Bangladesh may this week finally see some respite from a month-long heatwave that’s become the longest hot spell in almost 80 years.

Temperatures have been soaring past 42C in some places, which is up to 5C hotter than the 30-year average. Local media is suggesting there’s a heat dome over parts of the country, which is a self-reinforcing, persistent and strong high-pressure system that traps hot air in the upper atmosphere.

Despite the heat, about 33M children returned to school on Sunday, with hospitals still receiving a big number of patients suffering heatstroke, dehydration, exhaustion and respiratory problems.

Extensive scientific research has found climate change is causing heatwaves to become longer, more frequent and more intense.

The UN weather and climate agency says Asia is warming at a particularly rapid pace.

Aljazeera.