What causes heat waves?

The Farmers' Almanac is calling for hotter-than-normal conditions for many regions of the U.S. and Canada this summer. The unseasonably warm weather some areas saw early last week was just a foretaste of what may be in store over the coming months. read more

A heat wave is considered extreme weather, and a danger because heat and sunlight may overheat the human body. Heat waves can usually be detected using forecasting instruments so that a warning call can be issued. read more

A heat wave is an unusually hot weather phenomenon in which a certain area experiences high temperatures and high humidity which can last for several days. During this period, the normal temperatures of the area are exceeded by a huge margin compared to the usual temperatures of that particular season. read more

A heat wave occurs when a system of high atmospheric pressure moves into an area. In such a high-pressure system, air from upper levels of our atmosphere is pulled toward the ground, where it becomes compressed and increases in temperature. read more