Pacific Northwest heatwave

What is it?

In late June, from June 27 to June 29, an extreme heatwave hit the region of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Western Nevada, and Northern California. These regions are part of the Pacific Northwest, hence the name of the heatwave.

Consequences

The regions were under extreme temperatures. Multiple heat records were broken during the heatwave, the highest temperature recorded in Canada being one of the most notable. At around 49,6°C/121.3°F, this record was set in a village named Lytton in British Columbia. Not only must the heat have been unbearable there, a wildfire also started in the village, burning close to its integrity. At least 800 people lost their lives during the heatwave with the number still growing and the exact death toll still unknown. Lytton wasn’t the only village affected by this, though. Wildfires also started in the United States, one of them being already the eight greatest in Oregon’s history. More than 1 billion sea creatures such as clam and mussels were also cooked alive.

Causes

The heat was caused by a region of high-pressure system, leaving the sky clear of clouds. Another cause is climate change. Without climate change, the heatwave wouldn’t have been as likely to happen. The greenhouse gas emission made the Pacific Northwest heatwave at least 150 times more likely to happen.