Retirement in a warm climate is ideal for comfort, outdoor fun, socializing, and mental wellness. But when the city you decide on becomes an inferno, you may need to rethink your plans. Excessive heat is currently threatening those once cozy retirement environments, posing a serious threat to older individuals. Even cities with names like Paradise Valley are experiencing heat levels that are more reminiscent of a fiery hell.
Not only does excessive heat put a major strain on power grids, but it also poses health risks. Heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heat stroke are serious illnesses and those with chronic conditions like heart disease may find their symptoms exacerbated in these hot environments.
While some seniors revel in hot, desert environments, excessive heat is another beast altogether. The National Weather Service explains that for heat to be considered excessive, it must exceed your body’s normal temperature. On average, a human’s normal temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat is considered excessive when it reaches 99 degrees Fahrenheit.
The repercussions of excessive heat are far-reaching, and the health risks alone are reason for concern. Residents in retirement communities must also keep their cooling and ventilation systems in order and have an emergency plan in place should the climate be too much to handle. Additionally, retirees should be well-versed in heat safety and hydration. (Here’s a look at cities where summer is getting hotter.)
Methodology
To determine the retirement hotspots being threatened by excessive heat, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on current weather warnings and advisories from the NOAA’s National Weather Service. Cities whose land area falls at least 50% within the boundaries of an NWS excessive heat warning as of July 11, 2024, were ordered by maximum observed temperature during the period July 1-8, 2024. Temperature data is from the NOAA’s nClimGrid-Daily program and was aggregated from the census tract level to the place level using boundary definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau’s TIGER/Line shapefiles program. Only cities with at least 5,000 residents where at least 30% of residents are 65 years and over were considered. Population data is from the Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey.
38. Mira Monte, CA
Source: Rachel U / Shutterstock.com
Source: Rachel U / Shutterstock.com
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 97.2°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 76.2°F
- Population 65 years and over: 32.0%
- Total population: 6,837
37. Johnson Lane, NV
Source: Patrick Nouhailler / Flickr
Source: Patrick Nouhailler / Flickr
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 101.0°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 76.5°F
- Population 65 years and over: 35.2%
- Total population: 6,499
36. Ojai, CA
Source: hlehnerer / iStock via Getty Images
Source: hlehnerer / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 101.8°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 78.9°F
- Population 65 years and over: 30.7%
- Total population: 7,610
35. Cottonwood, AZ
Source: lmel9000 / iStock via Getty Images
Source: lmel9000 / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 94.3%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 104.5°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 84.7°F
- Population 65 years and over: 33.5%
- Total population: 12,314
34. Saddlebrooke, AZ
Source: pics721 / iStock via Getty Images
Source: pics721 / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 95.8%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 106.6°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 87.9°F
- Population 65 years and over: 69.6%
- Total population: 12,014
33. Green Valley, AZ
Source: Manuela Durson / Shutterstock.com
Source: Manuela Durson / Shutterstock.com
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 107.4°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 88.5°F
- Population 65 years and over: 80.5%
- Total population: 20,937
32. Bear Valley Springs, CA
Source: Greg Meland / iStock via Getty Images
Source: Greg Meland / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 107.7°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 85.5°F
- Population 65 years and over: 32.5%
- Total population: 5,598
31. Oro Valley, AZ
Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 108.9°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 90.0°F
- Population 65 years and over: 35.3%
- Total population: 47,053
30. Tanque Verde, AZ
Source: Michael Schimmel / iStock via Getty Images
Source: Michael Schimmel / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 109.5°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 90.3°F
- Population 65 years and over: 32.8%
- Total population: 14,815
29. Ivins, UT
Source: alacatr / iStock via Getty Images
Source: alacatr / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 110.0°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 88.1°F
- Population 65 years and over: 32.3%
- Total population: 9,174
28. Tucson Estates, AZ
Source: Manuela Durson / Shutterstock.com
Source: Manuela Durson / Shutterstock.com
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 110.2°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 91.3°F
- Population 65 years and over: 34.5%
- Total population: 12,795
27. Catalina Foothills, AZ
Source: benedek / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Source: benedek / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 110.2°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 91.0°F
- Population 65 years and over: 33.6%
- Total population: 50,573
26. Tucson Mountains, AZ
Source: KenCanning / E+ via Getty Images
Source: KenCanning / E+ via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 110.4°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 91.5°F
- Population 65 years and over: 31.8%
- Total population: 11,171
25. Gold Canyon, AZ
Source: Oak City Drone / Shutterstock.com
Source: Oak City Drone / Shutterstock.com
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 110.5°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 91.6°F
- Population 65 years and over: 54.9%
- Total population: 11,565
24. Jackson, CA
Source: Kate Skar / Shutterstock.com
Source: Kate Skar / Shutterstock.com
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 110.7°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 88.2°F
- Population 65 years and over: 30.2%
- Total population: 5,004
23. Paradise, CA
Source: Kenyatta Russell / Shutterstock.com
Source: Kenyatta Russell / Shutterstock.com
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 111.3°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 89.0°F
- Population 65 years and over: 38.8%
- Total population: 6,666
22. Golden Valley, AZ
Source: kenlund / Flickr
Source: kenlund / Flickr
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 111.3°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 92.5°F
- Population 65 years and over: 43.7%
- Total population: 7,900
21. Palm Springs, CA
Source: Isogood_patrick / Shutterstock.com
Source: Isogood_patrick / Shutterstock.com
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 86.7%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 112.1°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 90.0°F
- Population 65 years and over: 33.2%
- Total population: 44,935
20. Oroville East, CA
Source: Barbara Rich / Moment Open via Getty Images
Source: Barbara Rich / Moment Open via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 112.2°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 89.0°F
- Population 65 years and over: 30.3%
- Total population: 7,640
19. Wickenburg, AZ
Source: Wirestock / iStock via Getty Images
Source: Wirestock / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 112.4°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 93.2°F
- Population 65 years and over: 47.5%
- Total population: 7,600
18. Gold River, CA
Source: Harris Shiffman / iStock via Getty Images
Source: Harris Shiffman / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 112.8°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 88.2°F
- Population 65 years and over: 31.5%
- Total population: 7,910
17. Rancho Murieta, CA
Source: HW Anderson / Shutterstock.com
Source: HW Anderson / Shutterstock.com
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 112.8°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 88.3°F
- Population 65 years and over: 34.1%
- Total population: 5,728
16. Pahrump, NV
Source: CrackerClips / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Source: CrackerClips / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 93.6%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 113.0°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 91.7°F
- Population 65 years and over: 31.9%
- Total population: 44,711
15. Rancho Mirage, CA
Source: iShootPhotosLLC / iStock via Getty Images
Source: iShootPhotosLLC / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 114.0°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 92.5°F
- Population 65 years and over: 49.9%
- Total population: 17,257
14. Fountain Hills, AZ
Source: climber28 / iStock via Getty Images
Source: climber28 / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 114.2°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 95.5°F
- Population 65 years and over: 38.0%
- Total population: 23,739
13. Apache Junction, AZ
Source: Fotogro / Shutterstock.com
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 114.3°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 95.7°F
- Population 65 years and over: 34.1%
- Total population: 38,855
12. Palm Desert, CA
Source: MCCAIG / iStock via Getty Images
Source: MCCAIG / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 114.8°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 93.7°F
- Population 65 years and over: 36.1%
- Total population: 51,290
11. La Quinta, CA
Source: JenniferPhotographyImaging / E+ via Getty Images
Source: JenniferPhotographyImaging / E+ via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 115.4°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 94.6°F
- Population 65 years and over: 30.1%
- Total population: 37,933
10. Sun Lakes, AZ
Source: LHBLLC / Shutterstock.com
Source: LHBLLC / Shutterstock.com
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 115.7°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 98.0°F
- Population 65 years and over: 78.5%
- Total population: 14,147
9. Paradise Valley, AZ
Source: Focqus, LLC / iStock via Getty Images
Source: Focqus, LLC / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 115.7°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 97.4°F
- Population 65 years and over: 30.4%
- Total population: 12,672
8. Desert Palms, CA
Source: sanfel / iStock via Getty Images
Source: sanfel / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 116.4°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 95.7°F
- Population 65 years and over: 83.7%
- Total population: 6,414
7. Sun City West, AZ
Source: BCFC / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Source: BCFC / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 116.5°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 98.0°F
- Population 65 years and over: 86.4%
- Total population: 26,639
6. Sun City, AZ
Source: halbergman / iStock via Getty Images
Source: halbergman / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 116.8°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 98.3°F
- Population 65 years and over: 75.4%
- Total population: 37,748
5. Mesquite, NV
Source: constantgardener / iStock via Getty Images
Source: constantgardener / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 117.2°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 95.2°F
- Population 65 years and over: 44.8%
- Total population: 20,659
4. Fortuna Foothills, AZ
Source: Lou Axt / iStock via Getty Images
Source: Lou Axt / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 117.3°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 97.7°F
- Population 65 years and over: 46.1%
- Total population: 27,552
3. Laughlin, NV
Source: 4kodiak / Getty Images
Source: 4kodiak / Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 118.9°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 99.6°F
- Population 65 years and over: 41.7%
- Total population: 8,184
2. Lake Havasu City, AZ
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 119.7°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 99.5°F
- Population 65 years and over: 34.7%
- Total population: 57,294
1. Fort Mohave, AZ
Source: Unwind / Shutterstock.com
Source: Unwind / Shutterstock.com
- Share of city under excessive heat advisory: 100.0%
- Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 120.5°F
- Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 101.0°F
- Population 65 years and over: 35.3%
- Total population: 16,038