A record-breaking heatwave is currently affecting the US West, with temperatures soaring up to 30°F (17°C) above average for this time of year. Scientists assert that this extreme weather event would have been 'virtually impossible' without the influence of the climate crisis. Analysis indicates that the burning of fossil fuels has made such heatwaves four times more likely over the past decade. The heatwave, fueled by a high-pressure system, has shattered temperature records in at least 140 cities from California to Missouri, highlighting the profound influence of climate change on weather patterns.