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In part, on account of climate change, unprecedented early June heat has sent the temperature soaring to 100° or above in parts of Russia north of 50°N latitude. At Kurgan, there have been two consecutive 100° temperatures, which ties the record. Both prior cases occurred in July. Temperatures are also the highest they have ever been so early in the season.

At the same time, daily and monthly record high temperatures were falling in parts of southern Africa and Canada.

The frequency of extreme heat has been increasing faster than overall temperatures. The result is more frequent, more intense, and longer-duration heatwaves. Such heat has sometimes triggered flash droughts that could develop within less than a week.