Huge thanks to August’s sponsor, Mick, who wishes recommend the book “Wild Free and Happy” by Richard Adrian Reese, which can be downloaded for free here. You can also find it in the PDF resource section at the excellent Post-Doom website.
“How surging summer humidity is making nights hotter.
“A less noticeable but widespread trend is happening across the planet while most people sleep: rising overnight temperatures… Though less intense than the peak of afternoon heat, overnight warmth elevates health hazards by preventing the body from recovering from the heat of the day.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025/08/18/hotter-nighttime-temperatures-record-humidity/
“HISTORIC! ALMOST 30c [86F] IN ICELAND
“29.8 at Egilsstaðaflugvöllur (you spell it first). Icelandic hottest August day in history and highest temperature overall in the country since July 1946… shortly after 10pm the temperature at Kvísker (SE-Iceland) reached 27.0C for a short time. That evening warmth had never happened in Icelandic history.“
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1956777354929291575
“Scotland lures heatwave-weary Europeans seeking ‘coolcations’…
“According to new research from eDreams Odigeo, an online travel agent, the UK is becoming an increasingly popular summer holiday destination for southern Europeans.”
“August off and siestas: Isn’t it time Britain’s heatwave-struck workers went continental?
“…It’s particularly difficult to navigate when you’re trying to work. If you’re logging on remotely, you don’t have the luxury of cool air – and even those in air-conditioned offices still have to face hellish commutes on crammed public transport.”
“Paris Braces for a Future of Possibly Paralyzing Heat…
“Imagine Paris at 122 degrees Fahrenheit, or 50 Celsius. The asphalt streets would melt in spots, making it virtually impossible for ambulances and buses to pass. The lights and fans could cut out in neighborhoods if underground cables burned or junction boxes shifted. Cellphone service might go down…”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/world/europe/france-heat-wave-paris-climate-change-planning.html
“SPAIN HEAT WAVE. The most important records set yesterday include:
“ALL TIME RECORDS: 45.8 [114.4F] Jerez de la Frontera, 43.0 Rota Airbase; MONTHLY RECORDS: 42.0 Pamplona tied, 40.0 Valladolid.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1957410457121095948
“Four people have been killed in Spain as southern Europe is hit by its worst wildfires on record.
“Authorities in Madrid have deployed nearly 3,000 troops to help firefighters tackle blazes that have devastated swathes of the country, as temperatures hit highs of 45C.”
“Horror moment ‘Satan’s Storm’ hits Spain sparking tornadoes and sending tourists fleeing freak 40C heat burst…
“Tourists and locals were forced to evacuate beaches as the raging winds sent parasols and sun beds flying into the air in a freak 40C heat burst known as “Satan’s Storm”.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/36338441/satan-storm-spain-tornadoes/
“Authorities in Chefchaouen province [Morocco] remain on edge after days of battling a massive fire that destroyed large areas of forest in Dardara and Bab Taza…
“Fouad Assali, Director of Afforestation and Climate and Environmental Risk Management at the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF), confirmed to SNRTNews that a fire broke out on Monday morning.”
“Italy’s Ventina glacier has melted so much geologists now can only monitor it remotely…
“After this year’s hot summer, geologists discovered that the simple stakes used as benchmarks to measure the glacier’s retraction each year are now buried under rockslides and debris that have made the terrain too unsteady for future in-person visits.”
“Violent hailstorm hits Pimentel [Sardinia].
“A hailstorm hit Pimentel, flooding Highway 128 near the Samatzai junction. This is just one of the many storms currently affecting the island. A violent disturbance divided into three sections is affecting the central and inland part of the country and the south-western coast.”
“Serbian Armed Forces assist villages facing water shortages.
“In response to a prolonged drought that has led to water shortages, members of the Serbian Armed Forces are assisting with the water supply to households in several villages across the municipalities of Bujanovac, Kruševac, and Sjenica.”
https://www.mod.gov.rs/eng/22502/pomoc-vojske-srbije-u-selima-koja-se-suocavaju-sa-nestasicom-vode
“Türkiye’s tourism boom faces climate change test as record heat reshapes travel patterns…
“”This is no longer just a weather anomaly; it’s part of a long-term trend,” Cagatay Tavsanoglu, a climate change scholar at Hacettepe University in Ankara, told Xinhua. “We’re likely to see a redefinition of Türkiye’s peak tourism season…””
https://english.news.cn/20250818/22ca8a1d9e964a0392f093389712e30c/c.html
“Climate Change Threatens Sulaimani’s Water Sources and Tourism [Kurdistan].
“In the past year alone, the water levels have dropped by 18 meters, with the shoreline receding by 200 to 300 meters. Dukan District Governor Sirwan Sarhad confirmed that only 1.4 billion cubic meters of water remain.”
“Historic drought, wheat shortage to test Syria’s new leadership…
“”Half of the population is threatened to suffer from the drought, especially when it comes to the availability of bread, which is the most important food during the crisis,” Toni Ettel, FAO’s representative in Syria, told Reuters.”
“Sea of Galilee level edges closer to lower red line after heatwave…
“The Water Authority has reduced pumping from the Kinneret to the bare minimum in light of Israel’s dry year, he went on to say, but with another heatwave such as the one experienced last week, its levels will only continue to decline.”
https://www.jns.org/sea-of-galilee-level-edges-closer-to-lower-red-line-after-heatwave/
“Jordan: Temperatures exceeded 40°C [104F] for seven consecutive days for the first time since records begam…
“According to previous climate records, Amman has never witnessed temperatures above 40°C for more than three consecutive days, as occurred during the intense heat wave of 2010 and the one in 2023.”
“Worst situation of glaciers in Central Asia ever…
“Shown here is Grigoriev ice cap (4600 m asl, Kirghizistan). Not a single snow patch left up to the summits, for the first time in over 10 years! [Melaine Le Roy]
https://x.com/subfossilguy/status/1957111493201125829
“Kyrgyzstan Draws International Attention to Glacier Meltdown…
““Kyrgyzstan is a land of glaciers, and it is our duty to safeguard this unique resource,” Baisalov said. “The shrinking of our glaciers is not just an environmental concern, it is a matter of national security, water stability, and the country’s future development.””
https://timesca.com/kyrgyzstan-draws-international-attention-to-glacier-meltdown/
“Four years after war ended, Afghanistan battles unprecedented water crisis.
“As Taliban authorities swept to power and tightened their grip on Afghanistan, they pushed for the country’s water sovereignty, something that Afghanistan had wielded limited control over in the four preceding decades of war.”
“Pakistani villagers scared to go back to deluged homes after floods kill over 340…
“”Everybody is scared. Children are scared. They cannot sleep,” said Sahil Khan, a 24-year-old university student. He was speaking to a Reuters team from a rooftop in the district of Buner, where he and 15 other villagers had climbed to escape any more flooding amid a fresh spell of rain on Monday.”
“New Pakistan monsoon deluge kills 20 people: Local officials…
““A cloudburst in the Gadoon area of Swabi completely destroyed several houses, killing more than 20 people,” a local official in the district told the AFP news agency on Monday. Local Pakistani media also reported on the latest deaths due to the flooding.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/18/new-pakistan-monsoon-deluge-kills-20-people-local-officials
“500mm [19.7 inches] in 84 hrs: 2 dead, 1 missing in Mumbai rain.
“Torrential rain amounting to 500 mm over 84 hours disrupted normal life in the city and surrounding areas on Monday, prompting the IMD to issue the season’s first red alert for Aug 18-19.”
https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/500mm-in-84-hrs-2-dead-1-missing-in-mumbai-rain/ar-AA1KL1AC
“RECORD HEAT IN NEPAL.
“Heat waves are sweeping every country and Nepal is not an exception. 38.4C [101.1F] on Saturday at Nepalgunj is a new record of August highest temperature.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1956849826231922903
“At least nine dead in flash floods in northern China.
“At least nine people died in a flash flood in northern China, state media reported yesterday, with three others still missing, as the East Asian monsoon continues to unleash atmospheric chaos across the world’s second-largest economy.”
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2025/08/18/2003842224
“RECORD HEAT WAVE IN CHINA:
“Another exceptional heat wave in China which will last WEEKS and break HUNDREDS of records. Today Xian and Qindu with 40.3C [104.5F] rose >40C for the first time in August. But this is just an appetizer to what’s coming.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1957449570507464851
“HARSH HEAT IN JAPAN again.
“The new week starts with temperatures up to 39.2C at Toyota: It’s the beginning of yet another heat wave with temperatures close to 40C [104F] the whole week with high humidity and hot nights.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1957362529639801319
“Sydney’s wettest August in 27 years has tipped the city’s recent climate into uncharted territory.
“Analysing the complete weather history at Observatory Hill dating back to 1858 reveals rainfall during the past six years has been the most on record.”
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-19/sydney-s-endless-rain-breaks-all-time-rain-record/105667858
“North Pacific waters are acidifying more rapidly below the surface.
“”“We expected some indicators of ocean acidification to be changing more rapidly below the surface, because that was what some global studies have previously discovered, but we were very surprised that this was true for every single ocean acidification indicator.””
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1095113
“”We have collapsed roads”: Vallenar Municipality warns of flooding in various areas after heavy rains [Chile].
“Videos and photos shared on social media show flooded streets, affected communities, and bridges closed for safety due to the emergency. This Monday, the Municipality of Vallenar , in the Atacama Region, urged the population to “stay off the streets unless necessary” due to the emergency…”
“Emergency in Montería due to heavy rains and thundstorms [Colombia].
“Heavy rains fell on the night of Saturday, August 16, in Montería, the capital of Córdoba, and lasted for more than three hours, collapsing drainage channels. The emergency caused flooding, power outages, downed trees, and collapsed roads.”
“EXTRAORDINARY HEAT IN THE CARIBBEAN:
“All Caribbean and Central American countries keep smashing records, every single day. Today Minimum of 28.6C [83.5F] Vigie Int. AP ties SAINT LUCIA HOTTEST NIGHT IN HISTORY. August Record highest Minimum also 27.0C Las Americas AP- Dominican Republic.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1957527611955122321
“When Hurricane Erin underwent extreme RI from 75 to 130 knots in 12 hrs (a 55-kt change exceeded by only 3 Atlantic hurricanes in the past 50 yrs—2005 Wilma 75 kt; 2007 Felix 60 kt; 2024 Milton 60 kt).
“Climate change made the 1.6 °F hotter ocean SST at this location 100 times more likely.” [John Morales]
https://x.com/JohnMoralesTV/status/1957395797001036219
“Terrifying! Street vendors swept away after heavy rains in Aguascalientes [Mexico].
“A severe storm struck the city of Aguascalientes, leaving flooding, downed trees, and the dramatic sweeping of two street vendors by the current. The event paralyzed several urban areas and activated Civil Protection’s emergency protocols.”
“El Paso’s Heat Is Killing in Record Numbers. It May Only Get Worse…
“El Paso was the most deadly sector of the U.S.-Mexico border in 2024. And it’s not just migrants who are succumbing to extreme heat. Temperatures are rising faster in El Paso than in almost any other U.S. city.”
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/17082025/el-paso-extreme-heat-illness-death/
“As the Great Salt Lake dries up, clouds of dangerous dust blow into boomtowns.
“What scientists do know is that the dust is full of hazardous chemicals. Sampled from the lakebed, levels surpass federal recommendations for what you should be exposed to in your home and are more concentrated than those from other dust hot spots in Utah…”
“Fire Season Is Starting Earlier Thanks to Climate Change, New Study Finds.
“California’s wildfire season is showing up early — in some regions by more than a month — and a new study says human-caused climate change is a major reason why. In 11 of the state’s 13 ecological regions, the start of peak fire activity has shifted forward by six to 46 days since the early 1990s.”
“Canada’s wildfires could continue into fall, says government…
“Canada’s second-worst wildfire season on record has already burned 7.8 million hectares and could continue for weeks, federal government officials said Monday. Warmer than usual weather forecast from now until the end of September for southern British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan creates a significant risk of new fires…”
“Climate Change is Coming for Your Bananas.
“Affordable and nutritious, bananas have long been a supermarket staple for consumers around the globe. But that could soon change, as climate change is contributing to a global shortage of the world’s most consumed fruit.”
https://time.com/7310462/banana-supply-climate-change/
I rely on donations and tips from my readers to to keep the site running. Every little bit helps. Can you chip in even a dollar? Buy me a coffee or become a Patreon supporter. A huge thank you to those who do subscribe or donate.
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
“Imagine Paris at 122 degrees Fahrenheit, or 50 Celsius. The asphalt streets would melt in spots, making it virtually impossible for ambulances and buses to pass. The lights and fans could cut out in neighborhoods if underground cables burned or junction boxes shifted. Cellphone service might go down…”
Don’t worry folks! Climate change will honor differences in per capita GDP, and the devastation of the third world would not only have no impact on us but instead would be an opportunity for us to prove our moral mettle. Once we defeat , which is admittedly a bit behind schedule, we shall begin to share our self-generated superabundance with all those poor starving Africans.
And they all lived happily ever after…. but then the rogue AI world government killed everyone. The End.
Well said. Exactly! 🤦🏻♀️🤯🤪😱
Jupiviv, your “fairy tale” format is well chosen. Fairy tales tend to be Gothic because their original versions reflected the harsh realities and fears of the times from which they originated, and were often used to teach moral lessons through cautionary tales.
If you’ll forgive the weird tangent, I was also surprised, when I attended a counselling course many years ago, by how readily they lend themselves to a Freudian interpretation; for example:
“For both Jones and Bettelheim, the (slimy and unattractive) frog in The Frog Prince represents the penis, and the story is about a girl overcoming her initial aversion to the male organ.”
https://www.periodicos.capes.gov.br/index.php/acervo/buscador.html?task=detalhes&source=all&id=W2120513207
Circuits Burn Like Rising Suns”: Japan Declares It’s Going 1,000× Beyond the US With Supercomputer Poised to Redefine Global Tech Dominance
Japan’s ambitious development of FugakuNEXT, a supercomputer designed to be 1,000 times faster than its predecessors, promises to redefine global technological boundaries with its unprecedented computational power and substantial $750 million investment.
Hina DinooHina DinooAugust 17, 2025 at 9:04 AM9
🚀 Japan is investing over $750 million in FugakuNEXT, a supercomputer set to revolutionize AI and scientific research.
🖥️ FugakuNEXT, developed by RIKEN and Fujitsu, aims to be 1,000 times faster than existing supercomputers.
🔬 The project emphasizes AI for Science, integrating real-time data for advanced scientific simulations.
💡 Advanced FUJITSU-MONAKA3 CPUs will power diverse tasks, from AI to complex simulations, showcasing Japan’s commitment to innovation
…The emergence of Generative AI has ushered in a new era in computing, demanding the development of more powerful supercomputers. Japan recognizes the crucial role of AI in scientific simulations and real-time data processing, encapsulated in the concept of AI for Science. By prioritizing the integration of AI in scientific and technological advancements, Japan aims to empower its scientific community to conduct large-scale experiments and simulations with unprecedented speed and accuracy. The collaboration between RIKEN and Fujitsu reflects Japan’s commitment to fostering innovation and reinforcing its position as a global technology leader. This strategic focus places Japan at the forefront of countries advancing AI in science.
And we all “know” what “science” has done for the planet …a disaster…so, we are working on the next stage, a catastrophe…AI will solve it…we might not like the solution…right TR…it’s just common sense
Good grief.
FULL SPEED AHEAD RIGHT OVER THE CLIFF! or INTO THE WALL.
Pick your favorite metaphor.
Sounds like a last throw of the dice for poor Japan, which is demographically challenged (seeing its biggest population drop on record last year), dependent on imports for 90% of its energy needs, and facing rising borrowing costs, as it runs out of financial sleight of hand.
We’re really caught in the quicksand of Tainter’s diminishing marginal returns on social complexity now, so it’s a given that vaunted “salvific” innovations like this will cause more problems than they solve.
What’s this common sense you speak of ?
If you have any evidence, I’ve got to see it. 😉
I think one would have to look hard & long to even find the slightest trace. It’s done a good job of keeping it’s self hidden. Know any forensic investigators ?
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Texas-May-Have-to-Shut-Down-Data-Centers-to-Protect-Its-Grid.html
Texas may have ti shut down data centers to protect its grid!
Heather, and its water supplies.
“Big Tech’s big thirst — AI’s demand for Texas water…
““Open AI and some bitcoin mining companies, they are all investing heavily in Texas to build data centers. Texas is actually a relatively high water stress region. It’s very intensive because people also need water to live,” she said.”
https://www.tpr.org/environment/2025-08-15/big-techs-big-thirst-ais-demand-for-texas-water
“…people also need water to live,”
I hate it when people exaggerate.
So, remind me again what the point of AI is??!! 🤪
To go out with a bang!