As much of the US braces for extreme heat, statistics show 2,000 die from it annually

As extreme heat is forecast across much of the U.S. this week, health departments across the country are warning people to take steps to survive the potentially deadly weather. Extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the U.S., claiming roughly 2,000 people annually, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But experts note the official heat-related death toll may be undercounted due to heat sometimes not being considered as a factor in someone's death. The latest CDC statistics show that 150 heat-related deaths have already occurred in the United States in 2025, but the data is only partially tabulated due to delays in reporting. During the previous two years, more than 4,800 heat-related U.S. deaths were recorded, according to the CDC. S