Climate researchers propose new 'heat storm' term for massive weather events

Researchers have introduced the term heat storm to describe massive weather events that cover large parts of the planet for months or years. This concept comes from a study involving two dozen climate experts who looked at worldwide temperatures for every hour since 1960.

Details

Experts explain that traditional heat waves have grown into sprawling phenomena, making the old name as fitting as calling a monsoon a rain shower. The duration of these events has grown from about two months in the 1960s to nine months in the early 2000s. Scientists also identified heat cascades, which happen when heat storms run one after the other or at the same time. Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, stated that naming events is a powerful way for people to understand that something is happening. He added that people do not do this with heat waves, even though heat is estimated to kill nearly half a million people every year. The largest recorded event, named Vera, lasted for 367 days between 2023 and 2024 and covered nearly 85% of the globe.

Context

Heat waves connect abstract global warming science to everyday human experiences as planetary temperatures continue to rise. Understanding these extreme weather patterns helps researchers communicate climate risks more clearly to the public.