Did climate change cause this heat wave? Most likely, and here's why

Key Points:

• Over 80 million people in the U.S. are currently under Extreme Heat Warnings or Heat Advisories, with record-breaking triple-digit temperatures expected to persist across the South-Central and Southwest regions through mid-week.
• Nighttime temperatures will remain high, offering little relief and increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses, especially as heat waves become longer and more intense due to human-caused climate change.
• Scientists link climate change to a rise in heat wave temperatures by 3 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, with global warming making extreme heat events more frequent and severe than in past decades.
• Heat-related deaths are often undercounted and pose a greater threat to public health than hurricanes, wildfires, and floods combined, with humid heat being especially dangerous due to impaired body cooling.
• NPR emphasizes the importance of credible scientific sources in reporting on extreme weather and climate change, inviting the public to ask questions to help inform ongoing coverage of climate impacts.