Record-breaking temperatures are affecting regions across Europe, Asia, and the western United States due to a combination of climate factors.
Key facts
- •Phoenix is forecast to reach 115 degrees Fahrenheit, with overnight lows potentially staying above 100 degrees.
- •A June heat wave in Europe resulted in more than 1,000 deaths, according to a recent analysis.
- •The western US heat wave is partially influenced by energy from Hurricane Genevieve, a Category 5 storm.
- •The current El Niño is developing faster and stronger than previous events recorded at this time of year.
- •Global baseline temperatures have already risen by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Multiple regions worldwide are experiencing record-breaking heat waves fueled by unusually warm ocean waters, the El Niño climate phenomenon, and shifts in the jet stream. These conditions are occurring against a backdrop of long-term global warming caused by fossil fuel emissions. From Western Europe to the western United States and parts of Asia, extreme temperatures are triggering wildfires and creating dangerous weather situations.
By the numbers
Impacts in the United States and Europe
In the western United States, cities from the California coast to the Rockies are bracing for extreme heat. Phoenix is expected to reach 115 degrees Fahrenheit, while Salt Lake City may hit a record 106 degrees. Montana is under an extreme heat watch with potential highs of 110 degrees. Meanwhile, Western Europe is facing another round of blistering heat following its hottest June on record. French President Emmanuel Macron described the combination of heat and wildfires as the toughest situation the country has faced since the Second World War.
The Role of Ocean Temperatures and El Niño
Scientists attribute the heat to heat domes and a wavy jet stream that traps tropical air over temperate regions. Ocean temperatures are significantly elevated, with experts noting that approximately 90 percent of heat trapped by carbon pollution enters the oceans. Additionally, an exceptionally strong El Niño is developing in the Pacific. Climate scientists suggest this El Niño is trending toward being the strongest ever observed, potentially causing more intense impacts sooner than historically expected.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Wired.
