Daily global temperatures hit an unofficial record high last week, according to at least one metric, prompting communities across the planet to take drastic measures to help people beat the heat.
A work stoppage in Beijing extended into this week after a string of days in which temperatures were above 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).
In North Grenville, Ontario, the city repurposed hockey rinks into cooling centers as temperatures reached 32°C (90°F) and felt like 38°C (100 °F) with humidity.
And the U.S. National Weather Service has issued heat advisories for much of the continental United States, amid heat-related hospitalizations in Austin and San Antonio, Texas, and record temperatures in cities including: Portland, Oregon; Tampa, Florida; and El Paso, Texas.
People dove into bodies of water in Ukraine, Turkey and Spain. And climate scientists said the record heat is set to continue as the planet continues to warm. Commenting on global temperature highs earlier this week, Stanford University climate scientist Chris Field said: “A record like this is further evidence for the now massively supported proposition that global warming is is pushing towards a warmer future.”
