Scientists identify the most extreme heatwaves ever recorded

Scientists have identified the most extreme heatwaves ever recorded globally, some of which went almost unnoticed when they occurred decades ago. 

According to the University of Bristol experts, the most extreme heatwave ever was in south-east Asia in April 1998.

Meanwhile, the western North America heatwave last summer was only the sixth most severe heatwave. 

Last year's North American heatwave saw an all-time Canadian high of 121.3°F (49.6°C) in Lytton, British Columbia, on June 29. 

For their research, the experts used a method that calculates how extreme heatwaves are relative to local temperature, rather than just where mercury readings were the highest. 

According to the study authors, heatwaves are projected to get hotter in future as climate change worsens.

Earlier this year, the Met Office increased the heatwave threshold for eight English counties, seeing as levels are designed to be relative to the current climate.  

'The recent heatwave in Canada and the United States shocked the world,' said lead study author, climate scientist Dr Vikki Thompson at the University of Bristol. 

'Yet we show there have been some even greater extremes in the last few decades.

'Using climate models, we also find extreme heat events are likely to increase in magnitude over the coming century – at the same rate as the local average temperature.'

2021's western North America heatwave was the most deadly weather event ever in Canada, resulting in hundreds of fatalities.

The associated raging wildfires also led to extensive infrastructure damage and loss of crops.

For the study, researchers ranked heatwaves relative to the local temperature of where they occurred, on the basis that events so far outside their natural variability are arguably more 'extreme'.

Results showed the top three hottest ever were in Southeast Asia in April 1998, Brazil in

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