Scorching US heatwave to hit 70 million people with third ‘heat dome’ in month

Key Points:

• Approximately 70 million people in the US are under excessive heat advisories as a third major heat dome event intensifies across southern and central states, with temperatures ranging from 95-105°F and some southwestern deserts potentially reaching 120°F.
• The heat dome, a high-pressure system trapping heat, is expected to persist into the coming week, contributing to record-breaking temperatures in areas like Denver and western Nebraska, where an extreme heat warning has been issued.
• This summer has seen multiple severe heatwaves linked to human-caused climate change, with elevated temperatures and high humidity posing serious health risks, especially to vulnerable populations such as the elderly, pregnant people, young children, and those with preexisting conditions.
• Concurrently, much of Europe is experiencing dangerously hot conditions, leading to wildfires and mass evacuations in Spain and France, with the UK also facing fire risks due to dry conditions.
• Climate experts note that the frequency and severity of these heatwaves align with predictions from 1990s climate models, highlighting the ongoing impact of global warming driven by fossil fuel emissions.