A relentless heat wave in the U.S. and around the world has focused attention on the leading cause of weather-related deaths and the inadequacy of government efforts to address it.
Cities and counties across the U.S. scrambled to open cooling centers and respond to heat emergencies heading into a weekend when temperatures reached over 100 degrees in many areas.
The first five months of 2024 have been the warmest ever recorded in the United States and the trend is expected to continue all summer, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
