The nationwide heat wave and heat alerts

The story so far

1. 

   Update 3Aug 27 21:08 UTC7 days later

   Phoenix Heat Kills 113, 584 Cases Pending as Rescue Choppers Grounded

   Maricopa County confirmed 113 heat deaths with 584 cases pending as 117-degree heat set records and strained rescue helicopters.

   Still open after this report

   • How many of the 584 pending cases will ultimately be confirmed as heat-associated, and when those rulings will be complete.
   • The precise helicopter heat threshold and the full record of any heat-driven groundings or diverted trail rescues.
2. 

   Update 2Aug 20 15:16 UTC18 days later

   90 Million Under Heat Alerts as Phoenix Deaths Double in 110-Degree Heat

   Maricopa County confirmed 81 heat deaths by Aug. 18 — more than double last year — with hundreds of cases pending as 90 million Americans faced heat alerts and Phoenix later tied its record at 117 degrees.

   Still open after this report

   • No final 2026 toll can be set until the hundreds of pending cases are reviewed.
   • No breakdown yet shows who died, where, and whether indoor, outdoor, or vehicle exposure drove the increase.
3. 

   Update 1Aug 2 06:25 UTC

   Boise's 7 Hospitalizations Show Scale of 45M-Person Western Heat Wave

   Seven hospitalized and 140+ calls for help at Boise's Banana Ball games exposed a 45-million-person Western heat dome — while rip-current claims remain unverified.

   Still open after this report

   • No provided source confirms Tropical Storm Genevieve, Southern California rip current risk, or lifeguard staffing and rescue claims.
   • No full official quotations are available; Boise State and forecaster statements are truncated in the sources.