Developing Story Note: This report covers new developments involving 2026 heat-related deaths in Maricopa County, Arizona. The figures are preliminary and come from Maricopa County Department of Public Health data as reported by KJZZ on Sept. 24, 2026. As of Sept. 27, they were the most recent publicly reported figures. Counts may change as the Office of the Medical Examiner completes its investigations.
Maricopa County has confirmed 230 heat-related deaths so far in 2026, a 60% increase from the number confirmed at the same point last year, according to county data reported by KJZZ. Another 567 deaths remain under investigation as possibly heat-related. Preliminary data also show that 34% of this year's heat deaths so far occurred indoors, up from about 24% over the previous three years.
