“Harsh heat in Argentina and Uruguay on 29 December. The Buenos Aires Ezeiza AP rose to 40.1C [104.2F] its hottest December day ever and highest temperature overall since 1999.
“40.2C in Junin, 39.7C in Viedma,39.2C in Rosario,39.0C in San Antonio Oeste.Another hot night is ahead for Buenos Aires.”
“Argentine Patagonia in for hottest and driest year since 1961.
“According to Argentina’s National Meteorological Service, the weather in Patagonia, particularly in the provinces of Neuquén and Río Negro is about to set a new historic record amid high temperatures and low rainfall which have turned 2021 into the region’s hottest and driest year since 1961.”
“Several sources of fire have been active for weeks in the Argentine provinces of Neuquen, Rio Negro and Chubut (south), where the flames have consumed thousands of hectares of native forest…” [Photos]
“Chile govt Declares Emergency as Forest Fires Rage In Central & Southern Parts Of Country…
“Chilean Agriculture Minister Maria Emilia Undurraga declared an agricultural emergency on Tuesday. Local authorities reported that several regions face an extreme crisis of water due to a lack of rainfall, resulting in the rapid spread of forest fires.”
“Uruguay declares agricultural emergency due to drought in its fields.
“Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou declared an agricultural emergency due to water deficit after meeting with the Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Fernando Mattos, local media reported.”
“Severe Brazil flooding spreads in Bahia and beyond.
“A total of 116 cities in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia were in a state of emergency from flooding as of Tuesday due to heavy rains that have been pounding the region since the end of November.”
“The president of Bolivia, Luis Arce, reported on Tuesday that the authorities have rescued 79 citizens affected by the heavy rains caused in Santa Cruz…
“”We intensified rescue operations and assistance with food and medicine to those affected by the heavy rains,” Said President Arce.”
“With four days left to go in the month, Lake Tahoe [US] has already broken the record for December snowfall set 50 years ago.
“On Monday, December snow totals at the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab reached 193.7 inches, blowing a 1970 record of 179 inches out of the water.”
“Excessively wet year in eastern U.S. shows fingerprints of climate change…
“At times accompanied by disastrous flooding, the prolific rainfall of 2021 rivals, and in some instances surpasses, infamously wet years for the region. Human-caused climate change probably contributed to this year-long precipitation windfall.”
“Seattle sees coldest day in 73 years as cold weather hits west coast.
“The city on Sunday recorded a low of 20 degrees F (-6.7 C), which broke a record from 1948 by two degrees, the NWS was reported as saying. Snowfall in the city has meanwhile beaten records set in 1979, when there was 179 inches (4.6 meters) on the ground in Seattle.”
“Latest extreme cold warnings another hit for B.C. farmers facing brunt of climate change impacts…
“The warnings come at the end of a tumultuous year for the province, which saw deadly heat waves and the third-worst wildfire season on record in the summer. Most recently, devastating floods led to widespread damage to infrastructure and crops.”
“Alaska ‘Icemageddon’ warning follows heat record… The coldest US state of Alaska has recorded its hottest-ever December day, amid an unusual winter warm spell…
“The weather extremes have prompted warnings of an “Icemageddon” from authorities, as torrents of rain and snow have left ice as hard as cement coating the roads.”
“Preliminary max of 15C [59F] recorded at Heathrow, England. This is a daily record & warmest it has been this late in December, data from infoclimat 1973-2021. Previous latest 15C was on 28 December 1974.”
“Deadly floods left this German town in tatters. Now, it’s trying to climate-proof itself… In a matter of hours, 134 people were killed in Ahr Valley in July…
“Dernau, which is about 60 kilometres south of Cologne, was one of the communities worst affected by summer floods in 2021 in western Germany.”
“The Aemet met agency has reported record high December temperatures at two of its weather stations. On Monday, the Capdepera weather station registered a maximum of 24C [75.2F]…”
“Heavy Air Pollution Shuts Down Schools In Several Iranian Cities.
“Dangerous levels of air pollution in Esfahan, Tabriz and more than a dozen other major Iranian cities have shut down schools and kindergartens. According to Iran’s air quality control center, the air pollution indicator in several other cities, such as Tehran and Mashhad, has crossed the danger line for sensitive groups.”
“‘On the brink’: drought and politics leave Afghans fighting famine…
“Hunger is stalking Afghanistan, caused by a devastating confluence of political and environmental crises. The UN estimates that only 2% of the population are getting enough to eat.”
“Run, rebuild, repeat as floods eat away at India’s indigenous land… available land is becoming scarce…
“A study published by India’s Department of Science and Technology in 2018 found Assam was the most vulnerable of the Indian Himalayan states to destructive climate change effects.”
“Malaysia’s floods a further sign of climate change…
“At this point in time, our priority should be the health, safety and well-being of all those affected by the floods. Nonetheless, the current situation also underlines the need for urgent action to rebalance our relationship with nature.”
“China Set to Give Safety Nod to More Domestic GMO Corn Varieties.
“The agriculture ministry is seeking public opinion on the safety approval of three GMO corn strains… Their use is still limited in certain countries due to concerns over the health and environmental impact…. The move comes as China scoops up global grain supplies…”
“Russia’s Arctic coastline is losing 7,000 hectares per year to climate change.
“A new study conducted at the Moscow State University confirms that the Arctic permafrost along the country’s northern coastline is thawing at terrifying speeds…
“Less sea ice for longer parts of the year causes more and bigger waves.”
“What the collapse of Antarctica’s ‘doomsday’ glacier could mean for the world…
“…the worry is that Thwaites, sometimes called the “doomsday glacier” because of its key role in the region, might not be the only glacier to go. Were it to empty into the ocean, it could trigger a regional chain reaction and drag other nearby glaciers in with it, which would mean several metres of sea-level rise.”
“In a record-breaking year of weather, signs of a changed world…
“2021 was, for many people, the year in which climate change jumped from the part of our brains reserved for future-think — for worries not yet realized — and landed squarely in the now… “I think the word ‘unprecedented’ got a real workout this year,” said Jennifer Francis…”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I may struggle to put out an ‘Economic’ thread tomorrow as domestic obligations may impinge but I will certainly be back on Saturday with a thread (of type uncertain), so that we can emerge together, blinking and startled, into 2022.
Let me take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy New Year in the meantime!
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.
Europe’s energy crisis rumbles on, as do global supply-chain snafu’s and other inflationary headwinds but the economic news-cycle is still quiet, so below are a few more climate updates.
Btw, re inflationary headwinds, it occurs to me that if super-transmissible Omicron ultimately winds the pandemic down in, say, the Northern Hemisphere’s spring, we could potentially see such an aggressive burst of additional inflation that the major central banks have no alternative but to really crank up interest rates. Needless to say, this could tip up is into a full-blown, financial crisis, given the amount of debt sloshing around the system.
“The 94 degrees Fahrenheit recorded in Rio Grande Village, Texas was the warmest temperature ever recorded on Christmas Day in the United States, breaking the previous record of 92F set in McAllen Texas in 1964.”
“Alaska couldn’t miss the party of this incredible extreme month: On 26th December with an astonishing 67F/19.4C the station of Kodiak Tide Gauge smashed the previous Alaskan record for Decemberof 65F which was set at Sitka Airport on Dec 12, 1944.”
“Wildfire prompts a temporary evacuation order southwest of Denver.
“According to the the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the fire was an estimated 150 acres at 4:15 pm on Monday. At about 3:15 p.m. C470 was closed in both directions because of the smoke. ” [Video]
“Analysis suggests Oregon’s wildfire smoke comes with a side of cancer-causing chemicals.
“Over the past decade, there’s been a noticeable uptick in wildfires in the Pacific Northwest. With those fires come smoke and air quality issues for surrounding communities. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality monitors particulate at more than 20 air quality stations scattered all over the state.”
“Kentucky tornado latest in growing trend of Southern twisters that risk ecological disaster…
“Amidst the astonishing loss of life, a quieter accounting must also take place: the number of places where the tornado damaged sensitive facilities that store hazardous materials and wastes…”
“The death toll from floods hammering northeast Brazil rose to 20 on Monday, as the governor of Bahia state declared it the worst disaster in the state’s history and rescuers braced for more rain in the coming days…
“…authorities are monitoring an additional 10 dams for any signs they may collapse.”
“As drought ravages parts of the Karoo [South Africa], life is becoming harder by the day for farmers and their livestock.
“The farmers in the Eastern Cape’s Karoo are given to thousand-yard stares. Moments where they recall the good years, before the current drought… The baboons are getting desperate. They have been known to disembowel lambs. Even worse, pied crows linger near pregnant ewes and pluck the eyes and tongues from the newborn lambs and kids.”
“Nomads, local known as Kochis, in southern Kandahar province [Afghanistan] say their livestock runs the risk of dying due to a drought and lack of pastures. They are selling their cattle at half prices.
“Most of the nomads are living in the districts that have running water. But recently they moved to areas lacking water. They are now looking for rainwater.”
“Over 10 million hectares of Russia’s forest affected by forest fires in 2021 — prime minister.
“”There were many [fires] this year, in particular, amid challenging weather conditions… In some areas, there was a need to introduce a state of emergency, since [the fires] posed a threat to the safety of people,” Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin noted.”
“Unprecedented rains brought down buildings, left telltale signs on Bengaluru roads [India]…
“According to the data available, the normal rainfall for this period is usually 212.8 mm. However, the city received 581.7 mm, which is a 173% departure from normal.”
“Thousands left homeless and hungry at Christmas as Philippines faces up to climate crisis reality of super typhoon…
“Nobody expected the wrath Rai would unleash when it struck the archipelago on December 16. It was the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, killing nearly 400 people, while displacing hundreds of thousands more.”
“Perth weather [Western Australia] delivers fourth straight 40C [104F] day as review ordered into Western Power outages…
“The city has never before experienced a similar run of high temperatures in December. Areas still affected by the power outages on Tuesday afternoon included Lower Chittering, Scarborough and Mosman Park.”
“Bird flu outbreak in Israel kills 5,000 cranes and sparks slaughter of half a million chickens.
“A bird flu outbreak in northern Israel has killed at least 5,200 migratory cranes and forced farmers to slaughter hundreds of thousands of chickens as authorities try to contain what they say is the deadliest wildlife disaster in the nation’s history.
“In an interview with Israeli public broadcaster Kan on Monday, Noga Kornfeld Shor, chief scientist at the Environmental Protection Ministry, called the outbreak “an extraordinary event on a global scale.”
““The greatest fear,” she said, “is that the virus, which tends to have many variants, will transform like corona, and will become contagious between humans.”“
You can read yesterday’s ‘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 means a lot.
“Heavy flooding has left at least 18 people dead and more than 280 injured in the northeast region of Brazil, officials say. The floods have affected nearly 40 cities throughout the state of Bahia, Gov. Rui Costa told reporters in the city of Ilheus, one of the worst-hit.
““This is a massive tragedy. I can’t remember seeing anything like this in Bahia’s recent history, given the amount of cities and houses involved. It’s truly terrifying, there are so many houses and streets that are completely under water,” Costa said.”
“Brazil: Two dams give way as heavy rain swamps the northeast.
“Authorities have issued flash flood warnings after two dams collapsed in the northeastern state of Bahia. City authorities in the towns of Jussiape and Itambe have warned residents to find safety.”
“Christmas roast: temperatures soar in Texas and US south-east.Warm weather could make this the hottest December on record for many cities in the region…
“In some areas, records have already been broken: Wichita Falls in Texas hit 91F (33C) Friday, and Grandfield, Oklahoma, reached 89F. Both beat their Fourth of July high – back at in the middle of summer.”
“Christmas weekend whiteout storm closes 70-mile stretch of California interstate and causes 20-car pile-up in Nevada – with Weather Service warning more snow is coming…
“Rockslides caused by heavy rain closed more than 40 miles of coastal Highway 1 in the Big Sur region south of the San Francisco Bay Area.”
“Rare California ‘tornado’ touches down in Santa Barbara: Rips up trees and damages cars.
“Metal car port awnings at an apartment complex in the Goleta area were ripped off while trees were also knocked down by the apparently brief but ferocious storm at around 10pm on Saturday evening.”
“What the numbers tells us about a catastrophic year of wildfires [Western US] …A historic drought and record-breaking heatwaves combined to spark blazed that burned nearly 7.7m acres this year…
“…a troubling new trend emerged: fires are getting harder to fight.”
“A mix of drought in Canada’s prairies and flooding on its Pacific coast have brought about crop production and shipping woes now leading to international shortages of fries and mustard.
“Keith Currie of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture told AFP: “There’s a lot of angst in the farming community.” Some farmers have lost everything, others are considering quitting…””
“From very low temperatures in the Panhandle with the first 0F/-17.8C at Ketchikan AP in 10 years to the extreme mildness in Unalaska >50F/10C and the rain in parts of inner Alaska.
“Sounding at Bethel was an impressive +9.2C at 850hpa.”
“Freak weather patterns threaten UK nature as thousands of trees and plants are left devastated, National Trust warns.
“Wildfires, Storm Arwen and extreme weather events have left our natural world in a precarious position at the end of this year, the National Trust has warned. Heatwaves and heavy rain are becoming ‘more frequent and more intense’ in Britain due to climate change.”
“Motorists stranded as Mombasa [Kenya] hit by flash floods.
“Residents of Mombasa have had to count the losses after flash floods destroyed property and derailed businesses in the county. The rains that started on Christmas Day, December 25, left commercial and residential areas submerged as people were unable to move around the city.”
“Iran’s Meteorological Organization has reported that the precipitation rate during autumn was not very favorable, being considered one of the driest seasons in the past 50 years.
“The amount of rainfall that poured over the country in the past month (November 20–December 21) was 17.9 mm, which shows a decrease of 44.2 percent compared to the long-run average of 32 mm.”
“Pakistan faces growing threat of melting glaciers.
“Communities in northern Pakistan say melting glaciers are putting their homes and livelihoods in danger. The country has more than 7,000 glaciers, more than anywhere in the world except the polar regions.” [Video]
“As its glaciers melt, Nepal is forced into an adaptation not of its choosing.
“Climate change is causing the glaciers in Nepal’s Himalayan region to melt at an alarming rate, threatening fragile ecosystems, vulnerable communities, and billions of people downstream who rely on the rivers fed by the ice pack.”
“Alarm bells over shifting rainfall pattern [India].
“The post-monsoon rainfall from October through November across Karnataka this year was the highest in the last 50 years. This accentuated the growing concerns that the shifting monsoon patterns being witnessed in recent years is induced by climate change…”
“The death toll due to the floods in Malaysia is now at 48 people, while five people are still missing, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani.
“He said Selangor remained the state with the highest number of deaths, with 25 victims…
“Flood kills two as extreme weather strikes parts of Sumatra
“Heavy rainfall over the past few days has caused flooding and landslides in several areas of South Sumatra and Riau, killing at least two people and affecting hundreds of others.”
“Perth has recorded its hottest Christmas Day on record, with parts of the Western Australia reaching almost 50C [122F].The state capital’s previous Christmas Day record was 42C in 1968… Just before 4pm, temperatures peaked at 42.8C.“
“Australian Heat Wave: Hottest day in history for Jurien Bay in Western Australia with 46.0C [114.8F] on Christmas Day right on the coast. Previous record was 45.2C in January 1991.
“Monthly record at Kalbarri with 46.5C. Another scorching day on 26 December in Perth with 43.5C.”
“Don’t let La Nina fool you, Black Summer could be around the corner [Australia]…
“As the sirens sound this summer for floods and cyclones, which are becoming more intense with climate change, we must be mindful of what increased fuel loads will mean in future hot and dry summers.”
“Unprecedented die-offs, melting ice: Climate change is wreaking havoc in the Arctic and beyond.”
“Forces profound and alarming are reshaping the upper reaches of the North Pacific and Arctic oceans, breaking the food chain that supports billions of creatures and one of the world’s most important fisheries.
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I may be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread if there is enough going on to justify one!
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 means a lot.
“The climate crisis took a catastrophic toll across the globe in 2021.From the Arctic to Louisiana and to China’s Henan province, signs that climate change is already altering our weather were everywhere.
“In the United States, historic flooding trapped and killed residents in submerged basements. In Canada, an entire town was erased by a wildfire fueled by extreme heat. Rain fell at the summit of Greenland…”
“In the Arctic, Sami Reindeer Herders Face Climate Disaster…
““This new snow has no name,” said Lars-Anders Kuhmunen, a reindeer herder from Kiruna… “I don’t know what it is. It is like early tjaevi, which normally comes in March. The winters are warmer now and there is rain, making the ground icy. The snow on top is very bad snow and the reindeer can’t dig for their food.””
“It’s not only Greenland, but also the Arctic Canada with unusually high temperatures.
“Two of the coldest stations in the Northern Hemisphere (at low elevations), Alert and Grise Fiord rose well above 0C. +4.0C [39.2F] at Grise Fiord (76N) – a new December record, +2.3C at Alert (82N) 2nd highest.”
“10 Record-Breaking Moments [US] That Blew Our Meteorologists’ Minds in 2021.
“All-time United States weather records were set for a wide range of extreme weather in 2021, covering everything from temperatures parts of the country have never seen before to astonishing rainfall totals and a hurricane that gave us déjà vu. Here’s a look back…”
“U.S. tornadoes push insurers 2021 bill over $105 bln as climate change impact grows.
“Devastation from tornadoes that slammed parts of the United States this month will push the insurance industry’s 2021 bill for weather-related claims well above the predicted $105 billion… and premiums should rise on worries that climate change will drive more severe weather.”
“Tornado touches down in Florida two weeks after deadly Kentucky, midwest tornadoes.
“Strong storms – including a tornado touch down – tore through Southwest Florida, leaving behind a trail of damage… The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado did touch down in south Fort Myersat 6:25am…”
“Cities throughout the Southeast and south-central US may experience record heat over the Christmas holiday, according to AccuWeather, including Dallas, Houston and New Orleans.
“A high-pressure system in the Southeast and a spinning storm system over the Rockies two of the culprits for the unseasonably warm forecasts.”
“Chicago snow record: Unseasonably warm temperatures breaks record for latest without measurable snow. The city is at 281 days without measurable snow, the record is 290 days also set in 2012, the weather service says.”
“California Sees Wettest Start to Water Year in 40 Years, Still Not Enough to Cure Concerns Over Drought.
“Some possible hope in California as it battle back from extreme and exceptional drought. And it’s coming in the form of a lot of snow. The National Weather Service says snowpack over the Seirras has increased dramatically in just 7 days.”
“Some parts of the West Coast could see a white Christmas after all, as heavy snow is predicted for areas with higher elevation in the region that could pile up as high as 10 feet.
“The snowy weekend storm is predicted to hit regions in close proximity to sea level, including in Washington and Oregon, as well as the central Sierra Nevada Mountains.”
“It could be the coldest Christmas in recorded history for Vancouver.
“As the Northern Hemisphere marks the first day of winter… The Weather Network says it’s watching for an “extraordinary stretch of frigid weather,” which could result in “the coldest Christmas on record for places like Vancouver.””
“With 13 years of consecutive drought, summer has arrived [in Chile]: The outlook “is not very encouraging”.
“The Meteorological Directorate confirmed that for the next few months the rainfall, already scarce, will be located “below normal ranges.” This year “we have had a third of the rain that we should have in the Metropolitan Region,” the Government warned.”
“Withering Crops Highlight La Nina Fears for Brazil Soy Farmers.
“The impact of the La Nina weather pattern that’s expected to roil global food markets in coming months is already showing up in parts of Brazil, the world’s biggest soybean exporter.”
“Brazil: Deforestation in protected areas up 79% under Bolsonaro.
“A report by the Socioenvironmental Institute (ISA) released Wednesday has shown a 138% increase in degradation in indigenous lands and 130% in Conservation Units, (CUs) compared to three years before President Jair Bolsonaro took office.”
“The floods last week in Navarra [Spain] were preceded by the most extreme rain episode in 50 years…
“…floods “of an extraordinary nature” caused by the flooding of rivers such as the Arga, Bidasoa, Ega or Ebro, which has resulted in two deaths from Sunbilla and Elizondo, which have affected residents of more than 70 municipalities…”
“A sand tornado and storm, caused by strong winds, swept through parts of the Northern Cape [South Africa] on Tuesday and Wednesday, and it looked like a scene out of a Mad Max movie…
“Human activities and global climate change have resulted in an increased frequency of dust/sand storms in various parts of the world.”
“A freak hailstorm left a trail of destruction when it battered Pietermaritzburg [Kwa-Zulu, South Africa] yesterday afternoon.
“Heavy winds accompanied the massive hail stones that pelted the city causing major damage as trees were uprooted, with some falling on power lines and leaving the affected areas without electricity.”
“‘Heading into the worst’: How drought drives conflict in Kenya…
“Esekon is one of an increasing number of pastoralist herders caught in a conflict along Kenya’s border with Uganda and South Sudan over dwindling natural resources, exacerbated by severe drought and hunger ravaging the region.”
“Tents of at least 2,000 Syrians flooded by heavy rains in Idlib.
“Heavy rains that struck northwestern Idlib province for days have flooded thousands of tents in the displacement camps, as those trying to survive continue to face worsening humanitarian conditions.”
“Fed by rain and snowmelt from mountains, this valley nestled among northwestern Afghanistan’s jagged peaks was once fertile. But the climate has changed in the last few decades, locals say, leaving the earth barren and its people struggling to survive.”
“Climate crisis has cost India 5 million hectares of crop in 2021.
“In 2021, extreme weather events wrought yet another distressing year for Indian farmers. Cyclone Tauktae and Cyclone Yaas wreaked havoc in several states in the first few months…”
“One dead, dozens missing after landslide at Myanmar jade mine…
“Last year heavy rainfall triggered a massive landslide in Hpakant – the heart of Myanmar’s jade trade in Kachin state – that killed more than 170 people. Economic pressures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have drawn more migrants to the jade mines…”
“Death toll from Malaysia’s worst flooding in century rises to 37…
“Heavy rains that hit seven regions, including the capital Kuala Lumpur, last Friday and Saturday triggered the worst in the last 100 years floods amid fears that the calamity will recur in the future due to climate change.”
“Jakarta braces for floods as extreme weather strikes region…
“For too long the densely populated capital has been the site of regular flooding… As spells of bad weather pick up in the country and around Southeast Asia, city administrators are bracing for another year-end full of disaster-mitigation efforts.”
“Deaths from dehydration in Philippines amid water, food shortages.
“Two Filipinos who survived the devastation wrought by Typhoon Rai have died of dehydration, according to local media, as people in storm-ravaged areas pleaded for food and water and officials warned of potential looting…”
“Philippine surfing paradise Siargao wiped out by typhoon just as tourists return.
“Resort and bar owners on a Philippine island popular with surfers and tourists were expecting a bumper Christmas holiday after Covid-19 restrictions finally eased. Then Super Typhoon Rai wiped them out.”
“A fire weather warning has been issued for parts of WA as residents across the State brace for a record-breaking festive season heatwave — and a potential tropical cyclone.
“The scorchingly hot conditions are expected to hit Perth on Friday — the first of a string of extremely hot days forecast for areas as far north as Shark Bay down to about Walpole this Christmas.”
“No mountain high enough: study finds plastic in ‘clean’ air.
“From Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench, microplastics are everywhere – even high in the Earth’s troposphere where wind speeds allow them to travel vast distances, a new study has found.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back after Christmas, on the 27th or 28th with either a ‘Climate’ or ‘Economic’ thread, depending on which news-cycle is most active.
I wish you all a very happy holidays in the meantime!
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 means a lot.
“The Malaysian military used boats Tuesday to distribute food to desperate people trapped in their homes after massive floods, as the death toll rose to 14 with over 70,000 displaced… with reports of people still missing, it is expected to increase…
“Global warming has been linked to worsening floods. Because a warmer atmosphere holds more water…”
“The widespread flooding seen in many states in Malaysia in the last three days was caused by one-in-a-100-year heavy rainfall, a senior official at the country’s Environment and Water Ministry said on Sunday…
“… Sentul station recorded the highest at 363mm [14.3 inches], Gombak (247mm), Jinjang (258mm) and Sungai Bonus Jalan Tun Razak (273mm).”
“The climate crisis is also a water crisis [Bangladesh]…
“The coastal belt of Bangladesh, which is facing the brunt of the climate crisis, has numerous water-related problems. From saline water to frequent cyclones, life of the people residing there is problematic. Too much and too little water is part of their daily struggle.”
“Philippines Typhoon Rai death toll reaches 375 as desperate survivors plead for supplies.
“The Philippine Red Cross reported “complete carnage” in coastal areas after Super Typhoon Rai left homes, hospitals and schools “ripped to shreds”… “Our situation is so desperate,” said Ferry Asuncion, a street vendor in the hard-hit seaside city of Surigao…”
“Perth [WA] Christmas weather: Temperature to hit record-equalling 42C…
“An updated weather forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology is now promising a record-equalling 42C for the big day, with the experts warning it may even push past that mark. The last time it was that hot on December 25 was in 1968.”
“Huge dust storm sweeps north-west Queensland as winds reach more than 100kph.
“The strongest wind gust was 109kph, recorded at The Monument near Urandangi. Ms Kirkup said the region could expect “a lot more dust storms this summer.””
“Tens of thousands are still without power the morning after a ‘mini-tornado’ ripped through Sydney suburbs killing a woman and injuring two as shocking photos show the storm’s trail of destruction.
“More than 25,000 homes remained without power on Monday morning after the storm ripped out power lines, tore homes apart, and blew a trampoline into the ocean.”
“Far North fire: Villagers will spend third night evacuated from swamp blaze [NZ]…
“On Tuesday morning, the fire was burning through a swamp, making fighting it difficult as machinery couldn’t get through the water, Carter said. Only helicopters were able to reach the flames.”
“El Paso [Texas] was “drought-proof.” Climate change is pushing its limits…
“Between January 2020 and August 2021, the southwest US endured a historic drought. Only about 17 inches of rain fell across the region; the 20-year average is 24 inches… “We’re really at the point now where we can start to see these climate-change signals in the real world.””
“The National Weather Service’s (NWS) storm prediction center has described the multiple tornadoes and thunderstorms that struck the Great Plains and upper midwest last week as the result of a rare event called a derecho…
“The December derecho is the first on record, as they are more likely to occur from May through August, and particularly during periods of high heat.”
“Hurricane-force winds that raked the U.S. Plains belt last week appeared to cause varying degrees of damage to a winter wheat crop that was already struggling with dry conditions, Kansas crop observers said.
“Young wheat plants were blown right out of the ground on the hardest-hit fields…”
“A new Tennessee 24-hour rainfall record was set on August 21, 2021 in McEwen, officials confirmed Monday.
“The State Climate Extremes Committee (SCEC) in coordination with the National Weather Service in Nashville and the Tennessee State Climate Office at ETSU confirmed that 20.73 inches of rain fell in 24 hours.”
“Exceptional temperature contrast again the Alpine areas [Europe]: 20th December while some areas of lowlands Italy are still freezing with mist, just above the fog and enhanced with fohn wind,the temperatures are rising abnormally:
“19.2C [66.6F] at Chiavenna (Lombardy) and 17.4C at Acquarossa (Switzerland).”
“Photos: In rare sight, snow falls across Alexandria [Egypt]…
“Social media users shared photos and videos of snow across Alexandria as Egypt endures a cold snap, with some commenting: “Is this Alexandria or Europe?” …The Meteorological Authority uploaded photos on Facebook pictures of snow from the streets of Alexandria…”
“Winter storm ‘Carmel’ wreaks havoc [on Israel] with heavy rains, wind…
“Israel’s most intense storm of the winter wreaked havoc across the country Monday, bringing down trees and electrical poles, sparking fires, bringing widespread flooding, and causing at least one deadly car crash.”
“At least 7 in 10 Somalis live below poverty line as drought rages.
“Nearly one in four people in Somalia are facing acute hunger as drought ravages the conflict-wracked country, following three seasons of poor rains and a fourth on the way, the United Nations warned Monday.”
“Jordan’s ‘serious’ water scarcity requires immediate action — US ambassador.
“The US takes Jordan’s water scarcity “so seriously” as it is a matter of survival for the country and has a direct impact on the country’s three largest industries: Tourism, mining and textiles, which, with no consistent access to water, become imperiled, US Ambassador in Amman Henry T. Wooster told media representatives on Sunday.”
“Himalayan glaciers are melting at an extraordinary rate, research finds.
“Glaciers in the Himalayas are melting at an “exceptional” rate, according to new research that shows the massive ice sheets in the region have shrunk 10 times faster in the past four decades than during the previous seven centuries.”
“It’s getting warmer and warmer in Greenland. The capital Nuuk reached +13c [55.4F]… average high is -3.5°C [25.7°F], followed by Paamiut with +11.1C. Incredible high minimum of +6.9C at Narsarsuaq.
“Today 12 stations in Greenland rose above +8C. These are conditions more typical of a summer day.”
“Climate change could mean some Arctic animals will be more vulnerable to disease spread by insects.
“… the changing climate could have a dramatic impact on the transmission of disease in Arctic wildlife — partly because many disease-causing pathogens are spread by insects, which tend to do better in warmer conditions…”
“Rewilding the Arctic with mammals likely to be ineffective in slowing climate change impact.
“… the research team concludes that [rewilding] would probably not transform the vegetation over large areas and so do little to curtail release of carbon from the Arctic permafrost.”
“Record Rainfall, Floods Across Globe Generate Billions in Economic Damages: Aon…
““The reality of heavier rainfall events and subsequent flooding continues to become more evident on a seemingly monthly basis as new examples of extreme events occur,” said Steve Bowen, managing director and head of Catastrophe Insight for Aon…”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread and again on Thursday with a ‘Climate’ thread.
That will probably be the last one before Christmas. I can feel the news-cycle already starting to slow down a little but if any huge stories break I will find time to post them.
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 means a lot.
“At least 12 people have died in flash floods caused by heavy rains overnight in northern and northeastern Iraq, Erbil mayor Nabz Abdulhamid told CNN Friday…
“Iraq has witnessed record-low rainfall this year, but officials have warned about sporadic heavy rainfall, due to climate change.”
“Half of the families living in drought-affected areas of Iraq need humanitarian food aid, the Norwegian Refugee Council said in a study released on Thursday… The NRC said 37 per cent of farmers growing wheat and 30 per cent of those planting barley saw their expected crop yields fall by at least 90 per cent.”
“Unprecedented drought pushes Iran’s southeast to brink.
“A new, grim estimate says Iran’s already underdeveloped Sistan-Baluchistan province will have to brace not only for a worsening water crisis but for ripple effects as well, including severe economic and social repercussions.”
“Typhoon Rai: at least 23 killed in strongest storm to hit Philippines this year.
“At least 23 people have been killed in the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, officials said, with “alarming” reports of destruction on islands that bore the brunt of the storm.”
“Pilbara could set new Australian temperature record as extreme heatwave grips northern WA.
“WA’s Pilbara region could be heading for an Australian temperature record this weekend as extreme heatwave conditions brew temperatures close to 50 degrees Celsius for some towns… The BOM says the 49.9C December temperature record could be broken.”
“Petorca, the Chilean town that is closing schools due to the drought…
“”It is the first time that we are facing such an extreme and extended measure in time,” says Quiroz. “The outlook is quite uncertain: we do not know if we are going to have water or not, but everything indicates that we will be like this until next year.””
“Brazil coffee crop down 24.4% in 2021 amid drought…
“Conab estimated the country’s arabica coffee crop, which was in an off year of its biennial production cycle, at 31.4 million bags, down 35.5% year-on-year.”
“Brazil wildfires killed an estimated 17 million animals.
“Amid the bleakness of 2020, scientists in Brazil concluded a particularly grim conservation study – attempting to count the animals killed by huge wildfires in the Pantanal wetlands. They estimate that as many as 17 million vertebrates – including reptiles, birds and primates – died.”
“‘Like a nightmare’: major rainstorm floods Santa Cruz homeless community… Devastating images and video captured by photojournalists in California have documented the toll an intense rainstorm – one of the most powerful to hit the state this year – took on a homeless community in the city of Santa Cruz this week.
“The damage caused by the downpour highlighted the risks that unhoused people face during increasingly extreme weather events.”
“‘Devastation’: One month after floods, Sumas [Washington] slow to return to normal.
“Roger De Bruin had a heart attack while rescuing people from the first round of flooding. He doesn’t expect to be in his home for another six to nine months.”
“The wild weather of this December in USA resulted in the first tornado ever recorded in the State of Minnesota in the month of December [at least two now confirmed].
“Evening/night temperatures in parts of NE USA and Southern Ontario, Canada were typical of a summer evening/night.”
“2 dead in Kansas wildfires fueled by windy, dry weather…
“Both men were killed in wildfires that erupted Wednesday in western and central Kansas, fueled by dry conditions and winds up to 90 mph (145 kph). The Kansas Forest Service said 625 square miles (1,620 square kilometers) burned in 11 counties in western Kansas…”
“Kentucky rain turns more tornado survivors out of their homes.
“…on Thursday rain soaked the state, with another downpour forecast for Friday into Saturday afternoon. As Jimmy Galbreath watched, water leaked steadily into his kitchen, finding paths opened by two trees that had smashed into his house during the tornado.”
“Cyclone Carmel is expected to batter Cyprus from late-night Saturday through Monday afternoon with heavy rain, powerful winds… The Civil Defence Department urged people to prepare their homes for extreme weather conditions and flooding.”
“‘All I can think about is the children’s future’: drought devastates Kenya…
“North-east Kenya is well used to spells of drought, but it is experiencing the worst in living memory. As the region’s short rainy season, which starts in October, draws to an end, parts of Wajir have only seen small showers and other areas have had no rain at all for more than a year.”
“Zimbabwe’s climate migration is a sign of what’s to come….
“Years of severe droughts have wiped out all Julius Mutero’s crops. He tried planting maize varieties that mature early, but even they didn’t survive… he watched helplessly as all seven of his cows died… He feels he has no choice but to abandon his home in search of water.”
“Cyclone Idai: Families not at peace with missing loved ones…
“Two years later, survivors of the catastrophe are still struggling to cope with the psychological trauma of dealing with the loss of their loved ones… “We have wounds that are not healing,” said Ishmael Tsangamidzi on the sidelines of a media tour organised by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists.”
“Climate Change Is Making Nights Warmer—and Crops May Never Be the Same…
“Higher night temperatures increase plant respiration rates, potentially reducing the amount of carbon available for filling out the grains, and thus reducing the overall mass of the food produced.”
“Multiple large heatwaves the size of Mongolia occurred at the same time nearly every day during the warm seasons of the 2010s across the Northern Hemisphere, according to a study led by Washington State University researchers.”
“Climate Change an ‘Emerging Threat’ to U.S. Financial Stability, Regulators Say…
“The Financial Stability Oversight Council, a group of top financial regulators led by the Treasury secretary, offered a grim assessment of how the fallout from rising temperatures could spread, hurting property values and saddling insurers, banks and pensions that are associated with the sector with heavy losses.”
“The extremity and duration of the early-summer heat wave in an area typically considered an escape from searing heat and its costly toll placed this firmly atop our list.”
“Chemical Air Pollution Morphs Into Something Even More Toxic, Study Shows.
“Remnants of industrial chemicals in the air can potentially transform into new substances more toxic and persistent than the original pollution, according to a global study published on Wednesday.”
“Conservations warn horseshoe crabs could go to extinct because their blood is being used in Covid vaccines and for drug testing: Up to 30% of the crustaceans have already been killed off in the US.
“Their bright blue blood …has immune cells, known as Limulus polyphemus (LAL), which are sensitive to toxic bacteria and can be used to test vaccines and drugs for dangerous bacterial toxins before products hit the market.”
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 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.”
– 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.
“Harsh heat in Argentina and Uruguay on 29 December. The Buenos Aires Ezeiza AP rose to 40.1C [104.2F] its hottest December day ever and highest temperature overall since 1999.
“Argentine Patagonia in for hottest and driest year since 1961.
“Fire rages for weeks in Argentina’s Patagonia.
“Chile govt Declares Emergency as Forest Fires Rage In Central & Southern Parts Of Country…
“Uruguay declares agricultural emergency due to drought in its fields.
“Severe Brazil flooding spreads in Bahia and beyond.
“The president of Bolivia, Luis Arce, reported on Tuesday that the authorities have rescued 79 citizens affected by the heavy rains caused in Santa Cruz…
“With four days left to go in the month, Lake Tahoe [US] has already broken the record for December snowfall set 50 years ago.
“Excessively wet year in eastern U.S. shows fingerprints of climate change…
“Seattle sees coldest day in 73 years as cold weather hits west coast.
“Latest extreme cold warnings another hit for B.C. farmers facing brunt of climate change impacts…
“Alaska ‘Icemageddon’ warning follows heat record… The coldest US state of Alaska has recorded its hottest-ever December day, amid an unusual winter warm spell…
“A clean-up operation is continuing in Wexford [Ireland] after heavy rain caused severe flooding in parts of the county on Christmas Day…
“Deadly floods left this German town in tatters. Now, it’s trying to climate-proof itself… In a matter of hours, 134 people were killed in Ahr Valley in July…
“Record December temperatures in Mallorca.
“Heavy downpour caused floods yesterday (December 28) in Edirne and Kırklareli provinces in Turkey’s northwestern Thrace region.
“Heavy Air Pollution Shuts Down Schools In Several Iranian Cities.
“‘On the brink’: drought and politics leave Afghans fighting famine…
“Run, rebuild, repeat as floods eat away at India’s indigenous land… available land is becoming scarce…
“Malaysia’s floods a further sign of climate change…
“China Set to Give Safety Nod to More Domestic GMO Corn Varieties.
“Russia’s Arctic coastline is losing 7,000 hectares per year to climate change.
“The Fading Ways of Indigenous Arctic Hunters…
“What the collapse of Antarctica’s ‘doomsday’ glacier could mean for the world…
“In a record-breaking year of weather, signs of a changed world…
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“In an interview with Israeli public broadcaster Kan on Monday, Noga Kornfeld Shor, chief scientist at the Environmental Protection Ministry, called the outbreak “an extraordinary event on a global scale.”
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