Overview
- Researchers counted 69,256 deaths from 1999–2024 with heat or cold listed on death certificates, equal to roughly 1 in 1,000 U.S. deaths.
- Cold accounted for 65% of the recorded temperature-related deaths and heat 35%, with crude mortality rates trending higher in recent years.
- Older adults, men, and non-Hispanic Black people bear the highest risks, with Black individuals experiencing more than double the adjusted heat-related mortality of white individuals.
- The analysis relies on CDC WONDER death-certificate coding, capturing chronic and indoor cases that incident-based systems such as the National Weather Service typically miss.
- Authors say many deaths are preventable and recommend improved housing insulation, reliable access to heating and cooling, and early-warning systems for high-risk groups.