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The Star
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Star
Extreme heat waves spark climate emergencies worldwide
BANGKOK (Xinhua): A new heat wave alert has raised the alarm worldwide as Europe and the Middle East battled an extremely scorching hot weather this week, prompting many countries to declare climate emergencies. According to Iran's national meteorological service, the country is sweltering through its hottest week of the year, with temperatures hitting above 50 degrees Celsius. In Tehran, the temperatures shot up to 40 degrees on Sunday. As the searing heatwaves persisted, Tehran's water authority had urged residents to cut down water consumption by at least 20 per cent, warning that reservoirs at the dams supplying water to the capital have sunk to "their lowest levels in a century." Some 3,500 km west of Tehran, the Greek capital of Athens is enduring its first prolonged heatwave of this summer as well. Hot air masses sweeping in from North Africa arrived earlier than usual and have formed a heat dome over Greece and the Balkans, pushing temperatures up to 10 degrees above the seasonal norm, said its National Observatory. With average highs forecast to reach 38 degrees this week and peak at 44 degrees in some areas. The National Herald, a Greek daily, described conditions as "hotter than hell." Such aridity, combined with gale-force winds, has put Greece under severe wildfire outbreaks. Firefighters on Thursday grappled with a blaze on the island of Crete that burned through forests and olive groves, forcing the evacuation of more than 1,000 people. In addition, a new outbreak of fire near Athens edged dangerously close to residential areas. Elsewhere, Türkiye recorded 761 wildfires in the 10 days following June 26. The fires flaring in and around the western Izmir Province have claimed the lives of an elderly man and a forest department worker. Across Europe, at least eight heat-related deaths have been reported in several countries, including Spain and Italy, as the continent baked in the heatwave. "We are currently under the influence of a strong high-pressure system; this is trapping hot air from northern Africa over the region. And as we can see, it's having a pretty big impact on what we are experiencing now," Clare Nullis, a World Meteorological Organisation spokesperson, said earlier. She noted that humans will have to learn to live with more frequent and intense heat waves as a result of climate change. The EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service said in a recent article that "damage to the built environment from extreme weather events is expected to increase tenfold by the end of the century due to climate change alone." Such widespread climate impacts highlight the importance of building greater resilience, it noted, calling for physical and technological measures such as water recycling, separation of rain and greywater, climate-resilient building design, risk mapping, and early warning systems. "Adaptation is required across all sectors and governance levels, and actions must address both current climate impacts and steps to protect against future risks," it said. -Xinhua
Tokyo Weekender
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Tokyo Weekender
Japan Endures Hottest June on Record
On Tuesday, the country's weather agency revealed that Japan experienced its hottest June on record. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the nationwide average temperature was 2.34 degrees Celsius above normal , based on figures recorded between 1991 and 2020. It was also close to 1 degree Celsius warmer than the previous record set five years ago. More than 200 weather stations recorded temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius from the start of May to mid-June. The most intense temperatures last month were recorded between June 16 and June 18. The average temperature 1,500 meters above sea level during that period was the highest since 1950 at 17.2 degrees Celsius. Much of Japan was still in the rainy season at the time. The agency said the severe heat is expected to continue throughout July. List of Contents: Unusual Heat Waves in Europe Expect 'Even Worse' in the Future Related Posts Unusual Heat Waves in Europe In the past few days, many countries in the N orthern H emisphere have experienced unusual heat waves. On Saturday, Spain's national weather service confirmed a record 46 degrees Celsius reading in the southern town of El Granado in the Andalucían province of Huelva. The country's highest temperature previously recorded for the month was 45.2 degrees Celsius in Seville 60 years ago. The following day, Mora, a city around 60 miles east of Lisbon, registered a reading of 46.6 degrees Celsius, a record for mainland Portugal. In France, meanwhile, heat warnings covered almost the entire mainland for the first time ever. By lunchtime on Tuesday, close to 2,000 schools and colleges had decided to close. 'Extreme heat is no longer a rare event — it has become the new normal,' said UN Secretary General António Guterres. Expect 'Even Worse' in the Future The world will simply have to get used to these extreme conditions. That is the message from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). 'As a result of human-induced climate change, extreme heat is becoming more frequent, more intense. It's something we have to learn to live with,' said WMO spokesperson Clare Nullis on Tuesday. She added: 'What can we expect in the future? More of the same, even worse.' Related Posts Brace Yourself: Tokyo Hits 30 Degrees for the First Time in 2025 5 Japanese Products To Save You From The Summer Heat Heat Waves Force Japan's Beloved Summer Festivals To Change Seasons
News24
02-07-2025
- Climate
- News24
World will have to learn to live with heatwaves
The world will have to learn to live with heatwaves, the United Nations' weather and climate agency said Tuesday, as much of Europe roasted in high summer temperatures. The World Meteorological Organization said that in future, people could expect heatwaves to occur more often and be more intense because of human-induced climate change. WMO spokeswoman Clare Nullis said July was traditionally the hottest month of the year in the northern hemisphere, but it was exceptional, though not unprecedented, to have episodes of extreme heat this early in the summer. She said extreme heat was "widely called the silent killer", with the death toll often under-reflected in official statistics, compared to, for example, a tropical cyclone. "It's important to stress that every single death from heat is unnecessary: we have the knowledge, we have the tools; we can save lives," she added. Western Europe is sweltering under the influence of a strong high pressure system, Nullis told a press briefing in Geneva. "This is trapping hot air from northern Africa over the region, and as we can see it's having a pretty big impact on the way we feel and the way we are acting," she said. A major factor in the heatwave is the exceptional sea surface temperatures in the Mediterranean. "It's the equivalent of a land heatwave. The Mediterranean Sea is suffering a pretty extreme marine heatwave right now, and that tends to reinforce the extreme temperatures over land areas," Nullis said. She said the urban heat island effect was exaggerating the situation in cities, with a lack of greenery to absorb the heat and concrete surfaces reflecting it. The WMO said early warnings and coordinated action plans were crucial to protect public safety, and meteorologists were getting better at both. "As a result of human-induced climate change, extreme heat is becoming more frequent, more intense. It's something we have to learn to live with," Nullis said. She added: "What can we expect in the future? More of the same, even worse."
The Wire
02-07-2025
- Climate
- The Wire
After Brutal Heatwave, Europe Awaits Rain Relief
After days of record-breaking heatwaves across Europe, relief will start to arrive from the Atlantic on Wednesday, bringing thunderstorms and cooler temperatures to parts of western Europe. Paris hit 40° Celsius (104° Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, but the high will drop to 35°C on Wednesday and to 28°C on Thursday, Meteo-France forecast. "Our latest forecasts confirm the arrival of cooling from the west on Wednesday, which will quickly affect the northwest of the country," Meteo-France said, adding that there could be heavy thunderstorms late Wednesday and Thursday in the east along the German border. Germany's national weather service is forecasting a peak of 40°C on Wednesday in the economic capital Frankfurt, but that will plummet to 27°C by Thursday. Spain and Italy, meanwhile, may have to wait for the weekend to see some limited relief. On Tuesday, around 2,200 schools were shut in France because of the heat, but only about 135 are expected to be kept closed Wednesday, the education ministry said. Meteo-France said June 30 was the hottest June day since measurements began in 1947, beating out a record set in 2019. Similar records were set Tuesday in Portugal and the Netherlands. "For the continent as a whole, the month is likely to be ranked among the top 5 warmest Junes on record," said the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. On Sunday, in a case of two extremes, the Mediterranean Sea hit a record-high temperature for June while Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe, went above freezing, a rarity for this time of year. In Turkey, forest fires that broke out over the weekend around Izmir in the west and Hatay in the south were largely brought under control, authorities said Tuesday evening, though they warned about continued risks from dry, hot winds. 'Silent killer' Tens of thousands of people have died in Europe during past heatwaves, prompting authorities to issue warnings for old and young, the sick, and others vulnerable to what experts call a "silent killer". On Tuesday, police in Spain said a two-year-old died in the country's northeast after being left in a car in the sun for several hours. "Due to climate change caused by humans, extreme heat is becoming more frequent and intense. This is something we must learn to live with," said Clare Nullis, spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a UN agency based in Geneva. Extreme heat can cause dehydration, muscle cramps, headaches and nausea. The most serious risk is heatstroke, which can lead to death, especially in vulnerable people. Free guided tours of air-conditioned museums in Venice and free access to swimming pools in Rome were offered to protect seniors. According to a report by Allianz Trade on Tuesday, the European economy could lose 0.5 percentage points of growth this year due to recent heatwaves. The health impact will take longer to assess. According to France's Ministry of Health, an initial estimate of excess mortality during the period will be available approximately two weeks after the end of the heatwave, but detailed data based on medical data will not be available until the fall. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
The Sun
02-07-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Europe heatwave relief as cooler Atlantic air arrives
PARIS: After days of record-breaking heatwaves across Europe, relief will start to arrive from the Atlantic on Wednesday, bringing thunderstorms and cooler temperatures to parts of western Europe. Paris hit 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, but the high will drop to 35C on Wednesday and to 28C on Thursday, Meteo-France forecast. 'Our latest forecasts confirm the arrival of cooling from the west on Wednesday, which will quickly affect the northwest of the country,' Meteo-France said, adding that there could be heavy thunderstorms late Wednesday and Thursday in the east along the German border. Germany's national weather service is forecasting a peak of 40C on Wednesday in the economic capital Frankfurt, but that will plummet to 27C by Thursday. Spain and Italy, meanwhile, may have to wait for the weekend to see some limited relief. On Tuesday, around 2,200 schools were shut in France because of the heat, but only about 135 are expected to be kept closed Wednesday, the education ministry said. Meteo-France said June 30 was the hottest June day since measurements began in 1947, beating out a record set in 2019. Similar records were set Tuesday in Portugal and the Netherlands. 'For the continent as a whole, the month is likely to be ranked among the top 5 warmest Junes on record,' said the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. On Sunday, in a case of two extremes, the Mediterranean Sea hit a record-high temperature for June while Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe, went above freezing, a rarity for this time of year. In Turkey, forest fires that broke out over the weekend around Izmir in the west and Hatay in the south were largely brought under control, authorities said Tuesday evening, though they warned about continued risks from dry, hot winds. - 'Silent killer' - Tens of thousands of people have died in Europe during past heatwaves, prompting authorities to issue warnings for old and young, the sick, and others vulnerable to what experts call a 'silent killer'. On Tuesday, police in Spain said a two-year-old died in the country's northeast after being left in a car in the sun for several hours. 'Due to climate change caused by humans, extreme heat is becoming more frequent and intense. This is something we must learn to live with,' said Clare Nullis, spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a UN agency based in Geneva. Extreme heat can cause dehydration, muscle cramps, headaches and nausea. The most serious risk is heatstroke, which can lead to death, especially in vulnerable people. Free guided tours of air-conditioned museums in Venice and free access to swimming pools in Rome were offered to protect seniors. According to a report by Allianz Trade on Tuesday, the European economy could lose 0.5 percentage points of growth this year due to recent heatwaves. The health impact will take longer to assess. According to France's Ministry of Health, an initial estimate of excess mortality during the period will be available approximately two weeks after the end of the heatwave, but detailed data based on medical data will not be available until the fall.
