Heat has been known to be the deadliest atmospheric hazard across the US over recent decades. Our vulnerability to the heat, however, has decreased somewhat, as health care has improved, air conditioning has become more prevalent, and much greater awareness exists. Nevertheless, recent extreme heat waves across the globe have shown that populations can still be significantly affected by the heat. Moving forward, what can we expect in terms of how societies can cope with these events, and whether we can adapt to an increasing frequency, duration, and intensity of heat waves in the decades to come?