. June 26-29, 2021 (Portland, OR)
- Official death toll: 18 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 116°F
- Population exposed: 646,000
16. June 5-8, 2024 (Las Vegas, NV)
- Official death toll: 19 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 111°F
- Population exposed: 644,000
15. July 6-8, 2017 (Las Vegas, NV)
- Official death toll: 20 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 118°F
- Population exposed: 644,000
14. July 22-31, 2018 (Phoenix, AZ)
- Official death toll: 20 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 116°F
- Population exposed: 1,609,000
13. July 9-11, 2021 (Phoenix, AZ)
- Official death toll: 20 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 112°F
- Population exposed: 1,609,000
12. July 8-12, 2024 (Tucson, AZ)
- Official death toll: 20 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 111°F
- Population exposed: 541,000
11. July 21-22, 2022 (Phoenix, AZ)
- Official death toll: 21 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 114°F
- Population exposed: 1,609,000
10. July 22-29, 2016 (Las Vegas, NV)
- Official death toll: 26 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 117°F
- Population exposed: 644,000
9. August 1-4, 2020 (Phoenix, AZ)
- Official death toll: 26 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 114°F
- Population exposed: 1,609,000
8. July 10-13, 2020 (Phoenix, AZ)
- Official death toll: 32 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 116°F
- Population exposed: 1,609,000
7. July 20-25, 2024 (Las Vegas, NV)
- Official death toll: 34 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 114°F
- Population exposed: 644,000
6. June 12-20, 2021 (Phoenix, AZ)
- Official death toll: 35 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 118°F
- Population exposed: 1,609,000
5. July 14-29, 2023 (Tucson, AZ)
- Official death toll: 40 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 112°F
- Population exposed: 541,000
4. July 3-12, 2024 (Las Vegas, NV)
- Official death toll: 42 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 119°F
- Population exposed: 644,000
3. August 12-20, 2020 (Phoenix, AZ)
- Official death toll: 43 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 117°F
- Population exposed: 1,609,000
2. June 27, 2022 (San Antonio, TX)
- Official death toll: 53 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 101°F
- Population exposed: 1,445,000
1. June 26-29, 2021 (Portland, OR)
- Official death toll: 93 deaths
- Maximum temperature: 116°F
- Population exposed: 646,000
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