Map above click here.
A heat wave (click here) is generally defined as a period of several days to
weeks of abnormally hot weather.
In the past 3-4 decades, there has been an increasing trend in high-humidity heat waves, which are characterized by the persistence of extremely high night-time temperature. The combination of high humidity and high night-time temperature can make for a deadly pairing, offering no relief and posing a particular threat for the elderly. Extreme heat events are responsible for more deaths annually than hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined.
At the same time, low-humidity heat waves associated with droughts and fueled in part by climate change contribute to the dry conditions that are driving wild fires...
This is from an organization called "Climate Communication." It's staff is highly qualified to be writing about the Earth's climate and global warming.
