heat waves

A girl refills her bottle with water from the "Fontana della Barcaccia" fountain in Rome in during the heat wave of July 2022.

World News

Heat waves in Europe killed more than 61,600 people last summer, a study estimates

11:39am July 12, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

Researchers estimate that 61,672 Europeans died from heat-related illness between late May and early September 2022. They're urging countries to step up their heat prevention and adaptation efforts.

Outdoor workers are vulnerable to prolonged heat waves like the one hitting Texas, which climate scientists warn are becoming more common.

Environment

Global heat waves show climate change and El Niño are a bad combo

1:18pm June 28, 2023

by Lauren Sommer

Scientists say worsening heat waves have a clear link to climate change. This year, a seasonal El Niño pattern will also be adding fuel to the fire.

Heat is common in places like Phoenix, so it can be difficult to warn the public when heat waves pose abnormally high danger.

Environment

Why heat wave warnings are falling short in the U.S.

5:46pm September 13, 2022

by Lauren Sommer

Unprecedented heat waves are on the rise as the climate gets hotter. But experts say the country's heat warning system may be leading the public to underestimate the dangers.

Urban parks get their power from their proximity to people. About three-quarters of residents in the 100 largest cities in the U.S. live within a 10-minute walk of a park.

Environment

Your local park has a hidden talent: helping fight climate change

5:50pm August 31, 2022

Millions of people rely on city parks to recharge, cool off and connect. But climate change is threatening the very spaces that help us cope with the stresses of living on a hotter planet.

Katherine Morgan wipes sweat from her forehead while walking to work during a record-breaking heat wave in Portland in 2021. Scientists say that heat wave would have been virtually impossible without human caused climate change.

Science

Researchers can now explain how climate change is affecting your weather

4:15pm July 07, 2022

by Rebecca Hersher

For decades, it was impossible to say that a specific weather event was caused, or even made worse, by climate change. But advanced research methods are changing that.

Queue Listen Now

Abilio Viegas attempts to fix his flooded van on South Street in Newark, New Jersey after flooding cause by the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

Environment

How 2021's floods and heat waves are signs of what's to come

5:00am December 23, 2021

by Lauren Sommer

Many of this year's deadly extreme weather is linked to climate change and scientists warn they're a sign of what's to come.

A man shelters a baby from the sun with an umbrella during a heatwave in Burgos, northern Spain, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. Cities in Europe saw recording-setting heat this summer, with some regions reaching 117.3°F.

World News

Seville becomes the first major city in the world to categorize and name heat waves

1:26pm October 19, 2021

by Deepa Shivaram

The effort, which will begin in 2022, will help the city with its disaster response if a heat wave is ranked as more dangerous. Seville's mayor hopes other cities follow suit.

Living California's Central Valley, Keishell Brown and other expecting moms contend with increasingly intense heat waves.

Health & Safety

Heat waves are dangerous during pregnancy, but doctors don't often mention it

9:34am October 03, 2021

by Lauren Sommer

Heat waves are getting longer and more intense with climate change, which increases the risk of preterm birth. Pregnant women often don't hear about the dangers.

Climate change is increasingly becoming a public health threat, experts warn. Thousands were displaced and dozens died during Hurricane Ida.

Climate Change Is The Greatest Threat To Public Health, Top Medical Journals Warn

1:10pm September 07, 2021

by Lauren Sommer

With the global pandemic still in the spotlight, more than 200 leading health journals say climate change is an even more urgent threat.

A pedestrian uses an umbrella to get some relief from the sun as they walk past a sign displaying the temperature on June 20, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. As 2020 comes to a close so does the hottest recorded decade.

2020 May Be The Hottest Year On Record. Here's The Damage It Did

10:30am December 18, 2020

2020 and 2016 are virtually tied for the hottest year on record. That means more powerful hurricanes, more intense wildfires, less ice and longer heat waves.