Fact Check: Does U.S. heat wave data show that heat waves are not becoming more frequent or extreme?

Media Bias Fact Check (MBFC) publishes daily vetted fact checks from verified IFCN-approved sources. Each claim is independently reviewed for accuracy and context.


Claimant: Justin Haskins (Heartland Institute)


Claim: U.S. heat wave index data does not support the idea that “climate change is causing heat waves to become more frequent and extreme.”


Rating: FALSE


Explanation: The claim misinterprets how the U.S. heat wave index is constructed and relies heavily on the exceptional heat waves of the 1930s. Decades of scientific evidence show that heat waves have become more frequent and intense in the United States and globally.


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Date: 07/23/2026


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Last Updated on July 23, 2026 by Media Bias Fact Check