Los Angeles (AFP) – A dangerous heatwave was building over parts of the western United States Tuesday, with forecasters warning of rocketing temperatures in an early taste of a possibly brutal summer for the region.
Issued on: 04/06/2024 -
Death Valley is routinely unpleasantly hot, but is expected to see temperatures as high as 122F
© MARIO TAMA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
The merury was expected to top out at well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), with some areas experiencing highs as much as 30 degrees above normal for this time of year.
Southwestern desert areas and California's Central Valley fruit basket were set to be particularly unpleasant, the National Weather Service warned.
"Widespread temperature records are expected to be tied or broken across much of the aforementioned areas," the agency said.
Temperatures in Death Valley were set to hit a deeply uncomfortable 122F on Thursday, while Las Vegas could be baking in 112F heat.
Forecasters issued excessive heat warnings for parts of Nevada, Arizona and California, with the heat expected to spread further inland as the week goes on.
"Little overnight relief will make for dangerous conditions for those without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration," the NWS said.
California's Environmental Protection Agency said certain groups were particularly at risk.
"Extreme heat is an invisible but dangerous consequence of climate change, and California's outdoor workers, seniors and children are particularly vulnerable," it wrote on social media.
Southern Texas was also experiencing sweltering temperatures, with the border city of Rio Grande expected to see highs of 117F later Tuesday.
Forecasters in the United States are watching for the development of a ridge of high pressure that would bring more heat in from Mexico, which has been withering under a punishing heatwave.
Late last month Mexico City -- which sits 7,350 feet (2,240 meters) above sea level and has traditionally enjoyed a temperate climate -- logged its highest ever temperatures.
Officials say dozens of people have died in repeated heatwaves that have scorched the country, with hundreds of others sickened.
Experts say there could be worse to come.
This year is on course to be "the warmest year in history," Francisco Estrada, coordinator of the Climate Change Research Program at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, has warned.
Human-caused climate change is heating up the planet at an alarming rate, the global scientific community agrees.
The world experienced an average of 26 more days of extreme heat over the last 12 months that would probably not have occurred without climate change, a report said last month.
The report, by the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, the World Weather Attribution scientific network and the nonprofit research organization Climate Central, said 6.3 billion people -- roughly 80 percent of the global population -- experienced at least 31 days of extreme heat last year.
The year 2023 was the hottest on record, according to the European Union's climate monitor, Copernicus.
And 2024 is not shaping up to be any better, with Pakistan, India and China already walloped by extreme temperatures.
© 2024 AFP
The merury was expected to top out at well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), with some areas experiencing highs as much as 30 degrees above normal for this time of year.
Southwestern desert areas and California's Central Valley fruit basket were set to be particularly unpleasant, the National Weather Service warned.
"Widespread temperature records are expected to be tied or broken across much of the aforementioned areas," the agency said.
Temperatures in Death Valley were set to hit a deeply uncomfortable 122F on Thursday, while Las Vegas could be baking in 112F heat.
Forecasters issued excessive heat warnings for parts of Nevada, Arizona and California, with the heat expected to spread further inland as the week goes on.
"Little overnight relief will make for dangerous conditions for those without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration," the NWS said.
California's Environmental Protection Agency said certain groups were particularly at risk.
"Extreme heat is an invisible but dangerous consequence of climate change, and California's outdoor workers, seniors and children are particularly vulnerable," it wrote on social media.
Southern Texas was also experiencing sweltering temperatures, with the border city of Rio Grande expected to see highs of 117F later Tuesday.
Forecasters in the United States are watching for the development of a ridge of high pressure that would bring more heat in from Mexico, which has been withering under a punishing heatwave.
Late last month Mexico City -- which sits 7,350 feet (2,240 meters) above sea level and has traditionally enjoyed a temperate climate -- logged its highest ever temperatures.
Officials say dozens of people have died in repeated heatwaves that have scorched the country, with hundreds of others sickened.
Experts say there could be worse to come.
This year is on course to be "the warmest year in history," Francisco Estrada, coordinator of the Climate Change Research Program at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, has warned.
Human-caused climate change is heating up the planet at an alarming rate, the global scientific community agrees.
The world experienced an average of 26 more days of extreme heat over the last 12 months that would probably not have occurred without climate change, a report said last month.
The report, by the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, the World Weather Attribution scientific network and the nonprofit research organization Climate Central, said 6.3 billion people -- roughly 80 percent of the global population -- experienced at least 31 days of extreme heat last year.
The year 2023 was the hottest on record, according to the European Union's climate monitor, Copernicus.
And 2024 is not shaping up to be any better, with Pakistan, India and China already walloped by extreme temperatures.
© 2024 AFP
Exceptionally early heatwave hits Finland
Helsinki (AFP) – Finland has been experiencing unusually warm weather this May, prompting the Meteorological Institute to issue a heat warning on Monday.
Issued on: 27/05/2024 -
Helsinki (AFP) – Finland has been experiencing unusually warm weather this May, prompting the Meteorological Institute to issue a heat warning on Monday.
Issued on: 27/05/2024 -
Nordic Finland does not usually experience heatwaves in May
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Temperatures across large parts of the Nordic nation, the north of which lies above the Arctic Circle, are due to surge above 27C (81 F) starting on Tuesday, the institute said.
"This is probably the first time ever we have issued a heatwave warning in May", Iiris Viljamaa from the Finnish Meteorological Institute told AFP, adding that such alerts were normally issued in June at the earliest.
Scientists say that recurring heatwaves are a clear marker of global warming and that these heatwaves are set to become more frequent, longer and more intense.
"The Finnish climate has always seen changes in weather but now climate change is enhancing these kinds of weather phenomena," meteorologist Leena Laakso told AFP.
Research shows "extreme weather events will increase due to climate change," she said.
According to Laakso, the current temperatures were around 10C above average temperatures for May.
The Finnish warning is aimed at alerting people about increased health risks associated with daytime temperatures reaching 27C.
Especially the elderly, people with long-term illnesses and disabilities, babies and young children are advised to take shelter from the heat, the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare said in a statement.
"In Finland we are used to cool weather and people start to have some health issues in this kind of weather already", said Viljamaa.
On Monday, temperatures between 24 and 28C were recorded, due to a high pressure system over the country, combined with a warm, dry air mass flowing from the south.
Twelve days in May had already exceeded 25 degrees, Viljamaa said.
The town of Salo in southwestern Finland on Saturday registered the country's highest temperature of the year so far, at 28.8C.
"Now it seems the really, really hot weather will remain in Finland until the end of the month," Viljamaa said.
After Sunday the weather is expected to start cooling down, bringing much needed rain for nature and fields grappling with drought, Viljamaa added.
© 2024 AFP
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Temperatures across large parts of the Nordic nation, the north of which lies above the Arctic Circle, are due to surge above 27C (81 F) starting on Tuesday, the institute said.
"This is probably the first time ever we have issued a heatwave warning in May", Iiris Viljamaa from the Finnish Meteorological Institute told AFP, adding that such alerts were normally issued in June at the earliest.
Scientists say that recurring heatwaves are a clear marker of global warming and that these heatwaves are set to become more frequent, longer and more intense.
"The Finnish climate has always seen changes in weather but now climate change is enhancing these kinds of weather phenomena," meteorologist Leena Laakso told AFP.
Research shows "extreme weather events will increase due to climate change," she said.
According to Laakso, the current temperatures were around 10C above average temperatures for May.
The Finnish warning is aimed at alerting people about increased health risks associated with daytime temperatures reaching 27C.
Especially the elderly, people with long-term illnesses and disabilities, babies and young children are advised to take shelter from the heat, the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare said in a statement.
"In Finland we are used to cool weather and people start to have some health issues in this kind of weather already", said Viljamaa.
On Monday, temperatures between 24 and 28C were recorded, due to a high pressure system over the country, combined with a warm, dry air mass flowing from the south.
Twelve days in May had already exceeded 25 degrees, Viljamaa said.
The town of Salo in southwestern Finland on Saturday registered the country's highest temperature of the year so far, at 28.8C.
"Now it seems the really, really hot weather will remain in Finland until the end of the month," Viljamaa said.
After Sunday the weather is expected to start cooling down, bringing much needed rain for nature and fields grappling with drought, Viljamaa added.
© 2024 AFP
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