Scorching summer: Why is the US seeing unprecedented heatwaves this year?

This summer, millions across the United States are enduring an unprecedented heatwave that has shattered temperature records from coast to coast. As oppressive heat and humidity push temperatures above 100 degree Fahrenheit (38 degree Celsius) in regions from the Pacific Northwest to the Northeast, millions are seeking relief in cooling centers and air-conditioned spaces.

Jacob Asherman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, warned that Eastern cities like Eugene, Portland, and Salem in Oregon could see records tumble. “A dangerous and historic heatwave is just getting started across the area,” the National Weather Service (NWS) in Las Vegas was quoted in the AP, predicting temperatures to peak between Sunday and Wednesday, and extending the excessive heat warning for much of the Southwest into Friday.

But why is the US, which records an average temperature around 20-30 degree Celsius, recording such extreme temperatures? Let’s take a closer look

Sweltering cities

As record-breaking heat continues to grip the United States, high temperatures are expected to meet or exceed daily records in Washington state, Oregon, northern Arizona, Idaho, and especially California, which has been the hardest hit.

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Northern California has been particularly scorched, with many areas surpassing 110 degree Fahrenheit. The city of Redding hit a record 119 degree Fahrenheit (48 degree Celsius) on Saturday. Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS), told Reuters that temperatures in the state are running up to 20 degrees above normal for this time of year.

“We’re expecting it to merely drift east through the early part of next week and basically persist through the week, so we’ve got a real expansive and extreme heatwave ongoing, and it’s expected to continue this week,” Jackson said.

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The NWS reported that around 36 million people, or about 10 percent of the nation’s population, are under excessive heat warnings. In California’s Death Valley National Park, one of the hottest places on Earth, the mercury climbed to 127 degree Fahrenheit (52.8 degree Celsius) on Friday, breaking previous records.

Gia Ponce, a ranger at the national park, noted the increasing frequency and duration of heatwaves. “July is one of the hottest months, but the length of heat is something that we are starting to see more often. With each coming summer, we are having lengthier heatwaves, with more challenging temperatures.”

Despite the intense heat, some visitors are drawn to these extreme conditions. “Death Valley during the summer has always been a bucket list thing for me. For most of my life, I’ve wanted to come out here in summertime,” said Kinsel, a visitor from Las Vegas exploring Death Valley’s Badwater Basin, as reported by AP.

Mounting death toll

The extreme heat is not just uncomfortable; it’s deadly.

In Arizona’s Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, there have been at least 13 confirmed heat-related deaths this year. Additionally, more than 160 other suspected heat deaths are under investigation, according to the county’s most recent report. This grim tally does not include the tragic death of a 10-year-old boy who suffered a “heat-related medical event” while hiking in Phoenix.

On Saturday, a motorcyclist, who was part of six bikers who were biking through Death Valley, died of suspected heat exposure while another was hospitalised for severe heat illness.

Wildfire risks

With temperatures reaching perilous levels, California firefighters battle a string of smoky wildfires fanned by low humidity and triple-digit temperatures.

In Southern California, residents were ordered to evacuate parts of Santa Barbara County late Saturday, where the Lake Fire has scorched more than 13,000 acres since Friday, according to Cal Fire.

Firefighters told AP that the blaze was displaying “extreme fire behavior” and had the “potential for large growth”.

What’s behind the sizzling heat waves?

The World Weather Attribution (WWA) group analysed the excessive heat from May to early June, focusing on the US heatwave in southwest states such as California, Nevada, and Arizona. Their findings revealed that human-induced climate change has made these extreme heatwaves 35 times more likely.

Experts warn that climate change is causing more frequent and intense extreme weather events, including heatwaves. “The results of our study should be taken as another warning that our climate is heating to dangerous levels,” stated Izidine Pinto, a researcher at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, in an interview with the BBC.

“As long as humans fill the atmosphere with fossil fuel emissions, the heat will only get worse – vulnerable people will continue to die and the cost of living will continue to increase,” Pinto added.

According to Copernicus, Earth experienced record-high temperatures for 13 consecutive months, with June 2024 marking the 12th straight month of global temperatures 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for urgent action to avert “climate hell,” highlighting the unprecedented heat records.

Long-term greenhouse gas emissions and factors like El Niño are contributing to the rising temperatures. Scientists warn that without curbing emissions, the planet is on a trajectory towards a 3-degree Celsius increase, which would have catastrophic consequences.

With input from agencies