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Why is extreme heat so deadly?

Firefighters put out hot spots from the Washburn Fire in Yosemite National Park, California.
Firefighters put out hot spots from the Washburn Fire in Yosemite National Park, California.

Heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the U.S. 

Over the last 10 years, it’s killed an average of 135 people per year. That’s more than floods, hurricanes, or tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service.

Today, more than 13 million Americans are under an extreme heat warning, according to Heat.gov. On Aug. 3, it was 124 million.That’s more than a third of the people in the U.S. 

Heat.gov is a new collaboration between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other federal agencies to improve our response to extreme heat.

How can we adapt to a hotter future? What can we expect in the years to come? 

Copyright 2022 WAMU 88.5

Amanda Williams