Weather

Daily Beast - Phoenix, Arizona has had a total of 113 straight days where temperatures reached over 100 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The Arizona city, which is also the fifth largest by population in the United States, smashed the previous heat streak record—76 straight days of 100 degree-plus heat recorded in 1993, according to NWS data. Last year, the city recorded another frightening heat milestone; 55 nonconsecutive days of temperatures that reached over 110 degrees. This summer broke that record again, the Arizona Republic reported earlier this month. The heat has had devastating consequences for residents of the Grand Canyon State—heat was listed as the cause of death for at least 256 people so far this year, according to Maricopa County public health records. Another 393 cases of suspected heat related deaths are still under investigation. Phoenix is expecting triple-digit heat for at least a few more days this year, forecasters said. The NWS issued another heat watch for Phoenix and the surrounding area on Monday, warning of high temperatures up to 110 degrees through at least Saturday, Sept. 28. 

USA Facts -  Of the 10 years with the most natural disasters, nine of them have been in the last decade. The number of weather-related natural disasters causing damages of more than $1 billion has risen over the past 40 years, from an average of 3.3 per year in the 1980s to over 17 per year from 2014 to 2023.  

• Since 1980, the nation has had 395 natural weather disasters with costs exceeding $1 billion. These include 201 severe storms, 63 tropical cyclones (or hurricanes), 44 floods, 31 droughts, 24 winter storms, 23 wildfires, and nine freezes.  
  
  
• These disasters have resulted in nearly 16,500 deaths and cost $2.77 trillion. Nearly 40% of the billion-dollar climate events since 1980 have happened between 2017 and today. 
  
  
• Major tropical cyclones, including hurricanes, have caused the most damage in terms of both deaths and financial costs. The eight costliest natural disasters since 1980 have all been tropical cyclones, accounting for $888 billion in damages. The costliest: Hurricane Katrina in 2005 at $200 billion.