Las Vegas is enduring a record-breaking heat wave that has already claimed the lives of 63 people this summer, according to a new report from the Clark County coroner’s office. The city has experienced an unprecedented 11 consecutive days with temperatures exceeding 110°F this year, shattering the previous record of 10 days set in both 1962 and 2023. Additionally, Las Vegas broke another record this summer with five consecutive days of temperatures surpassing 115°F.
However, these figures may rise significantly before the expected relief of cooler weather after Labor Day. The recent report includes only those cases investigated by the coroner’s office, where the identities of the deceased were confirmed, and next of kin were notified. The fatalities range in age, with the oldest being a 94-year-old man who suffered from diabetes, and the youngest a 29-year-old man whose death was caused by a combination of heat and methamphetamine toxicity.
The Clark County coroner’s office highlighted that certain drugs, particularly fentanyl, aggravate the impacts of extreme heat and act as co-morbid factors. Other contributing factors include chronic illnesses, mental health issues, inadequate fluid intake, inappropriate clothing, excessive physical activity, and advanced age.
Heat-related illnesses, which can be prevented, occur when the body’s temperature rises faster than it can be cooled down. This can lead to heat stroke, potentially causing damage to the brain and other vital organs, and if left untreated, often results in death. The coroner ruled all the deaths listed in its report as accidental.
This summer stands as the hottest ever recorded in Las Vegas. The region experienced 11 straight days with temperatures exceeding 110°F, breaking the record previously set in 1962 and 2023. Additionally, the area saw five consecutive days with temperatures over 115°F and recorded a new high of 121°F on July 7, surpassing the previous high of 118°F.
It’s worth noting that this new data from the coroner’s office does not align with the latest heat death report issued by the Southern Nevada Health District, which only lists six heat-related deaths in Clark County between May 27 and July 14.
