Summer 2025 has arrived. It's starting off hot, and the forecast says get used to it.
A hot summer isn't just uncomfortable — it's dangerous. Heat killed more people in the United States in 2024 than floods, tornadoes, wind or hurricanes, according to a report on weather-related fatalities published by the National Weather Service. The 30-year average tells the same story.
Heat danger comes in many different forms. Sun exposure can damage your skin; sweating dehydrates you; humidity prevents sweat from doing its job; your body stops functioning property when it gets too hot. That can all quickly cascade into a life-threatening or deadly illness, even in otherwise healthy people.
Some heat safety tips are obvious — but some are surprising. (Do you know how much water to drink while in the heat? It's probably more than you think.)
Here's what to know:
