The heat waves being experienced in Europe, and now the United States, are becoming more frequent thanks to a steadily warming climate.

That’s according to Joel Finnis, a climatologist with the Department of Geography at MUN, who says what we’re seeing is part of a recurring pattern.

Finnis says while the UK has experienced extended periods of extreme heat and drought, the island has never experienced anything like what they’ve seen this week.

He says the country and its infrastructure is just not accustomed to temperatures reaching into the low 40s.

He says the UK’s heat wave of 1976 saw temperatures in the mid-30s. He says climate change, which is increasing average temperatures, is a contributing factor to the heat wave in the United Kingdom with temperatures now soaring even higher.