Summers are increasingly hot. Across the globe, heat waves are more frequent and lethal. It’s possible this summer could be relatively cooler than those in the future.

Duane Stilwell moved to Guadalupe, Arizona, five years ago. At 68, he’s experienced various climates, having lived in Mexico, Ohio, Illinois, California, and New York. But the rising temperatures in Arizona are concerning. Last year, Maricopa County witnessed 113 consecutive days above 100 F. This extreme heat caused issues, including the death of a neighbor due to heatstroke, and even affected plant life around his home. Stilwell contemplates relocating because of these conditions.

Arizona is not alone in experiencing severe heat. The U.S. has seen the average number of heat waves double since 1980. The heat wave season now lasts around 70 days, up from 40. Experts predict future summers will be hotter.

Protective Measures Against Heat

The Short Wave podcast from NPR featured insights from experts Kim McMahon of the National Weather Service and Nick Staab, the incident commander for extreme heat response in Maricopa County. They offer tips on how individuals and communities can cope with the heat:

• Avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours.
• Use the NWS’s HeatRisk tool to evaluate heat-related risks based on climatology and CDC data.
• Stay hydrated and take cold showers to cool down.
• Install dark curtains to block sunlight and reduce indoor temperatures.

Public health departments play a role too. By expanding access to cooling and respite centers, they can ensure the public knows how to reach these vital resources. An example is Maricopa County’s Heat Relief Network.

Climate scientist Justin Mankin suggests treating intense heat days like snow days. Schools and events could be canceled when heat risks surge.

On a larger scale, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by corporations and nations is crucial. These emissions contribute significantly to rising temperatures.

This article is part of Nature Quest, a Short Wave segment that explores local environmental questions. For inquiries about local environmental changes, listeners can send a voice memo to [email protected]. The produced segment could feature in future episodes. NPR offers Short Wave on platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The episode in question was produced by Hannah Chinn and Rachel Carlson, with editing by Rebecca Ramirez, fact-checking by Tyler Jones, and engineering by Jimmy Keeley.