Frequency, duration of heat stress days rising

Heat stress days combined with tropical nights are the leading cause of weather-related mortality, with some regions seeing up to 50 additional days annually and an extended heat stress season

+100

+50

ANNUAL DAYS WITH STRONG HEAT STRESS

Compared to 1970s

Heat stress: Measured by Universal Thermal Climate Index – temperature, humidity, wind, radiation, and human body response to heat

-500

-100

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

Perceived temperatures rise faster than air temperature

GLOBAL AVERAGE

Annual days with UTCI ≥ 32˚C

70

60

50

DURATION OF HEAT STRESS SEASON

1970s

2015-24

Europe

North America

Asia

Africa

Moderate

Strong

Very strong

Extreme

DEC

NOV

OCT

SEP

AUG

JUL

JUN

MAY

APR

MAR

FEB

JAN

Picture: Nature Climate Change

Source: Nature

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