heat wave

A hot and stormy Fourth of July weekend saw more than 20 cities hit record highs. While the grid was strained in some places, the power mostly stayed on.

As summer temperatures rise, some see the public pool as climate adaptation infrastructure, says journalist Eve Adams.

More than 10,000 schools nationwide lack air conditioning, according to the Center for Climate Integrity. And with soaring temps across the midwest and East Coast, some schools are releasing students early or closing altogether this week.

Heat waves can cause adverse health effects and even be fatal. How are people and cities preparing for a world with more extreme heat?

Many industries have to slow down, or shut down, when it’s too hot to work.

As ACs across the country kick on during heat waves, electricity demand will spike and some energy grids may fall short of supply.

Low-income workers who aren’t able to choose their work schedules are especially hard hit. And that has a cost of its own.

The government also boosts funding for a FEMA program to help communities prepare for extreme heat and other climate-related disasters.

Experts say utilities have been forced to play catch-up when extreme weather hits.

Nonprofit Climate Central estimates that home air conditioning use will increase almost 60% over the next 30 years.