In late March and early April, days and nights of extreme heat above 40° Celsius (104°F) gripped many West African countries. Temperatures soared so high in Mali and Burkina Faso they equated to a once in 200-year event, according to the report by World Weather Attribution (WWA).

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Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently amid rising sea-levels and increasing temperatures.

Climate Crisis

### Climate Change-Induced Extreme Heat Grips West Africa

West African countries have experienced unprecedented extreme heat in recent weeks, with temperatures consistently soaring above 40°C (104°F). This severe weather event has affected the region significantly, marking one of the worst heatwaves in recorded history. According to the World Weather Attribution (WWA), certain areas in Mali and Burkina Faso witnessed temperatures surpassing 45°C (113°F) early in the timeline of the heatwave, a phenomenon described as a once-in-200-year event.

The impact of this extreme heat has been devastating on the population, with individuals suffering from severe heat-related illnesses. In one reported case from Niger, a woman was hospitalized due to dehydration, lacking approximately four liters of water because of insufficient water intake during this period. The relentless heat, persisting day and night, has left people with no respite from the sweltering conditions.

The World Weather Attribution's rapid analysis has attributed this extreme heatwave to human-induced climate change, specifically the dependency on fossil fuels. According to their findings, such high temperatures would not have been attainable in a pre-industrial climate, indicating the significant role of global warming in exacerbating the intensity of heatwaves. This conclusion underscores the importance of addressing human actions that contribute to climate change.

Sadly, the exact toll of fatalities or heat-related illnesses remains unknown due to data scarcity in the affected regions. However, the WWA suggests the number of casualties could potentially be in the hundreds or thousands. Furthermore, the report indicates that without significant changes in global climate policies and actions, such extreme temperatures are likely to become more frequent, presenting ongoing challenges for the region and necessitating adaptation to these harsh conditions.



Climate change-induced extreme heat grips West Africa

It's West Africa's worst heatwave in living memory. Since late March, the region has been plagued by scorching temperatures, averaging above 40 degrees Celsius. Day or night, there is no respite for the victims, like this woman who was hospitalised in Niger due to the heat. Because of the heat, the doctor told us she's missing about four litres of water. She's not drinking enough water, they said. We've been here for 10 days. In Mali and Burkina Faso, temperatures soared above 45 degrees Celsius between the 1st and the 5th of April. According to a report by World Weather Attribution, temperatures were so high they equated to a once-in-200-year event. The severity of the heatwave led WWA's team of climate scientists to conduct a rapid analysis, which concluded that temperatures would not have been reached were it not for human dependency on fossil fuels. Really, without human-induced global warming, these temperatures wouldn't have been possible. So in a pre-industrial climate, we wouldn't expect to see heatwaves of this intensity at all. A lack of data in the affected countries made it impossible to know the exact number of deaths, the WWA said, adding there were likely hundreds if not thousands of other heat-related casualties. With the current trajectory we are on, these extreme temperatures are set to become more commonplace and we will have to get used to it.

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