Extreme Heat, Drought & Deadly Wildfires The Latest Report: It is official; 2023 was the hottest year ever recorded. Average temperatures were 1.48 degrees Celsius, or 2.66 Fahrenheit, above preindustrial levels, according to an announcement by Copernicus, the European Union’s climate monitor. The previous record was in 2016. Extreme heat (temperatures that are 10 degrees Fahrenheit or more above normal) kills nearly twice as many Americans each year as tornadoes and almost three times more than hurricanes. It is particularly deadly for the elderly and the poor in many countries around the world. Air pollution on top of record temperatures substantially increases the deadly health risks for the affected countries. Extreme weather from global warming is manifesting itself in record drought conditions that produce famine in some parts of the world. Here in the U.S. drought has contributed to the worst wildfires on record in California and in parts of the Southwest in the last three years. Visit the wildfire map for the latest fire activity. Check out the U.S. Drought Monitor to see the true extent of current drought conditions. And in 2023, Canada has confronted an unprecedented wildfire season. Additionally, wildfire smoke has resulted in unhealthy air quality across the western US. And in another twist of extreme weather, “atmospheric rivers” brought record floods and snow in California to areas already ravaged by drought and wildfires. Americares has partners in all the affected states and has conducted wildfire response activities annually. Click on the arrow and watch the video on the impact of extreme heat driven by climate change affecting the most vulnerable. (Photo by David Royal)