I have a confession to make\u2026 I don\u2019t like summer.<\/p>\n
Sure, I can get down with the beach, ice cream, and other delights that are certainly more enjoyable when it\u2019s warm and sunny out. But I remain steadfast in my conviction that it\u2019s actually the worst season of the year\u2014and it\u2019s only getting more unbearable.<\/p>\n
Before you come for me, let me just say that there\u2019s real science to back me up. Here are 5 research-proven reasons why summer low-key sucks.<\/p>\n
1. Bugs, obviously <\/p>\n
If there\u2019s one thing we can all probably agree on, it\u2019s that mosquitoes and ticks are horrible. When the weather warms and these blood-sucking parasites emerge in droves, it\u2019s more than just a nuisance\u2014it\u2019s a serious public health issue.<\/p>\n
Rates of insect-borne diseases such as West Nile virus, Lyme disease, and dengue fever surge in<\/a> the summer<\/a> as higher temperatures and humidity accelerate the reproduction, metabolisms, and biting rates of ticks and mosquitoes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates<\/a> that 476,000 people in the U.S. may be diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year, and most cases are reported in late spring and summer.<\/p>\n As climate change leads to longer<\/a>, hotter<\/a>, and (in some places) wetter<\/a> summers, rates of insect-borne diseases are rising<\/a>. West Nile virus only surfaced in the U.S. in 1999 but has since become<\/a> the country\u2019s most common mosquito-borne illness, affecting thousands of people each year. Cases of Lyme disease<\/a>, anaplasmosis<\/a>, and Powassan encephalitis<\/a> have more than doubled throughout the U.S. over the past two decades.<\/p>\n 2. Rampant extreme weather <\/p>\n Deadly heatwaves, severe thunderstorms, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires\u2014all these weather extremes are more common in the summer. In fact, the U.S. tends to experience<\/a> most billion-dollar disasters from April through August. The reasons are complex, but they largely stem from a warmer atmosphere that holds more energy and moisture, intensifying storm systems while also amplifying heat stress at the surface.<\/p>\n Summer heatwaves can be particularly dangerous, and they\u2019re becoming<\/a> more frequent and severe as global temperatures rise. The combination of extreme heat and humidity is<\/a> one of the leading weather-related killers in the country, as it can exacerbate<\/a> underlying illnesses and cause heatstroke. At the same time, warmer temperatures increase evaporation from the landscape, leading to<\/a> drought and heightened wildfire risk. Smoke from wildfires also reduces air quality, wreaking havoc<\/a> on public health.<\/p>\n To make matters even worse, tropical cyclone activity ramps up<\/a> during the summer\u2014a result of warmer ocean waters, favorable wind shear patterns, and more atmospheric humidity and instability. These conditions also support severe thunderstorm development and contribute to tornado formation, particularly in the central United States.<\/p>\n 3. Brutal utility bills <\/p>\n When that scorching summer heat sets in, utility costs skyrocket<\/a>. That\u2019s because households in most regions of the U.S. consume<\/a> more electricity from July through August, when temperatures and cooling demand are at their peak. Nearly 90% of U.S. households cool their homes with air conditioning.<\/p>\n Thanks to climate change, it\u2019s getting harder for air conditioning to beat the heat, and you\u2019re paying the price. As global temperatures rise, people are running air conditioners more often and for longer periods of time. By 2050, the International Energy Agency expects<\/a> to see a threefold increase in global air-conditioner-related energy demand, equivalent to adding 10 new units per second over the next three decades.<\/p>\n 4. Killer UV radiation <\/p>\n Who doesn\u2019t love slathering on greasy SPF every time they leave the house? Me, that\u2019s who. I know we\u2019re supposed to wear sunscreen all year round, but there\u2019s no denying that the risk of UV exposure increases<\/a> drastically in the summer\u2014and some studies suggest it\u2019s only getting worse.<\/p>\n Over the past five decades, incidence of malignant skin melanoma\u2014the most aggressive skin cancer\u2014has surged<\/a> dramatically, with over 325,000 new cases reported worldwide in 2020. This increase has been linked to changes in UV radiation exposure driven by shifting atmospheric conditions, including cloud cover variability, aerosol concentrations, and surface reflectivity.<\/p>\n 5. Increased violence <\/p>\n A growing body of evidence suggests that rates of violence and mass shootings increase during the summer, especially around the Fourth of July. According to PBS News, the Gun Violence Archive\u2014a database that tracks mass shootings involving four or more people in the U.S.\u2014shows<\/a> that June, July, and August have had the highest total number of mass shootings over the past decade, while the lowest totals were from December through March.<\/p>\n On a global scale, rising temperatures have been linked<\/a> to increases in homicides, assaults, sexual assaults, firearm violence, intimate partner violence, and violent suicides. This suggests that as summer heatwaves become more frequent and intense, incidents may occur more often.<\/p>\n There are several factors that could explain why the warmest months of the year have historically been the most violent. For one, people spend more time drinking and attending social events, which creates more opportunities for conflict, University of Miami criminologist Alex Piquero told PBS. Studies have also shown<\/a> that heat can push people to a boiling point, resulting in heightened levels of stress and irritability.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"I have a confession to make\u2026 I don\u2019t like summer. 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