Maricopa County has reported its first heat-related death of 2025.
The victim, an unidentified older adult male, sustained injuries during the 2024 heat season. In a statement, Maricopa County’s chief medical officer said the death is a tragic reminder that the effects of extreme heat can be long-lasting.
As of this May, there were 63 possible heat-related deaths in 2025 under investigation by the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Maricopa County confirmed 608 deaths in 2024, the first time in more than a decade the county has seen a year-over-year decrease in heat-related deaths. Nearly 60% were individuals aged 50 or older.
Latest on Arizona heat
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Just shy of breaking a heat record Thursday at 117 degrees, greater Phoenix is under an extreme heat warning on Friday. Though the National Weather Service says to expect a slight cooldown in the coming days. -
There’s a remarkably simple, relatively affordable solution to keeping building temperatures down during the summer. It’s called reflective roofing, and the science is fairly basic: by coating roofs in light-colored, reflective materials, buildings absorb less heat. -
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for eight Arizona counties, including Maricopa and Pima counties. -
Recently, the Phoenix City Council unanimously approved a plan to increase shade across the city. “Shade Phoenix” calls for 27,000 new trees and 550 new shade structures over the next five years. -
Groups representing farmworkers, airport workers, letter carriers and construction workers are among more than two dozen organizations calling for Arizona to adopt enforceable statewide heat safety rules for workplaces.
