The heat is unusually intense this year due to a combination of climate change and the El Niño weather phenomenon, which together have caused global temperatures to spike. As greenhouse gas emissions continue to trap more heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, we’re seeing longer, hotter summers and more frequent heatwaves. El Niño, a natural climate pattern, has added fuel to the fire by warming the Pacific Ocean, disrupting global weather patterns, and intensifying heat in many regions. Urban areas are feeling it even more due to the “heat island” effect, where concrete and asphalt absorb and radiate heat, making cities significantly warmer than surrounding areas.