The western United States is battling a dangerous heatwave, with temperatures in parts of California and Arizona crossing 47°C (116°F), prompting heat advisories and wildland fire warnings.
Phoenix recorded its hottest June day in over 100 years, while power grids in California are under strain as residents rely heavily on air conditioning. Hospitals in cities like Las Vegas and Palm Springs are reporting an uptick in heatstroke and dehydration cases.
Experts link the extreme weather to the El Niño phenomenon combined with long-term climate change. “This is not normal June weather—this is August-level heat,” said a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.
The heatwave has sparked concern in South Asia, where similar trends are being noticed. Environmentalists in India and Bangladesh say the U.S. situation is a reminder of the urgent need for urban heat-resilience planning.