KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College,
and Maricopa Community Colleges

Copyright © 2024 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Maricopa County confirms 8 heat-associated deaths so far in 2023; 40 under investigation

Maricopa County has confirmed eight heat-associated deaths this year as of July 1, and another 40 cases are under investigation. 

More than a third of those were people over the age of 75. 

Tom Frieders is a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service. He says Phoenix is in the middle of a historic heat wave. 

"We've actually been above 110 for 10 days in a row. So that actually comparing to the longest stretch ever of 110 plus days that we're now in seventh place," Frieders said. 

There is a 50% chance that Phoenix could tie the record with 18 days above 110 degrees in a row.

Greg Hahne started as a news intern at KJZZ in 2020 and returned as a field correspondent in 2021. He learned his love for radio by joining Arizona State University's Blaze Radio, where he worked on the production team.