Scientists have already observed these changes in heat waves over the last few decades, and they expect extreme heat to keep getting more dangerous and more prevalent in the future. In others, like the US Midwest, heavy rainfall and flooding are increasing.īecause it raises temperatures across the globe, climate change also makes heat waves more common, severe, and long-lasting, and spreads them over a larger geographic area. In some places, drought is becoming more common, extreme, or prolonged. Rising temperatures are increasing water evaporation and changing the atmospheric and ocean currents that distribute moisture across the globe. David Ryder/Getty ImagesĬlimate change, driven by all the greenhouse gasses that humans have released into the atmosphere, is changing the planet's water cycle. Ryan Horner, a firefighter EMT with the Shoreline Fire Department, treats a homeless man showing symptoms of heat exhaustion on Jin Shoreline, Washington. In western Washington, temperatures on Tuesday broke records. The governor of Oregon declared a state of emergency in 25 of the state's counties on Tuesday, with temperatures expected to top 100 degrees for most of the week, KGW8 reported. Meanwhile, residents of the Pacific Northwest are coping with grueling heat.

The impact of Tuesday's rainfall and flooding is expected to be felt by St.

Residents who use the damaged areas of the public transit system were advised to seek alternate transportation 'until further notice,' likely for two weeks, according to the Post-Dispatch. Parts of the city's light-rail system were damaged in the flood when waters covered the tracks. Louis history, delivering more than 25% of the city's average annual rainfall in just 12 hours, according to the National Weather Service.Īrea fire departments rescued more than 400 people during the flood, while 10 puppies drowned at a dog-rescue center in a St. More than 9 inches of rain fell in just 24 hours, the highest rate in St. Louis died after flash flooding submerged his car in more than 8 feet of water, the St. 'I expect double-digit deaths in this flooding,' Kentucky Gov.

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