People on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border endured blistering heat as temperatures soared to scorching highs this week, providing little relief from the relentless sun.
In Calexico, on the border between Mexico and California, where temperatures reached 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius), Maribel Padilla, a member of the Brown Bag Coalition, met with homeless individuals who are particularly vulnerable to the extreme heat. She offered them cold, wet towels and refreshments to provide some respite. Many sought shelter under the towels to shield themselves from the heat and rehydrated with cool bottles of water.
Across the border in Mexicali, Mexico, many sought refuge in indoor pools to find relief from the heat and engage in some exercise. An outdoor taekwondo class wisely waited for the sun to set before exerting themselves in the sweltering conditions.
However, for those who had to work outdoors, there was little escape from the scorching temperatures, as they sweated through their clothes in 115-degree Fahrenheit (46-degree Celsius) weather. Most others opted to stay indoors or sought shade provided by buildings.
The southwestern U.S. experienced record-breaking hot weather over the past week, and more high temperatures are expected as climate change, exacerbated by an El Nino event—a cyclical and natural warming of the Pacific Ocean—continues to push global temperatures to unprecedented levels.
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