Weather

Getting AC to residents of public housing, where extreme heat can be dangerous

4:56pm July 31, 2023

by Jennifer Ludden

Many public housing residents are especially vulnerable to extreme heat, but there's no federal requirement for air conditioning. That leaves cash-strapped local agencies struggling to provide it.

Tony Berastegui Jr., right, and his sister Giselle Berastegui drink water, Monday, July 17, 2023, in Phoenix. A historic heat wave that turned the Southwest into a blast furnace throughout July is beginning to abate with the late arrival of the monsoon rains.

National

The historic heatwave that has hit the U.S. Southwest is set to cool a little

5:54am July 30, 2023

by The Associated Press

A historic heat wave that has gripped the U.S. Southwest throughout July, blasting residents and baking surfaces like brick, is beginning to abate with the late arrival of monsoon rains.

National

Don't call it a heat 'wave': Expert weighs in after a month of record-breaking heat

5:56pm July 28, 2023

After a month of record-breaking heat, are we past calling it a heat "wave?" NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Duke heat expert Ashley Ward.

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A summer of extreme heat is raising alarms of health risks. Here, a child plays in a waterfall feature at Yards Park in Washington, D.C., on June 26.

Here's how you can help kids stay healthy if they play outside in a heat wave

2:06pm July 28, 2023

Little kids are like a "small potato" whose core can heat up faster than an adult's, an expert tells NPR. Here are tips for helping children stay safe in extreme temperatures.

A sign reading "Today's High: 115" is posted in Phoenix, Arizona on July 25.

She is trying to get the U.S. to take extreme heat more seriously. Here's how

1:45pm July 28, 2023

by Jonaki Mehta

Extreme heat killed more people in the U.S. last year than hurricanes, floods, lightning or tornadoes. One expert says it doesn't have to be this way.

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National

The dry Midwest is getting some much needed rain, but it might not be enough

5:51pm July 27, 2023

by Elizabeth Rembert

Dryness in the Great Plains and Midwest has choked out crops. Recent rains have been a godsend. Climatologists predict cooler, wetter weather that may help loosen the region's years-long drought.

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President Biden speaks about the heat wave on July 27, 2023. He announced some new measures to address extreme heat, including more inspections to protect workers.

Politics & Government

Biden rolled out some new measures to respond to extreme heat as temperatures soar

2:57pm July 27, 2023

by Barbara Sprunt

On a very hot day in Washington, President Biden met with mayors from two cities grappling with extreme heat, announcing some new measures to try to help workers deal with the issue.

Here are the drugs that could be in short supply after a tornado hit a Pfizer factory

10:13pm July 26, 2023

by Sydney Lupkin

A tornado that tore through a Pfizer factory in North Carolina could exacerbate drug shortages. Records obtained by NPR show the plant made dozens of products, including painkillers and anesthetics.

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Los Angeles paints the town — literally, to reflect the sun and cool the city

8:36pm July 26, 2023

by Caleigh Wells

A new project in Los Angeles is trying to cool the city by painting streets with a reflective coating to bounce away heat from the sun. Other cities like Phoenix are undertaking similar efforts.

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National

Life can be much hotter for Americans in or near big cities, new analysis shows

8:36pm July 26, 2023

by Nathan Rott

A new analysis finds that tens of millions of urban Americans are dealing with even hotter temperatures than their rural neighbors, as heatwaves blast the country.

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