Sizzling USA! Is Mother Nature Serving Up Extra Toasty Summers?🔥🌞

Sizzling USA! Is Mother Nature Serving Up Extra Toasty Summers?🔥🌞

TL:DR; The US is getting HOT, HOT, HOT, and it’s not just a summer fling. Cities in the south-west are smashing their previous heat records. Why’s it getting so spicy, and what does this mean for us? 🌡️🥵

These sunny days are hitting different. Residents in cities spanning Arizona, California, and Texas have been swiping their brows for nearly two months with temperatures consistently crossing the 90F (32.2C) mark. Picture this: Phoenix and Needles in California have faced a whopping 70-day sauna session with no chill. Phoenix even turned it up a notch with three back-to-back weeks hitting 110F (43.3C).😓

Ever wondered, “Hey, didn’t summers used to be milder?” Well, they did. Luis Ortiz, our main man from George Mason University, dishes out, “These sizzling temps are not brand new for the region. But, with the world warming up, we’re crossing the 100F mark more often.” 🌍🌋

A combo of the heat dome – think of it as a big warm air trap – and the climate tango between La Niña and El Niño, has been firing up the global thermostat. The main culprit? Fossil fuels. Thanks a lot, fossils! 🦖⛽

But wait, there’s more! Numerous cities are running on a heat streak. Youngtown, Arizona; Blythe, California; Alexandria, Louisiana; and Laredo, Texas have faced 62, 62, 54, and 52 straight scorching days, respectively. What’s a heatwave, you ask? It’s when the sun goes full diva mode for three straight days at 90F and above. And let’s be real, too much of anything isn’t fun. These sizzling stretches can get risky! 🌵💦

Now, here’s a chilling fact from Lauren Casey, a meteorologist at Climate Central: “Heat is the number-one weather bad boy in the US.” Seizures, organ damage, and even worse outcomes can result from our bodies getting grilled. Plus, humidity? Not helping. It makes sweating, our body’s natural air-con, less effective. 🥴💧

Let’s talk about sleep. Everyone loves a cool summer night, right? But, the average summer night since 1970 has gotten warmer by 3F. Imagine trying to sleep when Phoenix hasn’t seen a night cooler than 90F for 20 straight days! 🌙🔥

Here’s the tea: our current systems are struggling. Gredia Huerta-Montanez, an environmental health researcher, mentions, “Our healthcare pros need upskilling in handling these heat issues. They’re just becoming too frequent.” Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, pregnant individuals, and outdoor workers, are feeling the brunt of this. ☀️🚑

And a shoutout to Rachel Licker from the Union of Concerned Scientists: she thinks the US might be underreporting the real damage of these blazing days. 💔🌡️

So, we’ve got to ask: If this is the new summer norm, how do we chill out and adapt? And how are YOU staying cool this summer? 🤔🍦🍹