Current years like this might soon be considered mild compared to what’s ahead. On July 14, 2026, at 8:28 p.m. EDT, there was an extreme heat warning in Minneapolis. Under such conditions, a local construction worker was seen rinsing his hands, a scene captured by Ellen Schmidt for the Associated Press.

Reported by Satish Desai for the Minnesota Reformer, this piece provides insight into the impacts of the ongoing climate crisis. The Minnesota Reformer operates as an independent, nonprofit news source, aiming to keep Minnesota residents informed and report on issues often overlooked by other media outlets.

In early July, prior to a heatwave that affected the eastern United States, I contacted an old friend residing in Northern England. The region was under a heat dome affecting much of Europe. On the day before our conversation, the UK experienced its hottest day ever recorded. Shockingly, that record was surpassed the next day, and yet again the following day. These temperature spikes indicate a worrying trend of escalating climate extremes.