Mapped: Arkansas too hot for Summer Olympic games
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Most of the world is expected to be too hot to host the Summer Olympics by 2050, including all of Arkansas.
By the numbers: An Axios analysis of CarbonPlan data finds that in 2050, 60% of locations globally will experience Wet Bulb Globe Temperatures above 82°F, the American College of Sports Medicine's recommended threshold for canceling outdoor, continuous activity to avoid heat illness.
- CarbonPlan's models estimate that 100% of weather stations in Arkansas would experience temperatures above the "cancel activity" level in 2050.
- The entire state was already there, but stations in north Arkansas are projected to be even warmer 26 years from now.
How it works: Wet Bulb Globe Temperature is a metric that takes into account air temperature, humidity, solar radiation and wind to assess the risk of heat illness. It is widely used to determine safe temperatures for physical activity.
The big picture: While Arkansas might not ever host the Olympics, these models have sobering implications for all future outdoor sports and recreation.
- The next Summer Olympics will be in Los Angeles, where the International Olympic Committee is already planning to implement heat protocols.
- The U.S. also will be host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Go deeper: Read the full interactive project