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Heat waves will keep more airplanes on the ground in coming years, new research suggests

Some planes can't fly if temperatures pass a threshold around 120 degrees. As temperatures rise due to climate change, this could pose a major problem.

Extreme heat makes it tougher for airplanes to get off the ground. We should expect to see planes grounded more often in the coming decades.

A heat wave slammed the southwestern US in June, with temperatures climbing well into the triple digits in states like Arizona and Nevada seeing. The heat was so severe, in fact, that multiple flights were cancelled in Las Vegas and Phoenix.

Some planes simply aren’t allowed to fly if temperatures pass a certain threshold — typically somewhere around 120 degrees. As temperatures continue to rise around the globe due to climate change, this could pose a major problem for air travel.

According to Reuters, heat waves can also be dangerous for ground crews exposed on the tarmac, since temperatures there can reach up to 150 degrees Farenheit when the air temperature climbs above 120 degrees.

Alex Davies contributed to an earlier version of this article.

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