Extreme heat is the No. 1 weather-related killer in the U.S. Even when temperatures outside seem relatively low compared with what’s been experienced in recent weeks, parked vehicles essentially become ovens under the sun’s rays.
After just 20 minutes on an 80-degree day, the CDC says the inside of a car can hit 109 degrees Fahrenheit. After 40 minutes, it hits 118 degrees, and after an hour, it can hit 123 degrees. That means that on days when cities are experiencing triple digits temperatures —like Phoenix has been for weeks on end— those temperatures become even hotter in a short amount of time. “Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open,” the CDC says.