A prolonged period of excessively hot weather, typically accompanied by high humidity, that persists for several days or longer and significantly exceeds a region's normal temperature range for the season. Heat waves are among the deadliest weather hazards, disproportionately affecting the elderly, the very young and those without access to cooling. The 2003 European heat wave is estimated to have caused tens of thousands of excess deaths across the continent.
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Heat waves and drought commonly reinforce one another: sustained high temperatures increase evaporation and deplete soil moisture, intensifying and prolonging drought conditions already underway.
Extreme heat during a heat wave rapidly dries fuels and increases fire behavior intensity, a documented direct contributor to wildfire risk and severity.
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