Heatwave

Record-shattering March temperatures in Western North America virtually impossible without climate change

Sunset over downtown Los Angeles

An unusually early spring heatwave is developing across the southwestern United States (US), with temperatures that are more typical of summer than mid-March (AccuWeather, 16 March 2026). Driven by a strong, slow-moving high pressure system, called a ‘heat dome’, the event is causing temperatures to rise 11-17℃ (20-30℉) above average across parts of California, Nevada … Continue reading “Record-shattering March temperatures in Western North America virtually impossible without climate change”

Climate change eclipses La Niña cooling in Australia to drive extreme heatwave and heightened fire risk

From 5–10 January, 2026, south-eastern Australia experienced its most severe heatwave since 2019–20. Temperatures exceeded 40°C in major cities including Melbourne and Sydney, with even hotter conditions across regional Victoria and New South Wales. Extreme heat affected large parts of Australia, including Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania before moving east to New Zealand. The … Continue reading “Climate change eclipses La Niña cooling in Australia to drive extreme heatwave and heightened fire risk”

Unequal evidence and impacts, limits to adaptation: Extreme Weather in 2025

Introduction  Every December we are asked the same question: was it a bad year for extreme weather? And each year, the answer becomes more unequivocal: yes. Fossil fuel emissions continue to rise, driving global temperatures upward and fueling increasingly destructive climate extremes across every continent. Although 2025 was slightly cooler than 2024 globally, it was … Continue reading “Unequal evidence and impacts, limits to adaptation: Extreme Weather in 2025”