Extreme heatwaves in the US Southwest, Mexico, and Central America

Scientists say human-induced climate change has recently made excessive heat in the US Southwest, Mexico, and Central America about 35 times more probable.

Key Findings:

Human-induced climate change has drastically increased the likelihood of recent extreme heatwaves in the US Southwest, Mexico, and Central America.

The World Weather Attribution (WWA) group reports that these heatwaves are now 35 times more likely to occur. Compared to the year 2000, the probability of such events has quadrupled due to the ongoing emissions contributing to global warming.

Focus Period and Region:

The WWA’s study focused on the period from May to early June, examining excessive heat in the US Southwest, including California, Nevada, and Arizona.

Additionally, extreme temperatures in Mexico and Central American countries like Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras were analyzed. The findings revealed that the hottest five-day stretch in June was approximately 1.4°C warmer due to climate change.

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Temperature Increase and Health Impacts:

The additional 1.4°C of warming significantly impacts human health, with high night-time temperatures posing a severe threat as they prevent the body from recovering from daytime heat.

This increase in temperature can mean the difference between life and death during extreme heat periods, according to Karina Izquierdo, Urban Advisor for the Latin American and Caribbean region at the Red Cross Climate Centre. Mexican officials have linked the heatwave to numerous deaths and the demise of wildlife, including howler monkeys in Tabasco.

Expert Statements:

Izidine Pinto, a researcher at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, emphasized the dangerous levels to which the climate is heating.

He noted that continuous fossil fuel emissions will exacerbate the situation, leading to higher mortality rates and increased living costs. Pinto’s statements highlight the urgent need to address climate change to mitigate these risks.

Methodology:

The WWA group conducts rapid-attribution studies by comparing recent weather events against models of a world not affected by human-induced global warming. This methodology helps determine the role of climate change in the severity of these events.

Conclusion:

The WWA study serves as a stark warning about the escalating risks associated with climate change. It underscores the necessity of reducing fossil fuel emissions to mitigate the frequency and intensity of extreme heatwaves, thereby reducing the associated human and economic costs.