Historic heatwave, extreme drought and wildfires plague North American west

US Pacific north-west and Canada see soaring temperatures and drought fuels flames as crisis illustrates climate breakdown

The summer of 2021 is already shaping up to be one for the record books, with much of the American west gripped by historic heatwaves, extreme drought, and the threat of large wildfires that have already begun to burn across the region. The crisis has also extended into Canada, with temperatures in British Columbia soaring to 118F (46.6C) on Monday, shattering records for the area where few are set up for such intense heat.

Experts and officials fear that the catastrophic conditions, fueled by the climate crisis, will only get worse through the coming months.