Is Mexico’s Deadly Heat Dome Coming to the US?

Parts of Mexico and the southern U.S. have experienced unusually high temperatures unusually early in the year, killing both people and wildlife. Does this herald more heat this summer? 

The Details: At least 48 people have died in Mexico due to extreme heat since March, according to Phys.org, and Mexican howler monkeys are reportedly dropping “dead from trees”; nearly 160 heat-related deaths have been documented among that species. Nearly two-thirds of Mexico was forecasted to see temperatures above 110°F  Monday, and many parts of the country are in the highest drought intensity level measured by the North American Drought Monitor. Furthermore, NOAA heat forecasts show temperatures above 100°F in several southern U.S. states over the next week, impacting millions. 

For Context: Some of 2023’s record-breaking heat was tied to El Niño, a warming pattern in the Pacific Ocean, which is now waning. Despite this, NOAA predicted a record number of named hurricanes and tropical storms in 2024, and other regions like Southeast Asia are experiencing extreme temperatures.

How the Media Covered It: Mainstream left-rated outlets published more original coverage than others. Some published heat and climate-related analyses during Mexico’s heat wave, including a Politico (Lean Left bias) analysis on a “tenfold” increase in yearly heat-related deaths in Phoenix, AZ, and New York Times (Lean Left bias) coverage of a study saying much of the world saw 31 days of atypical warmth since May 2023 because of climate change.