The World Meteorological Organization tallied nearly 12,000 extreme weather, climate and water-related events over the past half-century that caused economic damage of $4.3 trillion.
The early-season heat and wildfires set the stage for a long, smoky summer in western Canada, where seasonal and long-term forecasts predict more heat.
On Sunday, several locations in Oregon set records for hottest temperature ever recorded in May, while some parts of British Columbia were hotter than Las Vegas.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory lasting from Saturday through Monday as temperatures are expected to hover at around 94 F through the weekend.
Fast-moving winds can suddenly whip dirt and debris into the air, leading to fatal accidents. It's an issue worsened by drought, climate change and land management.
The combination of El Niño and the long-term trend of global warming could produce new record-setting global temperatures and exacerbate the impacts of climate change.
A highway dust storm in Illinois turned deadly today as dozens of vehicles crashed on a major highway. Meanwhile, the Mississippi River is cresting, causing flooding in several communities due to rapid snowmelt, according to scientists. NBC News’ Jesse Kirsch has the latest updates.