Skip to main content

Scientists have developed a way to predict severe heat waves months before they happen

Unexpected heat waves may be a thing of the past thanks to new prediction technology that can provide a warning for a heat wave up to two months in advance, reports the New York Times. This improved prediction technology doesn’t look at weather patterns, air temperature or similar weather metrics. Instead, it relies on an unusual data source — North Pacific ocean temperature.

In a study published this week in Nature Geoscience journal, researchers from National Center for Atmospheric Research explain how ocean surface temperatures may correlate with a heat wave. Researchers began by examining climate data from the Eastern United States between the years of 1982 and 2015. They then identified sweltering summer days, defined as being 12 degrees hotter than average summer temperatures, and compared this data with ocean surface temperatures in the North Pacific during these same warm periods.

Recommended Videos

It quickly became apparent that a rise in ocean surface temperature was associated with a future heat wave. “The pattern popped out at us really clearly,” said postdoctoral researcher and lead author Karen A. McKinnon of the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Not only was this pattern very easy to spot, but it also was observed “up to seven weeks before” the heat wave materialized on the East coast. Researchers are not sure how a rise in Pacific ocean surface temperature can influence weather on the East Coast, but some climate scientists believe it has to do with the interaction between the ocean water and the jet stream.

With current models, heat waves can only be predicted reliably on a short-term basis, providing just a few days of notice before they occur. Existing long-term weather probability tools do not help for heat waves, as they provide only overall weather trends and do not include temperature extremes. The ability to predict heat waves this far in advance would be extremely useful for farmers, city officials and emergency planners who must deal with heat-associated crop losses, increased energy requirements and heat-related illness.

Kelly Hodgkins
Kelly's been writing online for ten years, working at Gizmodo, TUAW, and BGR among others. Living near the White Mountains of…
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more
Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

Read more