Intense heat has contributed to record-breaking summer temperatures around the globe in recent years. Here’s the latest forecast, and where it’s expected to be warmer than usual:
High-temperature forecast for Wednesday
Where the forecast temperatures for Wednesday were unusually hot
Degrees above or below average for Aug. 20
Sources: University of Maine Climate Change Institute and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction Global Forecast System
Note: Averages based on data from 1979 to 2000.
While tying a single heat wave to climate change requires extensive analysis, scientists have no doubt that heat waves around the world are becoming hotter, more frequent and longer-lasting.
The World Meteorological Organization confirmed in March 2025 that 2024 was the hottest year on record and the first year in which Earth’s surface was more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above its average during the preindustrial era.
Note: Maps on this page show temperature forecasts for the period between 8 p.m. on Aug. 19 through 8 p.m. on Aug. 20. All times Eastern.
