Heatwave hits Europe and North America
Get ready for natural phenomena this time, as heat waves hit Europe and North America. The countries of the four seasons in the central northern hemisphere are unusually sultry. Casualties fell. It was as if, the great continents were being roasted.
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| A car passes a sign warning of extreme heat danger in Death Valley, where temperature records are close to tumbling. Photograph: David McNew/Getty Images |
Reporting from AFP, Monday (07/17/2023), extreme hot weather hit North America, Europe, and Asia. Because of the extreme heat, the forests became burned. It is predicted, the hot temperature this time will break records.
Heatwave threatens Asia
In Japan, authorities issued heatwave warnings for tens of millions of people in as many as 20 of the 57 prefectures, as near-record temperatures blanketed large areas and heavy rain lashed several other areas.
National broadcaster NHK warned that extreme heat was life-threatening, with the capital and other areas recording temperatures of nearly 40C. According to the meteorological agency, Japan's record high temperature -- 41.1 degrees Celsius when first recorded in Kumagaya in 2018 -- could be beaten. Several areas in Japan reportedly recorded the highest temperatures for more than four decades on Sunday (16/7) local time, including the city of Hirono in Fukushima prefecture with temperatures reaching 37.3 degrees Celsius.
On Sunday (16/7) local time, a man was found dead in his car that was trapped in floodwater.
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Other parts of Asia were hit by heavy rains that triggered flooding as well. South Korea, with at least 39 people killed and nine others missing in floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains over the past four days. About 12 people were found dead in flooded underpasses.
In India, relentless monsoon rains have reportedly killed at least 90 people, following extreme heat. Major floods and landslides are common during India's monsoon season, but experts say climate change has increased their frequency and severity.
In China, local authorities released several temperature warnings on Sunday (16/7) local time stating that air temperatures reaching 40-45 degrees Celsius may blanket parts of Xinjiang desert areas and temperatures of 39 degrees Celsius blanket the Guangxi region.
As reported by Reuters, Xinjiang Daily said the air temperature in the Turpan Uyghur region reached 52.2 degrees Celsius on Sunday (16/7) local time. Turpan is indeed a notoriously hot area and has very low plains.
But generally speaking, the heat in China this time is indeed outrageous. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures in China has challenged power grids and disrupted harvests, with concerns growing about a possible repeat of last year's drought, the most severe drought in 60 years.
Heatwave also strikes Europe
The heat hit Vatican residents on the European Continent. 15,000 people listened to Pope Francis' prayer with aridity. Even Francois Mbemba, one of the priests, said the temperature in St Peter's Square in the Vatican this time was hotter than the temperature in his native Congo. Europe is hot.
In Italy as a whole, authorities warned citizens to prepare for "the most intense heatwave of the summer and also one of the most intense of all time".
The prediction of the highest temperature in history in the next few days led the Health Ministry to release red-level warnings for 16 cities, including Rome, Bologna, and Florence.
The air temperature is predicted to reach 40 degrees Celsius in Rome on Monday (17/7) local time and reach 42-43 degrees Celsius on Tuesday (18/7) tomorrow. Those numbers broke the record of 40.5 degrees Celsius in August 2007.
"It has the potential to reach the hottest temperature ever recorded in Europe," the European Space Agency warned that areas of Sicily and Sardinia could reach 48 degrees Celsius.
In Romania, temperatures are expected to reach 39 degrees Celsius today. In Spain, the temperature reaches 40 degrees Celsius. Fires ravaged La Palma Island, scorching 5,000 hectares of land, and 4,000 people evacuated.
North America also hit by the heat wave
In North America, which includes the United States, Canada, and surrounding regions, the weather is also hot. In the US, 80 million people were affected by extreme heat on Sunday (16/7) local time.
Death Valley in California, which is often one of the hottest places on Earth, is also likely to record a new peak on Sunday (16/7) local time, with temperatures predicted to surpass 54 degrees Celsius.
As reported by AFP, Saturday (1/7), 13 people died due to an extreme heat wave for two weeks in the US. The highest death toll of 11 people was recorded in Texas, on the Mexican border. The pavement in Houston cracked and could not withstand the heat.
A 14-year-old boy died while hiking in Big Bend National Park in Texas, as temperatures soared to 48 degrees Celsius. The victim's stepfather, tragically, died in a car accident as he rushed to his son's rescue.
Meanwhile, Canada continues to battle the worst wildfire season in its history, a phenomenon scientists say is exacerbated by human-caused climate change.