Periods of prolonged extreme heat are getting more common in Portland as climate change continues to warm the planet, according to a new analysis.
Why it matters: Streaks of hot days — as much of the U.S. has experienced this summer — are particularly hazardous to human health.
- Extreme heat’s effects on the body tend to be cumulative, and warm nights offer little reprieve for those without air conditioning.
- Multi-day heat streaks are also challenging for power grid operators, given all the energy-intensive AC use.
Driving the news: The average number of annual extreme heat streaks rose between 1970-2024 in 80% of the 247 U.S. cities analyzed in a new report from Climate Central, a climate research group…