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Extreme heatwaves: surprising lessons from the record warmth

Unprecedented temperatures are coming faster and more furiously than researchers expected, raising questions about what to anticipate in the future.
  1. Alexandra Witze
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Three firefighters carry a hose pipe past a wildfire burning in France during a heatwave

Firefighters battle blazes on 17 July in southwestern France that were spurred by an extreme heatwave. Credit: Thibaud Moritz/AFP/Getty

From London to Shanghai, unprecedented heatwaves have scorched many parts of the world in recent weeks. In June, Tokyo baked through nine consecutive days above 35 ºC, its most severe heatwave since official tallies began in the 1870s. In mid-July, the United Kingdom shattered records as temperatures soared above 40 ºC for the first time since measurements started. Meanwhile, heat-fuelled wildfires ravaged parts of France, Spain, Greece and Germany. And China has faced multiple widespread heatwaves, including one that hit more than 400 cities last week.

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Nature 608, 464-465 (2022)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-02114-y

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