How climate change made Raleigh’s record-breaking heat far more likely – WRAL.com

Report on Extreme Heat Event in Raleigh and Its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Overview of the Heat Event

On Tuesday, Raleigh’s Chavis Park experienced extreme heat conditions, with temperatures feeling as high as 111 degrees Fahrenheit. Solar-powered fans provided some relief, but the heat remained intense. This event coincided with a Climate Shift Index (CSI) level 5 rating for the Triangle region, indicating that human-induced climate change made such temperatures at least five times more likely compared to a world without carbon pollution.

Factors Contributing to the Extreme Heat

1. Heat Dome Phenomenon: A large heat dome that affected the Midwest moved eastward, creating a high-pressure bubble over the Carolinas. This trapped humid air near the surface, contributing to record-breaking June temperatures from Boston to Raleigh.
2. Rising Baseline Temperatures: Summers in Raleigh-Durham are now 4.4 degrees hotter than in the 1970s, with approximately 39 additional above-average summer days annually.
3. Urban Heat Islands: Urban areas such as downtown Raleigh experience temperatures up to 19 degrees warmer than shaded suburbs due to heat retention by pavement and rooftops.

Health Impacts and Public Health Response

North Carolina’s early-season data for 2025 highlight the strain on the healthcare system caused by extreme heat:

• May 2025: 317 heat-related emergency department visits statewide.
• June 1–23, 2025: 681 emergency department visits, with no confirmed heat-related deaths reported.

Health officials emphasize the life-threatening nature of extreme heat and advise monitoring for symptoms such as heavy sweating, dizziness, or confusion, urging immediate access to air conditioning.

Preventative measures include:

• Expanded cooling center hours.
• Distribution of fans and cooling kits, particularly targeting vulnerable populations such as farmworkers.
• Use of a bilingual Heat Health Alert System to provide county-level warnings via text messages.
• Recommendations for outdoor workers to take water, shade, and rest breaks every one to two hours.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This extreme heat event directly relates to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – The increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves pose significant health risks, requiring enhanced public health interventions and community awareness.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Urban heat islands exacerbate temperature extremes, highlighting the need for sustainable urban planning, increased green spaces, and heat mitigation strategies.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – The event underscores the urgent need to address human-caused climate change by reducing carbon emissions and implementing adaptive measures to protect vulnerable populations.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – Ensuring access to clean drinking water is critical during heatwaves to prevent heat-related illnesses.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

State officials predict a slight easing of the heat dome by Friday, although temperatures in the mid-90s will persist. Experts warn that such extreme heat days are becoming the new normal due to climate change, necessitating adaptive strategies to safeguard public health and urban environments.

As stated by Nikhil Kothegal, Climate and Health team lead at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, “With summers already much hotter than a generation ago, days like this are no longer rare. They’re the new baseline, and we have to adapt.”

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article discusses the health impacts of extreme heat, including heat-related emergency visits and the risk of heat stroke.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article highlights the effects of human-caused warming, climate change-induced heat domes, and rising temperatures.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article mentions urban heat islands in downtown Raleigh, where pavement and rooftops trap heat, making cities hotter than suburbs.
4. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Access to water is emphasized as a critical adaptation measure for outdoor workers and vulnerable populations during heat waves.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.9: Reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
   • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
4. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Health Indicators
   • Number of heat-related emergency department visits (e.g., 317 visits in May 2025, 681 visits in June 1–23, 2025).
   • Number of confirmed heat-related deaths (currently none confirmed in 2025).
   • Effectiveness of heat health alert systems (e.g., bilingual Heat Health Alert System issuing county-level warnings).
2. Climate and Environmental Indicators
   • Climate Shift Index (CSI) levels indicating the likelihood of extreme heat due to human-caused warming (CSI level 5 in the Triangle).
   • Increase in average summer temperatures (4.4 degrees hotter than in the 1970s).
   • Number of above-average summer days (about 39 more days annually).
   • Urban heat island temperature differences (up to 19 degrees warmer in downtown Raleigh compared to shaded suburbs).
3. Adaptation and Preparedness Indicators
   • Availability and use of cooling centers and fan-distribution drives.
   • Frequency and reach of public health warnings and educational campaigns.
   • Provision of water, shade, and rest breaks for outdoor workers, including migrant farmworkers receiving bilingual cooling kits.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wral.com