US cities have seen an 80 percent increase in extreme heat streaks
A report by the non-profit Climate Central revealed an 80 percent increase in extreme heat streaks across 247 analyzed US cities, with 198 cities experiencing two more streaks annually than in the early 1970s.
Cities in the Southwest, Northeast, Ohio Valley, and Southeast, including Nashville and Raleigh, have seen the most significant rise in heat streak frequency.
Prolonged heat poses severe risks, such as increased heat-related illnesses, worsened air quality, and strain on electrical grids, with heat being the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the US, accounting for 2,325 deaths in 2023.
A new heat wave is currently impacting 100 million Americans, bringing temperatures up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit above average and 'feels like' temperatures potentially reaching 115 degrees Fahrenheit in some regions.
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