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The European heat wave of 2003 killed around 35,000 people. Much of the heat was concentrated in France, where nearly 15,000 people died.

In early 2006, Adelaide, South Australia was hit by a dry heat wave with temperatures reaching 40+ °C for five days in a row, while Port Augusta experienced temperatures hovering around about mid 40s °C with one day recorded at approx 48 °C. Also in Sydney it reached 44.9 °C on the first day of 2006.

In July 2006, the United States experienced a massive heat wave, and almost all parts of the country had recorded temperatures above the average temperature for that time of year. Temperatures in some parts of South Dakota exceeded 115 °F (46 °C), causing many problems for the residents. Also, California experienced temperatures that were extraordinarily high, with records ranging from 100 to 130 °F (38 to 54 °C). On July 22, the County of Los Angeles recorded its highest temperature ever at 119 °F (48.33 °C).

The European heat wave of 2006 was the second massive heat wave to hit the continent in 4 years, with temperatures rising to 40 °C (104 °F) in Paris and even Ireland, which has a moderate maritime climate, reporting temperatures of over 32C (90 °F). Temperatures of 35 °C (95 °F) were reached in the Benelux and Germany, while the United Kingdom recorded 37C. Many heat records were broken (including the hottest ever July temperature in the UK) and many people who experienced the heat waves of 1976 and 2003 drew comparisons with them.

In January 2008, Alice Springs in Australia's Northern Territory recorded ten consecutive days of temperatures above 40°C with the average temperature for that month being 39.8°C.

In March 2008, South Australia has so far experienced temperatures of above 35 degrees for 14 consecutive days. As of the 16th of March 2008, Adelaide has beaten its record of 8 consecutive days above 35°C set in 1934. The city has exceeded 35°C for 14 days conescutively and 38c for 11 days consecutively, setting a new record. Average humidity is about 15% but it usually drops to around 5% during the hottest part of the day making the risk of fire danger very high in the Adelaide hills. Also, as at the 16th of March 2008 the official forecast is for one more day of 39c temperatures. If this indeed happens, the new record will be 15 days of temperatures over 35°C.Even more unusual is that this heat wave, also affecting Melbourne, is currently occuring in the first month of the Australian Autumn, when temperatures usually start falling. April 2004 was the last autumn heatwave but the temeratures were in the low 30s. In the current heatwave, Adelaide is the worst affected major city, with the average maximum temperature for March 2008 so far standing at some 11°C above the long-term March maximum average of 26.2°C.

The record for the longest heatwave in the world is generally accepted to have been set at Marble Bar in Australia, where from October 31, 1923 to April 07, 1924 the temperature broke the 37.8°C/100°F benchmark, setting the heat wave record at a scorching 160 days.