An intense and prolonged heat wave hit its most dangerous point on June 24, delivering the hottest day in a decade to several major East Coast cities in the US, and endangering millions of Americans already exhausted by days of oppressive heat.
Fueled by a powerful heat dome, the extreme temperatures peaked after intensifying over the weekend in the central US and surging eastward by June 23, matching some of the hottest conditions typically seen in summer. Several cities saw temperatures soar past 100°F (37.8°C), with Baltimore hitting a scorching 110°F (43.3°C).
According to the World Meteorological Organization, climate change is driving these rising temperatures—with potential serious consequences. Wildfires destroy homes and take lives, extreme heat threatens food supply, and the elderly are especially at risk. In Europe and Central Asia, half of all children face frequent heat waves, twice the global average of one in four children.
To find out more about the biggest heat waves ever, read up on the hottest days in history in this gallery.