When a hot weather continues for a long period, it is called heat wave. In heat wave the weather becomes tremendously hot. It is dangerous weather phenomenon . Along with the scorching heat, the level of humidity also increases in the atmosphere. However, the nature of heat wave varies with the change of time and place. If you live in a very cold place, a normal temperature may also seem heat wave to you, while that is very usual to the local people of that area.

• Different Definitions of Heat Wave:

Heat wave according the people of the Netherlands is a weather condition that is excessive hot and that at a stretch lasts for at least 5 days. The maximum temperature during this period reaches 25°C and sometime it also exceeds this limit and reaches 30°C. Other countries such as Belgium, Denmark and Luxembourg also share the same opinion regarding heat wave. However, in North America, the definition is quite different. According the people in North America, a heat wave is a period of 3 days' time that is extremely hot. The temperature during heat wave crosses 32.2°C.

• The Horrors of Heat Wave:

Heat waves may sometimes cause great harms to the humankind. Agriculture is the field that gets affected the most due to the terrible heat waves. The crops are affected greatly. Heat waves are very dangerous for the human beings too. Hyperthermia is a very deadly disease that is a result of heat wave. Thousands of people die out of this fatal disease. Then again power breakdowns are also very common during severe heat waves.