Hot in Here: 50 Photos of Extreme Heatwaves We Can't Believe Are Real

We all love a bit of summer sunshine—when the time comes, dusting off our flip-flops and bikinis and heading out for a lovely day in the sun.

But every year, more and more places around the world are experiencing bouts of extreme weather—pushing us further and further to the limits of what we can handle. Let’s take a look at some of the most shocking pics of the real-life effects of extreme heatwaves.

One of the cutest signifiers of warm summer days, is when you see your beloved cat stretching out and luxuriating in a bright patch of sun.

But in this town in Turkey, the temperature reached such extreme highs that the sunny spots became totally unbearable—and so did the shady spots, too. And so one kind shopkeeper let these adorable kittens have a nap on his freezer, the only place cool enough for them to sleep.

We all know the dangers of leaving our dogs in locked cars while we go shopping, or of super-hot road surfaces burning their little paws. But when in cases of extreme weather, just being outside at all can simply be too much for our furry friends to regulate their internal temperatures.

This kind neighbor in Virginia knew this all too well, and so decided to set up this free stand of doggy pools for anyone who may need. How thoughtful!

One of the most adorable and heartbreaking things about dogs is just how loyal and loving they truly are. Even when it’s too hot outside for them to truly be safe and well, and their little doggie paws would burn on the street, they still can’t bear to be separated from their owners.

And so this considerate human thought of an ingenious way to let his dog stay near him despite the extreme heat—and carried him around in a little cooler. We just cannot.

We all know what it’s like to be outside in the super strong heat and declare to our sweaty friends, “OMG, I’m melting!” After all, it truly does feel hot enough to melt sometimes.

But look at this pic—in this case, it’s far more than just a feeling. As we can see not just a person, but an actual metal substance is beginning to break down and goo-ify in the heat. It’s pretty cool to look at, but also kind of alarming.

Oh jeez! Everyone loves to see a good example of nature taking over and destroying man-made substances—it’s a good reminder of just how dependent we still are on the natural forces, even though we like to think we’ve outgrown such things.

Image via @Portland Streetcar/Twitter

But to see this example is pretty scary, because this is actually a power cable that’s been melted—meaning it could lead to some super frightening, not to mention dangerous, electrical fires. Heaven help us.

Jeez! Sometimes when it’s simply too darn hot, you want to get straight into the car and not walk anywhere, even for a few seconds. Just get right in and turn on that ac on full blast.

But if you were this driver, you’d probably be delayed at least a few seconds as you stopped to stare in wonder—and maybe horror—at the fact that this actual piece of outer car is LITERALLY MELTING in the sun. Omg.