“11th January was a historic day in Buenos Aires. The City Observatory (OCBA) which data started in 1906, recorded its 2nd highest temperature ever with 41.1C [106F] only behind the Jan 1957 record of 43.3C. All time high at Punta Indio with 41.1C (previous 40.5C in 1957).
“‘Furnace’: Argentina roasts in record-setting heat wave…
“With temperatures up around 45°C (113°F) in parts of the South American nation, hundreds of thousands of people were left without electricity when power grids failed in and around populous capital city Buenos Aires.”
“Drought already affects 40% of [Argentina’s] fields planted with soybeans and corn…
“This week’s extreme temperatures across the national agricultural zone have deepened fears about the water situation of soybean and corn crops… the government… on Tuesday announced emergency measures to alleviate the climate crisis.”
“No change in sight for downspouts [ie lowering of water levels] – particularly of the Paraná river…
“The Paraná River Tuesday recorded once again a minus 46 centimeters downspout in front of the capital of the Argentine Province of Entre Ríos, thus repeating Aug. 18’s all-time low, Argentine Coast Guard confirmed, as the entire country goes through an unprecedented heatwave.”
“Paraguay: Dramatic footage shows firefighters battling raging blaze in Villeta. At least 40 firefighters and eight trucks were mobilised to the scene.
“Firefighters have been battling a raging forest fire in Villeta, Paraguay, for more than eight hours, as it spread through bushes and trees burning around 2,000 hectares.” [Video]
“Torrential rain kills 10 including 11-year-old girl in Brazil.
“Floods and landslides caused by torrential rains killed 10 people, including an 11-year-old girl, in two days in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state, an official report from the State Coordinator of Civil Defense said Tuesday, as it also warned of more intense downpours in the region.”
““I’ve been studying manatees for around 50 years, and I am totally shocked and flabbergasted by this number,” James “Buddy” Powell, president of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and executive director of its research institute, told the Tampa Bay Times.”
“December 2021 in USA had an average temperature of 39.34F, a staggering, exact 5F above the 1991-2020 normal and was by far the warmest December on records.
“The difference within any other December is abysmal. See NCDC graph and top 10 warmest December.”
“Arctic front hits America with lows of -45C [-49F].
“Fifteen million Americans in 12 states were warned about wind chill today after temperatures plunged this week. The United States National Weather Service said wind chills of -35C to -40C were capable of causing “frostbite on exposed skin in as little as ten minutes”.”
“B.C. braces for heavy rain, potential floods as latest atmospheric river arrives.
“The latest atmospheric river to wash over British Columbia was expected to soak parts of the south coast with as much as 150 millimetres of rain in a series of waves that won’t relent until Thursday, Environment Canada said.”
“Canada’s wheat exports are expected to see a sharp fall in this marketing year as the exportable surplus is seen tightening with output at lowest in more than 14 years amid one of the warmest and driest summers on record.
“In MY 2021-22, Canada is likely to harvest 21.7 million mt of wheat, down sharply from 35.2 million mt the year before, AAFC said.”
“Last year was officially the warmest in Montreal’s history… Legault says that “had it not been for this past July, which was colder than usual, 2021 would have shattered the record” rather than coming very close to the second and third place years.”
“German Floods Cost a Record $40 Billion, Munich Re Estimates.
“Germany suffered its costliest natural disaster on record last year, as flash floods led to damages that vastly exceeded the amount covered by insurers. Torrential rainfall that devastated parts of western Germany in July 2021 cost Europe’s biggest economy $40 billion…”
“A elderly woman has died, schools remain closed and transport services significantly disrupted after major flooding hit south west France… In Haute-Garonne and Ariège, the equivalent of one month of rainfall fell in 48 hours.”
“The new floods in Navarre [Spain], a month after the historic flood, keep citizens on alert…
“This weekend the alarms went off again in Navarre before the sudden flooding of the rivers, a consequence of the rainfall of the last hours and the thaw. The increase in the flow has led the Government of Navarre to activate the pre-emergency level of the Special Flood Plan…”
“India’s Deadly Air Pollution Keeps Getting Worse Not Better.
“India is failing in efforts to improve its toxic air quality, with the number of smog-plagued cities increasing since the launch of a national program to tackle the issue… More than 90% of India’s population lives in areas where air quality is below World Health Organization standards.”
“Eight people perish in Papua floods as disasters sweep nation [Indonesia]…
“Heavy rains have led numerous rivers to break their banks flooding entire areas of the province. In recent days, Sumatra (three children dead and 32,000 displaced) and North Aceh have also been hit. Unregulated deforestation and illegal logging at the origin of the floods.”
“The historic town of Lithgow [NSW, Australia] is cleaning up the damage from what locals describe as a storm so ferocious it flooded homes and businesses, on a scale never seen before.
“A weather system that moved from Dubbo to the east hit the main street early yesterday afternoon, and what unfolded caught most people by surprise. In as little as half an hour, more than 70mm fell [around three inches].”
“2021 officially New Zealand’s hottest year on record, Niwa says.
“The country saw an average temperature of 13.56 degrees Celsius, almost an entire degree above the 1981-2010 average. It’s the warmest since records began back in 1908, with the previous hottest year being 2016.”
“Over 4,000 Fijians in evacuation centers due to tropical cyclone.
“Around 4,630 people were taking shelter in 162 evacuation centers across Fiji after TD03F, which later developed into Tropical Cyclone Cody, brought incessant heavy rain and floods over the last couple of days.”
“Study finds recent growth and sudden declines in Antarctic sea ice to be unique changes since the early 20th century.
“A study led by Ohio University researchers shows that the increase of sea ice surrounding Antarctica since 1979 is a unique feature of Antarctic climate since 1905—an observation that paints a dramatic first-ever picture for weather and climate implications on the world’s southernmost continent.”
“In Yakutia, where the permafrost can be nearly a mile deep, annual temperatures have risen by more than two degrees Celsius since the Industrial Revolution, twice the global average. As the air gets hotter, so does the soil.”
“Permafrost thaw places one-fifth of northern hemisphere at risk.
“Half the buildings, roads and other infrastructure in the world’s cold regions will be at risk within 30 years because climate change is thawing the permafrost beneath them… Already [scientists] have found 80pc of buildings in some of Russia’s northern cities showing signs of damage.”
“Greenland ice sheet shrinks for 25th consecutive year.
“The ice sheet in Greenland has shrunk for the 25th year in a row, according to new data from the UN. The report reveals that the melting season was initially delayed by late and heavy snowfall in June but followed a heatwave in July, leading to very large losses of ice.”
“The last seven years have been the warmest on record as planet approaches critical threshold.
“…the world is already feeling unprecedented effects of the climate crisis many are not prepared for, including significant melting events in the Arctic, deadly floods, unprecedented heat waves and historic droughts…. global greenhouse gas concentrations… continue to surge.”
“Hottest ocean temperatures in history recorded last year.
“The world’s oceans have been set to simmer, and the heat is being cranked up. Last year saw the hottest ocean temperatures in recorded history, the sixth consecutive year that this record has been broken, according to new research.”
“The top 10 global weather and climate change events of 2021.
“The most extreme heat wave in modern history, a record four $20 billion-plus weather disasters, and the hottest month on record globally highlighted a remarkable year in weather and climate.”
“Wild weather around the world wreaked havoc on markets for raw materials, lifting prices for everything from electricity and heat to houses and breakfast cereal.”
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 really means a lot.
“The death toll due to unprecedented snowfall and a rush of tourists in Pakistan’s popular hill station of Murree reached 23 on Sunday after a minor girl, suffering from severe cold and pneumonia, died…
“Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said… that the situation can only be described as a “natural calamity” and that the area had witnessed “extreme snowfall”.”
“Hong Kong cooks after record-breaking hottest year since [records began in] 1884, Observatory says… with 11 months of 2021 being warmer than usual, according to an annual summary from the weather forecaster…
“Last year’s average maximum temperature of 27.5 degrees and minimum temperature of 22.6 degrees were the highest on record.”
“Flooding in Jember District, East Java Province [Indonesia], on Sunday, claimed two lives and rendered one resident missing…
“The flash floods swamped 440 houses, three places of worship, and two shops, thereby affecting 440 families comprising 1,668 people… The floodwaters began to recede, though leaving behind trash and mud in the affected areas.”
“Nine dead, hundreds ill with diarrhoea in typhoon-hit Philippines.
“Nine people have died and hundreds have fallen ill with diarrhoea in areas of the Philippines wrecked by a typhoon last month, with aid officials warning of a health crisis as millions struggle to secure clean water and food.”
“Entire town is ordered to evacuate as a man drowns and a teen girl goes missing amid wild weather and flooding across Australia’s east coast…
“Ex-cyclone Seth dumped a ‘surprise’ 673mm of rain in just 24 hours on Marodian, a community northwest of Gympie on the Fraser Coast. Meteorologists were shocked…”
“Widespread flooding in parts of Ba, Tavua, Nadi and Rakiraki [Fiji]; The Ba river has burst its bank…
“There is now a Tropical Cyclone Warning in force for the whole of Fiji. The Weather Office is also saying that major town centres in Nadi, Ba, Rakiraki and Tavua are at high risk of severe flooding.”
“Extreme heat Warning sign building in [central] South America is going to test infrastructure to the limit and threaten many all-time heat records [50C/122F possible!].
“Some areas are already under exceptional drought conditions. This incoming heatwave cannot be underestimated.”
“Water shortages as Chile’s record drought becomes ‘permanent’”… Chile’s government says a critical water shortage brought on by the longest drought in history is much worse than thought.
“Experts say the country is now facing an unprecedented climate emergency.” [Video]
“Survivor reveals the horrifying moment Brazilian cliff collapsed as death toll rises to ten…
“The region has been under heavy rainfall for two weeks, which officials suggest could have loosened the rock face. On Saturday, a dike overflowed at an iron ore mine about 180 miles to the east, cutting off a major federal highway.”
“Winter drought deepens in Waco region [Texas] after record heat in December.
“The regional drought, which the U.S. Drought Monitor classifies as “severe,” has stunted pastures and row crops, raised wildfire threats and lowered the levels of lakes and stock ponds. Little relief is in sight…”
“Hot December puts Georgia’s fruit growers on edge; Record-high winter temperatures put blueberry, peach crops at risk…
“Georgia’s most important fruit crops rely on a delicate balance of warm and cold temperatures delivered at just the right times. Too much warmth early in winter can cause problems…”
“Snow and record rain fuel flooding threat in US Pacific north-west.
“At least one person was missing, presumed dead as snow turned to rain and deluged the Pacific north-west on Friday, causing flooding, landslides and avalanche danger in the mountains.”
“B.C.’s record rainfall may be the new normal, experts warn…
““It’s very consistent with what climate projections describe [of] the reality coming for us,” said Armel Castellan, a warning preparedness meteorologist with the agency. “This was an example of what we can expect more of.””
“An Arctic blast sets the Northeast and Upper Midwest in a deep freeze as a tornado strikes Alabama.
“As frigid, arctic air engulfs the Upper Midwest and Northeast, some Gulf Coast states are at risk for more tornadoes. About 10 million people are under wind chill advisories in parts of North Dakota, Minnesota…”
“Iceland’s third-largest glacier and the largest glacier mass in Europe is now dissolving at rates never before seen in human history.That’s because of human-caused climate change…
“Iceland has now lost so much ice that with less weight from the glaciers, the land is rising. That’s making some harbors shallower, making it harder for boats to navigate.”
“Extreme risk of forest fires throughout the province [Valencia, Spain]…
“At a time when the usual thing should be that the alerts are warnings for precipitation, both in the form of rain and snow, or for low temperatures, the meteorological anomaly leads to worry about a matter more typical of the hot months.”
“Only 18 Hours of Sunshine in Ljubljana Last December, Despite Record Temperatures Around Slovenia…
“Some of the freakiest weather events [0f 2021] include a record high of 25 Celsius measured in the western Vipava Valley in February and 20.6 degrees below zero in the Bloke area in south central Slovenia in April.”
“Seven killed in Eastern Cape floods, hundreds affected… Hundreds more have now been left homeless…
“…the video footage of some of the rising water levels is nothing short of terrifying…
“Several bridges and roads were seen being completely engulfed by rapid water. Several houses and informal structures were also almost completely washed away.”
“[Western] Cape heatwave: Residents urged to report fires as heatwave continues.
“Over 80 vegetation fires have been reported in the Cape Town metro going into the weekend. Firefighters have managed to contain a blaze on Signal Hill.
“Lightning destroys building in Mandela’s birthplace.
“A fire ignited by a lightning strike has destroyed a tourism building in a South African village where anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela was born, his family announced on Sunday… Mandela was elected as first president of democratic South Africa in May 1994 and held the role until June 1999. He died aged 95 in 2013.”
“Victoria Falls residents [Zimbabwe] are counting their losses after flash floods caused by incessant rains that pounded the city since Friday destroyed pre-cast walls, household property, gardens and washed away some roads.
“The rains started falling on Friday morning until late afternoon before resuming on Saturday morning until evening. It was also raining yesterday.”
“South Sudan – Hundreds of Thousands Still Living in Precarious Conditions Months After Floods…
“Eight months since flooding began, [835,000] people in Unity State continue to suffer, stuck in poor living conditions and at risk of outbreaks of infectious and waterborne diseases. Spread across several makeshift camp sites, they face food insecurity, a loss of income, malnutrition, and a lack of safe drinking water.”
“More than 400 weather stations around the world beat their all-time highest temperature records in 2021…
“Ten countries – Oman, UAE, Canada, the United States, Morocco, Turkey, Taiwan, Italy, Tunisia and Dominica – broke or tied their national highest record, 107 countries beat their monthly high temperature record, and five beat their monthly low temperature record.”
“Record levels of greenhouse gas methane are a ‘fire alarm moment’…
“According to data compiled by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), average atmospheric concentrations of methane reached a record 1900 parts per billion (ppb) in September 2021, the highest in nearly four decades of records. The figure stood at 1638 ppb in 1983.”
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 really means a lot.
“Another sign things are getting weird: Lightning around the North Pole increased dramatically in 2021…
“Vaisala, an environmental monitoring company that tracks lightning around the world, reported 7,278 lightning strokes occurred last year north of 80 degrees latitude, nearly twice as many as the previous nine years combined.”
“Highest minimum temperatures ever for December recorded at seven weather stations [Ireland].
“If you thought December to be milder than usual, you were not wrong, as seven weather stations in Ireland recorded their highest minimum temperature for December ever last month, Met Éireann has said.”
“Christmas Day broke record for highest daily rainfall in December…
“Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford [Ireland]weather station recorded 58.9mm daily total rainfall on Saturday 25th December, its wettest December day since its records began 80 years ago.”
“Living on the edge! Hundreds of caravans are now just yards from the precipice of Devon cliff [UK] after huge landslide sent tons of cliff crashing onto the beach below…
“It follows a number of cliff falls in the area over the last 18 months, with Exmouth and Sidmouth seeing some of the most severe.”
“5th January was the warmest January day on record for Moldova:
“With 17.4C [63.3F] Tiraspol recorded a new January national record smashing the 16.0C of Dubosari on 21 January 2007. 5 days into 2022 and already 5 countries broke their January record of highest temperature.”
“Deforestation Has Doubled Risk of Flash Flooding in Fast-Growing West African Coastal Cities…
“The frequency of thunderstorms in some fast-growing African coastal cities has doubled over the past 30 years, with much of this increase linked to the impact of deforestation on the local climate, a study has found.”
“In Madagascar, beekeepers persist in the face of fires and forest loss…
“The Anjozorobe Angavo forest corridor is one of the few remaining primary forests in the Central Highlands of Madagascar. Home to a number of rare and endemic species, this primary forest is undergoing a rapid decline, driven primarily by fires.”
“Failed Rainy Seasons Bring Famine Concerns to Eastern Africa.
“Following three consecutive failed rainy seasons, more than 20 million people in eastern Africa now face some of the worst food security risks in 35 years. Climate and agriculture experts are advising governments and relief agencies to expect a significant need for food assistance in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia.”
“Torrential rain wreaks havoc in Kasur, Balochistan [Pakistan]… At least three people on Thursday have lost their lives while six others sustained severe injuries in two separate rain-related mishaps in Kasur…
“Balochistan is facing worst rain disaster as emergency has been imposed in Kech and Pasni.”
“Afghanistan: 11 killed, 23 injured in snow avalanches, floodsacross Afghanistan on Wednesday… [I hope this at least brings some drought relief.]
“Citing officials of the Taliban-led Afghan government, Bakhtar News Agency said that 90 per cent of the country’s territory witnessed snow or rainfall that led to financial loss besides the deaths and injuries…”
“Pahang floods [Malaysia] claim lives of over 17,000 animals.
“The floods in Pahang have claimed the lives of a total of 17,403 livestock and pets, incurring an estimated loss of over RM1.4 million as of Wednesday, said state Veterinary Services Department director, Dr Kamaliah Ghazali.”
“Nadma orders disaster control centres in Sabah, Sarawak [Timur Malaysia] to brace for floods.
“State and district level disaster operation control centres in Sarawak and Sabah have been ordered to make preparations, including activating on-site control posts, to face the possibility of floods.”
“Jayapura in Papua is currently devastated by widespread flooding as the region experienced heavy rainfall on Thursday, January 6. It caused a number of landslides that unfortunately killed seven people and injured six.
“The Papua Disaster Mitigation Agency announced that other areas affected by the 2-3 meter floods are North Jayapura, Abepura, and Muara Tami, Antaranews reported.”
“Australia Links Increasing Megafires to Climate Change.
“Climate change has driven a measurable increase in Australia’s forest fire activity over the last 30 years, finds new research conducted by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO… Australia’s mean temperature has increased by 1.4 degrees Celsius since 1910, with a rapid increase in extreme heat events….”
“Heatwave to hit Argentina, further stressing corn, soybean crops.
“Most of Argentina’s agricultural region will be hit in the coming days by a heatwave accompanied by little or no rainfall, adding pressure to adverse conditions that its corn and soybean crops have suffered for weeks, the Buenos Aires Grains Exchange said on Thursday.”
“The Paraguayan government announced a series of contingency measures to help the productive sector affected by the drought, the Paraguayan Information Agency (IP) announced…
“…he highlighted the climatic factor that is already hitting the country…”
“The bodies of four swimmers have been found mauled by piranhas in a spate of attacks that has sent shockwaves throughout South America.
“The attacks happened in Paraguay, where people have visited local rivers in large numbers during the current [unprecedented] heatwave in order to cool down.”
“On 1st January the station of Gallinas in Mexico, with fohn effect, rose to 41.7C [107.1F], the highest reliable temperature ever recorded in North America in January (previous 41.5C in San Miguel, El Salvador in 1959) and at record levels for the whole Hemisphere in the 1st decade of January.“
“Heavy rains, warm winters and broken records: 2021 was a year of weather extremes in El Paso [Texas]. Scientists agree that climate change caused by human activity pushes up temperatures across the United States, particularly in the Southwest.
“2021 will be remembered as one of El Paso’s hottest years and wettest monsoon seasons dating back to 1879…”
“Dust Is a Growing Problem [US]. What Role Does Farmland Play?
“As hurricane force, record-breaking winds blew through eastern Colorado in mid-December, the skies took on an eerie sepia glow… a massive dust storm roiled through the Great Plains states, impacting 100 million people. Two weeks later, high winds and severe drought led to the devastating Marshall wildfire in urban northern Colorado.”
“‘Everything is at risk’: flood survivors urge Congress to change inadequate insurance.
“With towns and cities across the US increasingly deluged by ferocious storms and rising sea levels, a group of disaster survivors has pleaded with the federal government to overhaul a flood insurance system they say is ill-equipped for an era of climate crisis.”
“Early data ranks 2021 as Earth’s fifth warmest year. The ranking signals that the temporary cooling influence of a moderate La Niña event in the tropical Pacific Ocean cannot do much to dampen the influence of human-caused global warming.“
“Since the 1960s, the extent of open ocean with low oxygen has increased by roughly the area of the European Union. More than 500 low-oxygen sites have been identified in coastal waters. These “dead zones” can cause mass killings of fish and are contributing to climate change. But the problem starts on land, with chemical pollution.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back over the weekend with (probably) 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 really means a lot.
“Saudi Arabia: Man, two daughters, die as vehicle swept away by floods.
“A Saudi man and his two teenage daughters died on Sunday after their vehicle was swept away by floodwaters in a valley in Balqarn Governorate in Asir region, media reported.”
“Tornado, thunderstorms spotted in Saudi Arabia’s Hail region.
“The authorities explained that the weather phenomenon witnessed in Hail is rare, and is associated with severe thunderstorms, in which wind speed may exceed 60 km/h.”
“At least eight people have been killed in flash flooding in Iran’s south due to heavy rains expected to last until later this week, state media has reported.
“A local official had said on Monday that at least two people were killed in flash flooding in the province. Heavy rain damaged “agriculture, infrastructure, urban and rural housing”, Azadi said.”
“About 24,000 people have been evacuated and two children killed in floods on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, authorities said Tuesday.
“Torrential rains lashed the island for several days, causing rivers to burst their banks and water levels to rise in residential areas, the national disaster agency said.”
“Filipinos count cost of climate crisis as typhoons get ever more destructive…
“Lost lives continue to climb two weeks on. Vast numbers of buildings were destroyed – from houses to schools; food crops lost to flooding. At first, I did not know what to feel – anger, helplessness? Later, I knew what I wanted: climate justice.”
“Siargao’s Sugba Lagoon before and after Typhoon Odette.
“In case you’ve already forgotten the extent and severity of Typhoon Odette, check out GMA reporter Nico Waje’s photos of Siargao’s famous Sugba Lagoon before and after the devastating typhoon…”
“Temperatures in Queensland Outback towns are climbing toward the mid-40s and one town ‘feels like’ nearly 50C with some places “on track” to break January recordsas a heatwave continues to develop across the state.
“Longreach in Queensland’s north-west has already hit 43.6C [110.5F] after climbing above 40C by 10.20am…”
“There were reports of trees falling on homes and roads, fallen powerlines, localised flooding, and water damage across Canberra. ACT State Emergency Service have received 436 requests for assistance as of 6.30am Tuesday morning, 4 January.”
“‘Extreme marine heatwave’: waters off Sydney set to break January temperature records.
“Waters off Sydney are undergoing an extreme marine heatwave with temperatures likely at their highest levels on record for January. Satellite data is showing the ocean surface off the coast of Sydney at 3C above normal…”
“All New Zealand sweltered in scorching temperatures as many places in North Island of the country hit record high temperatures in the first days of the new year…
“The MetService agency reported that Taupo… reached 33.2 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, making it an equal-warmest January day since records began in 1950.”
“Niwa climate scientists say New Zealand recorded four to five times more extreme high temperatures in the past decade than would be expected in a climate with no long-term warming….
“Even with climate change considered, New Zealand still had two to three times more extreme high temperatures than would have been expected in the past decade.”
“Mass die-off of Magellanic penguins seen during 2019 heat wave…
“On Jan. 19, temperatures at the site in Punta Tombo, on Argentina’s southern coast, spiked to 44 C, or 111.2 F, and that was in the shade. As the team reports in a paper published Jan. 4 in the journal Ornithological Applications, the extreme heat wave killed at least 354 penguins…”
“An imported tree fuels Patagonia’s terrifying summer fires…
“In Patagonia, that ultimate wild frontier at the end of the world, the arrival of summer used to come as a blessing. Snow receded. Lakes filled with fresh, clear snowmelt… Recently, though, summer has become a cause for fear.”
“Argentina, Chile and Uruguay affected by massive forest fires…
“In Argentina, fires have broken out in eleven of the country’s 24 jurisdictions, prompting the Ministry of Environment and the Federal Council for the Environment (Cofema) to declare a so-called “fire emergency” for 12 months.”
“Ministers visit area affected by worst fire in Uruguay’s history.
“The Ministers of Environment, Adrián Peña, and Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Fernando Mattos, travel to western Uruguay to know the extent of the damage caused by the fires registered in the area, which affected 22,000 hectares in recent days.”
“Inumet maintains alert for heat wave and Metsul forecasts “Middle East temperatures” for South America…
“According to the Brazilian meteorological agency, “an exceptionally hot air mass covers central South America, and prolonged dry weather, associated with prolonged drought, favors extreme heat in most of the region.””
“Drought in Argentina and Brazil puts soybean and corn markets on alert.
“…the Office of Agricultural Risk (ORA) warned that the areas under drought conditions for early corn crops have increased in the last week due to the heatwave, with maximum temperatures above 40°, which was not accompanied by rains.”
“From record high temperatures to snow, these [US] towns are shivering in shock Monday… Millions woke up this morning with a weather whiplash like no other…
“Dozens of high temperature records were broken over the weekend. Jacksonville, Florida hit a high of 84 on Sunday, breaking a record. It snowed in parts of the Florida Panhandle Monday morning.”
“2 days ago it was all air-conditioning and swimming pools in Southern Texas with an incredible record of 99F/37.2C (tbc). On 3rd January the very same station Falcon Lake dropped to a freezing 23F/-5.0C.From air conditioning to stoves in 2 days!”
“December tornadoes on the rise [for Illinois] as ‘tornado alley’ appears to shift east…
“Few people expect tornadoes in December, let alone one strong enough to collapse the 11-inch-thick concrete walls of a sprawling, new Amazon warehouse. But the EF3 tornado that wrecked the facility near Edwardsville, Illinois… could be a sign of things to come.”
“Winter Returns To Denali National Park [Alaska] In A Record-Setting Way…
“Measurements from the park’s weather station, which has tracked weather since 1923, show just how snowy December was in Denali: 74.5 inches of snow fell this December through the 29th, making this the snowiest December on record.”
“Puerto Rico remains under drought patterns since May 2020.
“For the third consecutive year, Puerto Rico begins a new year under drought parameters, an event that has not been taking place on the island since 2015, according to the United States Drought Monitor (USDM). That year saw an extreme drought that caused multiple rationing.”
“Thousands of starfish killed by extreme weather are washed up on a beach in Wales after storms at sea.
“Beach-walkers were left horrified at the sight of large piles of the stranded sea creatures after they were tossed ashore onto rocks and sand. The Marine Conservation Society has said extreme weather is the likely cause of the starfish washing up…”
“UK towns and cities hit by flash flooding 51 times since 2007…
“The analysis, carried out by the Conservative-leaning thinktank Bright Blue, says that with increased flooding due to the climate emergency, the government must do more to improve the resilience of communities, businesses, and other infrastructure.”
“On 4th January The Principality of Liechtenstein had its hottest January day on records.
“The official station of the capital Vaduz (managed by Meteo Swiss) tied its monthly record with 17.9C, while the private station of Balzers Muhle (Wetterring net) rose to 18.2C with fohn.”
“On 3 January the Portuguese semi-autonomous territory of Madeira rose to 27.4C [81.3F] at Funchal Lido, therefore beating again the record of the highest January temperature on records.
“A difficult situation for Jon and the Samis.” I really recommend giving this eight minute mini-documentary a watch, as it demonstrates, in visceral fashion, how climate change is impacting the far North.
Some of the footage is distressing, as the Sami lose many of their reindeer when a lake that should be frozen gives way beneath the herd.
“Wildfires Are Digging Carbon-Spewing Holes in the Arctic…
“Soaring temperatures are rapidly thawing permafrost, leading to huge sinkholes called thermokarst. Northern fires are making the situation even worse… New research shows how wildfires are exacerbating this land-gouging in north Alaska.”
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 really means a lot.
Apologies for the last minute pivot but there is so much going on with the climate that I have to document it today. The economy can wait until tomorrow – plenty going on there, too, but it’s not as pressing.
“1st January 2022 is historic: Thousands of records are being broken across the globe from Europe to USA to South America.
“As promised by your author, today it’s the hottest day in Paraguayan history with 45.6C [114.1F] at Sombrero Hovy. (Presidente Hayes province).”
“Brutal heatwave brings Middle East temperatures to South America.
“The heat is more extreme in central and northern Argentina, Paraguay and southern Brazil with marks that in some parts of neighboring countries are reaching during the afternoon exceptionally high values of 45ºC to 47ºC [116.6F], more common during the summer of the Middle East.”
“Search teams with cadaver dogs are looking for two missing people in the snow-covered debris of devastating wildfires that ripped through parts of Colorado…
“For those who escaped the flames, heavy snowfall has compounded the misery… Winter grassland fires are rare in the US state, but experts have warned similar events will be more common in the coming years as climate change warms the planet.”
“From a polar vortex to December tornadoes, Nebraska saw plenty of weird weather in 2021…
“…the year was bookended by firsts: February brought the state’s first rolling blackouts as a result of record cold, and December brought that month’s first derecho anywhere in the nation and Nebraska’s first tornado swarm in the final month of the year.”
“Falcon Lake, Texas, records 37,2°C / 99°F: the highest January temperature in US history!
“…Meanwhile, extremely hot air has shifted along the coast of the Gulf Coast and severe storms above Midwest and Southeast are bringing floods, winds, and tornadoes, while from northern parts of the central USA, blizzard conditions are already reported and near the Canadian border…”
“More incredible records this 1 January in USA: Alabama 86F Monroeville DCP – New State January record.
“FL 89F -1F from State record; MS 86F -1F from State record; GA 85F -2F from State record; LA 85F -2F from State record etc. Potentially big Storms are coming!”
“Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency on Saturday as powerful storms ripped through the state causing flash floods, power outages and property damage, including from a possible tornado in Hopkinsville…
“The storms come just three weeks after deadly tornadoes tore through the region…”
“Memphis hit record warm temps, strong winds, freezing cold & snow fleets in one weekend… Joe and Leslie Cianciolo had to get out of different elements on short notice, while out for a walk Saturday.
““Hail, and wind, it was just Armageddon. It was just really bad and we were just kind of scrambling to find somewhere to hunker down,” they said.”
“As expected, December 2021 came to a close as the warmest December on record in Tulsa… Overall, December 2021 shattered the previous record, which was set in 1931, by 5 degrees.“
“2021 is in the books and as we look back on a year filled with extreme weather across the nation, we can add Boston to that list of extremes, as well! With a mean temperature of 54.4 degrees at Logan Airport, it was enough to overtake the previous record (which only stood for nine years) of 54.2 degrees from 2012…”
“Scotland records hottest EVER New Year’s Day as Scots enjoy spring-like temperatures.
“The previous record of 14.5C (58F) had stood for 30 years… But in today’s bright sunshine, the mercury soared to 15.9 (61F) at Achnagart in Sutherland, rounded up by the Met Office to 16C.”
“Chivenor in Devon has provisionally set a new record for the highest minimum temperature recorded on New Years Day and in the month of January in England and the UK.
The recorded minimum temperature was 13.2°C, exceeding the previous UK January record of 13.1°C set in 2016.”
“Sands of time are slipping away for England’s crumbling coasts amid climate crisis.
“A 2020 report by the Committee on Climate Change, on which Hall sits as an expert on coastal erosion and flooding, found 1.2m homes at significant risk…”
“2021 ended with the 117th national monthly heat record of the year. And it was Portugal with 26.4C [79.5F] at Zambujeira, warmest December day in Portuguese history.
“New record also in the autonomous island of Madeira with 28.4C at Porto Moniz.”
“Barcelona records a heat record in the first weekend of 2022.
“The heat wave with which 2022 has already started has already left a record in Barcelona: the maximum temperature recorded in a month of January, at least in the last century. According to data from the Observatori Fabra, the city reached 21.9ºC [71.4F] on Saturday, January 1.”
“More on Europe: Croatia had its warmest January day on record with 21.6C [70.9F] at Knin, beating the 21.4C set Pazin, Sibenik and Sisak.18.2C in Slovenia, 20.0C in Bosnia, 19.2C in Switzerland, 18.8C in Austria and >15C in Benelux.
“Freeze and below average only remained in Italian Plains.”
“The Climate Crisis Has Not Skipped Israel: 2021 Fourth-hottest Year on Record.
“The Meteorological Service recorded heat waves in almost every part of the past year, and found that the number of days with rainfall dropped – hurting Israel’s water reserves significantly.”
“Major entertainment venues… were closed for the day as the UAE received record-breaking rainfall…
“The UAE records an average of 100 mm of precipitation every year. However, since Thursday, December 30 2021, the Saih Al Salam region in Dubai, which includes Al Qudra Lakes and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, has recorded 141.8 mm of rain.”
“Oman: six killed as torrential rain floods wadis.
“Flooding in Oman, triggered by heavy rainfall that began on New Year’s Eve, has killed six people and left several towns completely cut off… The meteorological office said moderate to heavy rains would continue until January 5…”
“Floods Hit Large Swaths Of Drought-Stricken Iran…
“In the eastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan, the flood has caused enormous material damage, leading to the closure of schools, shops and offices. The province was already suffering from lack of clean water amid a drought.”
“China saw record high temperatures and more extreme weather events last year.
“The China Meteorological Administration says the nationwide average of 10.7C was around one degree higher than normal; The year also saw higher than average rainfall in some places, droughts in others and devastating floods in Henan province.”
“Thousands more people have fled swamped homes as heavy rains exacerbated flooding in seven Malaysian states, officials said Sunday, with over 125,000 people evacuated in total since mid-December… Some 50 people have been killed so far…”
“Polar Bears forced to migrate from America to Russia because of climate change.
“On Boxing Day, temperatures soared to a record 19.4C on the island of Kodiak – the highest December reading ever recorded in Alaska… In this part of America, where the average annual temperature has risen by 4.8°C in the last 50 years, one of the most visible signs of global warming is the mass exodus of polar bears.”
“Arctic Lightning Linked to Climate Change… Researchers now recognize lightning as another tool to understand our warming planet, as new data reveals that strikes in the Arctic have skyrocketed in the past decade.”
“2021 World Statistics part – Records beaten: Stations worldwide which beat their all time highest temperature: 404; Stations worldwide which beat their all time lowest temperature: 54
“Countries which beat/tied their all time high: 10; Countries which beat/tied their all time low: 1”
[La Nina years are supposed to be cooler! Picture is from the Kazak steppes, which heatwave and drought turned into a mass-grave for wild horses this year.]
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I will (definitely) 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 really means a lot.
“Snow and ash over Colorado: Devastated owners of the nearly 1,000 homes razed to the ground by December wildfires survey the damage…
“Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared a state of emergency on Thursday, calling the wildfires a ‘disaster in fast-motion’… Tens of thousands were ordered to flee as flames swept over drought-stricken neighborhoods with alarming speed, propelled by guests up to 105 mph.”
“‘I thought I was broken’: when wildland firefighters head home, trauma takes hold…
“Asad Rahman woke up feeling like someone had punched him in the face. It was the winter after one of his first seasons as a wildland firefighter and he’d battled a blaze that had claimed the lives of six other firefighters. The stress left Rahman grinding his teeth at night until his jaw ached.”
“Are radioactive wildfires next on California’s apocalyptic climate-change guest list?
“…The United States hasn’t experienced a nuclear disaster on the level of Chernobyl, but there may be other sources of radiation that could have been absorbed by the West Coast’s forests.”
“Newsom declares storm-related state of emergency in 20 [Californian] counties, including L.A.
“Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in 20 California counties on Thursday as winter storms continued to lash the state with record snow and rainfall that have knocked out power, shut down major roads and freeways, and caused debris flows, among other hazards.”
“Until recently, Oregon’s southernmost glacier was on Mt. Thielsen, an extinct volcano mountain in the Cascade Range, east of Diamond Lake in Douglas County. But sometime over the past half decade, Lathrop Glacier disappeared.”
“From record high temperatures to bitter cold days, Western Washington’s year of extreme weather.
“For three local meteorologists asked to weigh in on the year’s most significant weather, the record-setting year was not unexpected. “I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to see where this is going,” said Justin Shaw, who writes the Seattle Weather Blog.”
“Four tornadoes have been confirmed from Wednesday’s round of severe weather [Alabama]…
“Of the tornadoes confirmed today, the one that hit Winfield was the strongest with top winds estimated at 110 mph, according to the weather service’s preliminary report. There were no injuries.”
“Two Alabama cities have their hottest December day on record.
“Mobile’s high temperature of 82 broke the Dec. 30 record of 79 degrees set back in 1971. It also breaks the monthly high temperature record for the city… Montgomery’s… 85 degrees… broke the old record of 80 set in 1980…”
“Huge snake spotted in Arkansan’s tree following record breaking temperatures.
“Aren’t snakes supposed to hibernate for winter? …Arkansas’s Christmas day high temperature was 78 degrees, thus shattering the previous all-time record of 73 degrees set in 1942 and possibly confusing the snakes in the state.”
“December 2021 is the warmest on record in Corpus Christi since [records began in] 1887.
“The average temperature for the entire month came in at 69.0 degrees, beating the old record of 68.5 degrees in 1889 which was just ahead of the very warm year in 1933.”
“A heavy downpour caused floods, landslides and damage to the inhabitants of the municipal seat of Suárez, in the northwest of the department of Cauca [Colombia]…
“The residents recorded videos with their cell phones in which the magnitude of the emergency is appreciated…”
“Brazil’s Bolsonaro refuses flood aid from Argentina, drawing Bahia rebuke.
“Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro rejected an offer of aid from Argentina, saying on Thursday that his country did not need the assistance dealing with deadly floods that have affected broad swaths of the country’s northeast and killed dozens.”
“Heat up to 46c [114.8F] brings extreme fire risk to half of the South American continent…
“South America’s fire risk map is impressive on this last day of the year. Half of the continent is at risk of high or extreme fire. Virtually all of Argentina… has extreme fire risk projected by the models. Also the West of Uruguay, the West of Rio Grande do Sul and Paraguay present exceptionally high risk of fires.”
“Ireland has hottest autumn on record, ‘in line with human-caused climate change’…
“…Met Éireann notes that several temperature records were broken in 2021, in particular during the summer heatwaves… Northern Ireland also set a new record for its highest temperature, with 31.3°C reached in Castlederg, Co Tyrone and Co Armagh on 21 and 22 July.”
“Northern Ireland records highest ever New Year’s Eve temperature – beating Loughgall’s 2014 record.
“With 13.8 degrees recorded at Murlough, today, Northern Ireland has an updated New Year’s Eve daytime maximum temperature record… The extremely mild spell will continue to affect all areas across the UK… The warm spell also has the potential to challenge records for New Year’s Day.”
“The UK’s climate is growing warmer, wetter and sunnier. The average temperature of the country has risen by 0.8C, rainfall is up by 7.3 per cent and there has been 5.6 per cent more sunshine over the past 30 years.”
“UK weather: Britain marks warmest New Year’s Eve on record with temperatures reaching 15.8C [60.4F]…
“The UK has seen its warmest New Year’s Eve on record with temperatures reaching 15.8C (60.44F) in Somerset. Colwyn Bay in Wales held the previous 31 December record of 14.8C (58.64F) in 2011.”
“France is experiencing its warmest end of year on record, with temperatures 10 degrees warmer than average in some regions, according to forecasts by the national meteorological service Météo France.
“Bordeaux residents are making the most of the good weather, as the period between Christmas and New Year’s Eve should be the warmest in the country’s history.”
“Spain’s Malaga has broken in its all-time record for high temperatures in the month of December since records began…
“The gauge reached 24.8C [76.6F] beating the old record of 24.6C set in 1998… Temperatures were even higher in other parts of the province with 25.9C recorded in Coin.”
“Extreme heat and extraordinary drought: this has been the meteorological 2021 in Andalusia [Spain]…
“Between September and November 2021, the main Andalusian observatories registered on average almost 64% of water deficit compared to normal values. All the main seasons have presented a severe deficit during one of the rainiest weather seasons of the year…”
“Extreme weather in Turkey split between deluges in Southern coast with almost 200mm of precipitations in 24 hours: 178mm [over seven inches] at Marmaris and 168mm at Antalya Bolge.
“Heavy frosts in Eastern Highlands with temp. below -28C and mild in Northern Coast with +21C/+22C.”
“Sinkholes emerge in rural Kenya after series of floods, droughts.
“In recent years, a number of sinkholes have emerged in Baringo county, a geologically active region in western Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. According to geologists, their appearance can be linked both to the worsening impacts of climate change through floods and droughts, and local communities drilling boreholes…”
“”On the 30th of December 2021, a strong storm consisting of heavy rain and a hailstorm ripped through most of the wards within the jurisdiction of Msunduzi Municipality. The heavy rains caused flooding in various wards, uprooting trees, with water overflowing the low level bridges.”
“As heavy rains continued to lash Chennai city, according to data tweeted by weatherman Pradeep John, Mylapore crossed 200 mm of rainfall within hours. The city also crossed the annual 2015 rainfall record, he said.”
“Typhoon Odette [aka Rai] kills 1.29 million chickens in Negros Occidental, Philippines…
“Typhoon Odette (Rai) killed at least 1.29 million broiler chickens in Negros Occidental as it whipped through the province in the early hours of December 17, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) said on Thursday, December 30.”
“Western ringtail possums found badly dehydrated in heatwave.
“Western Australia reached a record breaking heatwave last week, leaving some critically endangered Western ringtail possums badly dehydrated and in poor health.”
“More tropical cyclones could hit cities such as Beijing, Tokyo and New York because of rising temperatures caused by climate change, study warns…
“The ability for more tropical cyclones to form at mid-latitudes, where most of the world’s population lives, will place millions more within their devastating reach.”
“The world is heading for the biggest mass extinction event since the dinosaurs within the next decade, pushing millions of plants and animals to the bring of extinction, the WWF has claimed.
“Elephants, polar bears, sharks, frogs and fish are all under threat according to the environmental organisation in its Winners and Losers of 2021 report.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I will 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 really means a lot.
“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.”
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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.
“11th January was a historic day in Buenos Aires. The City Observatory (OCBA) which data started in 1906, recorded its 2nd highest temperature ever with 41.1C [106F] only behind the Jan 1957 record of 43.3C. All time high at Punta Indio with 41.1C (previous 40.5C in 1957).
“‘Furnace’: Argentina roasts in record-setting heat wave…
“Drought already affects 40% of [Argentina’s] fields planted with soybeans and corn…
“No change in sight for downspouts [ie lowering of water levels] – particularly of the Paraná river…
“Paraguay: Dramatic footage shows firefighters battling raging blaze in Villeta. At least 40 firefighters and eight trucks were mobilised to the scene.
“Brazil’s Extreme Weather Is Flooding Mines, Drying Up Crops… Heavy rains disrupt iron ore production, fueling price rally…
“Torrential rain kills 10 including 11-year-old girl in Brazil.
“2021 Ends With 1,101 Manatees Dead in Florida…
“December 2021 in USA had an average temperature of 39.34F, a staggering, exact 5F above the 1991-2020 normal and was by far the warmest December on records.
“Arctic front hits America with lows of -45C [-49F].
“B.C. braces for heavy rain, potential floods as latest atmospheric river arrives.
“Canada’s wheat exports are expected to see a sharp fall in this marketing year as the exportable surplus is seen tightening with output at lowest in more than 14 years amid one of the warmest and driest summers on record.
“German Floods Cost a Record $40 Billion, Munich Re Estimates.
“Floods cause havoc in south west France.
“The new floods in Navarre [Spain], a month after the historic flood, keep citizens on alert…
“India’s Deadly Air Pollution Keeps Getting Worse Not Better.
“Eight people perish in Papua floods as disasters sweep nation [Indonesia]…
“The historic town of Lithgow [NSW, Australia] is cleaning up the damage from what locals describe as a storm so ferocious it flooded homes and businesses, on a scale never seen before.
“2021 officially New Zealand’s hottest year on record, Niwa says.
“Over 4,000 Fijians in evacuation centers due to tropical cyclone.
“Study finds recent growth and sudden declines in Antarctic sea ice to be unique changes since the early 20th century.
“The Great Siberian Thaw…
“Permafrost thaw places one-fifth of northern hemisphere at risk.
“Greenland ice sheet shrinks for 25th consecutive year.
“The last seven years have been the warmest on record as planet approaches critical threshold.
“Hottest ocean temperatures in history recorded last year.
“The top 10 global weather and climate change events of 2021.
“A Big Reason for Rising Prices is the Weather…
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Apologies for the last minute pivot but there is so much going on with the climate that I have to document it today. The economy can wait until tomorrow – plenty going on there, too, but it’s not as pressing.
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