A record-breaking heatwave that's gripping large parts of the United States would have been "virtually impossible" without climate change, according to a new study. The scorching conditions are putting thousands at risk and threatening major events, including the 250th anniversary of US Independence Day and crucial World Cup football matches.
The research by World Weather Attribution reveals that while heatwaves are rare, even in a warming world, they wouldn't have occurred even once in many thousands of years without human-induced global temperature increases of 1.4°C. Theodore Keeping, an expert in extreme weather and wildfires at Imperial College London, puts it starkly: "The climate the US has today is fundamentally different from the one its founding fathers knew."
A high-pressure system, known as a heat dome, is driving the severe heat and humidity that's blanketing central and eastern America – with temperatures expected to soar even further in Washington D.C. during the 250th anniversary celebrations.
Meanwhile, sports fans are also bracing themselves for extreme heat levels at World Cup matches in Philadelphia and Miami this weekend. The global players' union has previously warned that conditions like these should prompt delays or postponements to protect player safety.
Professor Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London, warns that it's not just about major events – climate change is already disrupting daily life. "We're seeing the impact of climate change on everything from weather patterns to our enjoyment of everyday activities," she says. "It's time for us to take action and reduce greenhouse gas pollution now."
Source: World Weather Attribution, Imperial College London