Municipal governments across the Sun Belt are implementing expanded heat wave preparedness plans following two consecutive summers of extreme heat that claimed hundreds of lives. Phoenix, Las Vegas, Houston, and Miami have all increased cooling center capacity and extended operating hours.
Phoenix, which recorded a record 54 consecutive days above 110°F in 2025, has invested $30 million in heat mitigation including tree canopy expansion, cool pavement coatings, and additional cooling centers in underserved neighborhoods.
NOAA's summer outlook predicts above-normal temperatures across the southern two-thirds of the United States, with the greatest anomalies expected in the Desert Southwest and Gulf Coast regions. The persistent La Niña pattern tends to amplify summer heat across these areas.
Heat-related deaths in the US exceeded 2,300 in 2025, a number that public health officials say is likely underreported. Vulnerable populations including the elderly, outdoor workers, and homeless individuals are at greatest risk.
New technologies are being deployed to combat extreme heat. Personal cooling vests, misting fan networks along pedestrian corridors, and AI-powered early warning systems that identify heat-vulnerable individuals are all being piloted in high-risk cities for the 2026 summer season.
