Record-shattering heat is sweeping across the globe, with regions from Western Europe to the Western US facing scorching temperatures, exacerbated by unusually warm ocean waters, the El Niño phenomenon, and human-caused climate change.
Western Europe recently endured its hottest June on record, followed by intense wildfires in July. French President Emmanuel Macron described the combined impact of heat and fires as the most challenging situation since World War II. Spain, Germany, and other European nations are also reporting hundreds of new heat records.
In the United States, the Western region is bracing for extreme heat, with Phoenix expected to reach 115°F (46°C) and Salt Lake City potentially hitting a record 106°F. Montana faces an extreme heat watch, with temperatures nearing 110°F, which could intensify existing wildfires. Climate scientist Daniel Swain noted that these interior Western cities are experiencing near-record highs for early August, with overnight temperatures in Phoenix predicted to stay above 100°F, a stark warning even for a notoriously hot city.
Asia, including South Korea and Japan, is also grappling with severe heatwaves. These sweltering conditions are partly attributed to heat domes, high-pressure systems that trap warm air. The jet stream's wavy pattern is allowing tropical air to move north and become stagnant over normally cooler regions. In Europe, this wavy jet stream interacts with unusually warm ocean waters, a direct consequence of decades of carbon pollution, according to senior scientist Jennifer Francis.
Analysis indicates that the June heatwave in Europe, which caused over 1,000 deaths, would have been impossible without the additional heat from burning fossil fuels. The Western US heatwave is also influenced by the residual energy from Hurricane Genevieve. El Niño, though only developing in June, is further amplifying global temperatures. With El Niño forecast to be exceptionally strong and global temperatures already above 1.5°C, scientists anticipate potentially unprecedented and intensified impacts from this climate phenomenon.
