Heat waves kill more Americans than any other weather event.
The torrid episodes are especially problematic in cities, where the concrete and asphalt sprawl traps heat, boosting already unusually hot temperatures by some 2 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Yet, as average temperatures continue their relentless rise, the U.S. government expects urban dwellers to experience more heat extremes, some unprecedented. Scientists, however, found that limiting Earth’s warming this century to 2.7 degrees F (1.5 degrees Celsius) above pre-industrial temperatures will spare thousands of Americans during the hottest heat waves (events that on average hit once every 30 years). The new research, published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, found that 2720 deaths could be avoided in the most populous metropolis, New York City. Read more…
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