Record-Breaking Heat Wave: 30 Dead, Dozens More Expected as Western US Suffers Through Scorching Temperatures

Death Valley, California, California United States of America
At least 30 people have died during a record-breaking heat wave in the western US.
Heat is the leading cause of weather-related fatalities in the US and not all heat-related deaths are reported or counted.
Temperatures have soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius) in many areas, with some cities breaking all-time temperature records.
The human body can only take so much heat before it becomes stressed, leading to various health issues and accidents.
Record-Breaking Heat Wave: 30 Dead, Dozens More Expected as Western US Suffers Through Scorching Temperatures

A scorching heat wave has swept across the western United States, leaving at least 30 people dead and setting new record-breaking temperatures. The number of fatalities is expected to rise as authorities continue to assess the situation.

The extreme heat has been particularly deadly in California, where at least 18 people have died from heat-related causes in Santa Clara County alone. In Oregon, six suspected heat-related deaths have been reported.

Temperatures have soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius) in many areas, with some cities breaking or tying all-time temperature records. Las Vegas and Salt Lake City both reached record highs of 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.9 degrees Celsius) on July 9, while Phoenix broke its record with a temperature of 117 degrees Fahrenheit (47.2 degrees Celsius).

The heat wave has also led to power outages and other issues, including flash flooding in Vermont and tornadoes in the East.

Heat is the leading cause of weather-related fatalities in the United States, but it's important to note that not all heat-related deaths are reported or counted. The true toll of this heat wave may be higher than what is currently known.

The human body can only take so much heat before it becomes stressed, and extreme temperatures can contribute to workplace and traffic accidents, heart attacks, strokes, and other health issues. Autopsies don't always show signs of heat exposure, making it difficult to determine the true cause of death in some cases.

As the summer continues, forecasters warn that more record-breaking temperatures are on the way across much of the country. It's important for everyone to take precautions against the heat and stay informed about local conditions.


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Confidence

96%

Doubts
  • Some cities may have broken temperature records by a smaller margin than stated.
  • The exact number of heat-related deaths may be higher than reported.

Sources

85%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Heat wave death counts? Don't trust them. The true toll is higher.

USA Today Saturday, 13 July 2024 00:00
  • Unique Points
    • At least 30 fatalities related to extreme heat have been reported across the West in July 2024.
    • Heat stresses the human body and its true toll can’t be measured solely by counting obvious heat-related deaths.
    • Extreme heat contributes to workplace and traffic accidents, which may not be counted as heat-related deaths.
    • If high temperatures played a role in causing a person’s death but it doesn’t show on the death certificate, it won’t be counted as a heat-related death.
    • Heat can exacerbate pre-existing medical conditions and contribute to heart attacks or strokes, making it difficult to determine if heat was the direct cause of death.
    • Autopsies don’t always show heat exposure and it’s hard to read heat off the body.
    • More than 50 cities in California and Nevada broke all-time heat records in the first five days of July 2024.
    • Las Vegas reached its all-time record high of 120 degrees last week, breaking the previous record by 3 degrees.
    • Palm Springs, California, also reached its all-time record of 124 degrees last week.
    • The National Weather Service warns that more temperature records are possible in the West this weekend and that the heat is headed across the country.
    • Dozens of daily record-high temperatures are forecast over much of the West through Saturday. Hazardous heat will expand in coverage over portions of the central and eastern U.S. late this weekend.
    • Higher nighttime temperatures are especially dangerous for those without access to air conditioning, which is a problem if there are power outages during heat waves.
    • The body needs rest at night to recover from the stresses of extreme heat, and lack of sleep increases the likelihood of organ failure.
  • Accuracy
    • At least 16 people are suspected to have died from record high temperatures in Oregon.
    • There have been nine confirmed heat-related deaths this year in Clark County, Nevada.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article does not make any clear author opinions or editorializing. However, it does engage in selective reporting by focusing on the undercounting of heat-related deaths and the complications in accurately tracking them. The article also implies that the true toll of heat waves is higher than reported, which could be seen as sensationalism.
    • Researchers have previously tied heat to increases in overall deaths. If the entire U.S. experienced extreme heat for just one day, an estimated 154 adults would die.
    • At least 30 fatalities across the West this month are suspected to be related to extreme heat, according to state officials and media reports.
    • If you fall off a ladder at work because it was a particularly hot night and you didn’t have air conditioning and you didn’t sleep well, that wouldn’t be counted.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article makes an appeal to authority when it states 'Researchers have previously tied heat to increases in overall deaths.' and 'The CDC reported heat-related deaths averaged nearly 900 per year for the five years between 2016-2021, double the five-year average from 15 years earlier.' This is not a fallacy on its own, but it should be noted that these statements are based on research and data provided by experts in the field. However, there is also an instance of a dichotomous depiction when it states 'The death toll will increase as the summer continues, but experts say the numbers won’t ever be right.' This implies that there are only two possibilities: either the number of deaths is accurate or it is not. In reality, there may be other factors at play that make it difficult to determine an exact number of heat-related deaths.
    • ]Researchers have previously tied heat to increases in overall deaths.[
    • The CDC reported heat-related deaths averaged nearly 900 per year for the five years between 2016-2021, double the five-year average from 15 years earlier.
  • Bias (95%)
    The article does not demonstrate any clear bias towards a specific political, religious, ideological or monetary position. However, the author does use language that implies that the official reported death toll from heat waves is incomplete and underestimated due to subtle and complex ways in which heat affects human health and causes deaths. The author also mentions that there is no national standard or data collection for heat-related deaths, making it difficult to accurately determine the true toll of a heat wave.
    • Among the more than 3,000 counties completing death certificates in the U.S., there’s reason to believe the forms are handled differently in every county.
      • Heat may not show up on a death certificate even if high temperatures played a role in causing a person’s death.
        • Researchers have previously tied heat to increases in overall deaths. If the entire U.S. experienced extreme heat for just one day, an estimated 154 adults would die, according to a USA TODAY analysis of data from a 2022 study.
          • When it’s time to complete the form, if heat exposure or other environmental factors contributed to a stroke or heart attack for example, information about the patient’s activities in the days leading up to their hospitalization or death might only be found deep in the notes from an emergency room doctor.
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication

          87%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          Things to know about heat deaths as a dangerously hot summer shapes up in the western US

          The Associated Press News Saturday, 13 July 2024 10:02
          • Unique Points
            • Nineteen deaths are being investigated for possible heat-related causes in Santa Clara County, California.
            • At least 16 people are suspected to have died from record high temperatures in Oregon.
            • There have been nine confirmed heat-related deaths this year in Clark County, Nevada.
            • Several recent deaths being investigated in Arizona involved small children.
          • Accuracy
            No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
          • Deception (35%)
            The article does not clearly state the author's opinions or assertions, and instead reports on the increasing heat deaths in the western US. The author presents facts about recent heat-related deaths and high temperatures without linking to peer-reviewed studies. There is no editorializing or emotional manipulation present in the article. Additionally, there are instances of selective reporting as some details that would put the heatwave into context (e.g., climate change) are included while others (e.g., historical temperature data) are not.
            • PHOENIX (AP) — A dangerously hot summer is shaping up in the U.S. West, with heat suspected in dozens of recent deaths, including retirees in Oregon, a motorcyclist in Death Valley, California and a 10-year-old boy who collapsed while hiking with his family on a Phoenix trail.
          • Fallacies (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Bias (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication

          87%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          Killer heat: Deaths mounting during record hot summer across the West

          Fox Weather Analysis Powered by Fox News Network LLC Emilee Speck Saturday, 13 July 2024 21:30
          • Unique Points
            • A four-month-old girl died from a heat-related illness in Arizona on July 5 when the high was 120 degrees.
            • At least three hikers have died at Grand Canyon National Park due to extreme heat.
            • A biker died while riding in California’s Death Valley National Park when the high was 128 degrees.
          • Accuracy
            • At least 24 potentially heat-related deaths in Arizona, California, and Oregon.
            • Since July 5, there have been reports of at least 28 heat-related deaths in California, Oregon, and Arizona.
            • At least 30 fatalities related to extreme heat have been reported across the West in July 2024.
          • Deception (50%)
            The article makes several statements that could be considered sensational and emotional manipulation. For example, the title itself is sensational and implies a greater number of deaths than what has been confirmed in the article. The author also uses phrases like 'killer heat' and 'unrelenting triple-digit temperatures' to elicit an emotional response from readers. Additionally, the author selectively reports details about record-breaking temperatures without mentioning that these records have been broken multiple times in recent years, giving readers a false sense of urgency. The article also makes several statements about heat-related deaths without providing any concrete evidence or links to peer-reviewed studies.
            • A recent report in the journal Lancet stated that heat-related deaths worldwide are projected to jump by 370% for people over 65 by mid-century and by 1,537% by the next century.
            • Unrelenting triple-digit temperatures across the West have claimed more than two dozen lives this past week in Arizona, California and Oregon, according to local medical examiners.
            • Heat remains the No. 1 weather-related killer in the U.S., claiming an average of 183 lives in the U.S. each year based on the most data from 1994 to 2023.
          • Fallacies (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Bias (95%)
            The author uses language that depicts the heat as extreme and dangerous, and mentions multiple deaths caused by the heat. While this is not inherently biased, the author's use of language could be perceived as sensationalizing the situation. The author also includes quotes from medical examiners stating that some deaths are potentially heat-related, but notes that further investigation may reveal a cause unrelated to hyperthermia.
            • The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office has received reports of 10 potentially heat-related deaths since the beginning of the heat advisory that started July 5.
              • Unrelenting triple-digit temperatures across the West have claimed more than two dozen lives this past week in Arizona, California and Oregon, according to local medical examiners.
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication

              95%

              The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
              (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

              A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

              As death toll climbs in the West from historic US heat wave, flash flooding, tornadoes hit the East

              ABC NEWS SITE NAMES Name: ABC News Site Names URL: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-officially-blames-iran_106834435 ABC News Saturday, 13 July 2024 21:31
              • Unique Points
                • At least 28 heat-related deaths reported in the West as of July 10, 2024.
                • Santa Clara County, California reported 18 heat-related deaths in first 10 days of July.
                • Three cities: Las Vegas, Phoenix and Salt Lake City broke or tied all-time temperature records on Wednesday, July 9, 2024.
              • Accuracy
                • At least 30 fatalities related to extreme heat have been reported across the West in July 2024.
                • Nineteen deaths are being investigated for possible heat-related causes in Santa Clara County, California.
              • Deception (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Fallacies (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Bias (95%)
                The author uses language that depicts the homeless population as being in a state of extreme need and helplessness, implying that they are more likely to succumb to the heat. This is an example of bias towards a specific group of people.
                • [Assistance] needs to come to them, they are just so depleted and really on the edge right now.
                  • People are just in a state right now -- they're hungry, they're extremely thirsty, and they're at a point right now where they just can't help themselves.
                    • There's going to be people who just don’t make it through this.
                    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                      None Found At Time Of Publication
                    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                      None Found At Time Of Publication

                    96%

                    The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                    (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                    A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                    Extreme heat has killed at least 28 in the past week — and the toll is rising

                    The Fixing Site: A Summary of the Article. Anna Phillips Wednesday, 10 July 2024 21:16
                    • Unique Points
                      • A motorcyclist died of heat exposure in Death Valley National Park where temperature climbed to 128 degrees.
                      • A woman incarcerated at the Central California Women’s Facility died as temperatures reached 110 degrees.
                      • A 58-year-old Sacramento man died of heat stroke after being taken to a hospital from his un-air-conditioned home.
                    • Accuracy
                      • At least 28 people have died from heat-related causes in the last week
                      • At least 30 fatalities related to extreme heat have been reported across the West
                      • More than 135 million people across the Lower 48 are under heat alerts.
                      • Ten suspected heat-related deaths have been reported in Oregon
                    • Deception (100%)
                      None Found At Time Of Publication
                    • Fallacies (100%)
                      None Found At Time Of Publication
                    • Bias (100%)
                      None Found At Time Of Publication
                    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                      None Found At Time Of Publication
                    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                      None Found At Time Of Publication