Rise in Temperature

In recent years, scientists have noted a rapid increase in average temperatures throughout the country. According to a report from the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) titled ‘Killer Summer Heat,’ the average temperature of the United States could rise by as many as 11 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the 21st century. “The risks to public health are greatest when high temperatures mix with other weather conditions to cause what’s known as an ‘Excessive Heat Event,’ or EHE,” the report states. EHE days occur when the temperature, dew point temperature, cloud cover, wind speed and surface atmospheric pressure create conditions dangerous enough to cause heat-related deaths.