Mohave, Yuma, Cochise, Maricopa, Pinal, and Graham Wildfires, Hotter Climate, Droughts and 115 to 118 degrees Fahrenheit is becoming the norm Heat strokes are commonplace!
Over the past three years, Arizona has experienced a staggering increase in heat-related deaths, exceeding a 1000 percent rise. Last year, relentless heat resulted in 645 fatalities in Maricopa County alone, marking the highest number ever recorded in Arizona's largest metropolitan area. This dramatic surge in heat-related mortalities, a tenfold increase over a decade, coincides with record-high temperatures, escalating eviction rates, and a booming real estate market across six counties, culminating in a crisis of homelessness intertwined with unprecedented heatwaves.
In 2024, Arizona experienced an increase in unprecedented heatwaves due to climate change and human-induced emissions, causing the state to become progressively hotter each year. It is projected that by 2040, Arizona will endure an additional month of extreme heat on top of the already frequent heatwaves. The rising temperatures are also contributing to a decline in fertility rates, with Arizona witnessing a significant decrease in births that matches the increase in heat-related fatalities. To combat the escalating number of heat-related deaths, Arizona has initiated the opening of cooling centers across the region.
In Arizona, heat islands—urbanized areas where concrete has replaced desert—can experience nighttime lows of 90 degrees! Recently, there has been a notable departure of the over-45 population from Arizona. The state, once a popular retirement choice for its warm weather and scenic views, is seeing a shift due to changing preferences and socio-economic factors. According to AARP, about one in eight retirees cite increased housing costs, such as electricity for air conditioning and fuel, as their primary reason for leaving. For instance, the average cost for a comfortable retirement in New Mexico is $68,008, while in Arizona, considering the energy rates in 2024, it's around $85,000 as reported by GOBankingRates.
Although most of the retirees are leaving one group seems to be moving into the heat. Arizona has a growing population of immigrants. About 14 percent of the state’s residents were born in another country, and 16 percent of residents are native-born Americans with at least one immigrant parent.There were nearly 916,000 immigrants living in Arizona in 2021, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data, as tabulated by the Migration Policy Institute.
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