This month is kindly sponsored by an anonymous donor in memory of Rev. Michael Dowd founder of postdoom.com.
“EXTRAORDINARY!! Arguably the most brutal heat event IN WORLD CLIMATIC HISTORY ANYTIME ANYWHERE.
“UNBELIEVABLE, MIND-BLOWING 47.5c/118F at Gallinas in MEXICO. It [obliterates] the Northern Hemisphere highest temperature record for this time of the year.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1897456498562760921
“Fire in Monterrey: Bus trapped by flames…
“Shocking images, shared through social networks, showed the magnitude of the fires that devastated grasslands in several municipalities, painting the sky with an ominous veil of smoke.”
https://eldiariodesonora.com.mx/mexico/2025/03/05/incendio-monterrey-autobus-atrapado-llamas.html
“Families lose homes, property, pets in South Texas wildfires…
“Brush fires ignited in dry fields and vegetation throughout the regions of South-Central Texas and the southern Plains on Tuesday, with the National Weather Service reporting wind gusts of up to 60 mph that caused the fires to spread and burn overnight.”
“Carolina wildfires followed months of weather whiplash, from drought to hurricane-fueled floods and back to drought…
“Scores of wildfires broke out across North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia in early March 2025 as strong winds, abnormally dry conditions and low humidity combined to kindle and spread the flames.”
“Where’s the snow? Poconos having fourth winter in a row with significant lack of snowfall…
“…the storms that could have delivered significant snowfalls have been shifting south. These storms, which could have had potential to blanket our area with snow, instead brought record snowfalls to places like New Orleans and even parts of Florida.”
“The Impact of Climate Change on the US Ski Industry.
“The US ski season is starting later and ending earlier, raising concerns for the future of US ski tourism in a part of the world that welcomes the largest number of skiers in the industry… From 2000-2019, the average ski season in the US has shortened by 5-7 days…”
https://earth.org/the-impact-of-climate-change-on-the-us-ski-industry/
“Winters are getting warmer globally. Look at the jump these last 10 years! December-February including 2025.
“Thanks Climatologist49 on X for the great tool! ~ +2.5F since 1940.” [Jeff Berardelli]
https://x.com/WeatherProf/status/1897474408362729776
“Wind records broken on Mace Head during Storm Éowyn, Met Éireann says.
“Storm Éowyn brought hurricane-force winds… The winter’s strongest gust (184km/h) and 10-minute mean wind speed (142km/h) were recorded at Mace Head, Co Galway, on January 24th during Storm Éowyn. These are the highest (sustained and gust) wind speeds for Ireland…”
“A huge fire has broken out on moorlands in Greater Manchester [UK] with nearby residents warned to keep their windows and doors closed.
“The blaze was visible for miles on Wednesday night with smoke billowing into the sky north of Oldham, near the village of Diggle.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq5z8ev4q00o
“High risk of forest fires in parts of Brandenburg [Germany]…
“The risk of forest fires in Brandenburg is increasing: Five districts were already at level four and therefore at high risk, according to information on the Forestry Ministry’s website. The danger levels are classified from one to five.”
https://www.berlin.de/en/news/9519094-5559700-high-risk-of-forest-fires-in-parts-of-br.en.html
“Europe’s race to build a war economy has led the bloc to pull spending desperately needed for another crisis: the climate.
“The redirection of billions of euros away from development finance meant to fight the fallout of floods, droughts and cyclones in poorer countries has the potential to fuel European inflation…”
“EU privately talks emissions rules with US gas firms as Trump trade war looms.
“Fossil fuel bosses say the bloc’s emissions regulations should be relaxed to appease Washington and boost gas purchases… “In these meetings, the EU has expressed readiness to talk about methane,” said one Commission official, granted anonymity…”
“Croatia is set to experience an unusual temperature anomaly this March as the first heatwave of the year arrives earlier than usual.
“Meteorologists warn that this is a rare phenomenon, with temperatures expected to rise significantly above average.”
https://www.croatiaweek.com/unusual-heatwave-to-hit-croatia-in-march/
“Cleopatra’s birthplace [Alexandria, Egypt] sees ‘dramatic surge’ in building collapses as sea level rises, study show.
“Building collapses were once rare in this port city, but have accelerated from approximately one a year to a staggering 40 a year over the past decade, as sea levels rise and seawater seeps beneath city foundations…”
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/27/climate/alexandria-sea-rise-building-collapse-egypt/index.html
“Spain is being hammered by severe flooding, with meteorologists warning that the worst is yet to come…
“The latest bad weather comes after Canary Islands were hit with flash flooding and heavy snow in back-to-back episodes.”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14463921/Spain-floods-Canary-Islands.html
“Human-caused climate change fuels extreme heat in Africa’s Sahel region: Burkina Faso and Mali…
“From March 4-8, dangerously hot temperatures, as much as 6°C (11°F) above average for early March (based on 1991-2020 climate normals), are expected in Burkina Faso and southern and eastern Mali.”
https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-shift-index-alert/africa-march-2025
“Severe flooding after record rainfall in Randburg [South Africa].
“Heavy rainstorms wreak havoc in Randburg, with flooding washing away cars, collapsing walls, and stranding residents, prompting urgent warnings for motorists.”
“African leaders demand debt relief as continent battles climate crisis…
““The time has come for the implementation of a bold comprehensive debt relief plan for Africa and other developing countries,” they said. “Unlocking Africa’s economic potential will drive global growth, strengthen supply chains, and accelerate the green transition.””
“Zimbabwe battles aid shortages as drought bites…
“Ominously, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), which relies on American funding for nearly half its budget, has closed its Southern Africa bureau as the Trump administration’s “America First” agenda slashes aid.”
https://www.dw.com/en/zimbabwe-battles-aid-shortages-as-drought-bites/a-71836948
“Uganda: Members of Parliament raise alarm on impending floods after heat wave…
““At the end of the dry season will come a lot of rain with floods. Because of the evaporation on open water such as Lake Victoria, the heat is boiling water, we must be disaster prepared, rather than waiting for relief after the disaster,” Biyika said.”
“Somalia’s Daawo River dries up early, worsening water crisis in Gedo.
“The Daawo River, a vital water source for communities in Somalia’s Gedo region, has dried up earlier than expected, exacerbating water shortages and threatening the livelihoods of thousands who rely on it for drinking, irrigation, and livestock.”
“Serious Water Pressure Drops and Outages in Tehran…
“According to a report by Tehran’s Water and Wastewater Company, this year’s rainfall has been 46% lower than average years and 25% less than last year. Currently, the water reserves of Tehran’s five main dams are only at about 6% capacity.”
https://iranfocus.com/iran/53610-serious-water-pressure-drops-and-outages-in-tehran/
“Severe water crisis looms over Sindh as major dams near depletion [Pakistan]…
“According to official documents from the Sindh Irrigation Department, both Mangla and Tarbela dams are expected to run completely dry within the next 4-5 days, creating potentially catastrophic conditions across the province.”
https://www.samaa.tv/2087329946-severe-water-crisis-looms-over-sindh-as-major-dams-near-depletion
“Climate crisis threatens Pakistan’s bees and honey trade.
“This winter was marked by soaring, hazardous smog levels that the government declared a national disaster. Research has found air pollution can make it harder for bees to locate flowers. Diminished rainfall, meanwhile, failed to clear the choking air and triggered drought warnings for farmers.”
“Avalanche that killed 8 people ‘triggered by massive 600% increase in rain and snowfall’ [Uttarakhand, Himalayan India].
“A huge avalanche that killed eight people and buried dozens under snow in the Himalayas was triggered by an astonishing 600 per cent increase in rain and snowfall over 24 hours, scientists say.”
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/avalanche-killed-8-people-triggered-34802274
“Record-Breaking Cold Wave Hits Central-East China With Snowstorms, Hail, Strong Winds…
“Jinan City issued consecutive red alerts for road surface freezing and heavy snow, leading to the temporary closure of elementary and middle schools… Such large-scale snowfall in Jinan during March is extremely rare in recorded history!
“Japan may declare ‘severe disaster’ as record wildfire burns for eighth day…
“Firefighting operations have been underway in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, since last week where nearly 4,111 people, nearly 13 per cent of the city’s population have evacuated as of 7am local time Wednesday.”
“Coral reefs in Vietnam face collapse. Can conservation efforts turn the tide?
“The gentle waves off the coast of central Vietnam’s Nha Trang obscure an open secret: The life-giving coral reefs below are dying. The waters are eerily devoid of fish. The bounty of the ocean is coming to an end.”
“High temperature warnings are back this year with the mercury rising up to 37 degrees Celsius at four locations in Kedah [NW Malaysia]…
“These advisories are the first issued for this year. Last year saw 1,609 advisories while 2023 recorded 397 advisories.”
“SE ASIA HISTORIC HEAT WAVE:
“Thousands of stations with relentless record heat for early March allover the area. Insane night minimums near 30C [86F] on Thai-Lao border. Even the normally cool mountain town of Baguiao, PHILIPPINES had a record March warm night with a Tmin 18.6C.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1897505628681081162
“Extreme heat silently accelerates aging on a molecular level − new research.
“We found that older adults residing in areas with frequent very hot days showed significantly faster epigenetic aging compared with those living in cooler regions…. This link between biological age and extreme heat remained even after accounting for a wide range of individual and community factors…”
“Indonesia uses cloud seeding to stop heavy rains as floods hit Jakarta…
“The deluge, which began on Monday, has affected Jakarta, home to about 11 million people, along with the neighbouring cities of Bogor, Bekasi, and Tangerang… Cloud seeding aims to steer rainfall away from flood-hit areas or limit the formation of heavier downpours.”
“AUSTRALIA-OCEANIA HEAT WAVE:
“Endless record heat in Australia; More March records today: 44.2 [111.6F] Cloncurry, 43.1 Mount Isa, 43.0 Trepell, 41.1 Bradshaw… In INDONESIA Record of March Highest minimum at Tanjung Redep with 25.5C.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1897231459242672569
“Cyclone Alfred is slowing – and that could make it more destructive. Here’s how climate change might have influenced it…
“Unfortunately, the expected slow pace of the cyclone will bring even more rain to affected communities. This is because it will linger for longer over the same location, dumping more rain before it moves on.”
“Families in Fleurieu Peninsula run out of water to wash clothes after prolonged dry conditions [South Australia]…
“This week, the South Australian government opened three “emergency” water collection points at Ridge Road in Woodside, Koennecke Road in Sandergrove and Peggy Buxton Road at Brukunga.”
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-06/children-not-going-to-school-water-shortage/105016498
“‘The grass is golden’: Farmers desperate for rain as drought threatens to spread across North Island [NZ]…
“Rangitīkei MP and farmer Suze Redmayne said there had been just 13mm of rain on her Turakina farm in February, which was the lowest amount recorded in the past 40 years.”
“Weakening currents in the Atlantic may mean a wetter northern Australia and drier New Zealand…
“Our new research shows a weakening of the AMOC would lead to a large change in rainfall patterns, leading to wetter summers in northern Australia and a drier New Zealand year-round. Indonesia and northern Papua New Guinea would also become drier.”
“SOUTH AMERICA HEAT WAVE:
“Ituzaingo ARGENTINA 40.0C [104F] for 3 days in a row! (record, as already said). Deadly heat in the capital Buenos Aires where heat indexes reached 44.4C, the highest ever in March in climatic history [power outages there, to boot].”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1897453936640188430
“Extreme drought conditions in Argentina are affecting the harvest season and leading farmers to rethink what they can expect in the future…
“Dario Sabini, a farmer, said that even though official estimates have already lowered the harvest forecast in response to the drought, it will likely turn out to be even worse. “Their math does not add up,” he said.”
https://www.thecooldown.com/outdoors/argentina-drought-farmers-harvest-season/
“Week will be one of the hottest ever registered in March in Brazil…
“Thermometers from various cities in Rio Grande do Sul should record temperatures between 5ºC and 10ºC above the historical average of March, according to MetSul. It is an increase considered extreme.”
“Ecuador in a state of emergency: Floods affect more than 76 thousand people.
“Heavy rains have caused rivers to overflow, damaging homes, crops and bridges, as six provinces face an unprecedented climate emergency.”
“Colombia’s Worst Drought in 30 Years: Cities Running Dry.
“As 2024 brought record-low rainfall, water reservoirs in Bogotá and other regions are hitting dangerously low levels. Reporter Michelle Begue takes us to the heart of the crisis.”
https://america.cgtn.com/2025/03/05/colombias-worst-drought-in-30-years-cities-running-dry
“The cooling weather phenomenon La Niña that emerged late last year is weak and likely to be brief, the UN said Thursday, dashing hopes it could help rein in soaring global temperatures…
“There is currently a 60-percent probability that conditions will shift back to neutral between this month and May, it said.”
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/266006/cooling-la-nina-expected-to-be-short-lived-un
“So far, 2025 is averaging more than 1.67°C above the 1850-1900 IPCC pre-industrial baseline [global sea temps not far off 2024’s record highs].
“The climate 8-ball says, “I’ve been de-funded. F&%king hell.””
[Prof Eliot Jacobson]
https://bsky.app/profile/climatecasino.net/post/3ljkjbawnwc25
“Half of global croplands could see a drop in suitable crops at 2C of warming…
“Beyond 2C warming, the declines in suitable areas for the 30 crops become more pronounced – in some cases approaching and passing 50%… The most affected crops are wheat, barley, soya beans, lentils and potatoes.”
“Hot frogs and sizzling salamanders: climate change is pushing amphibians to their limits…
“We also found some interesting regional patterns. In the southern hemisphere, tropical species are most exposed to overheating. However, in the northern hemisphere, species outside the tropics often face higher risk.”
“Global sea ice hit ‘all-time minimum’ in February, scientists say…
“The combined area of ice around the north and south poles hit a new daily minimum in early February and stayed below the previous record for the rest of the month, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said on Thursday.”
“Arctic air temperature rank by month over the satellite era – now updated through February 2025 (record warm). Ranks: 1 = warmest (red), 46/47 = coldest (blue).
“We need more research, not less, to understand the implications of this.” [Zack Labe, recently fired from NOAA]
https://bsky.app/profile/zacklabe.com/post/3ljjc7hzdtc2w
“One sent tsunami alerts. Another flew with ‘hurricane hunters.’ Both were just fired from NOAA…
“At the same time, meteorologists and forecasters say they’ve faced public vitriol and harassment despite increasingly accurate predictions. Some blame the politicization of climate change and the proliferation of conspiracy theories.”
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You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
Let’s break out a soulful tune that hit the charts over a half century ago from Motown artist Marvin Gaye, “Mercy, Mercy Me”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V-6oYvlxAco&pp=ygUOTWVyY3kgbWVyY3kgbWU%3D
Marvin told his Smokey Robinson, another great, that God was writing this album, “What’s Going On”…
So, what’s our excuse?
Thank you, Vince. I love Robert Palmer but I have to say his cover version of “Mercy, Mercy Me” was so terrible that it actually soured me on the original for a bit. Luckily, that has passed. 😆
This 2019 list of “greatest songs about the climate crisis” by the Guardian ranks Marvin’s “Mercy, Mercy Me” second behind Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi”. I’m happy to see Cerrone’s way-ahead-of-its time dance track, “Supernature” get a mention:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/oct/28/the-greatest-songs-about-the-climate-crisis-ranked
Bees…fish…amphibians…heart breaking
“Beyond 2C warming, the declines in suitable areas for the 30 crops become more pronounced” ha ha. How about at 2 C we are TOAST!
Cyclone Alfred dominates my newsfeeds…. 50 years since a cyclone landed so far south .. But in that 50 years that particular geographical region has grown to over 4 million of intense population density.. a quarter of the total national population… And infrastructure not built for tropical weather events at the best of times.
And Alfred is moving very slow, and the rising fear is it will stall without any loss of intensity.. . and circulate in place for days with unbelievable flooding from the atmospheric river. Only 100 kms away from landfall as I write (expected midday Sat local) but already 48 hrs of winds and horizontal driving rainfall has locked down 3 million, cut roads and power grids. and beachfront infrastructure washed away and all the coastal rivers, estuaries, scary high levels…
And the local rich with their yachts and beachside mansions are complaining because the Emergency authorities, have warned that they have no spare resources for any marine rescues or mitigation. Can’t see marine insurance paying out much either.
That steamy hot Pacific Ocean is about to “blow” it’s pressure valve, but rather than land anywhere on 2,000 kms of coastline that is sparsely populated… It had to pick the one 200 km coastal zone that is densely populated…
My family in the zone are confident they will be fine…
I hope their confidence is well-founded Rain. Rainfall totals of 800mm or 30+ inches over 48 hours are no joke.
Slow, erratic and incredibly moisture-laden cyclone hitting a populated coastline brings back memories of Hurricane Harvey. 😬
So many wildfires, so much denuded land, so many long droughts followed by a nasty storm that washes all the soil away…
Kord, right. Or droughts whiplashing back to prolonged stretches of very wet weather, encouraging excess vegetation growth, only for that to become fuel for fires when further droughts dry it out.
Such are the vagaries of our amped up hydrological cycle.
This is the only site I visit the next day to check out the comments , as they are, for the most part, thoughtful, helpful, informative and exhibit a lack of mean-spiritedness I’ve never seen anywhere else on the interwebs.
For that I thank not only Pan but the commentariat.
Too bad that what we comment on is so dire.
Rob, that is extremely kind of you to say. ❤