A deadly and persistent heatwave has been scorching the US southwest since spring, bringing extreme temperatures that reached 45.5C (114F) in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday. The heatwave is expected to expand to central and eastern parts of the country during the last week of July, prompting the US National Weather Service to issue excessive heat warnings and advisories for 13 states, including California, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and Oregon, among others.
The southwestern regions of the US are currently experiencing temperatures fluctuating between the high 30s and early 40s. Tragically, at least four tourists have lost their lives due to the intense heat since the beginning of June, according to reports from the National Park Service. Heat-related deaths are under investigation to assess if further fatalities are linked to the heatwave.
Some cities, such as Phoenix, are preparing for the sweltering conditions by providing heat relief kits, hydration stations, and water bottles to support vulnerable populations like the homeless.
In California’s Death Valley, known for extremely high temperatures, a 71-year-old man collapsed and died last week in 49.4C (121F) heat. The area, marking the lowest point in the US, holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth at 56.7C (131.1F).
This deadly heatwave is fueled by a “heat dome,” a concentrated sphere of heat, and El Nino, a weather cycle that brings warm Pacific Ocean water to the western coast of the US. The extreme heat is part of a larger global trend, with June 2023 marking the hottest ever June on record. Earth’s average air temperature surpassed 1.5C hotter than pre-industrial times for the first time, as reported by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
