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This Retirement Community Just Recorded Deadly 120+ Degree Temperatures

This Retirement Community Just Recorded Deadly 120+ Degree Temperatures

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

Topa Topa Mountains, Ojai, CA 2017. Photo Taken on the Ojai Bike Trail along Ojai Ave, in Mira Monte

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

Tucson, Arizona. Red roofs of desert homes. Aerial shot.

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

Superstition Mountains, Gold Canyon, Arizona, Sept 2023

  • 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

Sunset near Jackson CA 11-2020

  • 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

Mountain View of Skyway overlook located in Paradise California with blue skies and white clouds

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

American River

  • 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

Spring flowers in the countryside of Rancho Murieta, CA

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

Saguaros and Superstition Mountains, Lost Dutchman State Park, Apache Junction, Arizona, USA by Fotogro

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

Blooming Sonoran Desert at sunrise.

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

Aerial view of desert next the Lake Mead in Mohave County, Arizona, United States. Arid endless desert during hot summer season

  • 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
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