Extreme Heatwave in Mexico and Neighbors: Linked to Climate Change, Claims Over 125 Lives

June 20, 2024

Severe heatwaves have been sweeping through Mexico and neighboring regions since mid-May. Over 125 deaths related to extreme temperatures have already been reported in Mexico alone this season.

The ongoing heatwave encompassing the southwestern United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, and other Central American countries is a result of an intense high-pressure system known as a 'heat dome', trapping hot r close to ground level with further heating under sunny skies. This phenomenon has been particularly pronounced this year, pushing both day and night temperatures to record levels.

The tragic impact on life is evident - thousands are experiencing heatstroke, power outages are widespread and the ongoing drought exacerbates impacts by stifling dispersion of pollutants, reducing water avlability and impacting hydroelectric power generation and electricity supply.

Scientists from Mexico, Panama, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Sweden collaborated to assess how -induced climate change has influenced not only the likelihood but also the intensity of this extreme heatwave. They analyzed 5-day maximum day and night temperatures across a vast area including regions where impacts or temperature records were reported.

The research found that this unprecedented heatwave was about twice as hot 1.4 degrees Celsius compared to what would be expected in today's warmer climate due to activity, and around three hundred times more likely than in the early 2000s when global temperatures were half a degree lower than they are now.

In terms of night-time temperatures during the same period, there is now a fifty percent probability per year that similar conditions could occur, compared to just a thirteen percent chance before the turn of the millennium.

It's worth noting that while these conditions have been widespread across the region, their occurrence has been less frequent in southeastern areas, particularly for night-time temperatures with return periods potentially reaching up to 1000 years in specific locations.

The study also concluded that -induced warming from burning fossil fuels made extreme heatwaves like this one about three hundred times more likely. These trs indicate that as global temperatures continue to rise, such events will become a common occurrence by the time we reach a world where temperatures are two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

To mitigate these impacts, it's crucial for governments and authorities across Central America to implement heat warnings systems and action plans to ensure preparedness agnst future extreme weather conditions. Enacting and implementing heat safety protection laws will safeguard outdoor workers in all countries as well.

Resilient grid infrastructure and strategies for water conservation are essential for ensuring the reliability of services during heat events.

Enhanced urban planning, incorporating more green spaces and improved infrastructure particularly in informal settlements, play a vital role in protecting the most vulnerable communities.

In , our findings emphasize the need to take climate change seriously in terms of both its impacts on health and resilience agnst extreme weather conditions. Addressing this global issue requires collective effort from individuals, communities, governments, and organizations worldwide to adapt strategies that mitigate these risks effectively.

For more information, please refer to our full study titled Extreme Heat Killing More Than 100 People in Mexico: Hotter and Much More Likely Due to Climate Change 35 pages; file size is approximately 7.04 MB.
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