“Marine heatwaves ‘catastrophic’ for ocean life, say scientists…
“The North Sea is currently experiencing one of the most extreme heatwaves on Earth, being 4-5C higher than its usual temperature for this time of year…
“The North Atlantic is also experiencing record high temperatures for this time of year.”
“An “unheard of” marine heatwave off the coasts of the UK and Ireland poses a serious threat to species, scientists have warned.
“Sea temperatures, particularly off the north-east coast of England and the west of Ireland, are several degrees above normal, smashing records for late spring and early summer.”
“Global Oceans are severely hotter than we have ever observed since records began. There are several ocean heat waves. El Niño = danger for Galapagos marine life.
“Boiling Tropical Atlantic = early hurricanes. Cat 5 marine heatwave in UK!”
https://twitter.com/WeatherProf/status/1670962454023602177
“This is nuts. Tonight’s models are developing BRET and CINDY in the tropical Atlantic this week.
“Two Cape Verde storms at the same time in June would be unprecedented and is something that you typically see at the peak of hurricane season.”
https://twitter.com/DylanFedericoWX/status/1670669099200905216
“Storm Bret – latest: Caribbean on alert for potential hurricane as season’s first major named storm builds.
““Environmental conditions appear conducive for strengthening over the next few days, with a much warmer than normal ocean in the depression’s path, along with plentiful mid-level moisture and light shear,” the US National Hurricane Centre said.”
“Last month was one for the record books in Binghamton and the Southern Tier [NY].
“In fact, in more than 70 years of keeping rainfall numbers, the National Weather Service Office in Binghamton had never recorded a drier May than May 2023.”
“Fire to floods: Edson [Alberta, Canada] declares local state of emergency due to massive rainfall.
““We asked for rain and boy, did we get it. Way too much and if it wants to stop now, I’m thinking we would be very happy about that,” Edson Mayor Kevin Zahara said Monday afternoon.”
https://globalnews.ca/news/9778787/edson-flooding-local-state-of-emergency-june-2023/
“Donnie Creek wildfire in northeast B.C. now the largest recorded in province’s history.
“It was sparked on May 12 by lightning, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS), and covers an area of 5,343.88 square kilometres as of 10 a.m. PT on Sunday. It is still not responding to suppression efforts and remains out of control, according to the BCWS.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/donnie-creek-bc-wildfire-jun-18-1.6880715
“Canada’s fires are getting fiercer – and rebuilding is becoming a challenge…
“This year’s spring wildfire season has been the worst on record in Canada, with more than 5m hectares of land burned – a figure higher than the entire 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2022 seasons combined.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/19/canada-wildfires-reconstruction-lytton
“Slime mold invades Colorado lawns after record rainfall.
“With all the rain in Colorado recently, you may be noticing something unusual growing on your grass or in your garden. Associate Curator of Mycology at Denver Botanic Gardens Andrew Wilson believes it’s slime mold.”
https://ca.movies.yahoo.com/slime-mold-invades-colorado-lawns-022523960.html
“People in the South are storm weary. I’ve heard it from friends and family in my home state of Louisiana, where storms have hit exceptionally hard, and the damage extends much further.
“Six tornadoes were reported in Mississippi alone in the last 24 hours, and strong storms are still in progress right now. Tornadoes have been reported in the South every day during the last week, and more could occur in the next few days.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/19/weather/weather-record-heat-power-outages/index.html
“Historic day in Laredo, Texas: Max. temperature reached 115F/46.1C which tied its highest temperature on record.
“Similarly, Cotulla with 116F also tied its all time record. This after the records already set at Junction, San Angelo and Falcon Lake.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1670954392957202434
“Brutal heat in Mexico: All time highest temperatures were obliterated again.
“The most important records today include: 46.2C [115.2F] Monclova 615m asl; 45.7C Torreon 1123m asl; 45.0C Nuevo Laredo (tie); And many others. Next days we can approach 50C both in the NE and NW (Sonora).”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1670958239905660928
“If Mexican Plateau is sizzling with blistering dry heat, the coasts are under a terrible humid heat 24/7:
“Chetumal, Quintana Roo State, has recorded 6 consecutive Tmins above 29C [84.2F]! The last 5 Tmins are all the 5 highest in its climatic history. Nothing like this had ever seen.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1670182992587751424
“The Galápagos Islands are cooking – 20 Degree Heating Weeks now (thick black trajectory) – probably enough to kill most of the remnant corals.
“The blue “+” indicated the average monthly temperatures, exceeded by 3-5 degrees over the past 10 weeks…
“These current temperatures are entirely consistent with climate change prediction made decades ago.”
https://twitter.com/ProfTerryHughes/status/1670462279974887424
“South-east Australia is shivering through some of its coldest temperatures in years, with brisk winds pushing the morning chill factor even lower.
“Sydney experienced its coldest June morning on record on Monday, with a minimum temperature of 1.8C, according to Miriam Bradbury, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology.”
“Another record day in Korean Peninsula, where historic heat waves have swept the area every single month of the year.
“Today the most important records of hottest June day in climatic history were set at Chunggang in North Korea with 36.6C [97.9F] and at Jeogeup in South Korea with 34.9C.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1670733246055829507
“New heat wave in China, it’s one after another.
“Temperatures hit near 45C [113F] again in Xinjiang with the hot air expected to move East and hit the capital Beijing where temperatures are expected to rise to 40C. Mongolia is also expected to hit near 40C above 1000m asl.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1670783085959430146
“China struggles in half-century fight against desertification…
“Concerns have mounted about whether China is entering a new more active period for dust storms, with experts saying changing environmental and climate factors such as stronger winds and rising temperatures may contribute to a resurgence of more frequent and fiercer sandstorms in the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter.”
“At least two people were killed and 26 others went missing as floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains wreaked havoc in eastern Nepal, officials said on Sunday.
“Weather forecasters have warned heavy rains would continue in Nepal in the coming days, and issued alerts over rising water levels in rivers.”
“India heatwave: Nearly 170 dead as northern states swelter amid soaring temperatures…
“Most of the heat-related deaths have been in Uttar Pradesh (119), with the rest in neighbouring Bihar state (47). While northern India is known for sweltering heat in the summer months, temperatures over the past week have been consistently above average, with highs reported of 43.5C (110F).”
“Heat Waves [in India] Are Unleashing a Deadly but Overlooked Pollutant.
“…scientists are increasingly raising the alarm about surface ozone. It’s a secondary pollutant that isn’t released from any source, forming naturally when oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds—such as benzene, which is found in gasoline, or methane—react under high heat and sunlight.”
https://www.wired.com/story/ozone-pollution-india-heat-waves/
“Himalayan Glacier Loss Speeding Up, New Report Finds.
“Glaciers in the region melted faster between 2010 and 2019 than in the previous decade. “Things are just happening so fast,” one researcher said… Nearly two billion people who live in more than a dozen countries within the mountain region or in the river valleys downstream depend on melting ice and snow for their water supply.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/19/climate/himalayas-melting-water-source.html
“Cyclone Biporjoy: Devastation in Rajasthan as dam and canal breaks down.
“…the most danger is hovering over the city of Sanchore. Efforts are being made to evacuate the entire city as soon as the information about the breach of the dam is received on Saturday night. The Meteorological Department has issued an alert for heavy rains in many districts even today.”
“Water wars: Afghanistan and Iran’s deadly border flare-up spotlights scarcity crisis.
“Iran and Afghanistan are going head to head over control of the supply of a crucial resource that’s shrinking by the day: water… The situation risks destabilizing an already poor and water-deprived part of Iran, where serious protests against the government have taken place in recent years.”
“Historic heat in Iran:
“The town of Zabul, near the Afghan border, rose to 49.8C [121.6F], which is the highest temperature in its climatic history. This is just the beginning – we are gonna witness an extreme heat wave spreading all over Asia with records obliterated by dozens.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1670452637982965762
“More records from Southern Africa: Yesterday the French territory of Mayotte, an island in the Indian ocean, rose to 31.7C [89.1F] in its Airport which is a new record for the month of June (POR 75 years).
“Record heat has been relentless for months in the area.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1670702961150898176
“Another record day in Sub Saharan Africa:
“On 16th June Chad tied the record of its highest reliable temperature in climatic history with 48C [118.4F] at Faya Largeau in the North. The record had just been set last month.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1669978192730554368
“Portugal braces for heatwave lasting “several weeks”…
“This is not so much a heatwave, as a relentless roasting. Bizarrely, the week began in the north and central areas with some rain, which may continue into tomorrow. But this is the week when summer officially starts, and thus Portugal will simply have to get on with it.”
https://www.portugalresident.com/portugal-braces-for-heatwave-lasting-several-weeks/
“Flamingos forced to find new habitat as Spain drought dries up wetlands.
“From October 2022 to April 2023, the country’s rainfall was 24 per cent below the average for this period of the year. Spain has been suffering a prolonged drought and flamingos are the latest victims.”
“Europe Keeps Breaking Heat Records as Fastest-Warming Continent.
“Europe had the warmest summer on record last year, contributing to thousands of deaths, marine heat waves and extreme weather, an analysis has found. The continent warmed to 2.3C above the pre-industrial average in 2022…”
“German Weather Service Declares First Heat Warning of the Season…
“Weather forecaster Deutscher Wetterdienst extended a heat warning to most of Germany on Monday… Europe is bracing for another summer of extreme weather and parched conditions as changes in the climate become increasingly intense.”
“Estonian rescue workers tackle 37 landscape and forest fires at weekend.
“Rescue workers in Lääne-Viru, Ida-Viru and Harju counties were busy on Sunday, after being called to extinguish several large-scale fires at the same time… “Wiith the week ahead also set to bring temperatures of up to 31C [88F] and little chance of rain, the risk of more fires is set to increase in the coming days.”
“Exceptional warmth in Iceland with temperatures near 28C [82.4F] for 2 days in a row, the highest ever recorded before the summer solstice.
“Several June records were broken including: Hallormsstaður (POR 1937-). Egilsstaðir (1954-), Möðrudalur and 10 more with shorter PORs.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1670124660632047617
“I temporarily added another figure of Antarctic sea ice, which will be updated at https://zacklabe.com/antarctic-sea-ice-extentconcentration/ while the record anomaly continues…
“This graph better shows that while sea ice is growing (Austral winter), it’s growing much slower than average. The deviation is huge… it is currently a record low for this time of year…”
https://twitter.com/ZLabe/status/1670552177348149250
“Unique Antarctic ecosystem under threat from climate change…
“The team has found the ice covering the lakes in the area is rapidly thinning, with a knock-on effect for the ancient tower-like microbes that live in them… The result is more carbon creating bubbles and pushing the microbes to the surface, where they release that carbon into the atmosphere.”
https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/06/19/unique-antarctic-ecosystem-under-threat-from-climate-change/
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
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Not sure Sydney’s chilly nights is a good example of our current wintry cold fronts, it’s not really “extreme” or unknown, just been many, many years since we’ve seen a genuine, true winter season 🤣
Besides I’m not sure if that temp is Sydney City, or the west Sydney urban sprawl into the ranges which often gets light overnight frosts.
Early 90s, I distinctly remember having to scrape/melt the ice off my windscreens after work as early as 4pm, or after coming out of a restaurant or movie theatre on winter nights. But as the years, decades have gone on, that has become so rare a sight, I guess under 30s/40s would never have seen it. Over the last 10 years or so, we have started calling them “don’t blink or you’ll miss them winters”.
Perhaps for millennials and GenZs, it feels mind-blowingly cold, but for us baby-boomers it’s a pleasant walk down memory lane 💖
as we start tripping around laughing and playing and smiling at each other on dawn or evening walks, in the hard frosts and thick fogs like we did when we were kids. Possibly also because us oldies, are thinking it might be the last true winter we’ll ever see with our own eyes.
All very dreary and somber news, but necessary to be known and widely so. Can you find or convert more wet bulb temps? Is there an agency tracking Twb?
Ian, I have noticed that for some reason Spanish language publications and, as you’d imagine, news sources in places prone to high wet bulb temperatures, take more of an interest in them, so I’ll look out for those.
My friend in Austin, Texas, tells me they may break their heat index (ie wet bulb but in shade) record today.
Because the weather is so nice in India, they just placed the largest order of planes in aviation history at the Paris Aviation Fair…. Everyone has gone nuts with Macron and Musk leading the way…. 🙂
Indian airline IndiGo orders a record 500 Airbus A320s
A historic deal! Airbus struck a big deal Monday, on the first day of the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget. The Indian carrier Indigo signed a firm order for 500 aircraft from the A320neo family, the European giant’s bestseller. The contract has a list value of $55 billion. The planes will be delivered between 2030 and 2035. This contract is an absolute record in terms of volume in the history of commercial aviation. It is yet another proof of the strong rebound in demand, after the dip caused by the Covid crisis, and of the return of giant orders. With this contract, Indigo, which holds 50% of the Indian market, becomes the A320neo’s largest customer. The airline is equipping itself to meet strong demand in India, where a growing middle class can now afford to buy an airline ticket. With the A320neo, Indigo also gets the youngest and most fuel-efficient medium-haul aircraft on the market. The neo versions offer a 25% reduction in kerosene consumption. Airbus already seems to be the big winner in the traditional battle for orders at Le Bourget, with 533 aircraft sold.
https://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/la-compagnie-indienne-indigo-commande-500-airbus-a320-record-absolu-20230619
Wow, if any country is likely to retain a sizeable middle-class, it would be India. Densely populated countries, like India and China, can probably afford to lose a lot of people, in their increasingly redundant and no longer needed “working class”, without much economic effect, no?
I suspect one of the few ways to ‘kick the can down the road’ for industrial civilisation to continue, is for significant population crashes.
I recently saw a Climate Emergency Forum video discussion on the northern hemisphere boreal forest ‘band’ burning, both Canada and Russia. Although Canada’s fires get most of the international attention for obvious reasons, both areas are severely affected with low chances of recovery. Cold adapted boreal forest cover is subject to greater stress from high temps, not just from burning, but from drying out, and with things like insect plague and disease.
While there is evidence the boreal forests and their animals and plants (eg beavers) are creeping northward into what was hitherto treeless tundra, it’s not moving north fast enough to replace the increasing losses from the southern boundaries.
Like the tropical Amazon, the northern boreal forests are part of the ‘lungs’ of the Earth, and appear to be close to tipping over, now releasing more carbon than they can sequester.
https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/cams-closely-monitoring-recent-northern-hemisphere-wildfire-activity
https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/20/texas-ogallala-aquifer-farming-climate-change/
Add this to the growing list. The grid in Texas is not in good shape and the current heat wave 10 days. Things are looking like a mess if you ask me