2022 heat waves. In 2022, several areas of the world experienced heat waves. Heat waves were especially notable in East Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Australia, western Europe, the United States, and southern South America. 2022 heat waves accounted for record-breaking temperatures and, in some regions, heat-related deaths. Heat waves were worsened by the effects of climate change, and they exacerbated droughts and wildfires.

Background and effects 
Due to climate change, heat waves and other extreme weather events are longer and more intense. In many places, heat waves were accompanied by droughts and wildfires.

Heat waves and droughts affected water supplies, rivers (along with shipping and nuclear reactor cooling), ecosystems, various global supply chains, health, and agriculture worldwide.

By region

Africa

Tunisia 
On 13 July in Tunis, the capital city of Tunisia, the temperature reached , worsening wildfires in the country.

Australia 
In 14 January in Onslow, Western Australia, the temperature hit . If verified, the temperature would be tied as the highest in the Southern Hemisphere. From 18 to 23 January, Perth experienced six consecutive days with temperatures exceeding . Perth had eleven days of temperatures over  during the 2021–2022 summer, topping the previous record of seven days recorded in 2016–2017. In early March, a strong heat wave affected Northern Australia, and in particular North Queensland, with Townsville equalling or beating its previous March minimum temperature record five times in one week.

Asia

China 

During 2022, China suffered several heat waves, starting 5 July. According to the China Meteorological Administration, Turpan was expected to reach  between 25 and 31 July. China experienced large blackouts and experimented with cloud seeding among other measures, despite experts stating it would be "marginally effective" and possibly exacerbate problems.

India and Pakistan 

Starting in late March, India and Pakistan began experiencing one of the hottest periods on record. At least 90 people were killed by the heat wave; 25 in India and 65 in Pakistan.

Japan 

On 29 June 2022, Japan saw its worst heat wave in 150 years.

Europe 

Heat waves affecting Europe began in June.

Spain 
The Spanish heat wave began on 12 June. Spain restricted air conditioning to defined temperature ranges.

United Kingdom 

In a heat wave beginning on 8 July, the United Kingdom saw its first ever red extreme heat warning, with a national emergency declared on 15 July. An unconfirmed report from the Met Office on 19 July indicated a new record temperature for the United Kingdom, . This is the first time the temperature exceeded  in the United Kingdom.

North America

United States 
From 8 to 11 February, multiple cities in central and southern California experienced a record-breaking heat wave. San Francisco recorded  on 10 February, an all-time record for the city for meteorological winter. Palm Springs recorded  on 11 February.

A historic heat wave affected the Midwest and Southeast in the second week of June. On 13 June, more than 125 million people under excessive heat warnings. Following a brief respite 18 June, the heat wave returned into the following days.

An intense, fatal heat wave swept through the United States in July. More than 100 million people were under heat alert, and over 85% of the country had temperatures at or above . This extreme heat severely intensified drought conditions. The heat wave was responsible for at least 19 deaths, including 12 in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Another heat wave moved across the United States in early August, with 80 million Americans under heat alerts.

The US Bureau of Reclamation said in June that those in the Colorado River Basin would have to create plans to reduce water usage. By the August 15 deadline, the mandate was not being followed and the federal government did not have plans to follow up. Also in August, the US federal government announced that Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico would have to reduce water usage, per a previously negotiated agreement. These cuts were much less than those prescribed by the Bureau of Reclamation.

A record-breaking heat wave broke numerous records across the Eastern United States from November 5-7. Several places set monthly high temperature records on November 7, including Bridgeport, Connecticut and Washington DC.

South America

Southern Cone 

From 10 to 16 January, the Southern Cone had a severe heat wave. Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and certain parts of Brazil experienced extreme temperatures, with Argentina suffering the worst impacts. According to the World Meteorological Organization, it affected water, energy supply, and agriculture. Buenos Aires reached  and more than 700,000 people lost power. Parts of Argentina reached .

See also

Weather of 2022
2021 heat waves

References

 
2022-related lists
Weather-related lists