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Environment & Climate vocabulary · Climate Change and Climate Science

Heatwave

Meaning in environment & climate, with examples

/ˈhiːtweɪv/nounCore term

In environment & climate, heatwave means: A period of several days of unusually hot weather for a particular place and season, often with high night-time temperatures as well.

In Turkish: sıcak hava dalgası

How it is used

Also written 'heat wave'. Heatwaves are becoming more frequent, longer and more intense because of climate change. They raise the risk of heat stress, wildfires, power cuts and crop losses. Authorities issue heat warnings and open cooling centers. Related: heat stress, urban heat island.

Example sentences

  1. During the heatwave, electricity demand hit a new record.

  2. Outdoor work on the site will stop between 12:00 and 16:00 during the heatwave.

Common collocations

  • severe heatwave
  • heatwave warning
  • during a heatwave
  • heat stress
  • urban heat island
  • extreme weatherWeather that is much more severe than usual for a place and time of year, such as heatwaves, very heavy rain, floods, droughts and strong storms.
  • droughtA long period with much less rain than normal, which leaves too little water for people, farming, rivers and ecosystems.
  • adaptationChanges in how people, cities, businesses and ecosystems work so that they can cope with the current and expected effects of climate change.
  • climate changeLong-term change in the Earth's typical temperatures and weather patterns. Today the term mostly refers to the warming caused by human activities such as burning coal, oil and gas.

More terms: Climate Change and Climate Science

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