Red Cross: Extreme heat now the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the US
By the Climate Centre
Warning the public last week of the potentially dangerous heatwave now affecting the eastern US, the American Red Cross said extreme heat is now “the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States”.
“Temperatures are expected to climb into the 90s [Fahrenheit] and low 100s across more than 30 states, with high humidity pushing the heat index as high as 115 degrees in some areas,” the Red Cross said on 29 June.
“Overnight, temperatures will only drop into the 70s, offering little relief. This heatwave is being driven by a heat dome [and the] timing is especially challenging as the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues, driving unprecedented activity in many major US cities.
‘Climate change the big player’ in the World Cup
The Reuters Climate Monitor today said Dallas is forecast to be the hottest World Cup host city: two of 16 venues were expected to be more than 5°C above their historic norms and a further four over 3°C above.
In May, World Weather Attribution scientists warned climate change would be “the big player” at the World Cup, with players and fans facing “a significant risk of being impacted by dangerous heat and humidity”.
A quarter of all games were likely to be played in conditions of at least 26°C wet-bulb globe temperature – an index that includes temperature, humidity, wind and environmental factors to measure how the human body might be able to cool itself.
Last Friday, in a separate study, they found the humid heat impacting some World Cup games and the national celebrations in the US and Canada “would have been virtually impossible without climate change”. The researchers found no role for the newly established El Niño in driving this extreme heat.
The American Red Cross was monitoring the US situation and preparing to respond if necessary. An emergency app and a 1-800 phone number would enable people to find cooling centres and other shelters.
In Mexico, with Canada and the US a World Cup host nation, the Red Cross said it had five ambulances and 60 volunteers on duty at the Azteca Stadium in the capital (pictured). (Photo: MRC via social media)