Currently — June 26, 2023: Mexico enters third week of "impossible" heat wave

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The weather, currently.

A heat wave centered on Mexico has entered its third week, with temperatures expected to continue setting new all-time records in both Mexico and the US.

The heat wave is worrying local officials due to its longevity, with an official in Nuevo Leon state calling it Mexico’s longest heat wave in at least 20 years.

Power grids in both Mexico and Texas have set new all-time records for electricity usage, as air conditioning has had to work 24-hours a day in millions of homes. Severe weather, thunderstorms, and tornadoes have been affecting regions of Colorado, Texas, and the Southeast US in recent days due to the “heat dome” effect.

Heat waves like this one — long-lasting and more intense than in all historical precedent — bear a strong fingerprint of fossil fuel-driven climate change. Like other remarkable heatwaves around the world in recent years, this heat wave would have been nearly impossible without the extra boost from global warming.

Don’t underestimate this heat if you’re experiencing it firsthand. Heat safety tips from Ready.gov are useful, and available in multiple languages.

—Eric Holthaus