Heatwave scorching US west ‘virtually impossible’ without climate crisis, say scientists

The Guardian US News
by Dharna Noor
March 20, 2026
4 views
2 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Scientists determined the recent US west heatwave was "virtually impossible" without the climate crisis.

How This Affects You

Extreme heatwaves, up to 30F above average, impact millions of Americans from the Pacific coast to the Rockies.

AI Summary

A team of scientists has determined that the recent heatwave scorching the US west would have been "virtually impossible" without the climate crisis. This heatwave brought unseasonably warm and dangerous temperatures, up to 30F above average for the time of year, to millions of Americans from the Pacific coast to the Rockies. The findings link extreme weather events directly to the ongoing climate crisis. This assessment underscores the impact of global warming on regional weather patterns.

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