The Eastern United States has been hit by dangerously hot temperatures, which are expected to last until Wednesday. Local weather reports advise of possible life-threatening conditions from Minnesota to Maine and some parts of Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
According to experts, this extreme temperature is provoked by a heat dome, which is an area of high pressure that traps heat and humidity inside. Specialists advise staying hydrated and taking regular breaks if you must stay outside.
If it appears that these heat waves are getting more frequent, you are right. Indeed, the globe is warming up, with summers getting hotter every year. According to the World Meteorological Organization, climate change is to blame for the high temperatures, which have a huge effect on humankind.
The elderly die in greater numbers, natural disasters like wildfires kill hundreds and destroy homes, and food sources are wiped out by the heat.
Half of all children living in 50 countries across Europe and Central Asia face frequent heat waves—twice the global average of one in four children.
To find out more about the biggest heat waves ever, click through and read up on the hottest days in history in this gallery.