“Europe just recorded its highest April temperature on record amid a scorching heat wave [Spain, Portugal and Morocco all see national heat records for April]…
“Córdoba, Spain, located in the southern tier of the country, rose to an astounding 101.8 degrees Fahrenheit (38.8 C), beating the country’s previous April high-temperature record of 101.5 F (38.6 C) set in the city of Elche in 2011. In addition, this marked the highest April temperature ever recorded in Europe…
“Portugal was also feeling the summerlike heat, with the municipality of Mora climbing to 98.4 F (36.9 C) on Thursday. Pinhão had held Portugal’s previous temperature record for April with a mark of 96.8 F (36.0 C), which had stood since 1945.
“Farther south, temperatures surged even higher in northwestern Africa. In the town of Ben Guerir, Morocco, Thursday’s high was a scorching 106.3 F (41.3 C) which beat the country’s 2006 all-time record high record for the month of April of 105.8 F (41.0 C) set in the coastal city of Agadir.”
“Will marine heatwaves change the Mediterranean forever?
““Even the people who live in Catalonia and go every summer to the beaches, don’t realise what is going on – the dramatic things that we are witnessing now,” says Joachim Garrabou, Senior Researcher from Spain’s Institute of Marine Sciences about the devastating marine heatwaves that have been affecting the Mediterranean…”
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/mass-mortality-events-invasive-species-100439314.html
“After Spain, Portugal and Morocco, yesterday, Andorra set a new April record today with 30.0°C [86F] in la Borda Vidal (873 m)!
“The previous April national record was 29.7°C at the same station in 2011.”
https://twitter.com/ThierryGooseBC/status/1652115554822651905
“Exceptional warm day in Southern France with several stations >30C [86F] (highest 31C at Banca), even several hundreds meters asl with monthly records broken, including long POR stations like:
“29.4C Tiranges; 28.0C Le Puy; 26.5C Rodez; 10 stations were above 30C, dozens above 29C.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1651975896071389185
“‘A very clear sign of climate change’: France prepares wildfire-fighting forces a month early…
“France will have wildfire-fighting troops and their water-carrying aircraft ready on 1 June, one month earlier than usual. The date has been brought forward to adapt as fires start earlier than usual due to climate change, a senior official said.”
“Meltdown: 2023 looking grim for Swiss glaciers…
“Every year in April, when the snowpack reaches its peak, the Glacier Monitoring in Switzerland (GLAMOS) organisation surveys around 15 glaciers. “This year, the conditions are quite similar to 2022 which had record ice losses. Once again, we have very little snow,” GLAMOS chief Matthias Huss told AFP.”
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/meltdown-2023-looking-grim-swiss-102505804.html
“Western Europe Heads Into Warm May, Offering No Drought Relief.
“Spain and other parts of western Europe are expected to face unusually warm temperatures next month, offering little relief from drought risks. Long-range forecasts point to hotter conditions across the region…”
“More fruit and veg shortages to come as weather in UK and Spain hits crops.
“Shoppers have been warned they face more fruit and vegetable shortages, as temperatures in southern Spain soar to unprecedented levels while the UK growing season gets off to a late start because of cold, overcast weather.”
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/apr/28/fruit-veg-shortages-weather-uk-spain-crops
“Global warming has opened up Arctic sea routes by reducing seasonal ice, but it is also making sailing slower and more dangerous, with increased fog.
“So say Chinese and US researchers, who have collaborated on a project to chart the past weather effects of increasingly ice-free polar seas, and project future fog conditions as cold air hits bigger stretches of warmer water.”
https://www.tradewindsnews.com/technology/fog-in-the-forecast-for-arctic-shipping/2-1-1442447
“Can Iceberg Surges in the Arctic Trigger Rapid Warming at the Other End of The World?
“New research shows a fast-acting climate connection between poles that may be driven by wind rather than by ocean currents… the new study shows that the abrupt Arctic changes barely registered on the nearby Greenland Ice Sheet, but instead caused rapid warming in Antarctica, at the other end of the globe…”
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/28042023/arctic-iceberg-surges-global-warming/
“‘We will have to adapt’: Record high temperatures in Nunavik pose threat to Inuit way of life.
“Spring jackets were peeled off on Monday as people wore T-shirts and children biked around sunny and balmy Kuujjuaq… Delisle Alaku says the melting snow in Kuujjuaq has left the town covered in dust, dirt and puddles…”
“Historic heat wave in Oregon and Washington. Several stations had their hottest April days on records. The most important:
“95F [35C] Roseburg, Oregon; 90F at Portland Hillsboro; 86F Hoquiam WA; 84F Quilayute WA. Those places are extremely oceanic and mid 80s are uncommon even in summer.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1652110226496036864
“The big melt: Crushed houses, trapped cars and the threat of floods – inside California’s buried ski resort.
“High in the California mountains, a ski resort sits buried under layers of snow and ice. Residents of Mammoth Lakes fear for their lives, and livelihoods, after a winter of record snowfalls.”
“‘The worst that I’ve seen’: Floods from snowmelt destroy Navajo Nation homes.
“Many residents of Chinle in northeastern Arizona lost their homes when rain and water from snowmelt inundated their community last week. Part of the Navajo Nation, Chinle was suffering from drought when the floodwaters came.”
https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/floods-snow-navajo-nation-arizona
“A heat wave is ongoing in Western USA with temperatures into the 100s locally in California.
“Tomorrow the Death Valley can reach >110F [43.3C] and record one of the highest temperatures ever seen in USA in April. Canada will reach 30C and threaten records too.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1652055089278853121
“Multiple tornadoes were reported in Florida and Georgia on Thursday, as a new storm brings a severe weather threat and possible tornadoes to Texas.
“Seven tornadoes were reported in the Florida Panhandle and southern Georgia on Thursday. A large and “extremely dangerous” tornado was confirmed west of Tallahassee Thursday afternoon.”
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/extremely-dangerous-tornado-confirmed-florida-205838579.html
“Historic flooding in Fort Lauderdale was a sign of things to come – a look at who is most at risk and how to prepare…
“In a recent study, my colleagues and I looked at how prepared people were for disasters of any kind across the U.S. – flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes and others – and how housing security played a role. The numbers were sobering.”
“Mexico City’s thirst for water lays bare inequalities, changing climate.
“Climate change, chaotic urban growth and inefficient infrastructure have strained Mexico’s water supplies, pushing the Cutzamala System’s stores to their lowest level in 27 years. Water stress is a problem for much of the country. This month, some 200,000 residents in the city of San Luis Potosi have suffered water shortages for 22 days…”
“Merida [Yucatan] will reach temperatures of up to 44 degrees Celsius (112 Fahrenheit) this weekend.
“The month of April will end with record-breaking temperatures due to weather conditions. The forecast for this weekend is that temperatures will reach 44 degrees Celsius, with a heat index of 46 degrees, according to the National Meteorological Service.”
“There’s no end in sight for the El Niño Costero near Peru & Ecuador ~ seas remain 5-7˚C above average.
“A Madden-Julian Oscillation event over the Pacific during May will likely contribute to additional warming across the basin. El Niño is coming…”
https://twitter.com/BenNollWeather/status/1651592032195055616
“A strong dust storm hit the eastern part of Mongolia on Thursday, causing poor road visibility, Kazinform cites Xinhua…
“Climate change-related desertification has been the main factor behind the increasing frequency of yellow dust storms in Mongolia in recent years, according to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.”
https://www.inform.kz/en/dust-storm-sweeps-eastern-mongolia_a4061866
“China’s Wild Weather to Roil Commodities Like Rubber and Peanuts.
“Rubber-tree tapping in Yunnan province, the country’s top grower, has been delayed by severe drought and powdery mildew disease, which can halve production in the worst cases… Erratic weather is increasingly upending agriculture production across the globe… Now forecasters are warning that an El Nino is looming…”
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/china-wild-weather-roil-commodities-041753843.html
“Fears for Asia’s summer after recent ‘monster’ heatwave: ‘Climate emergency is here’…
“Extremely high temperatures have swept across large parts of south and southeast Asia in recent weeks including India, China, Thailand and Laos. Ultimately, one-third of the global population suffered under crippling heat that is being driven by the climate crisis.”
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/fears-asia-summer-recent-monster-133925553.html
“India Puts Nation on Alert for Days of Scorching Heat in May.
“Monthly maximum temperatures are expected to be above normal over east-central and eastern regions, according to the India Meteorological Department. Parts of northeast India will also see hotter weather. The South Asian nation has been bracing for a searing summer after record-shattering heat in 2022…”
“Companies Must Protect Workers From Heat Stress, Study Warns.
“The report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers warns heat stress and dehydration can impair decision-making and increase risk-taking. It calls calls for guidance related to heat impacts on the workforce to be updated urgently to help companies to develop strategies and implement the necessary changes.”
“How to Have Sex During a Heat Wave…
“If you have A/C, use it, Mintz recommended… Don’t have A/C in your digs? Then head to the garage and try enjoying sex in the car with the A/C turned up. Of course, you want to be discreet.”
https://getmegiddy.com/how-to-have-sex-during-heatwave
“Alarm as bird flu found to ‘efficiently’ spread between ferrets.
“In a new preprint, scientists in Canada demonstrated that H5N1 samples taken from a red tailed hawk spread efficiently between ferrets… It is the first study to clearly confirm that the virus can spread from mammal to mammal – although the recent deaths of many animals, including sea lions, have previously suggested this.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back on Monday with an “Economic” thread.
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El Nino growing in the southern equatorial east- Pacific.
All along the Western-Americas head for heavy rainfall and on the other side of the Pacific, Australia, south-Asia etc heading for drought.
Twitter pundits outlining a “perfect storm” of connected events over 12 months into 2024.
I am currently watching a detailed report on the ongoing megaflood cleanup over our ‘foodbowl’ districts. Wine growers are harvesting grapes directly onto the ground, and clearing out whole vineyards into piles for bonfire burning, as global slump in demand for Aussie red wines (but especially the China market) on top of flood damage taking so much topsoil – forced land sales at huge losses or unable to sell at all, for the worst affected.
Our housing shortage is gathering momentum as our ‘political’ issue *de jeure*, the numbers of tent towns and car-living, are alarming, especially as the government has now released controls on immigration for an expected doubling increase to 400,000+ to arrive in the next 12 months. Apparently a “catchup” to pre-Covid immigration levels. But where are they going to be housed?
At least 2 large building/construction companies have gone broke recently, leaving half-built housing developments in limbo and thousands have lost out on their now worthless building contracts.
House prices while having gone down, are still too high. Methinx we still have too many folks with too much liquidity, spending too much on property keeping prices artificially and generally unaffordably high.
First protest against the current government in Hobart in Tasmania. A small city, the feds are promising $240 M towards building a major football stadium. The protesters wanting the money for social housing.
I guess we may be some time behind Europe, but our hardest-hit victims of the economy may just be beginning to grow in sufficient numbers to stir up more widespread anger.
The Fed govt is trying so hard to be ‘centrist’.
I’m thinking of the Aesop’s fable of “try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody”.
Zip, thank you for the local intel.
I was puzzled as to why sales of Aussie wine were suffering when my impression generally was that booze sales have been doing quite well, albeit with the pandemic temporarily doing strange things to the market by making people more likely to drink at home, undermining duty free sales at airports etc.
Scotch whisky exports hit a record £6.2bn last year. Sales of French champagne also hit an all-time high… Google tells me that this is the crux of Australia’s wine industry woes: “China Wine Tariff Pushes Australia’s Grape Growers Into Crisis… Two years later, they’re suffering from a glut of red wine and plummeting grape prices with no overseas market big enough to fill the gap.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/16/business/china-wine-australia.html
And also: “Australian wine exporters are facing incredibly tough conditions, with an economic slowdown and increased competition from other beverages hurting sales to its biggest markets in the UK and US.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-27/tough-times-for-australian-wine-as-exports-to-uk-and-us-tumble
Methinx it is also signs of contraction in discretionary spending. Aussie reds were long held to be top-quality and hence expensive luxury booze – but China the biggest market – put tariffs on them some years back (along with some other commodities, like barley). While most of those Chinese tariffs have eased off recently – red wine exports didn’t recover. I guess for UK and USA markets, the European wines being cheaper to transport have become ‘second-best is good enough’ – at least for those who can still afford fancy stuff. Whites are still doing OK, but our reds had the biggest export market. Not that I would know, as I never liked wines to begin with 🙂 But almost every Australian I know is a wine-snob 🙂
The bird-flu report is concerning, but unfortunately nobody can quantify the level of “risk” – of, IF – let alone When, it could jump to humans, and how severe a human variant could be in severity or infectiousness. Vigilance with mass slaughtering outbreaks where and when they occur to reduce the total amount of virus circulating. monitoring viral genetic changes and laboratory testing all over the planet. Nature can be so random – but while ever it continues to circulate in both wild and domestic birds and mammals, the risk remains. Hopefully it will “burn itself out’ in the critters soon.
Hello Rain
I write a lot about the crisis in the French wine industry, which particularly affects the Bordeaux and Langed’oc region. Meanwhile, a large-scale
restructuring is taking place with the help of state aid. 70% !!! of winemakers in those regions cannot keep their heads above water.
However, there is one overriding and all explanatory reason which will no doubt explain a lot in Australia too. Apart from Covid
Drinking wine is no longer popular. That is, the consumption of ‘ table wines’ has been exchanged for beer!
By the millennials in Europe, drinking wine is really out of fashion.
The best indication of this is the steep decline in supermarket sales of such slobber wines. That would be between 10 and 15% a year. This is irreversible. I personally don’t know any young people in, let’s say, the 20-40 age group who still drink wine. Brewing your own beer is very popular and everyone has their own hops in the garden. No doubt the increase in soft and party drugs also has its direct impact on wine consumption.
In contrast, the more expensive brands that are doing extremely well, it is even a booming segment around which there is a whole ‘ snob culture’ with auctions charities and all kinds of tastings etc. There is an opposite trend there. It cannot be expensive and exquisite enough and turnovers of renowned wine regions across France are therefore considerable.
Zip, thank you – that makes sense. I did some Googling and in the UK it’s not just wine; the youth are starting to forego booze altogether!
“Why Gen Zers are growing up sober curious… Experimenting with alcohol – and drinking to excess – has long been seen as a rite of passage into adulthood, at least in Western cultures. From an early age, often before the legal age, alcohol is embraced as a social lubricant, a way to have fun, make friends and escape day-to-day realities. Few professional or social events are without some form of alcohol.
“But Gen Zers are taking it slow as they enter adulthood, either by not drinking at all, or drinking less often and in less quantity than older generations.”
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220920-why-gen-zers-are-growing-up-sober-curious
Fingers crossed, Rain. Another pandemic could tip us over the edge.