Mexico is about to experience its 'highest temperatures ever recorded' as death toll climbs

The extreme heat smothering much of Mexico hasalready killed dozens of people, but the hottest temperatures are yet to come, officials say.

"In the next 10 to 15 days, the country will experience the highest temperatures ever recorded," researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) said in a statement earlier this week. They called the heat wave "unprecedented."

According to the Weather Channel,by early next week, temperatures inVeracruz are expected to soar to 37 C,Tabasco will be 40 Cand Mexicali will reach temperatures of 40.5 C.

Temperatures in the capital, Mexico City,could reach a record 35 Cin the next two weeks, said Jorge Zavala, director of UNAM's Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Change.

Most of the metropolitan area's 21 million residents accustomed to more temperate weather lack air conditioning. Earlier this month, the capital was one of at least 10 cities in Mexico that registered their hottest day on record.

Mexicohas been reeling from a high-pressure weather phenomenon known as a "heatdome," which has trapped hot air over much of the country, creating record-breaking temperatures that have surpassed 45 C in some places.

Heat-related causes killed 22 people between May 12 and 21, according to preliminary figures shared byMexico's health ministry. The 10-day period overlapped with the second and thirdheatwaves out of five forecast for March to July by the country's top weather agencies. The thirdheatwave is ongoing.

The new deaths bring the toll from the extreme temperatures to 48 since the hot season began on March 17, mostly due toheatstroke and some to dehydration. At the same point inMexico's hot seasons of 2022 and 2023, the health ministry had reported just two and threeheat-related deaths, respectively.

Health ministry data also shows hundreds more people have survivedheatstroke, sunburn, dehydration and otherheat-related conditions.

Swelteringheathas exacerbated a nationwide drought andstrainedMexico's power grid, with monkeysdropping dead from trees due to suspected dehydration.

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Busy hurricane season expected this year

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The U.S. national weather agency, NOAA, is forecasting an active hurricane season thanks to record-breaking ocean temperatures, which are likely to result in stronger storms and more of them. Canadian officials also say Atlantic Canada will see above-average hurricane activity.