A wildfire outside Madrid sends a cloud of smoke over the Spanish capital
The fire broke out in the town of Mentrida in central Spain's Castile-La Mancha region about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of the capital. Local authorities urged residents to stay home and close their windows.
Spanish authorities said the blaze had burned around 3,000 hectares (roughly 7,400 acres) by the late evening.
Large parts of Spain are under heat and fire warnings, with temperatures on Thursday reaching 37 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) in Madrid.
Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing at twice the speed as the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, especially in southeastern Europe, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires.
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Forbes
27 minutes ago
- Forbes
Cricket Has A Huge Climate Change Problem
Virat Kohli of India, one of cricket's biggest stars, suffered from heat exhaustion at the 2023 ICC ... More World Cup in India. Cricket is facing its ultimate challenge: climate change. The second most popular sport in the world (2.5 billion fans) is being played in dangerously hot and humid conditions that increasingly put its players and fans at risk. The new Hit for Six: The Danger Zone report, authored by non-profits Climate Central, FrontRunners, The British Association for Sustainability in Sport (BASIS), and The Next Test, analyzes the increase in extreme heat and humidity on the Indian subcontinent and in other cricket-loving regions like the United Kingdom, the West Indies, and Australia. According to Hit for Six, nearly 50% of the Indian Premier League's (IPL) 2025 matches were played in conditions of 'Extreme Caution' or 'Danger' on the Heat Index — a measure that combines air temperature and humidity to assess heat-related risk. The IPL is a global juggernaut, similar in scale and quality to the English Premier League and the NFL. It is a country-wide obsession that breeds fame and fortune for players and captures the hearts of fans worldwide with every match. Unfortunately, as heat, humidity, and air pollution continue to increase, it faces an uncertain future despite its vast economic resources. Reflecting on the challenge cricket faces, former West Indies Captain Daren Ganga says, 'This challenge is an existential one...I have seen the unbridled joy and enthusiasm that this game of ours brings to different generations and nations. It is a pleasure to behold and cherish, and it saddens me deeply to see it threatened by a worsening climate crisis.' Cricket in Extreme Heat The implications of 'Extreme Caution' and 'Danger' conditions are stark for cricket players and fans. According to the National Weather Service, 'Extreme Caution' is the classification for heat index temperatures between 90°F and 102°F (32 °C to 39.4 °C). The effects on the human body can range from cramps to heat stroke, and are exacerbated by prolonged exposure or physical activity. 'Danger' is denoted as a heat index temperature from 103F to 124F (39.4C to 51C). 12% of the IPL matches in 2025 were played in this temperature range, one that seems unbearable to sit in, let alone bat, bowl, and run in. England international Maia Bouchier has been subject to these temperatures, calling them 'incredibly hard to play in.' Bouchier says, 'We played in Dubai for the Twenty20 World Cup in October and after one game, where I had only really been batting for about 45 minutes to an hour, I couldn't breathe in the humidity and I had to sit down for 15 minutes after we had finished because I felt light headed and physically couldn't stay standing.' PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 12: Marnus Labuschagne of Australia feels the heat during day one of the ... More First Test match between Australia and New Zealand at Optus Stadium on December 12, 2019 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by) The conditions are not foreign to Ganga either. The Caribbean native says, 'I have played in blistering heat and vividly recall he nausea, the dizziness, the cramps that come with feelings of heatstroke.' As heat and humidity increase, player reaction times increase, concentration goes down and reflexes are impaired. Dehydration causes cramps, and overall performance deteriorates the longer the athlete is in the heat, exerting themselves. For a sport like cricket, which can last between three and eight hours depending on the format, heat can be deadly. India's Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, both of whom are elite athletes accustomed to the subcontinent's harsh heat index, suffered debilitating cramps during the ICC World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, with Gill forced to retire for several innings. The Data The Hit for Six researchers collected heat index temperatures from 1970 through 2025 from all of India's major cricket cities, and from other countries around the world. In that time, Mumbai has seen its high-risk heat days jump by 125%. Every major cricketing nation has seen a surge in extreme heat days as a direct cause of climate change. Thiruvananthapuram in India's southern Kerala region recorded more than 100 hazardous heat days in 2024 alone. According to the report, 'these are days when temperatures exceed safe limits for human health, dramatically increasing the risk of heat-related illness.' Dr. Kaitlyn Trudeau is the Senior Research Associate at Climate Central. Trudeau synthesized the temperature data for the report, but admits that temperatures in the study and their impacts could be even greater than reported. Speaking to me via video call, Trudeau said Heat Index is the easiest and most accessible climate-related figure to calculate in different parts of the world; however, it assumes the person is in the shade, and it underestimates the impact of heat on the body. Heat Index does not adequately account for latent heat, which is the moisture in the air that can lead to greater total heat accumulation. Nor does it factor in elements like wind and radiation. In cricket, players are in sunny areas for the duration of the game, often in padded gear, which adds extra heat as they bat, none of which is truly accounted for. Sri Lanka's players attend a practice session amid smoggy conditions on the eve of their 2023 ICC ... More Men's Cricket World Cup one-day international (ODI) match against Bangladesh at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on November 5, 2023. Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha admitted on November 5 his team has "no choice" but to play Sri Lanka in smog-choked New Delhi as their failed World Cup mission winds down. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images) Heat is also just the tip of the climate iceberg. The T20 World Cup hosted in the U.S. and the Caribbean last summer was disrupted by multiple times by increasingly unpredictable and devastating thunderstorms. The enduring image of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India is of Bangladesh players wearing masks as they trained in a smog-filled Delhi ahead of their World Cup match against Sri Lanka. If air pollution in India were to be reduced, heat and humidity could actually increase on the subcontinent, as currently the particulate matter is reflecting some of the sun's rays into space. What's even more concerning, according to Trudeau, is that the world is already reaching temperatures that were expected in 2050. Changes in climate, and especially its upper limits, are taking place faster than expected. As she says, 'It's hard to imagine we won't be seeing more of this unless we dramatically do something.' Recommendations for Cricket The most obvious recommendation the report makes, albeit one that is out of the cricket industry's hands, is to reduce carbon pollution by stopping the exploration, refining, and burning of fossil fuels. As Kristina Dahl, Climate Central's VP of Science, explains: 'Across India, climate change is increasing the number of days when extreme heat threatens the health of both cricket fans and cricket players. This trend toward more frequent, more extreme heat will continue as long as we keep burning fossil fuels, so preserving the future of cricket will require both cutting carbon pollution and considering ways to adapt cricket seasons to keep players and fans safe." If climate change is not arrested and temperatures continue to rise, governing bodies will need to consider playing games at cooler times of day or indoors to avoid potential heat exhaustion. In line with this, Hit for Six recommends that national federations follow the leadership of Cricket Australia and England and Wales Cricket Board and publish guidelines for playing in extreme heat, something Bouchier says she would welcome. The report also pushes for governing bodies to sign up to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, review their heat policies annually, review their commercial sponsors, such as the International Cricket Council's partnership with Saudi oil major Aramco, and invest in eco-conscious infrastructure. In the words of Selwin Hart, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action, 'If cricket is to survive and thrive, it needs to adapt. But, like any good team, it also needs major cricket powers to play their respective parts in tackling the root causes of the climate us harness the unifying power of cricket to drive meaningful change, ensuring that present and future generations can continue to enjoy the game under clear skies and on firm ground.'
CBS News
9 hours ago
- CBS News
Extreme Heat Watch issued for Chicago area Wednesday and Thursday
The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Watch for the entire Chicago area Wednesday and Thursday for an impending heat wave. The watch goes into effect Wednesday at 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. Thursday, and has been issued for Booke, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Kankakee, LaSalle Lake, McHenry and Will counties in Illinois. High temperatures and extreme humidity will create dangerously hot conditions, with the CBS First Alert Weather team forecasting a heat index between 105 and 115 degrees on those days. The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications said it will be working closely with the NWS to monitor conditions and take actions needed to keep people safe. Chicago and Cook County have dozens of cooling centers that will be open during the heat wave so any members of the public who do not have reliable access to air conditioning can come cool down. Officials are also asking people to be sure to check on their neighbors, particularly if they're elderly or have health complications, to make sure that everyone stays safe during the heat. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are major risks during a heat wave, especially with high humidity. It is easy to become overheated and dehydrated in high temperatures, so it is essential to make sure you are drinking enough water. Heat exhaustion is milder than heat stroke. It can develop after several days of exposure to heat and inadequate or unbalanced fluid replacement. Heatstroke is a serious illness that happens when the body begins to lose its ability to regulate its own temperature and functions, and can result in permanent disability or death if not treated as quickly as possible. Heat exhaustion symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, heavy sweating, high body temperature and decreased urine output. If you or someone you know is experiencing heat exhaustion move into a cool indoor space or shade immediately, give them liquids to drink, remove unnecessary clothing including shoes and socks, used cold water or a cold compress to cool the person down on their head, face and neck, and frequently sip cold water. The CDC also encourages calling 911 or taking the person to an urgent care clinic or the emergency room for treatment. Heatstroke symptoms include confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech, hot and dry skin or profuse sweating, very high body temperature, loss of consciousness, and very high body temperature. If treatment is delayed, it can quickly become fatal, the CDC says. If you are with someone experiencing heat stroke, call 911 immediately and stay with that person until help arrives. Move them into a shaded, cool area and remove their outer clothing then work to cool them down as quickly as you can with cold water or an ice bath if possible. Wet the skin or place cold, wet clothes on the skin, or soak their clothing with cold water. You should also circulate the air around them by fanning to help cool them off. The CDC also recommends placing cold wet cloths or ice on the head, neck, armpits and groin to help cool them faster.
CNN
9 hours ago
- CNN
Extreme heat is about to return — here's where it will be the worst
Extreme temperaturesFacebookTweetLink Follow The United States has entered the peak of summer and a new heat dome — sealing in all that hot, humid air — is about to make millions of people feel every bit of it. Some cities could notch their highest temperatures of the year as heat builds from the South to the Midwest this week while humidity drives the heat index, or how hot it will actually feel, well into the triple digits. Heat remains the deadliest form of extreme weather in the US. Globally, heat waves are becoming more frequent, more severe and lasting longer as the world warms due to fossil fuel-driven climate change. Sizzling conditions will start to build from the Gulf Coast to the Plains on Tuesday but will ramp up in intensity and expand to the Midwest on Wednesday. Brutal heat will stretch from the South through the Midwest on Thursday and also start to push into the East. Wednesday and Thursday could be the new hottest days of the year in cities like Chicago, St. Louis and Memphis, Tennessee: Chicago and St. Louis are expected to soar into the upper 90s both days while Memphis could flirt with the triple digit mark starting as early as Tuesday. Unlike the intense heat wave earlier this summer, this bout of stifling heat isn't likely to topple hundreds of records. But records don't need to fall for heat to be incredibly dangerous: A Level 3 of 4 heat risk stretches from the Gulf Coast to Minnesota on Tuesday and as far north as Michigan's Upper Peninsula on Wednesday. This level of heat risk means anyone without access to effective cooling or proper hydration is impacted, not just vulnerable populations, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And for those without air conditioning, staying indoors can become deadly during the hottest parts of the day, the agency warns. The heat index — also known as the apparent temperature — will soar to dangerous levels for tens of millions this week. It will reach the triple digits from the South up to parts of Minnesota and South Dakota on Tuesday. By Wednesday, some parts of the Mississippi Valley, including Memphis, could have a heat index of between 110 and 115 degrees. Humid conditions will also prevent temperatures from cooling significantly overnight. It could still be close to 80 degrees in St. Louis by sunrise Thursday — nearly 10 degrees higher than a typical low for July. When overnight temperatures don't cool down enough to offer relief for overheated bodies, people are at greater risk for heat-related illnesses. Nighttime temperatures are taking the hardest hit from climate change, warming faster than daytime highs. The heat will ramp up considerably Thursday in parts of the Ohio Valley and start to reach into the Northeast. Detroit, Cleveland and Cincinnati could come within a degree of or match their hottest day of the year so far, with expected highs in the 90s. These highs are about 10 degrees hotter than what's typical even in this hottest month of the year. The most intense heat for the East Coast will arrive by Friday, with high temperatures in the middle to upper 90s and a heat index of 100 degrees or more possible for Washington, DC, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston. High temperatures in this range are also up to 10 degrees hotter than typical for these cities. The heat dome will ease by Saturday for many, replaced by more typical, though still very toasty, late July temperatures. For many in the contiguous US, it's been sweltering since meteorological summer — June through August — began. The bulk of the heat has been focused on the East, where dozens of locations are so far on track for their hottest summer to date. Many more locales are currently experiencing at least one of their 10-hottest summers to date. The Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley and Midwest have all been literal hotspots. Rather than searing daytime temperatures driving the above-average heat in these locations, it's been many, many instances of too-warm overnight lows making the biggest impact, according to a CNN analysis of data from NOAA's National Climatic Data Center. The Plains have so far dodged this really hot summer. Much of the West has too, with a few exceptions: Seattle is having its fifth-warmest summer to date while Portland is hovering around seventh-highest. Tiny pockets of cooler-than-normal summers are few and far between in the US, but the San Fransisco Bay Area in California is one of them. Parts of the Bay Area — including Oakland and Fremont — are experiencing one of their coolest summers to date. August will likely be another hot month for much of the country, according to the Climate Prediction Center's latest forecast. Cities that are already baking could continue their hot streak while other places that have escaped the worst could still warm up a bit in the latter part of summer.
