The world is bracing for a catastrophic climate heat wave that could shatter records by 2029, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization. The forecasters warn that average warming over the next five years will likely exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, leading to more frequent and intense natural disasters.
The western United States, including California, can expect higher chances of drought, heat waves, and longer fire seasons with more intense wildfires. Climate scientists say the region’s warming trend is already evident, with the last few years being hot, dry, and disastrous.
The report predicts that at least one year in the 2025-2029 period will surpass 2024 as the warmest year on record, with an 80% chance of this happening. The projected warming is over 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, or 1.5 degrees Celsius, above pre-industrial levels.
The consequences of this warming trend will vary widely across the world, including rapid thawing of Arctic sea ice, drier seasons in the Amazon, and excess rain in places like Alaska, northern Europe, and the Sahel in north-central Africa.
Climate “whiplash” episodes, characterized by rapid swings between wet-to-dry and dry-to-wet conditions, are becoming more frequent and intense. This is exacerbated by rising global temperatures, which lead to droughts, failed crop seasons, and flood-inducing downpours and hurricanes.
The U.S. will likely struggle to forecast disasters and prevent their worst consequences due to a drastically reduced ability to predict the weather. Budget cuts at NOAA have already reduced staffing, including in the National Weather Service, making it harder for scientists to accurately forecast natural disasters.
As temperatures continue to rise, climate scientists are warning that this is not just an environmental issue but a human health crisis. “It’s scary,” says fire scientist Mike Flannigan. “A lot of people are ignoring this, or saying ‘it won’t be in my backyard.’ But it’s going to be in just about everyone’s backyard soon.”
Source: https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2025-05-29/years-of-deadly-heat-approaching-forecasters-warn