Heat Waves and Droughts

Heat Waves and Droughts

Heat waves and droughts are extreme weather events that can have serious effects on people, plants, animals, and entire ecosystems. A heat wave is a long period of extremely high temperatures, while a drought happens when there is much less rainfall than usual over weeks,...

A heat wave happens when a region experiences unusually high temperatures for several days in a row. What counts as a heat wave depends on the location. For example, a hot week in Oregon may be typical in Arizona.

Meteorologists often define a heat wave as a period of several consecutive days with temperatures significantly above the histo...