2021 Western North America heat wave
The 2021 Western North America heat wave is an ongoing extreme heat wave in much of the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada, particularly, in western Nevada, Northern California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho in the United States, as well as British Columbia, and in the later phase, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon and Northwest Territories in Canada.[1]
The heat wave, which is one of the hottest on record for that region, appeared due to an exceptionally strong ridge centered over the area.[2] It is resulting in some of the highest temperatures ever recorded in the region,[3] including the highest temperature ever measured in Canada.
The heat wave also affected inland areas of central and Southern California,[4] as well as northwestern and southern Nevada, though the temperatures were not as extreme as compared to the regions farther north.
The complete death toll is not yet known, although over 100 more deaths than average were recorded in Greater Vancouver in just four days.
