July was the hottest month in modern times. Now, August is shaping up to be a month of extremes. In the United States alone, a tropical storm swept across the Southwest, another struck Texas, Maui burned, and a blistering heat dome sat atop the middle of the country. In India, torrential rains triggered deadly landslides, Morocco and Japan hit new heat records, and southern Europe braced for another scorching heat wave. Those extremes have also brought high-stakes tests for public officials: Where public alerts and education worked, death and destruction were minimized. Where they didn’t, the results were catastrophic. Maui has so far recorded more than 100 deaths from the blaze that started Aug. 8, and that number is projected to rise.

Related articles: 

• The White House: Statement from President Joe Biden on Extreme Weather
• San Francisco Chronicle: Stressed out about Maui and Hurricane Hilary? There’s a name for it
• KTVU – Los Angeles: Worried by summer’s disasters and extreme weather? Climate scientists have advice 
• Grist: A tropical storm in California? Warmer waters and El Niño made it possible
• Bloomberg: Wildfires and extreme weather are driving climate denialism online