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News - Extreme Heat

All times U.S. ET unless noted.

Ashley Ward joins 97.9 The Hill’s "News on the Hill" program every other Thursday to comment on the latest climate news.

Coastal Review highlights recent Nicholas Institute report Defining Extreme Heat as a Hazard: A Review of Current State Hazard Mitigation Plans and quotes Nicholas Institute expert and report co-author Ashley Ward. Ward delves into why heat is one of the most misunderstood weather events and the guidance her and co-author Jordan Clark intend the report to have for states.

Forecasts are calling for El Niño to amplify extreme heat in the United States during the 2023 heat season—with likely worse impacts to come in 2024. Ashley Ward said in Common Dreams that now is the time for state and local officials to develop response plans, "particularly to protect our most vulnerable citizens."

The expected return of El Niño within a few months could prompt extreme weather patterns in many parts of the United States and elsewhere. Duke heat and health expert Ashley Ward provided comments for the media.

Ashley Ward has studied how heat affects communities in North Carolina. “A power outage is, in many cases, a catastrophic event,” she told The New York Times.

INDY Week interviewed Nicholas Institute senior policy associate Ashley Ward and other Triangle-area climate change scholars about current and future climate change impacts in North Carolina. 

A new Nicholas Institute report scores how well states account for extreme heat in their most recent federally mandated hazard mitigation plans. The report also offers recommendations to help state emergency managers adequately evaluate the threat of extreme heat as they update their plans.

Heat exposure has killed more people in the US than any other weather-related event over the past 30 years. More effective warning systems can inform people most at risk when they should take steps to protect themselves, Ashley Ward writes in a commentary for STAT.

Ashley Ward spoke to National Geographic about the growing risks pregnant people and infants face from extreme heat.

Ashley Ward spoke to the Wilmington Star-News about heat risks and heat relief inequality in the Port City.