New heatwave death prediction system developed in Sweden
Swedish researchers developed a system predicting heatwave deaths one week in advance. It combines weather and health data for better accuracy than temperature-only models. The tool comes after 100,000+ heat-related deaths in Europe during 2022-2023.
Researchers at Uppsala University created a forecast system that predicts heat-related deaths in Europe. The system can issue warnings one week in advance. It combines weather data with health statistics for better accuracy. Over 100,000 Europeans died from extreme heat during 2022 and 2023 summers. Previous warning systems relied mainly on temperature readings alone. Meteorology researcher Emma Holmberg explained their improved approach. "Our system uses both weather data and health statistics," she said in a statement. "This lets us predict heat's impact on mortality more precisely." The Swedish research team tested their model's performance thoroughly. Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense across Europe. This makes accurate prediction systems increasingly valuable for public health planning. The Uppsala University project addresses a clear climate adaptation need as temperatures continue rising.