A fresh spell of extreme heat has spread across the United States after scorching conditions in Europe, prompting heatwave alerts for an estimated 44 million people, according to weather officials.
Forecasters said temperatures in parts of the Rocky Mountain region and the northern Plains have climbed close to 43°C. Cities and areas including Salt Lake City, Montana and North Dakota are experiencing unusually intense summer heat.
The combination of extreme heat and dry conditions has also worsened wildfire activity in Colorado and Utah, where fires are spreading rapidly. Firefighting operations in the two states have been affected as crews battle the blazes amid harsh weather.
Heat impacts are being felt in the southeastern US as well, including Miami. After last week’s near-40°C readings in eastern cities such as New York and Philadelphia, another round of heat is now affecting wider parts of the country.
Experts have warned that climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions linked to the use of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, is contributing to longer and more frequent heatwaves worldwide.
