Campus Alert Archive
ASU

31 Consecutive Days Above 110: ASU Navigates the Deadliest Heat Wave in Arizona History

AZsevere stormadvisorymedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

During the summer of 2023, Phoenix experienced an unprecedented heat wave with 31 consecutive days at or above 110 degrees Fahrenheit from June 30 to July 30, including three days reaching 119 degrees. Arizona State University issued heat advisories to its community of 77,000 students across its Tempe, Downtown, West, and Polytechnic campuses. The National Weather Service declared Excessive Heat Warnings for a record 30 consecutive days. Maricopa County, where ASU is located, recorded 645 heat-related deaths in 2023.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
Arizona State University
Public R1 · AZ
~77,000 studentsASU Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstruction437 chars
ASU Advisory: The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for the Phoenix metropolitan area. Temperatures are expected to reach 115-119 degrees this week. All ASU community members should take precautions: limit outdoor activity during peak hours (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), stay hydrated, use campus cooling centers, and check on those who may be vulnerable. If you experience heat-related symptoms, call 911 immediately.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from ASU advisory system descriptions and NWS heat warnings for the Phoenix area in July 2023
ASU's advisory system sends communications via text, email, and push notification for non-life-threatening situations that impact university operations
The 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. outdoor activity window reflects standard heat safety guidance for the Phoenix area
Temperatures in Phoenix reached 119 degrees on three separate days during this period
UPDATEEmail
Approximate reconstruction500 chars
ASU Heat Advisory Update: The Excessive Heat Warning remains in effect. Phoenix has now recorded over 25 consecutive days at or above 110 degrees. Campus cooling centers remain open at all four campuses. Outdoor events and activities should be rescheduled to early morning or evening hours when possible. Students working or studying outdoors should take frequent breaks in air-conditioned spaces. Stay hydrated and watch for signs of heat exhaustion including dizziness, nausea, and rapid heartbeat.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from ASU communications patterns and NWS data for the period
The reference to 25+ consecutive days of 110-degree heat was factual for late July 2023
Campus cooling centers are a standard ASU heat response, documented in university emergency management materials
The advisory format differs from emergency notifications by providing extended guidance rather than immediate action directives
Context

Background

The summer of 2023 was the deadliest heat event in Arizona history. Phoenix recorded 31 consecutive days at or above 110 degrees Fahrenheit from June 30 to July 30, shattering previous records. Three days hit 119 degrees. The National Weather Service issued Excessive Heat Warnings for an unprecedented 30 consecutive days across Maricopa, Pinal, and Coconino counties. Maricopa County, home to ASU's main Tempe campus, recorded 645 heat-related deaths in 2023, a 52% increase from the prior year. ASU, the largest public university in the United States by enrollment, operates four campuses across the Phoenix metropolitan area, all subject to the extreme conditions. Governor Katie Hobbs declared a state of emergency on August 11, 2023, and ASU's Knowledge Exchange for Resilience was subsequently tapped to support the development of Arizona's first Extreme Heat Preparedness Plan. Unlike security-based campus alerts, heat advisories represent an extended, multi-week communication challenge where the threat is environmental and ongoing rather than discrete and resolvable.
Analysis

Key Findings

Extreme heat advisories differ from other campus alerts in duration; this event required sustained communication over weeks rather than hours
Environmental threats like heat waves do not have a clear 'all-clear' moment, complicating the standard alert sequence model
The largest US university by enrollment (77,000 students) faces unique heat exposure challenges across its multi-campus footprint in the Phoenix metro area
Outcome
The heat wave broke on July 31 when temperatures finally dropped below 110. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs declared a state of emergency on August 11, 2023. ASU subsequently contributed to the state's first Extreme Heat Preparedness Plan.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    July 2023 sets multiple new heat records across Arizona (ABC15)
    abc15.com
  2. Official
    ASU tapped to support Arizona's first Extreme Heat Preparedness Plan (ASU News)
    news.asu.edu
  3. Official
    Alerts and Advisories FAQ (Arizona State University)
    cfo.asu.edu
  4. Student Paper
    Hot, hotter, hottest: How the University is combating Arizona's historic heat (The State Press)
    statepress.com
Tags
extreme-heatsevere-weatheradvisoryarizonaclimateenvironmental-hazardmulti-week-eventrecord-breaking2023
Added April 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion