A heatwave’s oppressive temperatures can have a variety of effects, including increased danger of wildfires, crop destruction, and risks to human health. According to one set of estimates, 356,000 deaths globally are attributed to severe heat in 2019, making it one of the most dangerous yet little-known natural disasters. Although the exact toll that heatwaves cause is still largely unknown (the World Health Organization estimates that 166,000 people died between 1998 and 2017), there is considerable doubt that a large number of people are exposed to heatwaves worldwide.
Furthermore, future heatwaves are probably going to become more frequent and intense due to climate change.
One analysis indicates that the “heat dome” that produced the historic heatwave in the southern US, encompassing Texas and Louisiana, in the summer of 2023 has increased five times in likelihood as a result of human-induced climate change. Over 119F (48C) was reached, and by mid-July 2023, 110 million Americans were under a heat advisory. The surge in air conditioning consumption in Texas put a strain on the state’s electrical grid. In 2024, a similar situation has been developing, with heat domes causing hazardous temperatures in many US states as well as Mexico. The World Weather Attribution group reports that the heatwaves expected to affect Nevada, California.
