Grappling with record high temperatures and widening drought

Historic heat waves are striking many parts of the country this June, leaving some cities struggling to cope with another sweltering week.

In the western U.S., states are in the middle of an extreme to exceptional drought. As of June 1, more than 40 percent of the contiguous U.S. was experiencing particularly dry conditions amid below-average rainfall, according to the National Climate Report. Drought conditions have not only intensified, but have expanded across the West, the northern Plains, and the Great Lakes regions.

Minnesota has gone from abnormally dry to a moderate drought within a span of weeks, with some pockets in the state in severe drought. Neighboring states are seeing the same conditions.

And the further west you go, the more worrisome it gets, especially as a “heat dome” encompasses the Pacific Northwest. Seattle broke record highs Monday at 106 degrees and a heat index of 111. Major roads and highways buckled under the intensity of the heat. In Portland, temperatures reached 115, forcing the city to shut down its light rail and streetcar service due to melted power cables.

To the south in California, the heat wave on top of elevated drought conditions is adding pressure to an already strained power grid. State officials worry about demand for power exceeding supply as the state sees a shortage in hydro and solar power.

A similar story is playing out in Texas as officials ask residents to limit their use of power to avoid rolling blackouts as high temperatures continue to keep air conditioners humming. 

How unusual are these events?

Thursday, two scientists joined host Kerri Miller to talk about the climate record, how it relates to the present, and whether these extreme temperatures and weather events are the new normal. How did we get here? What can we do about it?

Guests:

• Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist and chief scientist at The Nature Conservancy.

• Jessica Oster is a paleoclimatologist at Vanderbilt University.

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To listen to the full conversation you can use the audio player above.