Heat Wave
Climate models predict the Phoenix area will only get hotter. What does that mean for the four million residents who must adapt to a new reality?
Aug. 13, 2012
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Interactive Features
How Dry Is Your Hometown?
This interactive map can tell you how much it's rained near you. NOAA's map (above) shows New Mexico--the dark reds mean very little rainfall. How parched are you?
Document
Predicting Climate Changes
If current trends remain, some impacts could be: higher sea levels & coastal flooding; more frequent & intense wildfires; & native plant & animal species will be lost forever.
State Of The Climate
The drought gripping the U.S. affects nearly 63% of the contiguous U.S. How hot is it? The average temperature for the lower 48 during July was 77.6°F, 3.3°F above the 20th century average. Click on the map above to see maps and charts detailing the heat wave.
Poll
July 2012 was the hottest on record. What’s causing the heat?
- Man Made Global Warming. 66%
- Nature—Weather is cyclical. 33%
- Another, unknown cause. 0%
(This poll is now closed.)