Several factors are contributing to the record heat this summer, said Brett Anderson , a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather. “We are seeing an increasing number and more extremes and this is because of global warming," said Jose Alvaro Mendes Pimpao Alves Silva , a consulting climatologist for the World Meteorological Organization, referring to extreme heat waves. Climate change has exacerbated extreme heat events , which have increased sixfold since the 1980s, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Still, the sustained heat waves haven’t stopped tourists from hitting the beach in Spain or visiting landmarks in Washington, D.C. Silva from the World Meteorological Organization said there are currently high-pressure systems trapping hot air in the region.

Source: Wall Street Journal July 20, 2023 00:29 UTC