Heat-related deaths in Maricopa County have nearly doubled compared with this point last year, raising new questions about just how dangerous Arizona’s extreme heat is becoming. So far in 2026, 150 heat-related deaths have been confirmed, compared with 76 at the same point in 2025, a 97% increase. And that number could still climb, with hundreds of additional deaths still being reviewed by county officials. The Valley has dealt with another brutal summer of triple-digit temperatures, extended heat warnings and dangerous conditions that can become life-threatening fast, especially for people working outdoors, living without reliable shelter or dealing with other health risks. Arizona has always been hot, but numbers like this hit different when they nearly double in a single year. Do you feel like Phoenix summers are getting worse, or are we just seeing the consequences more clearly now? #Arizona #Phoenix #MaricopaCounty #ExtremeHeat #AZNews