Climate change means South Asia’s devastating heat wave a ‘sign of things to come,’ scientists warn

An Indian farmer carries wheat crop harvested from a field on the outskirts of Jammu, India. An early and record-shattering heat wave in India has reduced wheat yields, raising questions about how the country will balance its domestic needs with ambitions to increase exports and make up for shortfalls due to Russia’s war in Ukraine. (Channi Anand / AP)

The devastating heat wave that’s baked India and Pakistan in recent months was made more likely by climate change and is a glimpse into the region’s future, international scientists say in a new study.

The World Weather Attribution group analyzed historical weather data that suggested early, long heat waves affecting a massive geographical area have been once-a-century events.