In Europe, the heatwave is straining public health systems and infrastructure, with hundreds of fatalities already reported. Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and those without access to air conditioning, are at heightened risk. In the U.S. West, the combination of drought, heat, and gusty winds has created conditions for rapid wildfire spread, threatening homes, ecosystems, and air quality. The situation is particularly critical in the Great Basin and Four Corners regions, where dry fuels and poor overnight humidity recovery exacerbate the risk.