“Scientists deliver ‘final warning’ on climate crisis: act now or it’s too late.
“Scientists have delivered a “final warning” on the climate crisis, as rising greenhouse gas emissions push the world to the brink of irrevocable damage that only swift and drastic action can avert.”
“Inland New South Wales sweltered through record-breaking March temperatures on Sunday as fires burned across the state…
“Wagga Wagga recorded its hottest March temperatures yet on Sunday, hitting 39.9C [103.8F]… Records in the area go back 80 years. Temperatures hit between 0.5 and 1.5 degrees higher than previous March records in Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo and many other locations on and west of the ranges [Canberra sees latest 35C / 95F on record].”
“‘All this here will kill this river’: traditional owners grieve for the Darling-Baaka after mass fish death…
““The Baaka is our culture; to see the fish like this and to smell the fish is just unbelievable,” says Malyangapa Barkandji woman Denise O’Donnell. “The whole of Australia should be fighting for this river – all the rivers. It makes me sick to see it like this, it makes me cry. It’s very heartbreaking.””
“Residents in flood-ravaged Gulf of Carpentaria enter second month without work.
“Residents cut off by floods in parts of the Gulf of Carpentaria are entering their second month of employment shortages while businesses record mass cancellations for the upcoming tourist season… Carpentaria Shire mayor Jack Bawden said people had not worked “for a long time”.”
“Cyclone Gabrielle: The New Zealand flood victims too scared to go home…
“”Cyclone Gabrielle… struck within weeks of unprecedented flooding in New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland, when an entire summer’s worth of rain fell in a single day… “[When] people are sleeping with lifejackets by the door, you know it’s bad,” said displaced West Auckland resident Morgan Allen. “The anxiety has reached peak levels.””
“Marine heatwaves negatively impact blue whale habitat in South Taranaki Bight…
“Marine heatwaves were responsible for the bleaching and mass-killing of sponges in the Southland fiords, but a new study conducted by US scientists showed marine heatwaves damaged the blue whale population by reducing the available amount of krill…”
“Argentina soy crop forecast slashed to smallest on record.
“drought of biblical proportions in Argentina is showing no signs of letup, with soybean plants getting baked to a crisp on the Pampas farm belt. The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange has slashed its forecast for the crop by another 14 percent to 25 million metric tons…”
“California faces even more flooding as 12th atmospheric river heads towards the coastline.
“Evacuations are underway once again in central California as yet another atmospheric river is poised to hit the state, bringing another round of snow and rain to an area that has already suffered from significant flooding this year.”
“Large-scale grass removals ramp up as Las Vegas valley water crisis deepens.
“Country clubs, businesses, and homeowners are rallying behind efforts to get rid of water guzzling grass. The push to decrease water use across the valley comes as Lake Mead is predicted to hit a new all-time low come April.”
“Forecasters fear rapid snowmelt in the Midwest could turn into major flooding this spring…
“It’s crazy to think the Mississippi River could end up overflowing its banks when just last fall, parts of the river were at record low levels. How quickly the tables can turn.”
“AFRICA: Mountain forests disappearing at an alarming rate.
“According to a new study published on March 17, 2023… at least 78.1 million hectares, or 7.1 percent of the total of these ecosystems, disappeared between 2000 and 2018. The situation in Africa is of particular concern, given the climatic role played by its mountain forests.”
“Flood kills at least two in southwestern Cameroon…
“According to David Mafani Namange, mayor of Buea council, the flood was triggered by several hours of heavy rain Saturday which carried away cars and debris and inundated the basement and ground floors of some buildings, turning roads into rivers.”
“Malawi president declares half of country damaged by cyclone…
“In an exclusive interview, the president asked for help from the international community and said the structural destruction was vast. “This demonstrates that climate change issues are real and we are standing right in the path of it,” said Chakwera, who added that the climate crisis had the potential to keep “a national like Malawi in perpetual poverty”.”
“An estimated 43,000 people died during the longest drought on record in Somalia last year, with half of the victims likely to have been children, according to a new report.
“The figure, released by the World Health Organisation and the United Nations children’s agency, is the first official death toll announced in a drought which has affected much of the country.”
“Dozens of camps for displaced people in northwestern Syria have been damaged by flooding after a heavy storm hit the region late on Saturday.
“Torrential rain overnight in the western countryside of Idlib province damaged hundreds of shelters, many of which were recently set up to house the survivors of two February 6 earthquakes. Roads were also impassable in some areas…”
“The changes in Earth’s resources in Islamabad have significantly impacted weather patterns and natural disasters, such as urban flooding and forest fires. As a result of climate change, there is a possibility that these hazards will become more frequent and severe in the future.”
“Climate change: The Pakistani communities still under water six months after historic floods.
“Six months after the wettest August in 60 years, parts of southern Pakistan are still flooded. In fact, the Red Cross claimed in December 25% of the country still was. It’s an astonishing figure and one barely believable until you see it for yourself.”
“At Least 10 Killed In Balochistan Floods [Pakistan], Rescue Operation Underway.
“At least 10 people have been swept away in a flood in the Awaran and Zhob areas of Balochistan due to the heavy rainfall on Sunday, reported Dawn. According to the disaster management officials, of those 10 people who died in the Balochistan flash floods…”
“Unprecedented hailstorm dashes mango farmers’ hopes in Telangana.
“The widespread hailstorm in the last two-three days has dashed the hopes of mango farmers in several districts of Telangana [India]. With hailstorms damaging the mango trees at the flowering stage, the farmers in several districts are in a quandary.”
“Thai authorities urge caution after hailstorm in northern province.
“Thai authorities on Sunday told the public to beware of falling debris or branches after hail storms hit the northern part of the country and hundreds of homes were damaged. Footage on social media showed the impact of severe wind and hail in the northern province of Chiang Mai.”
“First update of the East Asia Heat Wave: Today the temperature rose to 37.0C [98.6F] at Yuanyang in China but this is just the appetizer of what it’s coming from 21 to 24 March.
“Hundreds of records will fall across China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Koreas and Japan.”
“World’s biggest single eradication operation aims to remove mice from Marion island [southern Indian Ocean]…
“Mice accidentally introduced on to the remote island by 19th-century seal hunters have thrived in warmer and drier conditions over the past 30 years, devastating the island’s invertebrates and plants, and then devouring the chicks and even adults of ground- and burrow-nesting seabirds.”
“Global warming increases the frequency of fall heatwaves…
““As unprecedented high temperatures during fall are occurring more frequently, it is necessary to provide an accurate prediction of their near-term occurrences and also prepare corresponding adaptation measures to minimize associated damages in all socioeconomic fields,” concluded co-author Seung-Ki Min…”
“‘Exceptional’ surge in methane emissions from wetlands worries scientists.
“Methane emissions from wetlands have risen faster this century than in even the most pessimistic climate scenarios, new research finds. From the Arctic to the tropics, wetlands encompass around 6% of the planet’s surface. These waterlogged soils are the planet’s largest natural source of methane…”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
“One of the largest sea stars in the world, the sunflower sea star, was once common along the Pacific Coast of North America. Its sharp decline has prompted NOAA Fisheries to propose listing the species as threatened…
“While Sea Star Wasting Syndrome is not well understood, it appears to be exacerbated by rapid changes in water temperature, warmer ocean temperatures, and other physical stressors. Outbreaks are likely to recur as the climate continues to warm…”
“Oceanfront homes crumble in California as torrential rains lead to landslides.
“Across California, residents have been reeling from the effect of extreme weather, with a large portion of the state now covered by a presidential emergency declaration. California has been hit with 11 atmospheric rivers in a virtually nonstop series…”
“50 feet of snow buries chairlifts at California ski resorts.
““This historic year is a sight to see,” Sierra-at-Tahoe stated Monday on Facebook. “Chairs have significant rime ice buildup that must be manually removed, lift shacks + ski patrol stations are completely buried, Puma chairs in West Bowl have been covered.”
“Wildfires across the West are killing more trees — making it harder for forests to regrow.
“Hotter and drier conditions caused by climate change are helping lead to more severe wildfires across the West. Those more severe wildfires are hurting the forests’ ability to regrow after the fires are out. Those are among the findings of a new report from the Nature Conservancy and others.”
“”This is one of the worst droughts. When the stats are taken it will do more damage than any other drought in the last 50 years. Look on the Irish potato crop, [it] has been lost. Yam farmers, another major group, what they are reaping it doesn’t make any sense and they can’t plant back, because the drought is so intense,” he said.”
“The Chaclacayo population faces a new landslide at kilometer 24 of Carretera Central (Central Highway), which has paralyzed the transit of people and vehicles in said district of eastern Metropolitan Lima. The strength of water has broken the walls of various houses…”
“Sewage alert at 50 UK beaches after rain triggers spills…
“The spills were caused by downpours that followed the driest February in England in 30 years. Experts said further “unseasonably sustained” rainfall would be needed to avoid drought conditions this summer.”
“Half a million trees have died next to one 21-mile stretch of road, National Highways admits [UK].
“National Highways planted 850,000 saplings as part of a £1.5bn upgrade of the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon, which was opened in 2020. But an internal review seen by Sky News reveals three-quarters of them have since died.”
“‘Alarming’ rate of mountain forest loss a threat to alpine wildlife…
“An area of mountain forest larger than the state of Texas has been lost since 2001, with the amount disappearing each year accelerating at an “alarming” rate, a study warns… The main drivers of loss were logging, the expansion of agriculture and wildfires.”
“Farming and tourism under threat as winter drought dries up France’s Lake Montbel.
“Set at foot of the Pyrenees mountains, Lake Montbel is famous in south-west France for its turquoise waters, massive size and thriving aquatic life. But as spring nears, the postcard landscape has largely turned into a muddy wasteland…”
“Spain enters long-term drought after another abnormally warm winter…
“For the first time on record, Spain has seen five unusually warm winters in a row… This winter, despite moments of chilly temperatures, there were no official “cold waves.” Instead, temperatures were an average of 0.8 C (1.44 F) warmer than usual in Peninsular Spain… Spain saw its hottest December on record.”
“Italy readies 7.8 billion euro package to tackle drought…
“Italian rivers and lakes are suffering from a severe lack of water, the Legambiente environmental group said last month, adding the Po, Italy’s longest river which runs from the Alps in the northwest to the Adriatic, had 61% less water than normal at that time.”
“Greece Bears Highest Climate-Related Economic Costs in EU due to Wildfires and Floods.
“Wildfires and floods have combined in recent years to cause extensive damage, leading to Greece having the highest level of climate-related economic costs in the European Union, at €91 ($96.95) per capita. This figure was recorded for 2020, prior to the even more devastating fires that followed.”
“In the past two decades, the number of extreme weather events in Turkey has been on the increase as a result of the climate crisis.
“In 2022, some 1,030 such events occurred, setting an all-time high for the country. In the two previous years, the number of events was 1,024 and 984, respectively.”
“Floods Death Toll Reaches 18 in Türkiye. “In 36 hours the amount of rain that usually falls in a year fell,” the Interior Minister Soylu said.
“On Friday, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu confirmed that 18 people have died in the last two days due to flooding in southeastern Turkey, in an area already affected by the February 6 earthquakes.”
“15 people lost their lives as result of floods in north Kurdistan.
“Strong floods caused by heavy rains in Raha, Samsur and Malatya in Bakur, yesterday, caused the loss of 13 people their lives in Raha and 2 in Samsur. While Amed, Merdin, and the surrounding cities also witnessed strong floods and torrential rains.”
“Malawians fear storm Freddy could make deadliest cholera outbreak worse.
“”Unfortunately …there is a real concern now that we could in the next few weeks see a reversal in the gains that were so hard-won over the past month or so,” said Arielle Nylander, senior health policy analyst at WaterAid.”
“The cyclone that lived longest: How Freddy broke all kinds of records…
“At 37 days, Freddy is the longest lived tropical cyclone ever recorded in any of Earth’s oceans and has broken the record of 31 days set by Hurricane John in 1994… Freddy also broke the record for the highest accumulated cyclone energy… Apart from this, Cyclone Freddy is the first tropical cyclone ever to experience seven phases of rapid intensification (RI) over its lifetime.”
“Kenya’s livestock markets reeling from devastating impacts of acute drought…
“Ngao said since the establishment of the market decades ago, the traders have never experienced a drought of such magnitude. Tala Town, located in the southern Kenyan county of Machakos, is sandwiched between sunbaked plains, with the primary source of livelihood being agriculture and livestock keeping.”
“Farmers in central Azerbaijan staged a protest this week over a long-festering problem — the shortage of water — and were violently suppressed by police…
“Saatli residents told BBC Azerbaijani that they have to water their fields with brackish water. “These soils will become dead in a maximum of two years,” one resident said. “They won’t yield even 10 centimeters.””
“Seven million Iraqi children have limited access to safe water at school…
“For years the country has faced water scarcity issues, compounded by climate change, that affects the peace and security of the region. The invasion and ensuing violence left the country in a shambles, while corruption and mismanagement led to a slow reconstruction effort…”
“Untimely rains threaten India winter crops just before harvesting.
“Untimely rains and hailstorms could damage India’s key winter-sown crops, such as wheat, rapeseed and chickpeas, just before harvesting begins for plants that have already suffered some heat stress, industry and weather department officials say.”
“A brutal heat wave is about to sweep East Asia (yes, again!) with temperatures expected to approach 40C [104F] in parts of Southern China. Japan will also see abnormal warmth.
“After more than 500 records beaten earlier this month, hundreds more are set to fall.”
“New South Wales has just had its coolest summer in 11 years, but now March is on track to be the hottest on record…
“Daily maximums this March have climbed as much as 15 degrees Celsius above the long-term average. In some cases, they have been the highest in decades, but it is not the extreme days that have been unprecedented, it has been the consistency of the heat.”
“Millions of fish dead in the worst mass kill ever to hit Menindee region, in NSW’s far west.
“Authorities have confirmed the overall scale and size of this mass fish kill eclipses similar events in 2018 and 2019. The horrific incident has been caused by low oxygen levels in the water combined with high temperatures, expected to peak above 40 degrees Celsius in the area over the weekend.”
“Fire crews busy with extreme fire risk across parts of Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.
“Lake Eildon residents in Victoria’s alpine region are being told to leave their homes immediately to escape an out-of-control bushfire… The blaze is the latest of multiple bushfires across the state on Saturday as inland temperatures in Victoria ranged between the mid-30s to low-40s, along with high winds and dry ground cover.”
“Global fresh water demand will outstrip supply by 40% by 2030, say experts.
“The world is facing an imminent water crisis, with demand expected to outstrip the supply of fresh water by 40% by the end of this decade, experts have said on the eve of a crucial UN water summit. Governments must urgently stop subsidising the extraction and overuse of water…”
“Here are the most polluted cities in the U.S. and world.
“About 90% of the global population in 2022 experienced unhealthy air quality… The report found that the top five most polluted countries in 2022 were Chad, Iraq, Pakistan, Bahrain and Bangladesh. The most polluted cities globally were Lahore, Pakistan; Hotan, China; Bhiwadi, India; Delhi, India; and Peshawar, Pakistan.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back on Monday with an “Economic” thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
“Arctic ice has seen an ‘irreversible’ thinning since 2007, study says.
“New research suggests the loss was a fundamental change unlikely to be reversed this century, if ever — perhaps proof of the sort of climactic tipping point that scientists have warned the planet could pass as it warms…
“Walt Meier, a senior research scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado Boulder, likened the 2007 low to a boxer who gets a knockout punch. All the punches leading up to it weaken the fighter, but that biggest blow is too much for the boxer to overcome.”
“The Arctic Ocean is warming much faster than predicted by climate models used by United Nations experts, thus accelerating the melting of sea ice, two Swedish studies released on Tuesday warned.
“Relatively warm currents in the deep Arctic are actually warmer and closer to the surface than experts previously thought.”
“The Toxic Threat in Thawing Permafrost… Scientists are tracking neurotoxic methylmercury production in North America’s largest peatland…
“Covering nearly the same area as Norway, the Hudson Bay Lowlands in northern Ontario and Manitoba is home to the southernmost continuous expanse of permafrost in North America.”
“Why Nova Scotia’s warm winter might not be cause for celebration…
“People in Halifax just experienced their warmest January on record, and it wasn’t even close. Temperatures were five to six degrees above a 30-year average of past Januaries. While a warm winter’s day may feel like a relief for residents who pay to heat their homes, the long-term implications are nothing to celebrate.”
“Niagara Falls boat tours to break record for earliest opening due to mild winter.
“The after-effects of the winter that wasn’t in the Northeast are continuing to reveal themselves, as another recreational activity opens early due to mild weather conditions. The Niagara City Cruises, the famed boat tours that take tourists to the falls, is opening for the season on Thursday, the company announced.”
“Allergy season starts earlier now thanks to climate change.
“Spring seemed to come early in much of the United States this year, and nearly everyone with seasonal allergies noticed. As climate change causes winters to be warmer and plants begin blooming earlier, studies have shown that the pollen that causes allergy symptoms has been arriving earlier than in past decades.”
“North Carolina: Freeze threatens Triad fruit crops…
“After being fooled by a “false spring,” the Triad now finds itself bracing for bitter cold temperatures that could damage some fruit crops after they were awakened early from their winter slumber by record warmth in January and February of 2023.”
“Drought, population growth spur Dust Bowl fears [Oklahoma]…
“Norman Mayor Larry Heikkila [has] joined a chorus of experts who are sounding alarms against complacency because another devastating drought could be on the horizon and fast-growing communities in central Oklahoma and to the west could be caught flat-footed.”
“Two hikers were found dead and one has been rescued after authorities believe they were caught in a flash flood while trekking the popular Buckskin Gulch slot canyon in southern Utah…
“The flash flood may have been triggered by an atmospheric river that has drenched the West this weekand is producing high water flows in streams, rivers and slot canyons across southwest Utah.”
“Peru’s Desert Coast Braces for More Deadly Rains From Cyclone.
“Peruvian President Dina Boluarte announced that schools will suspend classes Wednesday in the capital city of Lima, as the desert metropolis expects the worst rains in recent memory. Peru’s coast is arid and cities by and large don’t have the drainage systems to deal with rain…”
“Shrinking glaciers upend lives across South America.
“The tropical glaciers of the Andes, which feed many of the rivers in the Amazon basin, are some of the fastest retreating ice packs in the world. Their disappearance is not only upending lives in mountain communities, it is also sparking water shortages and hampering hydro-electric power generation…”
“Manaus: Landslide leaves at least eight dead after heavy rains [Brazil].
“Authorities said that at least eight people, including four girls, had been killed after a landslide caused by heavy rains in Manaus, in the Brazilian State of Amazonas. The event occurred late Sunday in the precarious Nova Floresta neighborhood in Manaus.”
“‘Endless, brutal heat’: Argentina’s late-season heatwave has ‘no similarities in history’…
“The country’s summer, which technically runs from December to February, was by far the hottest on record, according to Maximiliano Herrara, a climatologist who tracks extreme temperatures across the globe. And, so far, March has offered no relief.”
“Argentina: Wildfires torch swathes in Northeast region, burning since March 12.
“Since the 12th of March, fires are raging in a forest area in Argentina. According to media reports, about 150 firefighters, police and three water bombing planes are working in unison to tame the huge fire that has been raging in country’s Northeastern region in a midst of a major drought affecting the entire province.”
“Warm weather, drought and fires: why it may feel like summer in France.
“Higher-than-normal temperatures, droughts and even forest fires – features we normally associate with the height of the summer. But France has experienced all three so far this year and we are only halfway through March. It has sparked fears the summer months will only worsen the situation further.”
“Germany introduces national water strategy as climate change forces action.
“Germany is a water-rich country, but weeks of high temperatures and scant rainfall in recent years have drained the water levels of the Rhine river, the country’s commercial artery, and hit farmers’ crops in many parts of the country.”
“The village of Sant Romà de Sau in Vilanova de Sau, Spain, is usually submerged underwater in the Sau reservoir, but extreme drought has lowered the water level enough to give locals the bittersweet experience of witnessing ruins they’ve never seen before.”
“Italy’s winter drought ravaging rivers and crops…
“The Po is currently 3.3 meters below normal levels, threatening a third of the country’s Made in Italy produce, including crops and key products, such as parmesan cheese and parma ham. Last year’s drought caused $5.5 billion worth of damage.”
“Turkish floods inundate two cities hit by quakes killing 14.
“Fourteen people have died and several others are missing after floods swept through the streets of two cities in south-east Turkey devastated by last month’s earthquakes. Among the victims were quake survivors who had been living in container homes since the quakes.”
“More extraordinary record heat from Matam, Senegal. On 14th March the village rose to 46.4C [115.5F] ,which is the highest temperature ever recorded in the Northern Hemisphere in the first half of March.
“We need to go to 19 March (in 1985) to find a higher temperature (Renk, South Sudan).”
“The devastation caused by a tropical storm that ripped through Malawi, killing 225 people is a “national tragedy”, the president has said.
“Lazarus Chakwera promised to intensify search and rescue operations, as he attended the funeral of some victims. Tropical Storm Freddy led to people being swept away by raging waters, or being buried under landslides.”
“Four children killed in a vehicle washed away by torrential rain in Saudi Arabia.
“Several areas in Saudi Arabia have been witnessing, for days, a state of unstable weather, storms and heavy rains, which led to the formation of torrential rains. The General Directorate of Civil Defense has also advised people to avoid going down into flooded valleys, puddles and torrential runoff in order to avoid dangers.”
“According to the the Forest Survey of India website, there are 337 large active forest fires in the country as of March 14. As summer comes early and rain seems a distant dream, the country gears up for more wildfires — that can be both natural or manmade.”
“India Landfill Fire Spewing Methane, Choking Residents.
“India’s climate challenges are piling up as the Brahmapuram landfill in Kerala state is the latest to catch fire. The “trash mountain” in Kerala state is choking nearby residents with methane emissions.”
“Images reveal the scale of catastrophic flooding in the Gulf of Carpentaria [northern Australia].
“Just weeks ago, residents and graziers in Queensland’s Gulf of Carpentaria were celebrating one of the strongest wet seasons in a decade. They are now preparing for a massive clean-up after unprecedented floods devastated infrastructure and livestock and caused the evacuation of entire towns.”
“Town to break 150-year-old heat record as temperatures soar.
“The NSW town of Bourke, not far from Queensland border, is predicted to hit a record-breaking four-day streak of 40C [104F] days from Thursday to Sunday… Four consecutive days of 40C temperatures have not been reported so far into autumn in more than 150 years of records.”
“Fire near Crookwell in the NSW Southern Tablelands upgraded to emergency level.
“Some people are being told it is too late to leave as the Curraweela blaze, about 40 kilometres north-east of Crookwell, grows rapidly. The now-633-hectare out-of-control fire is being fanned in an easterly direction by strong winds.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
“Record early start again for Tokyo’s cherry blossoms… In past years the country’s meteorologists have linked the increasingly early blooms to climate change, and temperatures in Tokyo have been unseasonably mild in recent days.
“Tokyo’s official cherry bloom records go back 70 years and the delicate white-pink flowers have only appeared this early in 2021 and 2020, according to the weather agency.”
“A firefighter died while trying to put out the main wildfire at Mount Jiri National Park in southern South Korea, 21 hours after it started, having burned more than 900,000 hectares of woodland.
“A firefighter was killed in responding to the blaze that began in the mountainous town of Hadong, 286 kilometres south of Seoul…”
“Pakistan braces for intense heat wave during summer season.
“… temperatures are predicted to be higher than usual not only for March but also for April and May. Previously, the average temperature during March was recorded as up to 26C [78.8F], with a slight increase observed last year. However, this year’s temperatures are expected to be even higher, with the PMD forecasting an intense heat wave in the coming months.”
“Iraqi PM Promises Action Against Crippling Climate Change.
“Climate change for years has compounded the woes of the troubled country. Droughts and increased water salinity have destroyed crops, animals and farms and dried up entire bodies of water. Hospitals have faced waves of patients with respiratory illnesses caused by rampant sandstorms…”
“More than 100 killed as Storm Freddy returns to Mozambique and Malawi.
“Mozambique and Malawi have been left counting the cost of Tropical Storm Freddy, which killed more than 100 people, injured scores and left a trail of destruction as it ripped through southern Africa for the second time in a month over the weekend.”
“Declare drought an emergency now or we die, governor pleads [Kenya].
“Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif has spent the past few weeks knocking on doors to seek relief aid for the humanitarian crisis afflicting his people. Khalif has met national government officials and development partners, explaining the dire situation facing residents of Mandera and those from the Northern region as a whole…”
“EU Warns of Heavy Droughts in North Africa and Turkiye…
““Following the extreme drought and heatwaves in 2022, two large regions in the Mediterranean show severe dry conditions in early 2023,” an announcement about the report said. “These may trigger potential impacts on agriculture ahead of the 2023 summer season.””
“Part of Europe (Spain, France, Germany and Switzerland) is living a historic warm spell, with hundreds stations at record levels.
“Today Germany with 23.9C [75F] at Rheinfelden set a new record for the first half of March; 23.4C at Basel, Switzerland, 23C in Liechtenstein and Andorra.”
“Flocking to the beaches as Mallorca registers record high temperatures for March; 28.4C [83.1F] in Son Servera.
“What a difference a week makes. Last weekend, there were pleas for people not to go into the mountains to see the snow. Temperatures were recovering, but this Saturday they were breaking records”
“Mind blowing warmth in France today with 20 stations above 27C [80.6F]! Even in places above 500m above sea level. It’s no less than a July average afternoon.
“Verdun located at 550m asl reached 28.7C. Many monthly records were broken including Agen with 26.5C and Serralongue (700m) with 25.8C.”
“UK river levels already at record lows forecast to be ‘devastated’ by dry spring.
“River levels across the UK have been at record lows and are likely to be “devastated”, as new data forecasts broadly dry weather until at least May. Campaigners have said the government and water companies have not done enough to conserve water supplies.”
“Peak District village battered by possible tornado.
“Strong winds, that have been compared to a tornado, have taken down trees, blown over walls and taken off roofs in a Derbyshire village. Severe gusts hit Great Hucklow in the Peak District at about 06:00 GMT.”
“Marine heatwaves are sweeping the seafloor around North America.
“Heatwaves unfolding on the bottom of the ocean can be more intense and last longer than those on the sea surface, new research suggests, but such extremes in the deep ocean are often overlooked.”
“Huge seaweed bloom that can be seen from space threatening beaches in Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.
“A vast blanket of seaweed about 5,000 miles across is threatening beaches along the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean… ocean currents are now pushing tonnes of the seaweed on to beaches, causing big problems. There it can choke corals, wreak havoc on coastal ecosystems and diminish water and air quality as it rots.”
“Las Vegas water agency seeks power to limit residential use.
“Nevada lawmakers are considering a remarkable shift in allowing the water agency that manages the Colorado River supply for Las Vegas to limit single-family residential use in the desert city and surrounding county.”
“The Southern Sierra Nevada now officially has its largest snowpack in recorded history, passing 1982-1983. The snowpack is a staggering 244% of the peak snowpack average.”
“Another atmospheric river creeps into storm-ravaged California, fueling more evacuation alerts and flooding concerns…
“More than 30 million people across the state were under flood alerts as the West’s 11th atmospheric river of the season pushed into northern California and aimed towards central and southern California Tuesday, battering ground already saturated with water from the last round of rain and swollen rivers that have overflowed their banks.”
“‘I lost everything’: Cyclone Yaku unleashes destruction in Peru.
“Powerful Cyclone Yaku has unleashed torrents of rain on Peru’s northern region in recent days, burying homes and cars in mud and leading to the deaths of at least six people… The cyclone is the latest crisis hitting Peru, where anti-government protests have rocked the country…”
“Buenos Aires had a red weather warning, reaching a record 38.6 °C at 2 p.m.— the highest temperature in 117 years [of record-keeping] for March, according to the SMN [also beats the February record].
“The agency also said that for the first time in history, the city of Buenos Aires exceeded the maximum temperature threshold for a heat wave (32.3 °C) for 12 consecutive days.”
“The east coast of Australia is set to be blasted by four days of 40 degree heat this weekend – as forecasters officially declare La Nina over.
“The Bureau of Meteorology officially announced the end of La Nina on Tuesday, after the weather phenomenon brought three years of disastrous wet weather across Australia.”
“Water disasters on both ends of the spectrum – dry and wet – are getting more intense as planet warms, study finds.
“From lengthy droughts to severe flooding, the intensity of water-related disasters around the world has increased over the last two decades as global temperatures climbed to record levels, according to new research.”
“Food brands struggling to weather the ‘polycrisis’ unleashed by war and climate change.
“While business and government leaders have been dealing with risks such as geopolitical tension and natural disasters for centuries, others, like ecosystem collapse and the consequences of failing to mitigate climate change, feel more like uncharted territory.”
“Insect Pests Attacking Crops Are Developing Resistance to Biopesticides…
“As the world’s population grows, the evolution of resistance to biopesticides, a critical tool in the development of sustainable crop protection, has huge implications for global food security.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
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“Extreme heat and drought: Argentina suffers its most scorching summer ever.
“Argentina is enduring this year’s hottest summer on record, with record temperatures and lack of rainfall damaging agriculture and keeping the country under a weather alert, according to official data… This week, a red alert covers a third of the country.”
“This March heat wave in Argentina has been extreme (see SMN 1-7 March anomalies of Max. temp. up to +10C vs 91-20) and it’s getting worse. Today more records for March fell:
“Argentina’s ‘unprecedented’ drought pummels farmers and economy.
“A historic drought ravaging Argentina’s crops is deepening the grain exporting giant’s economic crisis, crushing farmers across the Pampas, heightening default fears and putting at risk targets agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).”
“South America: High temperatures forecast to continue…
“High temperatures are likely to persist across parts of eastern Argentina, far southern Brazil, and western Uruguay through at least March 13. Temperatures of up to around 39 C (102 F) are possible across parts of the affected area over the coming days.”
“Record deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest shows challenge facing Lula.
“Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest rose in February to the highest level on record for the month, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the administration of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, as it tries to undo the environmental destruction wreaked under the far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro.”
“Wildfires in Jamaica surged 224 percent in February
“The always-on drought conditions fueled such a situation, stressed Stewart Beckford, while setting at 1,303 the reports of wildfires reported, over 402 similar month of 2022. Climate change puts pressure on our resources, he said, and urged farmers to give up using the slash-and-burn technique.”
“Catastrophic flash floods have hit California as the state is slammed by its third major storm of the year.
“The devastating ‘Pineapple Express’ storm hit the West Coast on Thursday evening, placing 21 counties under a state of emergency while evacuation orders were issued in several coastal counties… rapidly melting snow is leading to fears over severe property damage and travel chaos in the coming days.”
“Sunny skies accounted for 126,000 of the jobs added in January, according to the bank’s analysis, which drew on research into the effects of weather on employment by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco… the weather clearly matters when it comes to price stability, even if its precise effects remain hard to quantify.”
“Climate scientists tell Britons to brace for frequent wild weather.
“The sudden swing from the extreme dryness of February to March’s wetter conditions comes as new research suggests Britons will need to prepare for greater frequency of extreme rainfall events that can lead to flash flooding.”
“An apparent tornado made out of snow was spotted in Scotland.
“In an exceptionally rare close-up video, an apparent tornado was captured within a snow squall in Scotland on Tuesday… while we can’t conclude definitively, we can assert it probably was a tornado rather than a run-of-the-mill snow whirl.”
“Drought fears fuel race to use sea for drinking water [UK]…
“… the country’s biggest water firm, Thames Water, is rushing to finish maintenance on the UK’s only large-scale desalination facility. The Beckton plant in east London was offline last summer during an extreme dry spell, and is still not operational.”
“Seven French départements on weather alert for high winds…
“In Languedoc area, gusts of wind reached up to 140 km/h [87mph], and in the Aude département gusts of 120 km/h were recorded. Corsica has experienced the highest wind, with gusts reaching up to 180km/h [112mph] in Balagne.”
“Heat wave in March? The AEMET explains what the rise in temperatures in Spain will mean…
“In cities such as Murcia, Alicante, Valencia or Castellón temperatures can exceed 30 degrees [86F]. “Among the most remarkable data is that in Valencia it has never reached 30 degrees in the first half of March, with data from 1869,” says Del Campo.”
“Po river authority warns of worsening drought [Italy]…
“Low levels of rain and snowfall this winter have exacerbated an already difficult situation after the severe drought and long series of heat waves Italy endured last summer hit its water resources badly. Mild winter temperatures have also brought forward the melting of snow on the mountains.”
“Severe water scarcity worries Istanbulites amid driest season in decades…
“Ekrem Imamoglu, mayor of Istanbul, said insufficient rainfall for the past few months has put more strains on the already-limited water resources in Istanbul, a city that hosts more than 20 million people and consumes 1.1 billion cubic meters of water every year.”
“Harsh heat wave in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia highlands. Yesterday Tubu in Botswana (967m above sea level) rose to 41.1C [106F], which ties the highest temperature ever recorded in March in Botswana.
“In South Africa; 42.6C Twee Rivieren (879m) record 42.9; 41.2C Van Zylrus (938m) record 41.3.”
“Rwanda experienced a rare heat wave across the country in the past week, with a record high of 33 degrees Celsius in the capital city, Kigali.
“The highest temperatures in the capital, partly blamed on climate change, were “recorded for four consecutive days from March 5 to 8,” the Rwanda Meteorology Agency said in its weather updates on Thursday.”
“The storms and floods that have hit Mozambique since February have taken the lives of 117 people…
“Cyclone Freddy was responsible for much of the damage. When it hit… in late February, it dropped between 300 and 900 millimetres [35.4 inches] of rain in 24 hours. Instead of dissipating, this cyclone has returned to the Mozambique Channel and is now heading northwards towards Zambezia province, where it is expected to make landfall on Friday.”
“Schools in Goa [India] allowed students to return home at 12 noon on Thursday as heatwave conditions in the state worsened.
“A circular issued by state Director of Education Shailesh Sinai Zingade stated the heat wave will continue for another day as per the India Meteorological Department, due to which classes will be curtailed at noon on Friday as well.”
“Worst fires in Goa’s history burn down rare biodiversity.
“Scorched and burnt, Goa’s forests that have been ablaze for a week may have lost some of its biodiversity forever, while the evergreen Western Ghats may take years to regenerate.”
“Lack of cross-border flood alerts adds to disaster fears in Nepal.
“As climate change heats the planet, making rainfall more extreme and accelerating the melting of glaciers, Himalayan nations such as Nepal are facing growing risks from floods, often driven by glacial lake outbursts… a lack of information sharing among China, India and Nepal is hampering protection efforts.”
“Parts of northern China were hit by high temperatures on Thursday that smashed seasonal records, with the city of Shahe hitting 31.8 Celsius (89 Fahrenheit), official data showed.
“Besides Shahe, regions such as Gaoyi, Yongnian and Handan, all in Hebei province, surpassed the 30C / 86F mark earlier in the year than ever before, as well as experiencing their highest temperatures on record for the first half of March.”
“Incredible warm spell in China with a total of 585 stations breaking the records of highest temperature for early March and 21 for the whole of March.
“Some stations were nearly 6C above the previous record! like Beijing 27.9C [82.2F]. Today up to 34.3C in China.”
“Beijing air quality plummets amid dust storm, pollution.
“Concentrations of the tiny PM2.5 particles that can reach deep into the lungs and bloodstream entered a dangerous range on air quality monitoring sites, with the IQAir website showing an air quality index of 1,093, a “hazardous” level, many times higher than what are considered “unhealthy” levels.”
“Record-breaking floods in north-west Queensland cause partial evacuation of outback town.
“Vulnerable people will be evacuated from an outback town by air amid widespread record-breaking floods across Queensland’s vast north-west. Small helicopters and planes will be used to airlift elderly people from Burketown near the Gulf of Carpentaria to Mount Isa…”
“Longest New South Wales flood operation in SES history finally over after nearly six months.
“The largest and longest flood response operation on record from the New South Wales State Emergency Service (SES) has today come to a welcome end. The SES began ramping up operations for a major flood response in western NSW 177 days ago.”
“‘It is ginormous’: bushfire in NSW’s central west puts rural communities on edge…
“Dozens of fires have been burning across NSW since Sunday as gusty winds and vegetation growth from last year’s high rainfall make it easier for flames to catch, according to Dean Narramore, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology.”
“US forecaster says El Nino could arrive by summer 2023…
“”The forecaster consensus favors ENSO-neutral through summer 2023, with elevated chances of El Niño developing afterwards,” the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center said.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back on Monday with an “Economic” thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
“Deadly cyclone Freddy has become Earth’s longest-lived tropical storm… Now, poised to hit Mozambique for a second time, the storm has set a world record for tropical storm longevity, enduring 31 days and counting…
“Over its lifetime, Freddy has tracked more than 5,000 miles since it developed between Western Australia and Indonesia and even attained the strength of a Category 5 hurricane. It’s presently crossing the Mozambique Channel for a third time.
“Remarkably, the storm has rapidly intensified [an unprecedented] six times.”
“After Hottest February on Record, IMD Predicts It’s Only Going To Get Hotter [India]…
“There will be a higher possibility for the occurrence of heat waves, and India will need to prepare for this, it said. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has already written to states to take adequate measures to prepare for heatwave conditions.”
“Water Crisis Deepens in Delhi, Situation To Get Worse as City Braces for Harsh Summer…
“”It’s just February-March and the situation is similar to what Delhi saw in May last year. It means the problem is going to get worse in the coming months. Authorities have predicted an unprecedented summer this year,” Delhi Jal Board’s chairman Saurabh Bhardwaj said.”
“Record heat in Central Asia yesterday: 35.0 [95F] Turkmenistan; 30.5 Uzbekistan (will rise to 32/33C next days); 27.6 Kazakhstan; In Tajikistan 26.4 at Pendzikent at more than 1000m above sea level.
“Incredible heat in Northern Iran with 37.6C [99.7F] at Ezbaram, 25C above average and 8C above July average! [almost 38C at 37N of latitude on the Caspian coast – a world record for early march for that latitude, even above Death Valley!]”
““March 8 – A heavy dust storm hit the southern Mongolian province of Umnugovi on Wednesday, causing low visibility on roads…
“Located in the Gobi Desert region of southern Mongolia, Ummugovi is one of the provinces most affected by desertification. More than 70 percent of the province’s total territory had been somehow affected by desertification and land degradation, according to the provincial governor’s office.”
“China hits record high temperatures for early March, drought-like conditions in several parts.
“Temperatures in more than a dozen major Chinese cities last week reached record highs for the season. Temperatures in Wuhan and Zhengzhou in central China rose by more than 10 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) and were higher than the usual for early March, according to government data.”
“Desperate elephants flee massive forest fires in eastern Thailand.
“Desperate wild elephants are fleeing massive forest fires in Thailand’s eastern Trat province. The fires have destroyed more than 2,500 rai of forests since February 26, and the poor creatures are trying to escape.”
“Indonesia sends more rescuers as extreme weather hampers search after landslide.
“More rescuers and heavy machinery will be sent to Indonesia’s disaster-hit Serasan Island to search for dozens still missing after a deadly landslide, a disaster official said on Tuesday. The landslide struck Monday in the remote Natuna region between Borneo and peninsular Malaysia.”
“Threat of rising seas to Asian megacities could be way worse than we thought, study warns.
“…a report published in the journal Nature Climate Change offers fresh insight and stark warnings about how bad the impact could be for millions of people… the study suggests that previous analysis underestimated the degree of sea level rise and subsequent flooding caused by natural ocean fluctuations.”
“‘Insane’ – Gallipoli Station floods as 415mm [16.3 inches] of rain fall in one week [NT, Australia]…
“… a Barkly cattle station has shared incredible images of the extent of the flooding. Yarraki Dodd took to social media to showcase the ‘water views’ at Gallipoli Station, an outstation to Alexandria, one of the country’s largest cattle stations on the border between the Northern Territory and Queensland.”
“Parts of Queensland have been issued with more flood warnings as water levels continue to rise.
“Major flood warnings have been issued for the Nicholson, Gregory and Leichhardt Rivers and the surrounding areas. Burketown is expected to bear the brunt of the flood, with water levels expected to exceed the March 2011 record of 6.87m on Friday.“
“NSW RFS shares hectic vision of fire burning through state’s Central West as emergency crews respond.
“NSW Rural Fire Service has warned a bushfire which broke out on Monday is continuing to spread across the state’s Central West. In hectic vision shared to Twitter on Wednesday, flames are seen bursting through the Tambaroora area, north of Hill End.”
“Massive Australia wildfires increased Antarctic ozone hole: study.
“Smoke from monster wildfires in Australia caused a chemical reaction that widened the ozone hole 10 percent, researchers said Wednesday, raising fears that increasing forest fires could delay the recovery of Earth’s atmospheric protection against deadly UV radiation.”
“Signs of El Niño appear on the coasts of Peru and Ecuador.
“The equatorial Pacific is undergoing strong changes: the current La Niña is weakening and in certain areas of the coast of South America appear the first signs of warming surface waters with warm anomalies, signs of an incipient El Niño.”
“More records of monthly high temperatures in Peru, this time mostly in the highlands with exceptional temperatures up to 30C / 86F at 2500m above sea level and 23C at 4000m…
“In Chile temperature reached 32C/90F at 3120m/10200ft at Toconao.”
“February 2023 in Argentina had record hot spells interrupted by a brief but intense cold spell.
“As a result, temperature anomalies ranged from average to +2C above the 91-20 normal; Dry conditions continued in most of the country; summer was the hottest on record.”
“Cuba tobacco farmers recuperate after ruinous Hurricane Ian…
““Not a single tobacco house was left standing. There were no warehouses, there was no tree left,” Robaino told The Associated Press, remembering how the storm left the region at the end of September. “Everything broke and at that moment I did not believe it was possible to plant.””
“Atmospheric river comes for California as experts warn it ‘could get really ugly’…
“The state is still recovering from a series of major snow storms in late February that officials described as a “once-in-a-generation” event. Gavin Newsom, the state’s governor, declared emergencies in 13 of California’s 58 counties in response to the extreme weather.”
“The temperature reached 90F (32.2C) at Miami. That broke the daily record of 88F (31.1C) from 1992 and 2003. It was the 3rd consecutive 90F (32.2C) day and the earliest heatwave by more than a month.
“The previous earliest heatwave occurred during April 8-10, 2020.”
“These 12 US states had the hottest January and February ever recorded…
“Twelve states – New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia – had their hottest January and February ever recorded. A further 18 states had a top-ten hottest January and February.”
“Greenland temperatures surge up to 50 degrees above normal, setting records.
“Temperatures soared to record levels in Greenland early this week, up to 50 degrees above normal in some places… This latest warm spell in Greenland pushed the temperature in its capital, Nuuk, up to 59.4 degrees (15.2 Celsius) on Sunday, the warmest on record for March or April…”
“Scientists have revived a ‘zombie’ virus that spent 48,500 years frozen in permafrost…
“An anthrax outbreak in Siberia that affected dozens of humans and more than 2,000 reindeer between July and August in 2016 has also been linked to the deeper thawing of the permafrost during exceptionally hot summers, allowing old spores of Bacillus anthracis to resurface from old burial grounds or animal carcasses.”
“Europe is emerging from its second-warmest winter on record as climate change continues to intensify.
“The average temperature in Europe from December to February was 1.4 degrees Celsius (2.8 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 1991-2020 average for the Boreal winter season, according to data published by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.”
“2023 is expected to get even hotter [than 2022]. This is partly because a cooling weather pattern known as La Niña that has been in place for three years will come to an end. It is also due to greenhouse gas emissions pushing up temperatures, according to the UK’s Met Office.”
“Women’s Day in Italy hit by drought as flower supply dries up.
“The mimosa harvest has fallen by a third, with a drop in rainfall and higher temperatures forcing farmers to garner the twigs ahead of time, agricultural association Coldiretti said in a statement.”
“Tunisia wheat crop to drop by ‘at least’ 15% amid drought.
“Tunisia’s farmers have suffered the effect of persistent drought conditions across the country with a prolonged rainfall deficit expected to decrease wheat production by at least 15% in 2023, trade sources have told Agricensus.”
“Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has reaffirmed Egypt’s reliance on its Arab brothers to urge Ethiopia to refrain from its unilateral acts regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)…
“This comes while Ethiopia continues to fill and operate the dam despite failing to reach an agreement with the two downstream countries of Sudan and Egypt, the minister added.”
“Flash floods: why are more of them devastating the world’s driest regions?
“…Climate change is making such events more intense and frequent. In parts of Pakistan, for example, the 5-day maximum level of rainfall is 75% greater today than it was before 1900. Our analysis shows that globally, the rate of dryland flash flooding was 20 times higher between 2000 and 2022 than it was between 1900 and 1999.”
“Extreme rainfall events could become four times more frequent by 2080 if climate change continues, according to Britain’s top weather forecasters.
“For every degree of regional warming, the intensity of extreme downpours could also increase by 5 to 15 per cent, said climate scientists at the Met Office.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
“As far as I know, your work is unique in pulling together stories from all over the world. Very sobering but a better and more complete view. Terrific and necessary work. Thank you!” – Simon
“With the inundation of so much depressing news, Justin Panopticon presents it in a succinct format that one can quickly go thru and see the big picture of climate and economics/politics to stay current and if a particle topic is of interest one can delve into the details… I try never to miss any of his posts…I am a Patreon of his work.”
– Karina S.
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Weekday updates on both climate change and the global economy. Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.