Earth Sciences

Unprecedented 21st century heat across the Pacific Northwest of North America

K. J. Heeter, G. L. Harley, et al.

In the summer of 2021, the Pacific Northwest faced an extreme heatwave with record-breaking temperatures that haven’t been seen in the last millennium. Research by Karen J. Heeter, Grant L. Harley, John T. Abatzoglou, Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Edward R. Cook, Bethany L. Coulthard, Laura A. Dye, and Inga K. Homfeld highlights the urgent need for adaptation to extreme heat as climate models suggest a high risk of similar events in the near future.