Weathered

Heat is the deadliest weather hazard in the U.S. and many places around the world, and it's only getting worse. The most deadly heat waves so far have been dry heat waves. But a new threat is rising: humid heat waves, aka wet-bulb events.

People living in the Southeastern United States die about a decade earlier on average than other Americans. At first glance, natural disasters don't seem to explain it. Data even suggests that global disaster deaths are going down. But new research reveals a hidden toll that's been overlooked for decades. And it uncovers what exactly is causing millions of "invisible deaths" in the Southeast.

Just as hurricane season ramps up, severe budget cuts, layoffs, and now a government shutdown threaten NOAA's ability to forecast these deadly storms. Meanwhile, hurricanes are intensifying faster than ever before. This season has started out quiet, but will it remain that way? What will hurricanes of the future look like? Watch this episode to find out.

From melting ice sheets to collapsing ocean currents, these sudden, irreversible changes could reshape the planet in ways we can't undo. But what does it really mean to cross a tipping point? How do we know we've crossed one? And how close are we to triggering others?