Heatwaves in Mexico, US Southwest Driven by Climate Change

Recent extreme heatwaves across the US south-west, Mexico, and Central America have been significantly intensified by human-induced climate change, according to a new study by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group. The study indicates that such heatwaves are now around 35 times more likely due to climate change.

The WWA study focused on excessive heat between May and early June, affecting south-western US states such as California, Nevada, and Arizona, as well as Mexico. The report reveals that the extreme heat experienced during this period was made approximately 1.4°C hotter due to climate change, leading to severe health impacts and fatalities.

Izidine Pinto, a researcher at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, emphasized the gravity of the situation:

“The results of our study should be taken as another warning that our climate is heating to dangerous levels. Potentially deadly and record-breaking temperatures are occurring more frequently in the US, Mexico, and Central America due to climate change.”

The WWA scientists noted that heatwaves like the one observed are now four times more likely than in the year 2000, driven by emissions that warm the planet. Karina Izquierdo from the Red Cross Climate Centre highlighted the deadly impact of these temperature increases: “The additional 1.4°C of heat caused by climate change would have been the difference between life and death for many people during May and June.”

High night-time temperatures pose a particularly severe threat to health as they prevent the body from recovering from the day’s heat. This exacerbates the risk of heat-related illnesses and deaths. In Mexico, the heatwave has been linked to numerous fatalities and the deaths of howler monkeys in the southern state of Tabasco.

The WWA group conducts rapid-attribution studies to determine the influence of climate change on weather events globally. These studies compare current weather patterns with models of a world without human-induced global warming. The findings consistently show that climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent and intense.

The recent extreme heat in the US south-west, Mexico, and Central America underscores the urgent need for action against climate change. As long as fossil fuel emissions continue to fill the atmosphere, heatwaves and other extreme weather events will worsen, leading to more deaths and higher living costs. This study serves as a stark reminder of the critical impact of climate change on our environment and health.