A heat wave is a period of unusually hot weather, both during the day and at night. Such phases are particularly challenging for both people and the environment. Heat waves primarily affect physical and mental performance and well-being – especially in non-air-conditioned rooms or when working outdoors. In addition, heatwaves can often contribute to a deterioration in air quality. Heat can also cause material damage (e.g., through deformation) and thus impair production facilities and infrastructure.
In our analysis, a heatwave is defined as a period of at least three consecutive days during which the daily maximum temperature exceeds 30 °C (“Hot Days”) and the nighttime temperatures do not drop below 20 °C (“Tropical Nights”).