The latest storm has increased the death count following repeated extreme weather events in Sicily and Calabria, which have killed three people and submerged city streets and squares.
“A record of almost 200 litres of rain per square metre has fallen in Pollensa, Mallorca, in November [7.9 inches], mostly over the last week, according to figures from the Palma Met Office.
“This month is proving to be exceptionally wet with large amounts of rain falling across the island. Escorca was the wettest place on the island with 21.5 inches…”
“Cut the alcohol, eat lighter meals – governments in southern Africa issue warnings as heatwave grips.
“Areas in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Tanzania have registered record temperatures… For countries, such as Zimbabwe and Madagascar, faced with starvation and famine, the prolonged hot spell is likely to worsen the situation.”
“AT least 620 pupils and villagers in Zvimba Ward 13 are in a quandary after heavy rains with strong winds swept through the area, damaging a school and several homesteads, with the school damage so severe that new classrooms have to be built.”
“No end in sight to Dar es Salaam [Tanzania] water woes as drought bites.
“There seems to be no end in sight for water rationing in Dar es Salaam as the situation gets worse at the major water sources of Upper and Lower Ruvu River.”
“‘We will all die’: In Kenya, prolonged drought takes heavy toll…
““In 72 years of life, I have never seen something like this,” said Ibrahim Adow, a Biyamadow resident… Adow himself has lost more than half his cattle. Those remaining are too weak to get milk from, too skinny to be sold.”
“Dry November could bring devastating fires [to Israel], experts warn…
“With wildfires tearing across the country in recent days, climate experts are warning that Israel is seeing an increase in trends of extreme drought, with conditions similar to those in previous years that saw devastating blazes.”
“Drought and Crumbling Infrastructure: Threats to Kyrgyzstan’s Agricultural Sector.
“Kazakhstan hit record temperatures in June, which delivered a devastating blow to its livestock. For Kyrgyzstan, the situation was just as grim. The National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic has reported a 40 percent loss of rain-fed crop production in 2021…”
“Torrential rain, locally known as “Ai ruah” or “the rain of the crabs”, created havoc and left a trail of destruction in low-lying areas of Mizoram as large areas of paddy cultivation areas and fish ponds were inundated.”
“‘The water is poison’: Chinese environmental activist spends life protecting polluted lake.
“Environmental activist Zhang Zhengxiang is almost blind, and lives in poverty — but he has successfully faced down hundreds of companies on the banks of one of China’s most polluted lakes.”
“President sends 5,000 aid packages for flood victims in W Kalimantan.
“Kapuas Hulu, W Kalimantan (ANTARA) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has sent five thousand packages containing basic necessities for flood victims in Sintang district, West Kalimantan, an official has informed.”
“Two years after [Australia’s] Black Summer, an environmental disaster looms.
“While eucalyptus forests may recover quickly from fires, there are signs previously thriving tracts of ancient rainforest may never return. Up to 80 per cent of Victoria’s warm temperate rainforest was affected by the fires that raged in the summer of 2019-20…”
“‘It’s horrendous’: flooding causes significant crop damage to farms around Forbes [NSW, Australia]…
“Farmers along the Lachlan River are seeing devastating crop losses just on the cusp of what was to be a bumper harvest, due to flooding… What’s more, due to the high costs of fertiliser and fuel… the growing costs had been substantially higher.”
“Tuvalu seeks to retain statehood if it sinks completely as sea levels rise.
“Tuvalu is looking at legal ways to keep its ownership of its maritime zones and recognition as a state even if the Pacific island nation is completely submerged due to the climate crisis, its foreign minister said on Tuesday.”
“1,000 dead manatees: Florida surpasses a grim milestone.
“Since July, every weekly update from state wildlife officials has set a new record for the most manatee deaths counted in a single year. Today, Florida crossed an especially tragic threshold: more than 1,000 manatees dead.”
“Authorities issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents and businesses in a county near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado after a wildfire broke out in the area, NBC News reported.
“According to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, the fire was first reported by officials Tuesday morning.”
“As drought persists, Californians are ‘backsliding’ in effort to conserve water…
“Gov. Gavin Newsom in July called for Californians to voluntarily cut water use 15%, but the latest figures, which were released Tuesday, show much of the state remains far from that goal.”
“Washington town sees 75% of homes damaged by floodwaters.
“Three out of every four homes in the Washington town of Sumas have been damagedby floodwaters, officials said Tuesday. Sumas Mayor Kyle Christensen said his 1,600 residents have been without power for more than 24 hours.”
“Military deployed as Pacific north-west grapples with devastating floods.
“Troops have been deployed in British Columbia to help stranded residents and search areas hit by landslides and floods after a powerful storm dumped a month’s worth of rain in two days across a swath of the Pacific north-west in Canada and the US.”
“This city had its hottest day on record this summer. 140 days later, it had its wettest.
“The city of Abbotsford in British Columbia… recorded its hottest day ever in late June when temperatures climbed to 109 degrees Fahrenheit during an unprecedented heat wave. Just 140 days later, it smashed another record…”
“Global warming speeds up the frequency of extreme hot weather and rainfall.
“The frequency of extreme hot weather and record temperatures and rainfall has increased around the world as a result of global warming, according to an international research project headed up by Universidad Complutense de Madrid…”
“Climate crisis: Exploring the Jkulsárlón glacier lagoon in south Iceland.
“In Southeast Iceland, there’s a glacier lagoon filled with icebergs called Jkulsárlón. Thousands of people visit the lagoon every year, but scientists say the lake filled with meltwater is growing fast. Centuries of history is dissolving.”
“Earth’s lower atmosphere is expanding due to climate change…
“Scientists are still not sure how a rising tropopause will influence the climate or weather, although it could force planes to fly higher in the atmosphere to avoid turbulence.”
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 means a lot.
“B.C.’s record-breaking rainfall generates ‘mind-boggling’ data: Environment Canada. Armel Castellan, warning preparedness meteorologist, described the latest weather event as part of a “parade of storms” that have drenched B.C. since September.
“That month, many areas saw precipitation in excess of 300 per cent of normal, he said, and in October, the excess ranged between 200 and 240 per cent of normal along the coast. The District of Hope saw its wettest day on record on Sunday with rainfall adding up to 174mm [6.9 inches]…”
“Canada rains cause city evacuation, shut down major oil pipeline.
“Officials in Merrit, British Columbia, order residents to leave as floodwaters ‘inundated two bridges’ and forced waste water treatment plant to close.”
“14 November was a very hot day in California but even more so in NW Mexico. With 43.0C Cazanate recorded one of the latest 43C [109.4F] ever in the Northern Hemisphere.
“The latest was set just 1 year ago with 43.1C at San Francisco, in the same area, on 20 Nov 2020.”
“Arizona Snowbowl delays opening day ‘until further notice’ due to warm weather, no snow.
“It’s tough to ski or snowboard with no snow, which is why Arizona Snowbowl has delayed its opening day until the weather cooperates and brings some fresh powder or it becomes cold enough to make enough artificial snow.”
“Small farms battle speculators over centuries-old water rights in drought-stricken Colorado…
“The centuries-old irrigation system sustains a unique and ancient culture that today faces unprecedented threats. Rising temperatures, declining snowpack, and record drought attributed to climate change dried up some acequias, forcing families to fallow fields and sell cattle.”
“Extreme drought conditions since March have hit Utah farmers hard, and they say the outlook for the future is worrisome after one of the hottest summers on record in Utah. The drought conditions have caused some farmers to lose up to 60% of their allotted water, Riley said.”
“The Gering Fire Department said firefighters were called out to Buffalo Creek around 11:30 a.m. Sunday and immediately called for backup from other local and state agencies. On Sunday evening about 2300 acres were burned, but number tripled to around 1,500 acres by Monday morning.”
“How will Idaho recover from a record-breaking drought season?
“From the shortest growing season in the Magic Valley in seven decades to reservoirs emptying rapidly, Idaho may continue to feel the effects of one of the most severe drought seasons in state history. As winter approaches, Idaho water systems are left with little to nothing in terms of an “emergency supply” available for next year.”
“Multiple Tornadoes Touch Down in Conn. During Rare November Storm.
“The modern tornado record goes back to 1950. Until Saturday, a tornado had never been recorded in Connecticut during the months of November or December.”
“Videos: Streets in Medellín and Bello [Colombia] turned into streams after heavy rains…
“Citizens recorded several moments in which the streets of their neighborhoods became streams of water, taking everything in their path, including motorcycles.”
“Arctic walrus the ‘size of a fridge’ spotted in Northumberland [UK] on the hunt for food…
“”It is certainly unusual to see walruses around the UK, especially several individuals in the same year including Wally who stayed on our coasts for quite some time.””
“…drought is already wreaking havoc in the Andalusian countryside [Spain]…
“The Guadalquivir basin is suffering a critical situation because compared to the average of the last 25 years, it registers 17% less accumulated precipitation, 57% less contributions to reservoirs and up to 20% less than average volume, standing today at 26.2% of its total capacity.”
“Malaga’s second forest fire in a day broke out next to the neighbourhood of La Corta on Saturday, November 13. The fire, which was visible from various points in the surrounding area, affected an area of woodland according to municipal sources.”
“Italian Firefighters Rescue Stranded Residents Amid Flooding in Sardinia.
“Italian firefighters rescued several people isolated by flooding in Sardinia on November 14, during storms that forced the closure of schools and public buildings in Cagliari.”
“Croatian island hit with record rainfall overnight as Mediterranean cyclone sweeps in…
“…an extreme 265 litres of rain per square meter [10.4 inches] fell on the island of Žirje by 1 a.m. with as much as 192 mm [7.6 inches] falling in 6 hours. Šibenik Meteo said on Sunday that over 300 litres fell per square metre with more than 2,000 lighting strikes.”
“Drought, overpumping cut Morocco river link to sea…
“”It’s the first time ever that the Moulouya has stopped flowing into the sea,” said Mohamed Benata, a retired agronomist. “The flow has been weakened by over-pumping of the water. It’s pretty dramatic.””
“North African climate change threatens farming, political stability.
“Tunisian olive farmer Ali Fileli looked out over his parched fields and crushed a lump of dry, dusty earth in his hand. “I can’t do anything with my land because of the lack of water,” he said. Fileli is just one of many farmers who have been left high and dry by increasingly long and intense droughts across North Africa.”
“Niger: The Drought-Hit Niger Villagers ‘Walking On Water’ Too Hard to Reach.
“In the remote plains of Niger, much of daily life revolves around collecting water from parched wells that have fallen victim to climate change. A documentary sets out to show how community members are pulling together to build a well…”
“Residents and commuters around the Oko Oba, Ekoro, Akowonjo, and Egbeda areas of Lagos State, were on Sunday grounded for hours after floods took over the communities.”
“Floods, sewage and crocodiles: the crisis of the Gambia’s sinking city.
“Life in Tobacco Road, a poor neighbourhood in the low-lying coastal capital, has never been easy, but it is becoming more and more difficult… “We need help,” Bah says simply…”
“Residents were able to assess the true damage in the early light of day on Monday November 15. But nothing could have prepared them for the utter havoc left in the wake of the storm… The South African Weather Service classified the hailstorm on Sunday November 14 as a superstorm.”
“Scorpion stings kill three and injure hundreds more after storms hit southern Egypt.
“Three people have died and 450 others were injured after being stung by scorpions in the city of Aswan [usually one of the driest places on earth], according to officials. The attacks happened after rainfall, thunder, dust storms, and snow hit the region in the south of Egypt.”
“Massive Forest Fire in Northern Israel Forces Hundreds to Evacuate.
“A fire broke out early Sunday in a forest near the northern city of Ma’alot-Tarshicha, forcing authorities to evacuate some 100 homes near the blaze. Some 15 firefighting teams and six planes arrived at the scene to fight the flames.”
“The fires, started on Saturday, have spread in different villages in Mount Lebanon including Bekaata, Achkout and Beit Mery while destroying vast agricultural areas in Lebanon’s southern villages of Kfar Roummane, Jarmaq, Choukin, Zebdin, Kfarseer and other areas.”
“Jordan dam reserves at all-time low as water crisis looms.
“Amid a delay in rainfall, Jordan’s major dams are either completely empty or facing critically low water levels, putting the country on the verge of an unprecedented drought crisis should dry weather conditions persist.”
“Drought threatens disaster as Iraqi farmers forced to leave land.
“Iraqi wheat farmer Khamis Ahmad Abbas lost it all when his battle with drought forced him to abandon his land, pushing him into unemployment. Experts have warned that record low rainfall, compounded by climate change, are threatening social and economic disaster in war-scarred Iraq.”
“[This summer’s] record high temperatures in central Asia highlight need for climate action…
“Distressing videos and news showed livestock dying on pastures in the western provinces of Kazakhstan due to water shortages and lack of natural feed. Protests erupted in the northern region of Kyrgyzstan as farmers demanded water to irrigate their crops.”
“Queensland, Australia… Townsville’s wettest November: Record rainfall totals as BOM warns of ongoing flood risk…
“Records were also broken just south at Alva Beach which recorded its highest November rainfall total since records began 25 years ago, with 180mm [7.1 inches] falling within a few hours.”
“Global heating is destroying rock art tens of thousands of years old, experts warn…
“Dr Daryl Wesley, a multidisciplinary archaeologist from Flinders, told the forum about the destruction wreaked by Cyclone Monica, one of Australia’s most severe tropical cyclones, which smashed through Arnhem Land in 2006.”
“Melbourne endures its coldest four-day stint for mid November in 167 years [of record keeping].
“Temperatures in Melbourne have stayed below 15.5C [59.9F] for the past four days — from Friday to Monday — averaging a maximum of just 14.4C. The four-day stint is the coldest period this late in the year ever recorded, Weatherzone’s senior meteorologist Brett Dutschke said.”
“Increased frequency of extreme ice melting in Greenland raises global flood risk…
“The new study, led by the University of Leeds… reveals that Greenland’s meltwater runoff has risen by 21% over the past four decades and has become 60% more erratic from one summer to the next.”
“Thawing Permafrost Changes Business and Security in the Arctic.
“14 military leaders from 11 European and North American states discussed security in the High North at the annual Arctic Security Forces Roundtable on Wednesday this week… Increased ground temperatures and thawing permafrost will have negative effect on 55 percent of the infrastructure in Arctic coast zones by 2050.” [Sounds optimistic to me!]
“The problem is political. The world leaders at COP26 all endorsed the need for radical action. But the political pressures they are under are actually a recipe for inaction… Domestically, politicians have good reason to fear that the cost of decarbonisation will be electoral defeat or social unrest.”
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 means a lot.
“Camels weep as their young perish in Syria’s killer drought…
““There is no rain, no water,”said Ayash Shalhoub, a Bedouin camel herder whose tribe has bred camels for centuries. “No rain means no vegetation, hence no food for our camels. If things continue this way, neither our animals nor we can survive,” he told Al-Monitor on a recent afternoon.”
“Afghanistan: Millions at risk of starvation as vital seeds go to waste in warehouses…
“More than half of Afghanistan’s population is predicted to face acute hunger this winter as drought and a crumbling economy are causing an unfolding crisis.”
“For the first time in 2009, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon has first proposed on the need to create a special international fund for the protection of glaciers…
“The President of Tajikistan noted that climate change is adjusting our daily life, primarily through the impact on water resources. One of the main indicators of this process is the intense melting of glaciers…”
“India’s pollution board says prepare for emergency steps as Delhi’s smog worsens.
“India’s federal pollution control board on Friday ordered states and local bodies to be in “complete readiness” for emergency measures to tackle New Delhi’s worsening smog conditions due to a drop in temperature and wind speeds.”
“Sri Lanka floods leave 25 dead, seven injured, one missing and 200,000 affected…
“Torrential rains continue to cause damage and deaths in in 17 districts with more than a thousand houses badly damaged. In Jaffna province, schools are closed. After people “started to breathe” following the worse of the COVID-19 pandemic, “this huge loss” came.”
“NSW and Victoria floods: rivers break banks as rain and wind lash Australia’s eastern states.
“Days of heavy rain across south-eastern Australia have caused rivers to surge and break their banks, flooding swathes of New South Wales and Victoria.”
“10th November was a record day in the Solomon Islands. With 35.2C [95.4F] Honiara Int. Airport set a new national monthly heat record, 0.1C above the value recorded in 1995 and 1998.
“Honiara city hasn’t recorded a single cooler than average month since September 2015 – 73 consecutive months!”
“Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rising, despite COP26 pledges.
“Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest rose in the month of October compared with last year, according to satellite images, in contradiction of pledges by the administration of President Jair Bolsonaro that it would do more to curb illegal deforestation in the area.”
“Terrible drought: critical situation in Río Negro [Argentina] due to lack of rainfall.
“The drought in Río Negro worsens, a group of professionals linked to INTA-Bariloche prepared a document on the situation due to the lack of rain in Rio Negro in September and October of this year.”
“In a disastrous drought, a grim milestone: California could see its first big reservoir [Mendocino] run dry.
“Lake Mendocino, once a plentiful reservoir nourishing the vines and villas of Sonoma and Mendocino counties, today is little more than a large pond, cowering beneath the coastal hills.”
“Bear cubs burned in Chelan wildfire [Washington] can’t stop hugging each other.
“A pair of bear cubs were reunited after they had been separated while they recovered from the 25 Mile wildfire that burned in Chelan County his summer.”
“Rain, floods prompt Coast Guard rescues in Pacific Northwest.
“The U.S. Coast Guard has used two helicopters to rescue about 50 people from rising waters at an RV park on the Oregon Coast Friday as heavy rains in the Pacific Northwest prompted warnings of floods and landslides.”
“Report: Nuclear plant failed to prevent flooding during Hurricane Ida.
“Operators of the Millstone nuclear power complex in Connecticut were too late in activating storm protection protocols when the remnants of Hurricane Ida hit the East Coast in September, resulting in minor flooding at the plant, federal regulators said Friday.”
“Europe is warming faster than the rest of the world and scientists are puzzled…
“Europe, in fact, has already passed the 1.5-degree C thresholdand is currently 2.2 degrees C warmer than it was before the industrial revolution, Samantha Burgess, deputy director for climate change services at the European Earth observation program Copernicus, said…”
“Emergency situation in Agrigento province of Sicily [again].
“The Agrigento area of Sicily has been hammered by heavy rains leading to widespread flooding and landslides on the southwest coast of the Italian island… , there are also emergency situations in Sciacca, Menfi, Ribera, with rescue operations and evacuations carried out throughout the night…”
“Insane amounts of rain observed in the last 48 hours in western Sicily: Castelvertrano (TP): 268 mm [10.5 inches]; Sciacca (AG): 217 mm; Calatafimi (TP): 148 mm
“In the last 3 days, Sciacca received almost half of its average annual rainfall (221 mm out of 540 mm / 8.7 inches out of 21.3 inches).”
“Africa’s first “chief heat officer” says Freetown [Sierra Leone] could be a data-driven climate model…
“In sub-Saharan Africa… there is hardly any data and researchers believe estimates are understated, frustrating hopes for meaningful public policy. But at least one African city is taking steps to fix the anomaly…”
“It has been very hot in the Southern African highlands.
“On 11 November ,Mariental in Namibia (1100m above sea level) recorded 43.2C [109.8F] close to its all time record, while Songea in Tanzania (1067m) rose to 34.8C its hottest day on records.”
“Illegal mining and deforestation increase pressure on Madagascar.
“According to the U.N., climate change has caused such widespread drought and famine that people living in Madagascar are forced to cut down trees to sell coal and engage in activities like illegal mining. Deforestation has also affected the country badly…”
“Neurotoxins in the environment are damaging human brain health – and more frequent fires and floods may make the problem worse…
“Many scientists have identified links between air pollution in various forms, including from forest fire smoke, and an increased risk and prevalence of adverse health effects, including brain disorders.”
“Wildfires Could be Pumping 3x More Soot to the Arctic Than Previously Thought, New Study Finds.
“…new research published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Thursday found that wildfires may be putting three times more black carbon into the Arctic atmosphere than climate models indicated.”
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.
“Chaotic scenes as northeast China hit by record snowfall.
“Parts of China’s northeast region are facing the worst snowfall in 116 years as a result of unseasonably early winter storms, resulting in significant disruption to daily life.”
“Northern Japan’s Hokkaido has been shattering rainfall records this season.
“On November 2, the town of Kikonai had 55mm [2.2 inches] in 10 minutes, making it the NATIONAL RECORD for the duration. The precipitation seems to have included hail.”
“Perth [Western Australia] drenched in record-breaking rain.
“Perth has been soaked by about twice the amount of rain it would get usually get in the whole month of November… and a new daily record for the month since records began in 1880.”
“Australia is on flash flood alert and braced for a record-breaking deluge with storms set to unleash a torrential drenching over the eastern half of the country.
“Samuel Hill on Queensland’s Capricorn Coast, was hit by a staggering 340.8mm [13.4 inches] of rain in the last 24 hours, with more on the way elsewhere.”
“Climate change and fires: Bolivia’s forests in peril…
“According to the NGO Global Forest Watch, Bolivia in 2020 became the country with the third-largest loss of virgin forest after Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo — passing Indonesia for the first time. It is a vicious cycle of climate change fueling forest fires, and vice versa.”
“More than 70 percent of the world’s tropical glaciers exist in the country, providing vital water for farming and drinking. The glaciers are melting at an alarming pace as one third have melted in the space of a decade.”
“Paraná state [Brazil] could face water shortage even with increased rainfall.
““If we don’t cut consumption by 20 percent, we will run out of water.” The headline is emblazoned on the homepage of water supply company Sanepar in the southern state of Paraná, which is enduring its fiercest water crisis on record — now lasting for over two years.”
“Acting Hawaii governor signs emergency proclamation for Maui drought.
“Gov. Clare Connors …signed an emergency proclamation providing immediate relief for Maui County, which has dealt with drought conditions since March 2019… They said rainfall, streams and ground water levels remained “significantly below normal…””
“California bans insurance companies from dropping homeowners in 2021 wildfire zones…
“The moratorium, issued by Commissioner Ricardo Lara, requires insurers to retain these policyholders for a year and covers people who live near some of the largest wildfires of 2021, including the KNP Complex in Sequoia National Park.”
“‘We dread summers’: dangerous ‘fire weather’ days are on the rise in northern California…
“Across the Sierra Nevada foothills, fire weather is increasingly becoming a distressing reality of life. Over the last half-century, global heating has dramatically increased the number of annual fire-weather days in the region…”
“Tornado warning, hail, snow and a small earthquake: Washington state had a wild Tuesday.
“A tornado warning, heavy rain, hail, high winds, severe thunderstorms, snow and a small earthquake were a part of a mixed bag of events that occurred during a dramatic Tuesday in Washington state.”
“Warming winters increase severe weather risk [Tennessee]…
“Climate change is leading to warmer winters across the Mid-State. This season La Nina conditions are also in place, which increases the likelihood of a “warmer” trend this winter… [this]… increases our risk for both severe thunderstorms and tornadoes…”
“Vermont is becoming warmer and wetter due to climate change—and these trends are reshaping life in the Green Mountain State…
“The University of Vermont study finds the state’s average annual temperature has warmed by nearly 2°F, and precipitation has increased by a whopping 21%, since 1900.”
“Williamstown [Massachusetts] experiences wettest summer fall on record…
“Williamstown – The summer and early fall in town turned out to be wetter than any other year since record keeping started 130 years ago, according to Jay Racela, Environmental Analysis Lab supervisor and lecturer at Williams College.”
“‘Rapid and concerning’: Chesapeake Bay is getting warmer, researchers say.
“In the course of 30 years, the Chesapeake Bay warmed up by about 2 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s according to researchers at William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science, who also found that the bay is warming about three to four times faster in the summer than the winter.”
“Icelandic glacier melting faster than it can recover, experts warn…
“Experts have highlighted that the rapid rate of melting glaciers during the summertime has now significantly impacted recovery during the winter months.”
“Some songbirds now migrate east to west. Climate change may play a role.
“As the chill of autumn encroaches on Siberia’s grasslands, Richard’s pipits usually begin their southward trek to warmer latitudes. But a growing number… seem to be heading west instead… [this] might be linked to a warming Europe.”
“Storm ‘Blas’ causes severe flooding in Fornalutx [Mallorca]…
“Torrential rain and thunderstorms caused a river in Fornalutx to burst its banks on Tuesday night, sending gallons of water cascading through the village and flooding homes and businesses, according to Mayor Francisco Marroig.”
“Greeks fear megafires could be new normal for Med.
“This summer alone Greece was hit by thousands of wildfires, fanned by its worst heatwave in decades. Turkey, Italy and Spain all witnessed dramatic fires in recent months and the fire on the Greek island of Evia was the biggest in Greece since records began.”
“Cyprus again! On 9th November the national monthly record of highest temperature was tied just 2 days after being beaten. 33.4C [92.1F] was recorded at Pareklisia, the 3rd station in 3 days to record this exact temperature.“
“Epic floods leave South Sudanese to face snakes, disease and starvation…
“When the rainy season came in 2019, it didn’t arrive during the usual time frame in South Sudan. The downpours came at the beginning of dry season, in November, and in extraordinary quantities, as if “the whole sky came down…””
“Cape Town’s Day Zero: ‘We are axing trees to save water’.
“Cutting down [non-indigenous pine] trees to save a city from drought might seem like an unlikely plan, but that is exactly what the South African city of Cape Town is doing, soon after it became the first global city to come close to running out of water.”
“Kenya drought: How ‘the land of plenty’ became a barren home where the only route to water is to dig.
“”It’s estimated about 600,000 members of the population in Turkana County are in need of food or cash assistance,” says Gabriel Ekaale, a policy officer for the World Food Programme based in Lodwar, in Turkana County.”
“Low rainfall, structural damage and extraction by struggling farmers have emptied a key reservoir in northwestern Syria, leaving it completely dry for the first time, farmers and officials told AFP.”
“Coastal states in Mumbai, Kolkata and four other Indian cities will be underwater by 2030, finds report.
“Maps show parts of Mumbai, almost the entirety of Navi Mumbai, the coastal areas of Sunderbans, and the surrounding areas of West Bengal’s capital, Kolkata, along with Cuttack in Odisha, may be below tide-level in 2030.”
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 means a lot.
“Siberia up to 20C [36F] warmer than usual with huge temperature anomalies. Confused plants bloom in Sayano-Shushenskiy reserve in Central Siberia; strawberries ripen in the Far East of Russia.”
“”This is an amazing situation,” says the scientific director of Russia’s Hydrometeorological Center, Roman Vilfand.”
“A critical situation might be in the making on the Northern Sea Route… More than 20 vessels are either stuck or struggling to make it through increasingly thick sea-ice on the Northern Sea Route…
“The complicated shipping conditions come despite the extraordinary warm weather of October… there have been strong winds in the region.”
“Untreated sewage is being spilled into rivers for months on end from emergency outlets that are only supposed to be used in severe storm conditions, an analysis for The Times has shown.”
“Germany suffers record $33.8 billion damage from July floods.
“The German government has estimated a record €29.2 billion ($33.8 billion) in damage from the heavy rains and floods that struck Germany in July, Trend reported citing TASS.”
“A Farmer from Trnovo [Bosnia] lost more than 120 Sheep in the Floods.
“Even the older residents of the Municipality of Trnovo pointed out that they do not remember such floods and that the material damage to the facilities is huge, while the rehabilitation will take months… The Sarajevo settlement of Rajlovac is still flooded after heavy rains from the past days.”
“Baixo Alentejo and Algarve [Portugal] in severe drought…
“In addition to the drought index, the IPMA Climatological Bulletin indicates that the month of October, in mainland Portugal, was classified as very hot and dry in relation to air temperature and normal in relation to precipitation.”
“Videos: Massive sandstorm in Dubai; heavy rains, hail in some parts of UAE.
“The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has issued a code orange dust storm alert for Dubai and surrounding areas. This code warns residents to be prepared for hazardous weather events and to comply with “advice issued by the authorities”.”
“Extreme hotspot: What 60C means for the Middle East…
“The repercussions throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region would be devastating including chronic water shortages, the inability to grow food because of extreme weather and resulting drought, and a surge in heat-related deaths and health problems.”
“World’s Worst Air Pollution Blankets India’s Capital in Smog.
“Toxic air shrouded India’s capital for a fourth consecutive day, making it the most polluted city across the planet and underscoring the risks faced by the nation highlighted at the ongoing global climate talks.”
“After Wettest October on Record, Kerala Continues to Remain Rainy…
“Following a drier-than-normal monsoon season filled with floods, landslides and other rain-related disasters, the South Indian state began its post-monsoon period with a bang, by witnessing the wettest October in its recorded history.”
“Chennai comes to a standstill as heavy rains flood city…
“Local media showed footage of cars submerged under water, uprooted trees and people being rescued on rubber boats in various parts of Chennai, the largest city in the southern state of Tamil Nadu and often called ‘India’s Detroit’ due to its large car-making industry.”
“Nine people are dead and two others missing after floods in Sri Lanka and parts of southern India caused by more than a week of pounding rains.
“Nearly half of Sri Lanka’s 25 districts have been hit by the deluge, with the worst affected areas in and around the island’s tea-growing Central Highlands.”
“China staring at deadly floods, heatwaves and pestilence as climate change hits home, study finds.
“Climate change, the deadly impact of which is rising across China, poses bigger global public health threat than Covid-19, warns The Lancet Public Health report.”
“Blackouts, widespread damage as second hailstorm in two weeks hits Riverland [South Australia].
“Homeowners, growers and business operators are again counting the cost after a hail storm smashed the Riverland and Murray Mallee regions for the second time in just over a week.”
“Koalas are dying from chlamydia, and climate change is making it worse.
“For koalas, uncontrolled chlamydia can cause blindness and painful cysts in a animal’s reproductive tract that may lead to infertility or even death. Worse still, antibiotics used to treat the disease can destroy the delicate gut flora koalas need to consume their staple diet of eucalyptus leaves…”
“Chile’s desert dumping ground for fast fashion leftovers…
“A mountain of discarded clothing, including Christmas sweaters and ski boots, cuts a strange sight in Chile’s Atacama, the driest desert in the world, which is increasingly suffering from pollution created by fast fashion.”
“Central Chile is experiencing a historic lack of rainfall and the capital, Santiago, has not escaped this reality. In the context of the current climate crisis, experts are watching with concern…”
“Denver saw a record heat day on Saturday at 80 degrees, and was just one degree off from the record on Sunday at 78 degrees…
“Denver has surpassed or tied 10 record heat days in 2021… although individual days of heat are not an indication of a changing climate, the pattern is becoming clearer.”
“Unseasonably warm fall another hit for drought-stricken Manitoba farmers…
“Producers have just come out of a hot and dry summer and are hoping for rain and snow to build up soil moisture for the next growing season, but that hasn’t happened yet.”
“‘Ultra-rare’ November tornado hits Vancouver, B.C., damage reported.
” Witnesses in Vancouver, B.C., captured video and photos of a tornado over the Strait of Georgia Saturday that reportedly came ashore and caused minor tree damage at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and immediate vicinity.”
“2021 was a bad year for glaciers in western North America — and it’s about to get much worse…
“…, glacier mass loss over the past two decades in western North America has accelerated, with losses in the past decade that were four times greater than the decade before.”
“Climate change: Will this vast Antarctic ice sheet reach tipping point?
“Kiwi scientists are preparing to drill deep into the Antarctic ocean floor, to reveal whether a vast ice sheet [the Ross Ice Shelf] storing several metres of equivalent sea level rise is at risk of reaching tipping point.”
“Global temperatures: third warmest October on record… after 2015 and 2019, according to the monthly update from the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
“Northern Canada, Russia and East Antarctica were much warmer than average.”
“Increased demand for PPE has put pressure on an already out-of-control global problem, report finds
“Plastic waste from the Covid-19 pandemic weighing 25,900 tonnes, equivalent to more than 2,000 double decker buses, has leaked into the ocean, research has revealed.”
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 means a lot.
“‘Expect less water next year,’ Kyrgyzstan warns downstream neighbors.
“To stop Kyrgyzstan’s electricity shortage from becoming a multi-year crisis, Bishkek has warned its neighbors that it must start keeping more water for itself… That will mean less water for farmers and power plants downstream in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.”
“In Coastal Cambodia, Climate Change Kills Rice Crops With Salt Water…
“Last year, Nget Srey’s paddy was almost ready to harvest when her 2½-hectare field became inundated with seawater, wiping out her crops, slashing her main source of income and destroying her way of life.”
“Indonesia says Cop26 zero-deforestation pledge it signed ‘unfair’…
“Siti Nurbaya Bakar, the environment minister for the south-east Asian archipelago, which is home to the world’s third-biggest rainforest, said on Wednesday that “forcing Indonesia to zero deforestation in 2030 is clearly inappropriate and unfair”.”
“Torrential rains on Thursday unleashed flash floods in Malang and the highland city of Batu [Java], inundating houses with mud and debris, while a wall of water destroyed local bridges.”
“A Wildfire Started in Komodo. Then Things Went Quiet.
“Anger swirled as activists posted about the latest fire to ravage Komodo island, home to the protected dragons. Shortly after, their Instagram was pulled down.”
“5 major heatwaves in 30 years have turned the Great Barrier Reef into a bleached checkerboard.
“Just 2% of the Great Barrier Reef remains untouched by bleaching since 1998 and 80% of individual reefs have bleached severely once, twice or three times since 2016, our new study reveals today.”
“As the sea ice melts in the town of Barrow, residents of the Alaskan outpost find themselves facing an uncertain future…
“Since 1971, the average annual temperature in Utqiagvik has risen by 4.8°C from -13.5°C to -8.7°C. Houses built on permafrost are sinking into the ground, underground cellars are flooding and whaling is becoming increasingly dangerous.”
“The Rising Pacific Forces a Native Village to Move. Who Will Pay? Washington’s Quinault Nation wants to rebuild on higher ground, but $150 million is hard to find…
“Storm surges propelled by higher seas, glacier melt and heavy winter rainfall have breached the riprap barrier often in recent years, forcing people to evacuate…”
“‘Doomsday prepper’ mom who lives ‘off-grid’ in Alaska details drastic steps she’s taken to get ready for an apocalypse – from hunting food and hoarding canned goods to making her young daughters build ‘bug-out bags’…
“Morgan Rogue, 37, from Alaska, has been preparing for disaster since 2010.”
“October was Nunavut’s warmest on record, and climate change is to blame: meteorologist.
“Most of Nunavut was around 5 C warmer than usual last month, while the north Baffin area was 8 C warmer than usual. Hundreds of individual daily temperature records were broken across the territory, too.”
“Iqaluit’s water crisis has so far cost the municipality more than $1.5 million. And this is only the start…
“The city has been in a state of emergency since Oct. 12, when staff confirmed fuel contamination [thanks to melting permafrost damaging infrastructure] in the city’s treated water supply. Residents have been told the water is unsafe to drink even if it’s filtered and boiled.”
“The record-warm water temperatures over the Great Lakes fit into a pattern of warming lakes all over the planet, forced upward as human-caused climate change pushes air temperatures to record highs.
““I’m not surprised at all that the water temperatures are so warm,” said Sapna Sharma, a professor at York University who has studied ice for more than a decade.
“Great Lakes’ record warmth to fuel lake effect snow, may disrupt fish.
“Warm lakes also fuel rain and snow… That phenomenon contributed to record-breaking lake effect snowfall in northern Michigan on Wednesday… Parts of northern Michigan, especially around Gaylord, got almost 12 inches of snow that day, more than any single-day snowfall in November on record.”
“Powerful storm to bring major coastal flooding to Southeast this weekend.
“A developing powerful storm will bring significant coastal and possibly historic flooding to parts of Florida, Georgia and the coastal Carolinas through this weekend.”
“Colorado forests may never be the same after historic 2020 wildfires.
“The impact on the climate continues long after the flames are out. Some areas burned by fire are not seeing forest regrowth they once did. “Even in some places where we have trees nearby, things are just too warm and dry for the forest to recover,” said Kyle Rodman, a research scientist.”
“Wildfires and Drought Force California to Rely on Natural Gas for Winter Electricity.
“This year, the state has leaned more on gas fired-power plants as extreme drought has cut hydropower output by more than half, while frequent wildfires often shut electricity imports from other states.”
“Deforestation rising in Colombia 5 years after peace deal…
“The report published on Thursday said that cattle ranchers, loggers, miners, subsistence farmers and criminal groups have moved into areas formerly controlled by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and are burning down forests to make way for legal and illegal businesses.”
“Spain: Thick layers of ice fill streets in Mallorca after ‘freak’ hailstorm.
“It took just 15 minutes for streets in Mallorca to be filled with ice, witnesses said as they described what local media coined a “freak” hailstorm. The powerful hailstorm on Thursday left the city of Cala Ratjada on the Spanish island covered with thick layers of ice.”
“Tourists wade through water in St. Mark’s square after Venice floods again as rising sea levels make such scenes more frequent…
“Venice is particularly vulnerable to climate change due to its unique topography of long pointed wooden poles that were driven straight down into the seafloor, along with its 117 canals that flow through the ancient city.”
“Greek firefighters clash with police at climate ministry…
“Police clashed in Athens Friday with protesting firefighters demanding job contracts in the wake of massive wildfires. One firefighter was hurt by a stun grenade and five others were detained after police fired teargas and water cannon to disperse the demonstrators.”
“With an astonishing temperature of at 32.4C Veliko Tarnovo [90.3F], the country had its hottest November day on record, beating the 32.1C of Gorna Orahovitsa set on 1 Nov 1926.”
“Severe flash flooding caused by heavy rains following unseasonably warm weather has hit much of Bosnia. Power was knocked out in the capital, and a key oxygen facility for COVID-19 patients had to be evacuated.”
“How ‘green colonialism’ is plundering North Africa.
“Renewable energy projects, just like traditional ones, have fuelled dispossession, exploitation and socioeconomic exclusion across the region… Basically, the same oppressive system remains but with a different source of energy.”
“How northern Ghana farmers are battling drought and floods from climate change.
“Many farmers in the northern parts of Ghana are yet to recover from the shock of the devastating flooding that hit the area in last August and September, causing massive destruction of farms.”
“Benin families fear famine if climate crisis is not tackled…
“Like many people across Benin, Odile’s parents are farmers who, in recent years, have been struggling to cope with droughts. Originally from Atacota, in the North-West, her family were forced to migrate to Borgou, 130 miles South-East, in search of more fertile soil.”
“‘All the trees have died’: Iraqis face intensifying water crisis…
“Four years ago, the stream running through Iraq’s al-Hamra village dried up. Now, “all the trees have died”, said Abdullah Kamel who used to farm citrus fruit in the village in Saladin governorate north of Baghdad.”
“Iran is in “post-crisis mode” as it struggles to deal with a water scarcity problem that has already boiled over into protests, the former deputy head of the country’s environment department has warned…
“Kaveh Madani told The National that Iran’s water problems have become so dire that its ecosystems are beyond saving.”
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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About This Site
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.
12 tornados batter Sicily in 24 hours [update: 14, according to Weather Sicily; link below]; one killed. 
“A record of almost 200 litres of rain per square metre has fallen in Pollensa, Mallorca, in November [7.9 inches], mostly over the last week, according to figures from the Palma Met Office.
“Cut the alcohol, eat lighter meals – governments in southern Africa issue warnings as heatwave grips.
“Zimbabwe: Hailstorm Wreaks Havoc in Zvimba.
“No end in sight to Dar es Salaam [Tanzania] water woes as drought bites.
“‘We will all die’: In Kenya, prolonged drought takes heavy toll…
“Dry November could bring devastating fires [to Israel], experts warn…
“Drought and Crumbling Infrastructure: Threats to Kyrgyzstan’s Agricultural Sector.
“Torrential rain hits Mizoram harvest [NE India].
“‘The water is poison’: Chinese environmental activist spends life protecting polluted lake.
“President sends 5,000 aid packages for flood victims in W Kalimantan.
“Two years after [Australia’s] Black Summer, an environmental disaster looms.
“‘It’s horrendous’: flooding causes significant crop damage to farms around Forbes [NSW, Australia]…
“Tuvalu seeks to retain statehood if it sinks completely as sea levels rise.
“1,000 dead manatees: Florida surpasses a grim milestone.
“Authorities issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents and businesses in a county near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado after a wildfire broke out in the area, NBC News reported.
“Denver weather: City inches closer to latest first snow record… Nov. 21 is the record for latest first accumulating snow of the season in Denver…
“As drought persists, Californians are ‘backsliding’ in effort to conserve water…
“Washington town sees 75% of homes damaged by floodwaters.
“Military deployed as Pacific north-west grapples with devastating floods.
“This city had its hottest day on record this summer. 140 days later, it had its wettest.
“Here is the summary of the official rainfall amounts in southwestern British Columbia from different… reliable sources.
“Global warming speeds up the frequency of extreme hot weather and rainfall.
“Climate crisis: Exploring the Jkulsárlón glacier lagoon in south Iceland.
“Earth’s lower atmosphere is expanding due to climate change…
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