Heat wave

• A heat wave us a period of abnormally high temperatures, more than normal maximum temperatures that last for more than two days.

• Heat waves typically occor between MAY and JUNE and in some more cases even extend till JULY.

• Heat Waves can occur with or without high humidity and have the potential to cover a large area. “exposing a high number of people to hazardous heat”.

•If a person is at rest, wearing minimal clothing in a very dry room with about 10 percent relative humidity, & is drinking water constantly ( so that sweat can be produced), they can avoid overheating as temperature as high as 46 degree celsius. So as long as the body is producing sweat, which is then able to evaporate quickly, the body will be able to remain coool even under high temperatures. There is a limit to this called the west- bulb temperature- that considers heat and humidity- beyond which human can not tolerate high temperatures.

Effects of Heat dome

• Those living without an air conditioner see the temperature of their home rising to unbearably high, leading to sudden fatalities.

• The trapping of heat can also damage crops, dry out vegetation and result in droughts.

• The sweltering heat wave will also lead to rise in energy demand, especially electricity, leading to pushing up rates.

• The heat dome can also act as fuel to wildfires, which destroys a lot of land area in the US every year.

Heat dome is more likely to form during LA NINA years like 2021,when waters are cool in the eastern Pacific and warm in western Pacific.

How can I keep cool in a heat wave?

Is it all linked to climate change?

It’s challenging to link any one weather event with climate change, but over time the trend is showing longer lasting, more intense heat.

• Climate change certainly influences hot weather: it is making heat more extreme and such extreme heat will occur more frequently.