As Western heat wave ends, scientists try to make sense of its length and intensity
By Evan Bush
Published on March 28, 2026.
The spring heat wave that swept the West for over a week has ended, setting over 1,500 temperature records across 11 states. Scientists are trying to explain the length, intensity and duration of the event, which led to a looming water crisis. The research group Climate Central has developed a metric, the "Climate Shift Index," which rates the influence of climate change on average daily temperatures from 1 to 5. The group found that 29% of the country recorded maximum temperatures that were classified as a “5” - meaning they were at least five times as likely due to climate change. The World Weather Attribution group has also found that heat waves in the West have increased in intensity by more than 7 degrees Fahrenheit due to global warming and this event was 800 times more likely than it would have been in a world without global warming. However, scientists are now investigating whether climate change is also causing shifts in atmospheric dynamics.
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As Western heat wave ends, scientists try to make sense of its length and intensity
The Western U.S endured a record-breaking heat wave due to climate change, but scientists are puzzled by its extent and potential impact on atmospheric dynamics.