The US Is Already In Its Third Heatwave This Year
While we are still in early summer, the southern part of the US is already facing its third heatwave. With humidity considered, the “real-feel” temperatures can reach between 110 and 115 degrees at times, and it’s going to get worse.
Just this past week, Texas was expected to have nearly five days of extreme heat that exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit. In no uncertain terms, climate change is here, and it can be felt by millions of people right here in the US.
Not only does such heat raise the risk of heat stroke, but it also dramatically increases energy usage as residents rely on more air conditioning than normal. Thus, further releasing emissions, since most of the electricity does not come from clean energy sources.
And there’s not even relief at night as temperatures continue to stay high.
June 2022 Was the Third Hottest June In History
If you thought last month was hot, you were not imagining it. It was exceptionally hot, and June 2022 came in as the third hottest June on record.
For reference, June has been a record-shattering month. Just last year, June 2021 was the hottest June ever recorded. It is not a coincidence either, since the 1970s, temperatures in June have been rising twice as fast, which is why records keep happening.
It’s one of the clearest examples of climate change on the planet.
And just to be clear, it’s not just the US dealing with an extreme heatwave spike. Europe, Asia, and other parts of North America are all suffering from higher temperatures. This is naturally putting underdeveloped nations at higher risk as they lack the resources to fight the temperature spike.
Yet, even developed nations are in danger. In the US, heat-related deaths have risen by 56% between 2018 and 2021.
Of course, while June was exceptionally hot, the same can also be said for July. Just last year, July 2021 was not just the hottest July ever, but the hottest month ever! This month is already exceptionally hot, so it could be a contender.
The Severity and Frequency of A US Heatwave Is Increasing
The data is clear, heatwaves not just in the US, but the entire planet will happen more frequently and will be more severe.
And yes, climate change is to blame.
There is an undeniable link between heat-trapping greenhouse gases like Carbon and Methane and the global temperature increase. Yet, despite the world pledging to do more, emissions are on the rise as people begin traveling more.
This will just lead to more record-shattering temperatures. If left unchecked, the planet will eventually be unable to support life, and not just human life either. Species, terranean and aquatic, are facing extinction because they cannot cope.
Even worse, they are outright losing their natural habitats to forest fires. This forces them to move to new ecosystems, which disrupts the balance. It’s a vicious cycle with no end in sight.
If you don’t want the temperature to keep going up, try to reduce your family’s and business’s carbon footprint.
Robert has been following and writing about environmental stories for years at GreenGeeks. He believes that highlighting environmentally friendly practices can help promote change in every household.
