New research may help scientists predict when a humid heat wave will break
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 23-Jun-2026 23:16 ET (24-Jun-2026 03:16 GMT/UTC)
MIT scientists identified a key atmospheric condition that determines how hot and humid a midlatitude region can get, and how intense related storms can become. The results may help climate scientists gauge a region’s risk for humid heat waves and extreme storms.
“By correcting initial cloud fields with real-time satellite data, we essentially gave the forecast system a ‘live cloud map’. This is not only a technical breakthrough but also provides a practical tool for grid scheduling and China’s dual-carbon strategy.”“By correcting initial cloud fields with real-time satellite data, we essentially gave the forecast system a ‘live cloud map’. This is not only a technical breakthrough but also provides a practical tool for grid scheduling and China’s dual-carbon strategy.”