North Carolina’s rising temperatures lead to more extreme heat waves

Scientists tell WRAL that climate change is creating more extreme and more frequent heat waves in our state and across the country. The Raleigh-Durham area has on average forty more high temperature days per year that pose risk to people than we did in 1970. By 2050, heat waves in our state are expected to quadruple. The risk is even higher for urban areas where dense development and pavement absorb the heat. In this episode, WRAL’s climate change reporter Liz McLaughlin explains just how hot it could get.

The WRAL Daily Download is an in-depth conversation about a single news story. WRAL covers news across North Carolina every day, but this podcast focuses on one story at a time, bringing context to each conversation. The in-depth, localized podcast takes you into the latest stories from Raleigh, Durham, and the entire Triangle region on North Carolina. This is community news aimed at keeping you informed about the more subtle stories that are happening around you. Hosted by WRAL News journalists, episodes post weekdays by 4:30am.