What is a heatwave?

Answer 1

A heat wave is an extended time interval of abnormally and uncomfortably hot and unusually humid weather. To be a "heat wave" such a period should last at least one day, but conventionally it lasts from several days to several weeks.

It is when the temperature becomes abnormally high, usually above 100 degrees.

Answer 2

== A heat wave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by high humidity. There is no universal definition of a heat wave; the term is relative to the usual weather in the area. Temperatures that people from a hotter climate consider normal can be termed a heat wave in a cooler area if they are outside the normal climate pattern for that area. The term is applied both to routine weather variations and to extraordinary spells of heat which may occur only once a century. Severe heat waves have caused catastrophic crop failures, thousands of deaths from hyperthermia, and widespread power outages due to increased use of air conditioning. ==

Answer 3

When the weather reaches a temperature of around 40o Celsius or hotter, people can actually drop dead from the heat. They die of heat prostration (especially the elderly or others who are already in a weakened condition). That is a killer heat wave. It does kill people.

Answer 4

A heatwave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which is significantly hotter than the average temperature for a particular region. Heatwaves can lead to health risks, such as heat exhaustion or heatstroke, and can also put stress on infrastructure like power grids and water supplies.