Climate scientist; coined the Ridiculously Resilient Ridge
Fires have burned record extents this year, El Niño is strengthening global heat and drought patterns, and inequality is linked to higher temperature-related deaths in Europe, with warnings of worsening extremes in coming months.
Two early‑season heatwaves have broken June temperature records across western Europe, pushing many locations above 40°C, triggering red alerts, disrupting transport and power, and causing dozens of deaths in France and other countries. Scientists have said human‑caused warming has made this event far more likely and night‑time temperatures have remained unusually high.
NOAA reports an 81% chance that this year’s El Niño will reach the most extreme category by fall, with widespread effects expected in fall and winter: droughts, heavy rain, heat, and shifting Atlantic hurricane activity. Multiple outlets warn this may be among the strongest events since 1950, on top of long-standing climate warming.
A sprawling heat dome has kept tens of millions under extreme heat alerts across the Midwest to the East Coast. Nights remain dangerously hot, records are being tied or broken, and officials warn about health risks and power outages as El Niño strengthens.