Extreme heat wave breaks records in US, claims lives in the West and sweeps through the East

A massive heat wave is set to bring a new set of record-breaking temperatures to the US West Coast, while millions of Americans endure a heat dome that is also affecting Arizona and Nevada.
The national weather service reported on Sunday that around 36 million people, or about 10% of the nation's population, are under excessive heat warnings resulting from the heat dome centered over California.Research indicates that climate change is responsible for driving extreme heat waves worldwide and will persist in delivering hazardous weather for years to come.
An additional 36 million people are under heat advisories, while approximately 1 million people face excessive heat watches, including areas in eastern Oregon, northeastern Nevada, and southwestern Idaho.
According to NWS meteorologist Bryan Jackson, temperatures in locations such as Redding, a city in northern California that reached an all-time high of 119 degrees Fahrenheit (48 degrees Celsius) on Saturday, are running up to 20 degrees above normal for this time of year.
"We're expecting it to merely drift east through the early part of next week and basically persist through the week, so we've got a real expansive and extreme heat wave ongoing, and it's expected to continue this week," he said.
In places like Washington state, Oregon, California, northern Arizona, and central Idaho, high temperatures are predicted to meet or surpass daily high records.
Heat warnings indicate that conditions are imminent, which is different from watches that are issued when conditions are predicted in the upcoming days.
Last week, the administration of US President Joe Biden proposed the first-ever safety standard aimed at protecting workers and communities from the effects of extreme heat.
June sizzles to 13th straight monthly heat record
Earth experienced record-high temperatures for 13 consecutive months, with June 2024 marking the 12th straight month of global temperatures 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, according to Copernicus. This streak underscores the urgency of the Paris Agreement’s warming limit. Despite hopes that the record-setting heat may subside, climate disruptions will persist.
The June global temperature averaged 62°F, the highest for any June, and the third hottest month recorded. Extreme heat affected regions like southeast Europe and the US The oceans have also been breaking heat records for 15 months. Long-term greenhouse gas emissions and factors like El Niño contribute to the rising temperatures. Scientists warn that the planet is on a path to 3°C warming unless emissions are curbed. This crisis highlights the growing impact of climate change, with more frequent and severe weather events, posing risks to both the wealthy and the poor.