A severe heatwave has gripped the central United States, breaking multiple long-standing temperature records across several cities. According to preliminary data from the National Weather Service, Salt Lake City in Utah and Billings in Montana both reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) on Sunday, marking the highest temperatures recorded in more than 150 years of recordkeeping. The extreme heat has disrupted daily life across the northern plains and Rocky Mountain regions.

The intense conditions have also hampered efforts to control ongoing wildfires in Colorado and Utah. Meteorologists warned that the high temperatures are expected to persist through Tuesday. Just a week earlier, the U.S. East Coast experienced another heatwave, with New York and Philadelphia reaching around 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Experts cited climate change as a key driver behind the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves worldwide. They attributed the trend to the continued use of coal, oil, and gas, and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions. The World Health Organization reported that June was the hottest on record in Western Europe, where more than 1,300 people died due to extreme heat.