“Heavy floods hit Montevideo in Uruguay [you may recall that Uruguay just tied its all time heat-record]…
“Unprecedented rain caused flash floods throughout the city as a month’s worth of rain fell in one hour. A period of hot, dry weather leading up to the rain hardened the ground, increasing the severity of the floods.” [Video]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEGFuAkqq1w
“It’s another historic day in South America in this terrible heat wave. Minimum temperatures reached unprecedented levels.
“The 32.1C [89.8F] Tmin. at the Experimental station of IPTA, Caapucù, Chaco Province, Paraguay is the highest minimum ever recorded in South American history. Tbc.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1483140017186877441
“Heatwave exposes Argentina’s aging water infrastructure.
“Argentina’s problem of lacking water infrastructure investment was exposed by last week’s heatwave, which pushed demand to the point of systemic collapse for both energy generation and water supply.”
https://www.bnamericas.com/en/news/heatwave-exposes-argentinas-aging-water-infrastructure
“Drought could trim a third of Argentina’s economic growth this year.
“Dryness that’s parching soybeans and corn across Argentina’s Pampas crop belt will shave US$4.8 billion off the nation’s gross domestic product this year, according to one of the first analyses of the economic impact of the drought.”
“After the heat wave, it snowed in Mendoza, Argentina, and the wind chill dropped from 30 [86F] to 3 degrees [37.4F]…
“Light snowfall but lasting forty minutes was recorded this morning in Malargüe, south of Mendoza,where the thermal sensation was up to three degrees Celsius after several days of intense heat with temperatures that had reached 30 degrees.”
“Devastated by Worst Wildfire in History, Bastrop [Texas] in Danger Again.
“A wildfire has erupted in a Texas town devastated by a deadly blaze a decade ago. The blaze erupted in a Central Texas state park, forcing evacuations of residential areas in the city of Bastrop, the site of a deadly blaze a decade ago.”
https://www.wbap.com/2022/01/18/devastated-by-worst-wildfire-in-history-bastrop-in-danger-again/
“In 2021, North America was at the epicenter of some of the most intense weather and climate extremes in recorded history…
“The most prolific record-breaking heat wave was in the Pacific Northwest and western Canada. Long-standing heat records were obliterated by large margins, including the all-time Canadian heat record.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2022/01/18/2021-northern-hemisphere-temperature-records/
“Canada Makes Rare Import of European Barley After Drought Decimates Crops…
“France’s Rouen port is set to load its first-ever barley cargo for Canada, on the bulk carrier Federal Spey, according to a spokesman for the port operator… Canada is typically largely self-sufficient in barley…”
“La Nina propels humidity in Sydney [Australia] to record-breaking levels.
“The average humidity in Sydney this January has reached 85 per cent in the mornings… well above what the city would usually see at this time of year…. Weather bureau meteorologist Dean Narramore said the hot and sticky weather was being driven by wind and above average ocean surface temperatures.”
“Grab the sunscreen, Perth and brace yourself for yet another heat wave [a relentless and historic summer in WA].
“Beaches are set to be packed as the city sweats through more soaring temperatures – tipped to hit 41C on Wednesday and then linger around the 40C mark for the rest of the week and into the weekend.”
“Worst drought in 30 years followed by freezing winter means 98% of Afghans do not have enough to eat.
“Hazifa, a widow whose two sons were both killed by the Taliban, has been left looking after her 13 grandchildren. “If we can find something we will eat it, if not we will rely on the mercy of God,” she told ITV News.”
“18th January was the hottest January day on records for the Maldives.
“The northern atoll of Hanimaadhoo rose to 33.4C [92.1F], which beats the record of 32.8C set at Male AP in 1983.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1483486900845518858
“On 17th January the Tromelin Island (part of the French Southern and Antarctic Land) in the Indian Ocean… tied its record of the highest temperature ever with 34.9C / 94.8F (from February 2017).”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1483059465557581824
“10 killed by floods in Madagascar.
“At least ten people have died after heavy rains in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, rendering over 500 people homeless… According to reports, most of the victims were trapped in landslides or collapsed houses, especially in the deprived neighborhoods of the suburbs of Antananarivo…”
https://www.africanews.com/2022/01/18/10-killed-by-floods-in-madagascar/
“Authorities on Tuesday said 82 lives were lost in a spate of severe summer weather that has seen South Africa pummeled by persistent downpours for days.
“The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said most of the deaths were due to drownings and lightening strikes.”
https://gazettengr.com/severe-weather-kills-over-82-in-south-africa/
“A devastating drought looms in the northern parts of Namibia, which have not received meaningful rains this season.
“This was said by regional governors Erginus Endjala, Elia Irimari and Penda ya Ndakolo of Omusati, Oshana and Oshikoto, respectively, in separate interviews last week.”
https://allafrica.com/stories/202201180684.html
“Somalia’s Capital Sees Influx of People Fleeing Drought.
“Somalia’s worst drought in decades has millions of people dependent on food aid and thousands flocking to cities to escape hunger. At makeshift shelters on the outskirts of the capital, displaced people face cramped conditions and poor sanitation in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
https://www.voanews.com/a/somalia-s-capital-sees-influx-of-people-fleeing-drought-/6401705.html
“The Arctic and Antarctic are heating up fast, creating terrible feedback loops. Breaking the cycle will require urgent action — and creativity…
“…damage to the cryosphere, the portions of Earth’s surface where ice predominates, is happening faster than many anticipated… solving climate change requires experimentation, boldness and openness to new ideas — even those that may sound slightly unhinged.”
“Chemical pollution has passed safe limit for humanity, say scientists…
““There’s evidence that things are pointing in the wrong direction every step of the way,” said Prof Bethanie Carney Almroth at the University of Gothenburg who was part of the team. “For example, the total mass of plastics now exceeds the total mass of all living mammals. That to me is a pretty clear indication that we’ve crossed a boundary…””
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
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