This summer, which spans from June to August, was the hottest on record for the contiguous United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It surpassed previous records set in 1936 and 2021 by 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit. When compared to the average temperature over the entire 20th century, this summer was 3 degrees hotter, with August alone being 3.5 degrees above the historical average. Across the Atlantic, Europe has experienced multiple severe heat waves this year, which have been linked to more than 25,000 deaths. According to an analysis by Climate Central, 293 million Americans—about 86% of the population—experienced at least 30 days of "risky heat," defined as days hotter than 90% of previous days in their region. In Asia, approximately 2.8 billion people faced similar exposure. Of the top 10 most unusually hot countries globally, seven were in Europe, which continues to be the fastest-warming continent. Kristina Dahl, vice president for science at Climate Central, described the statistics as "just really mind-boggling." She emphasized that extreme heat can lead to serious health issues and worsen existing medical conditions. The report found that the average American experienced about 26 days of temperatures strongly influenced by climate change, with some regions being hit harder than others. Four of the five U.S. states with the most risky heat days were in the West: New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, and Utah. Colorado’s summer temperatures were 4.4 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, followed by Utah and Nevada, both at 3.8 degrees. Europe's status as the fastest-warming continent is partly due to its proximity to the Arctic, which is warming faster than the rest of the planet. As sea ice melts, it exposes darker ocean waters that absorb more of the sun’s energy. Another contributing factor is the unintended side effect of clean air policies, which have reduced atmospheric particulate matter that once reflected solar energy back into space. Dahl explained that this has made Europe more vulnerable to the full impact of climate change. Rising temperatures are creating significant public health challenges, with heat waves becoming both more intense and longer in duration. Nights are warming faster than days, which means the human body does not have a chance to recover from the heat. Without the ability to cool down at night, the body stores some of the accumulated heat from the day and carries it over into the next. This can lead to severe health consequences, especially for outdoor workers like farm laborers, who are exposed to heat again the next day. The elderly are also at high risk, as their bodies are less efficient at regulating temperature. Scientists have noted that the development of a strong El Niño—a climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific—contributed to higher temperatures this summer. They are concerned that as El Niño continues to develop, next year’s summer could be even hotter. Dahl mentioned that while El Niño is still forming, it is not yet at its peak.