“Amid a prolonged, unforgiving heat wave in southern Europe and northern Africa, the temperature in the city of Montoro, Spain, soared to 117.3 degrees F [47.4C] Saturday, setting a record high for Spain. This topped the previous record of 117.1 degrees in July 2017.
“Montoro is a city of about 9,500 people in southern Spain, about 100 miles east of Seville. The record was confirmed by AEMet, Spain’s meteorological agency.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/08/16/spain-heatwave-europe-middle-east/
“Spain launches inquiry after dams drained for profit during drought…
“The Spanish government has launched an inquiry after it emerged that a power company drained two reservoirs during a heatwave and drought in order to profit from exceptionally high electricity prices.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/15/spain-launches-inquiry-after-dams-drained-for-profit-amid-heatwave
“Hundreds of firefighters tackle wildfire in southern France…
“French firefighters are battling to contain a large wildfire in the southern region of Var that has forced the evacuation of thousands of people, including tourists in campsites. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said he would visit the area Tuesday to monitor the situation.”
https://www.france24.com/en/france/20210816-hundreds-of-firefighters-tackle-wildfire-in-southern-france
“Two new wildfires in Greece trigger evacuation alerts for villages.
“Fanned by strong winds, two large new wildfires have erupted in Greece, triggering evacuation alerts for villages south-east and north-west of Athens – only days after blazes consumed large tracts of forest north of the Greek capital.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/16/greece-wildfires-evacuation-alerts-athens
“Houses burn as huge wildfire forces evacuation of six Jerusalem-area communities.
“The fire, about 13 kilometers (8 miles) west of the capital, sent a huge pall of smoke across the city that blocked out the afternoon sun. Fire and Rescue Services Jerusalem District Commander Nissim Twito said the blaze may be the biggest in recent years in the area.”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/large-forest-fire-forces-evacuation-of-six-jerusalem-area-communities/
“Once a haven for 100 types of birds, Hungarian lake now faces severe drought.
“…many of the lake’s visitors, both animal and human, have disappeared as extreme heat has brought the water to dangerously low levels, something activists and environmental experts say threatens the country’s third largest natural lake with an economic and ecological crisis.”
https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/hungarian-lake-valence-severe-drought-7456308/
“Emergency services are searching for several missing people after a sudden flood swept away a bridge in southern Germany.
“Witnesses said that a number of people were carried away by floods when the wooden bridge they were standing on suddenly collapsed after heavy rain.”
https://www.euronews.com/2021/08/16/several-people-reported-missing-after-flood-sweeps-away-bridge-in-germany
“Death toll rises to 77 from Turkey floods; 47 reported missing…
“The floods last week brought chaos as torrents of water tossed dozens of cars and heaps of debris along streets, destroyed buildings and bridges, closed roads and damaged electricity infrastructure.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/16/death-toll-rises-to-70-from-turkey-floods-47-reported-missing
“Streets submerged by flash floods in Myskhako, Novorossiysk, Russia
| Russia floods.”
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYe_7YiXcSM
“Forest fire forces Russia to evacuate 830 from summer camp…
“A total of 750 children and 87 personnel were evacuated from the camp in the Bashkortostan republic, some 1,180 kilometers (730 miles) east of Moscow Russia’s Emergency Ministry said.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/moscow-russia-siberia-b1902929.html
“Putin Alarmed Over ‘Unprecedented’ Natural Disasters in Russia…
“A former skeptic of man-made climate change, the Russian leader called on authorities to do everything possible to help Siberians affected by the region’s gigantic wildfires, as well as Russians living in the flood-hit south of the country.”
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/08/14/putin-alarmed-over-unprecedented-natural-disasters-in-russia-a74788
“Big oil, gas and coal making headway on Russian Arctic coast…
“The Gulf of Ob and the adjacent peninsulas of Yamal and Gydan is a top priority region of Russia’s oil and gas industry. Environmentalists fear its vulnerable Arctic environment could experience irreversible damage…”
https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/industry-and-energy/2021/08/big-oil-gas-and-coal-making-headway-russian-arctic-coast
“Climate change puts North Water Polynya, a source of Arctic life, in imminent danger…
“The North Water Polynya has for millennia produced a life-giving cocktail of organic compounds that ultimately sustain the iconic marine animals found in the Baffin Bay region of the Arctic — narwhal, beluga, walrus and polar bears — which in turn sustain Inuit settlements in Nunavut and Greenland.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/north-water-polynya-under-threat-1.6140307
“Smoke Blots Out the Sun as Canada’s Wildfires Worsen…
“On Monday, strong winds exacerbated the flames even further as thousands remain under evacuations orders. Gusts from the southwest are spreading the fire’s smoke far and wide, and several cities are experiencing dangerously poor air quality…”
https://gizmodo.com/smoke-blots-out-the-sun-as-canada-s-wildfires-worsen-1847497112
“Feds will ration water from Colorado River amid historic drought.
“The U.S. government on Monday declared the first-ever water shortage at Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir by volume, after water levels fell to record lows amid a decades-long drought.”
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/16/feds-will-ration-water-from-colorado-river-amid-historic-drought.html
“Reno breaks all-time record for days over 100 degrees…
“Sunday was the 21st day this year that topped 100 degrees, breaking the all-time record for days over 100. The previous record was in 2018, when the temperature hit 100 degrees on 20 days, according to the National Weather Service of Reno.”
https://eu.rgj.com/story/news/2021/08/16/reno-breaks-all-time-record-days-over-100-degrees/8143328002/
“Texas State Capitol is flooded after storms dumped more than four inches of rain per hour over Austin.
“The Texas State Capitol building flooded on Sunday afternoon as storms blanketed Austin with more than four inches of rain in an hour. Footage… showed water filling hallways at the Capitol as rain dripped down from the ceilings.”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9896653/Texas-State-Capitol-FLOODED-storms-dumped-heavy-rain-Austin.html
“After being struck by lightning over the weekend, the Washington Monument will remain closed to visitors as workers repair damages, officials announced. [Ominous symbolism there!]
“The National Park Service shared incredible video to Twitter capturing the exact moment the bolt of lightning struck the tip of the monument on Sunday.”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9899863/Video-shows-lightning-striking-Washington-Monument.html
“Swimmers are told to get out of the water as more than 20 sharks feed on massive school of baitfish near crowded Long Island beach…
“Researchers have confirmed that white shark sightings and catch records have risen all along the Atlantic Coast this year… An increase of sharks in northern waters is [partly] attributed to rising water temperatures due to climate change.”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9896801/More-20-sharks-feed-school-baitfish-near-crowded-Long-Island-beach.html
“Storm brings floods as Haitians seek help at overloaded hospitals after quake…
“While rescue teams toiled to dig out survivors of Saturday’s 7.2 magnitude quake, a storm dumped heavy rain on the southern coast of Haiti, bringing flooding near the worst-hit areas and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis…”
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/medics-aid-workers-rush-reach-haiti-quake-zone-before-storm-2021-08-16/
“Emergency in Santander [Colombia]: heavy rains left floods and landslides in several municipalities.
“In the last hours, heavy rains in the department of Santander resulted in flooded homes and collapses in the sewage systems of several municipalities in the department. The emergency will continue this weekend, as heavy rainfall is expected.”
https://www.infobae.com/america/colombia/2021/08/15/emergencia-en-santander-fuertes-lluvias-dejaron-inundaciones-y-derrumbes-en-varios-municipios/
“Historic drought in Mendoza [Argentina]: what could be the drastic consequences?
“…In dialogue with Channel 7, Juan Rivera, a researcher at Conicet, explained that drastic decisions will have to be taken in the future to avoid the consequences of the greenhouse effect , or otherwise [the glaciers will disappear].
https://www.diariouno.com.ar/sequia-historica-mendoza-cuales-podrian-ser-las-drasticas-consecuencias-n854051
“How deforestation poses dengue pandemic risk for Africa and Asia…
“Increased deforestation and climate change continue to add to the predisposing conditions that may thrust Africa and Asia into other pandemics, scientists say…”
https://forestsnews.cifor.org/74205/how-deforestation-poses-dengue-pandemic-risk-for-africa-and-asia?fnl=
“Official: China’s growth likely to slow due to virus, floods…
“The economy was disrupted by unusually severe summer flooding that hit central China in July, killing more than 300 people in Henan province. More floods hit Hubei province to the south this month, killing at least 21 people.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/official-beijing-china-oxford-economics-henan-b1903303.html
“Kyushu residents hope for end of disaster as Japan warns of further rain…
“Kyushu and other areas of Japan have seen record levels of rainfall… Residents of the small town of Soeda on Kyushu island spoke of their weariness of rains that have been pummelling them for the past few days.”
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/kyushu-residents-hope-end-disaster-japan-warns-further-rain-2021-08-16/
“Global water crisis will intensify with climate breakdown, says report…
“Water problems – drought, with its accompanying wildfires, and flooding – are likely to become much worse around the world as climate breakdown takes hold, according to the biggest assessment of climate science to date.”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/17/global-water-crisis-will-intensify-with-climate-breakdown-says-report
And returning to Spain:
“Thermal blowouts were reported in the south of the Valencia province [Spain], including Oliva, where the temperature jumped from 30º [86F] to 43.7º [110.7F], and then decreased to 28.8º [83.8F] in a matter of minutes.”
https://murciatoday.com/record_temperatures_and_thermal_blowouts_in_valencia_over_the_weekend_1633226-a.html
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
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