“Earth has second-warmest March even before arrival of planet-heating El Niño.
“March 2023 will go down in the books as tying for the second warmest March on record. That’s according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service of the European Union. Temperatures globally were several degrees above average in most places outside the western U.S., where a stagnant weather pattern allowed cooler than typical readings to hang around most of the month…
“March represents the 529th month in a row with temperatures exceeding the 20th-century average. That’s more than 44 years straight without a single comparatively cool month.”
“‘Headed off the charts’: world’s ocean surface temperature hits record high.
“Climate scientists said preliminary data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) showed the average temperature at the ocean’s surface has been at 21.1C since the start of April – beating the previous high of 21C set in 2016. “The current trajectory looks like it’s headed off the charts, smashing previous records,” said Prof Matthew England…”
“Greenhouse gas emissions rose at ‘alarming’ rate last year, US data shows.
“Record temperatures, devastating floods and superstorms are causing death and destruction across the planet but humans are failing to cut greenhouse gas emissions fueling the climate emergency, new US data shows.”
“Calendar says autumn but weather is full summer in Chile: today temperatures reached 38C [100.4F] in Valparaiso Region and 36.1C in Metropolitan Region at Huechun, north of the capital Santiago, which rose above 32C.
“More heat tomorrow with 30C returning to Buenos Aires, Argentina in few days.”
“Historic drought adds to Argentina’s economic woes.
“Argentina’s already fragile economy is now taking a beating from nature… Soy and wheat crops were halved this year, while corn yield was cut by more than a third, according to official projections, slashing Argentina’s exports in a sector crucial for the public purse.”
“Buenos Aires airport turns into unofficial homeless shelter.
“…Aeroparque, has practically become a homeless shelter at night. Once passengers start arriving, some of the overnighters head off to spend the day at soup kitchens, though others hang around the airport grounds begging for change at traffic lights and some stay seated in chairs blending in with the travellers.”
“Brazil’s Cerrado, the second largest biome after the Amazon, could lose almost 34% of its water by 2050.
“The Cerrado, a vast tropical savanna in Brazil and the country’s second largest biome after the Amazon rainforest, could lose 33.9% of its river flows by 2050, if the pace of agricultural exploitation remains at current levels. This volume of water corresponds to the flow of eight Nile rivers in Egypt.”
“Strong evolving El Nino likely ….Pacific watch starts.
“El Nino conditions are building up steadily… The sub surface ocean temperatures anomalies of more than 1degree, up to the depth of 200mtr or more is desirable for formation and sustenance of El Nino. All the Nino indices are no longer negative and have warmed up appreciably off the coast of South America.”
“Coldest ocean water temperature in decades recorded off San Diego County.
“The ocean temperature off Del Mar fell to 52.25 degrees this week, the lowest reading in San Diego County waters since UC San Diego began using a buoy system in the 1970s… Scripps oceanographer Art Miller said in an online posting that the extremely low temperatures appear to be tied to the strong, anomalous surface winds that have been blowing over the ocean for the past week or so.”
“Dramatic photos show how series of storms filled California reservoirs…
“12 of California’s 17 major reservoirs are filled above their historical averages for the start of spring… It’s a stunning turnaround of water availability in the nation’s most populous state. Late last year nearly all of California was in drought, including at extreme and exceptional levels.”
“[Bucking that trend] Lake Mead Water Levels Due to Hit Record Low Within Weeks.
“…based on the projections for April, the lake’s water levels are forecast to fall to around 1,036 feet above sea level by the end of April. This would break the lake’s previous record lowest water level of 1,040.71 feet above sea level, which occurred in late July 2022.”
“478 tornado reports across 25 states: How a mild winter led to destruction…
“There have been at least 478 tornado reports this year across 25 states as of Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Only 2017, with 503 tornado reports, and 2008, with 523, had more at this point in the year… This year’s active start can be blamed, at least in part, on the mild winter conditions experienced across much of the country…”
“Climate crisis causing more home runs in baseball, study suggests… Data from 100,000 US Major League games reveals higher temperatures lead to more balls hit out of park…
““When you have warmer temperatures you have lower air density, and when you have lower air density you have less drag on a flying object, whether that’s a baseball or an aeroplane,” said Justin Mankin…”
“April fools? Record heat is real deal as temperatures feel more like July [Florida]…
“The Naples airport has recorded one new high temperature so far this week on April 5, hitting 93 degrees yesterday.That topped the previous record (91) set in 1969.” [This was the highest temperature ever recorded in Naples in the first half of April.]
“Exceptional 90F in New Jersey yesterday [7th April]. For Estell Manor (POR 1965-) it was its earliest 90F on records(previous earliest 8 April 2010), for New Jersey as a whole one of the earliest on records.”
“Hundreds of thousands still without power for 3rd night in Quebec following ice storm…
“Over 1.1 million lost power at the height of the outage following Wednesday’s ice storm, which coated swaths of Quebec in a layer of ice, toppling trees that crushed parked cars and damaged power lines. Three people, including two in Quebec, have died in relation to the storm, according to police.”
“The Arctic’s Permafrost-Obsessed Methane Detectives.
The Far North is thawing, unleashing clouds of planet-heating gas. Scientists rely on an arsenal of tech to sniff out just how nasty the problem is… At the Midnight Sun Golf Course in Fairbanks, Alaska, they say you never get the same shot twice. That’s because the Arctic is warming much faster than the rest of the planet, and as the underground permafrost thaws, it deforms the course’s fairways.”
“Cost of living fears outweigh mental health and climate change as biggest concern for parents [UK].
“Wealthify co-founder Michelle Pearce-Burke said: “With the cost-of-living crisis dominating everyone’s minds at the moment, it’s no surprise that mums and dads are now concerned about the knock-on effect this will have on their kids.”
“Winter in April: exceptional snowfalls in Romania with accumulations locally >50cm [20 inches] at low elevations. Remember they started January with over 20C/22C and people in the spas.
“In the meanwhile heavy frost in central Italy with up to -5.9C at low elevation. (10/12C below average).”
“Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini said in a statement that the Cabinet had approved a decree stipulating that the drought commissioner would take charge of all measures needed to tackle the drought problem.”
“Firefighters battle Spanish wildfires fuelled by drought and winds.
“Firefighters have been deployed to tackle a wind-fuelled wildfire that broke out in a mountainous area in Tarifa, a municipality in the Spanish province of Cadiz, on Wednesday… A severe winter drought is currently affecting large parts of Southern Europe with several areas in Spain particularly hard hit.”
“Breaking News: With a temperature of 38.6C [101.5F] at Tubu, Botswana broke again its national record of highest temperature in April. Australia, South America and South Africa are breaking records heat constantly in this summer which doesn’t want to leave despite its mid autumn….”
“Refugee camp in Kenya at ‘breaking point’ following severe droughts…
“All three of the settlements making up the vast tent city — Dagahaley, Ifo and Hagadera — are well beyond capacity. Abdulahi and his family, like all new arrivals, end up on the very outskirts of the camp in “extremely precarious” conditions, said Charlotte Rostorf Ridung, chief of operations for the UNHCR in Dadaab.”
“Amid long dry spell, 74 sporadic forest fires in Goa [India] in early March, Rajya Sabha told…
“The government informed Rajya Sabha that these recent forest fires were largely triggered by a “prolonged dry spell, unprecedented high temperatures, and low humidity”.”
“Keralites brace for another heatwave as mercury soars rapidly; warning issued.
“After a brief lull following summer rains, another heat wave threatens to sweep the state as the mercury continues to soar, especially in northern regions, where the temperatures are predicted to hit a record high.”
“Frozen “Mummies” Of The Mongol Empire Are Rising From Melted Permafrost.
“The permafrost of east Eurasian mountains is slowly melting away, helping to reveal the buried bodies of the much-feared Mongol Empire – as well as their unquenchable thirst for yak milk.”
“Bangkok heatwave: Thai capital faces heat index of over 50 deg C [122F].
“Whilst temperatures in Phnom Penh may be sweltering, spare a thought for our neighbours in Bangkok, who are currently melting under a heat index temperature of 50.2 deg C… People who spend time outside in temperatures between 41 deg C and 54 deg C are at risk of developing muscle cramp and heatstroke.”
“Thunderstorm wreaks havoc like a typhoon in Sibu [Sarawak, Malaysia].
“A ferocious thunderstorm on Wednesday evening caused major damage in town. Scenes of uprooted trees and dangling roofs on power and telecommunication wires have terrified locals, who had never experienced anything like this before.”
“Victoria headed for coldest Easter weekend in 80 years… One state [WA] is being urged to brace for a possible category 3 tropical cyclone over the long weekend, while another is set to break an 80 year record.
“As the western state prepares to bunker down, Queensland has been struck by wild hailstorms.The Bureau of Meteorology reported giant hail between 9cm and 11cm [4.3 inches]…”
“Morioka [Japan] breaks the record for the earliest full bloom ever recorded, by a week!!
“By 6th April, the cherry trees were in full bloom in Morioka. This is 18 days earlier than the average year! This is one week (7 days) earlier than the previous record of 13/04/2021!”
“‘We will have to get used to new varieties’: How climate change will make wine sweeter and more alcoholic.
“Knowing your Bordeaux from your Beaujolais is certain to impress your guests at a dinner party. But the art of tasting wine could be about to get a lot more complicated because of climate change.” [ffs]
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back on Monday with an “Economic” thread, although it may be a rather thin one due to the Easter break.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
“‘Scary’ new data on the last ice age raises concerns about future sea levels. A new study shows an ancient ice sheet retreated at a startling 2,000 feet per day, shedding light on how quickly ice in Antarctica could melt and raise global sea levels in today’s warming world…
“The rapid retreat found on the Eurasian Ice Sheet far outpaces the fastest-moving glaciers studied in Antarctica, which have been measured to retreat as quickly as 160 feet per day. Once the ice retreats toward the land, it lifts from its grounding on the seafloor and begins to float, allowing it to flow faster and increase the contribution to sea level rise.
“…researchers say ice marching backward hundreds of feet in a day could trigger a collapse of modern-day glaciers sooner than previously thought. That could be devastating for global sea levels.”
“More records of high temperatures in the Antarctic Plateau: Dome C II rose to -26.9C [-16.4F] which is a new record for April, data starts in 1980 if we merge Dome C and CII series…
“The previous monthly maximum was -29.8 °C on April 2, 1996; In the nearby old Dome C AWS site instead, on April 24, 1991 -28.3 °C was recorded.”
“Researchers correlate Arctic warming to extreme winter weather in midlatitude and its future.
“Study shows that melting Arctic ice may lead to unpredictable winter weather across the globe… while the “Warm Arctic-Cold Continent” pattern will continue as the climate continues to warm, Arctic warming will become a less reliable predictor of extreme winter weather in the future.”
“Bay of Fundy temperatures hit record high in 2022.
“Ocean temperatures measured in the Bay of Fundy were higher than normal last summer, and reached its highest on record at a station outside Saint Andrews, according to a long-term monitoring study which measures ocean temperatures at different depths.”
“Spectacular contrasts in the United States today.
“Look at Nebraska: Freezing or just above freezing in most areas (Kearney 34F now) and 90F [32.2C] at Falls City in the SE corner of the State. January to July weather in 3 hours driving!”
“Washington DC , US capital with 80F/27C at 9:20pm in the evening on a April 5th. Absolutely exceptional, it would be a mid July evening. Temperature won’t probably drop below 70F/21C until dawn.”
“Warming temperatures trigger earliest spring on record in parts of eastern US.
“Parts of central Texas and the Louisiana coast, southern Arkansas, southern Ohio, the D.C. area, New York City, and the New Jersey coastline all clocked their earliest spring on record, said Theresa Crimmins, director of the National Phenology Network…”
“Wildfires raging across Central Florida amid drought conditions.
“There were as many as 18 active wildfires across Volusia County on Wednesday. Firefighters from as far as the Florida Panhandle are assisting on the ground as the region is dealing with a lack of rain and moderate-to-severe drought conditions.”
“Missouri tornado kills at least five as search effort continues.
“Residents who emerged to survey the damage found trees toppled on cars and and roofs ripped from homes. Search and rescue efforts continue. Millions of Americans from Texas to the Great Lakes region were under a tornado watch on Wednesday.”
“Deadly and destructive Delaware tornado was state’s widest on record.
“The tornado that left one person dead and carved a 14-mile path of destruction through Bridgeville and Ellendale, Del., on Saturday was the state’s widest twister on record and one of its two strongest, the National Weather Service said in a damage survey released Monday.”
“Another Utah resort has set an all-time snowfall record as spring storms continue to bring feet of fresh powder to the state’s mountains.
“Snowbird hit 785 inches (and counting) at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, breaking the previous mark of 783 inches set in 2010-11. Resort officials said they began officially measuring snowfall totals in 1971.”
““Declaration of state of emergency for Argentina’s citrus is not of much help at all”…
“Argentina’s citrus export sector is facing strong headwinds due to the worst drought in 94 years, a heatwave, currency crises and 102.5% year-on-year inflation increase that has seen a doubling in prices of most consumer goods in February 2023.”
“Temperatures in France set to plummet: protect your plants.
“…the dramatic shift could cause the loss of agricultural produce for farmers across the country – with up to 30% of blooming fruit trees being destroyed by the change.”
“Harsh wintry spell in Europe for the 4th year in a row in early April.
April records low in Spain: -4.5C Vitoria; -6.6C Burgos. Up to -7C [19.4F] at low elevations in Poland and -4.9C in Italy (colder tomorrow). Also, 100% of Austrian stations below 0C in April for the first time since 2003.”
“While most of Europe is freezing, an exceptional warm spell is giving a tropical night in the area of the Black Sea.
“Temperatures rose above 31C [87.8F] in Turkey and near dawn are still hovering 26C in the Northern coast with strong fohn: temperatures much above a typical July night.”
“The northern part of the Balearic island of Menorca was hit by a small tornado [or ‘cap de fiblo’] generated by a strong hailstorm…
“The rare event was observed from different points of the coast according to local reports… In October 2018, Menorca experienced the most destructive ‘cap de fiblo’ in living memory. It …caused numerous material damages and left a large part of the island without any electricity supply for two days.”
“The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere reveals this Tuesday, April 4, that the Autonomous Region of Madeira recorded the “hottest ever” March and almost the driest month ever.”
“Amid Heatwave, Power Collapses in Abuja [Nigeria]…
“The power supply in Abuja has become extremely erratic amid the current heatwave being experienced across the country. Legit gathered that most parts of the city centre and satellite towns in Abuja hardly get 2 hours of power supply in a day.”
“For Uganda’s Vanishing Glaciers, Time Is Running Out.
“A trek through tropical forest, mud fields, and scree reveals the last remnants of the once-sprawling ice fields in Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains. Their loss has profound implications for local communities, uniquely adapted species, and scientists studying the climate record.”
“Drying wetlands and drought threaten water supplies in Kenya’s Kiambu County.
“Prolonged drought in Kenya has caused a water crisis, threatening local livelihoods and biodiversity; one of the badly affected areas is Kiambu County, a region normally known for its high agricultural productivity.”
“In southern Ethiopia, drought kills livestock amid fears of what comes next.
“After three years of failed rains, the animals in the southern Ethiopian village of Kura Kalicha are dying. Dozens of decomposing cattle carcasses lie on the parched earth, their flesh picked over by scavengers. Jilo Wile, a local government official, fears the villagers will be next to succumb to the drought.”
“At least 21 people including six children have died in Somalia’s flash flooding over the last week, according to the U.N. humanitarian agency.
“Nearly 100,000 people have been affected by the heavy rains and flash floods that hit the previously drought-stricken area in the Bardhere district of the Gedo region of southern Somalia, according to the U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.”
“The Punjab agriculture authorities estimate that 5 to 6pc of wheat crop worth Rs23bn has been damaged due to recent heavy rains and hailstorms in many districts of the province… leading to the lodging (falling of plants to the ground) of around 50pc of the standing crops. Farmers, however, estimate the lodging ratio up to 70pc.”
“Seven tourists were killed and 13 others injured in a major avalanche in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim, local police said Tuesday…
“Some of the survivors were in critical condition and rescue operations are ongoing, senior police official Tenzing Loden Lepcha told CNN… Lepcha told CNN that avalanches were unusual at this time of year, and blamed unseasonal rain and snow in the area.”
“Glacial Melt is Dispossessing Nepal’s Indigenous Communities.
“…in one late summer in the 1990s, for the first time in memory, Fuchhme dried up to a worrisome extent. A team of inhabitants trudged up the gully above the village to investigate what had happened to their only source of water, only to find that the glacier had retreated off the sheer headwall, causing an acute water shortage.”
“Cambodia’s water shortages blamed on extended dry spell…
“Cambodian authorities have told businesses to cut down on water usage and asked farmers not to plant a second rice crop amid a chronic water shortage in Phnom Penh which has been blamed on an extended dry spell. Residents have also been told to stock up on clean drinking water…”
“Strong winds stoke wildfires in South Korea for 3rd day.
“South Korean firefighters are struggling to contain the wildfire in South Chungcheong Province as it continues to rage for the third day due to strong winds in the area… The fire, which broke out on Sunday following a dry weather warning in the region, still continues despite the deployment of some 1,800 firefighters and 19 fire choppers…”
“‘More rats than they have seen’ – Cyclone-damaged areas face rodent plague [NZ]…
“Weeks on from Cyclone Gabrielle, some North Island communities still face road closures, abandoned homes, slips and a long recovery. In Piha, that has also meant more rats. Pest Free Piha operations manager Peter Hosking said it had become a real issue.”
“The March, 2023 numbers just came in and CO₂ hit an all-time high at 421.00 ppm.
“You might remember last year the climate casino had a bet with 421.00 as the over/under and CO₂ maxed out at 420.99. Folks who bet the over lost a lot of fake dollars. Well, we’re there now.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
“The mind-blowingly hot global sea-surface temperatures are somehow continuing to go up even higher into uncharted territory… reaching 21.1°C (70.0°F) for the first time. Just wow.”
“Ocean warming intensifies viral outbreaks within corals…
““Our work provides the first empirical evidence that exposure to high temperatures on the reef triggers dinoRNAV infections within coral colonies, and we showed those infections are intensified in unhealthy coral colonies,” Howe-Kerr said.”
“Another Casualty of Climate Change: Dissolved Oxygen.
“With an atmospheric carbon dioxide level about the same as today’s, “the Pliocene is the last time we had a stable, warm climate globally,” says Catherine Davis, an oceanographer… The Pliocene had something else climate experts are predicting for our future: massive oxygen minimum zones (OMZs)—largely lifeless stretches of ocean severely lacking in oxygen.”
“Arctic scientists are set to start drilling to save samples of ancient ice for analysis before the frozen layers melt away due to climate change, mission organisers said on Monday.
“Italian, French and Norwegian researchers have set up camp in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago in what they called a race against time to preserve crucial ice records for analysing past environmental conditions.”
“Global Wheat Supplies Under Threat From Dry Canadian Fields.
“A dry spell is parching Canadian farmland when growers most need moisture to plant the wheat and canola crops that help feed the world… Swaths of key spring wheat regions including Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have received less than 60% of average precipitation since Sept. 1, according to Canada’s agriculture ministry.”
“From Record Heat to Brutal Cold – Big Temperature Swings in the Country [US].
“In the southern half of the country we are going on multiple weeks of much above average temperatures and in many cases, record setting temperatures… The Northern Plains have been dealing with a never ending winter and unfortunately this week looks no different.”
“Deadly storms and tornadoes kill at least 32 people in several US states…
“A monster storm system struck at least eight states over the weekend, prompting at least 50 preliminary reports of tornadoes. The states affected include Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Delaware and Alabama.”
“Here’s what we know about how climate change is influencing tornadoes…
“There is “ample evidence” of increasing tornado risks during less typically stormy seasons, for example, said John Allen, an associate professor of meteorology at Central Michigan University. This winter brought record tornado activity across much of the South [and] tornadoes are becoming more common outside parts of the Midwest known as “tornado alley.””
“Hurricane Ian hit Cat 5 in Gulf, was Florida’s most expensive storm. Official final numbers.
“Hurricane Ian is officially the most expensive storm in Florida’s history, with a price tag of $109 billion in damage. That’s the staggering loss from tens of thousands of homes and buildings in Southwest Florida damaged by Ian’s fierce winds and storm surge — and more than a thousand totally wiped away.”
“It keeps getting worse: Florida property insurance rates set to jump up to 60%…
“In December, as state lawmakers returned for their second special session in less than a year to deal with property insurance, the analogies for the state of the market for some reason all reverted to medical. “We’re just trying to triage,” said Senator Linda Stewart. “Just trying to stop the bleeding,” said Representative Fred Hawkins.”
“Phoenix sees coolest temperatures in 25 years, Flagstaff sets wettest March record…
“Flagstaff not only experienced above-average precipitation, the city’s Pulliam Airport recorded the wettest March since records have been documented, beating the next wettest March in 1970 by more than a one-half inch.”
“California’s historic snowfall will lead to historic floods, officials say…
“The parade of winter storms that pummeled the West Coast dropped all that snow and erased drought from almost 75% of the state. One year ago, 100% was in drought, with 93% reporting in the severe stages. But all that low-elevation rain saturated soils and swelled creeks and rivers, leaving snowmelt nowhere to go in the spring and summer.”
“It’s business as usual in Argentina: New month = New records; very hot today in the North with 37.3C [99.1F] at Saenz Pena Aero, new record for April.
“Also 36.2C at Formosa and Resistencia and 35.5C at Las Lomitas. Heat records have been falling by hundreds in Argentina for the past 5 months.”
“Rising Atlantic Ocean Engulfs Fishing Town in Brazil – the coastline is receding as much as 18 feet a year at the mouth of a river in Atafona.
“Sônia Ferreira struggles to remember what this deserted fishing community near Rio de Janeiro looked like when she moved here some 50 years ago—mostly because a good chunk of it is now at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.”
“Last month was the wettest March on record in Ireland, according to provisional data from Met Éireann.
“There was an average of 173.3 millimetres of rainfall around the country – 169% of the 1981-2010 Long-Term Average (LTA). The forecaster said the previous wettest March was in 2019, with the rainfall records going back 83 years.”
“Buildings Crumble High in the Alps as Permafrost Thaws…
“In the past few years thawing permafrost has threatened dozens of huts, access trails and cable car poles, caused millions of dollars to be spent on damages and preventive measures and prompted some experts to question the sustainability of certain high-altitude outposts and activities.”
“Delaying the inevitable: Italy’s desperate attempts to revive snowless ski resorts.
“Italy’s attempts to revive its snowless ski slopes are becoming futile. Monte Cimone, a popular ski resort in Italy’s Apennine Mountains, invested €5 million in artificial snowmaking before the winter season in an attempt to stave off the impact of global warming. The money was largely wasted.”
“‘More of the same’: These European villages are preparing for another year of extreme drought…
“One of the regions suffering the most is Catalonia. The Sau reservoir is at 9 per cent of its total capacity and drinking water for the six million people who live in Barcelona’s metropolitan area is at risk.”
“Wildfires force evacuations across Valencia region.
“Several forest fires broke out across the Valencia region on Sunday, signalling that wildfire season has well and truly arrived early this year in Spain… Up to six fires were reported across the region on Sunday, with an orange alert declared for high temperatures, and the blazes affected the areas of Altea…”
“Murcia farmers double irrigation as expensive crops wither in the heat…
“This time last year, the region of Murcia was buried under a deluge of torrential rain that may have lowered spirits somewhat but worked wonders on the area’s crops. Fast forward 12 months and the landscape couldn’t be more different: virtually no rain has fallen yet this year…”
“Scorching heat in the normally breezy Cape Verde Islands under the hot winds called “bruma seca” from the Sahara (it’s like the “calima” of Canary Islands).
“36.7C [98.1F] at Praia is the hottest day ever recorded in April in the countryand one of the hottest ever year round.”
“At least 21 killed, several missing in eastern DR Congo landslide.
“The bodies of eight women and 13 children were discovered after the landslide hit a river in the locality of Bolowa on Sunday as people were washing clothes and cleaning kitchenware… the mudslide may have been triggered by days of heavy rainfall.”
“More than a dozen gold miners killed in flooded pits in Burundi…
“The miners had been trapped in flood water after the pits collapsed on Friday night amid torrential rainfall. The bodies of two other miners who were missing and presumed dead have not been recovered, he said, urging artisanal miners to avoid pits during the rainy season.”
“Mozambique cholera cases rocket to over 19,000 following lethal Cyclone Freddy.
“Weeks after ‘zombie storm’ Cyclone Freddy hit Mozambique for a second time, the still-flooded country is facing a spiraling cholera outbreak that threatens to add to the devastation. There were over 19,000 confirmed cases of cholera across eight of Mozambique’s provinces as of March 27…”
“Ethiopia’s Controversial New Hydroelectric Dam Has Neighbors On Edge.
“…other countries, such as Egypt, are concerned about the effects the dam will have on its water supply. With no agreement over the management of the dam having been reached, the project could have a dramatic effect on the region’s energy and water security.”
“New study reveals ‘invisible’ glacier loss in the greater Himalaya.
“A new study involving scientists from the University of St Andrews reveals that the mass loss of lake-terminating glaciers in the greater Himalaya has been significantly underestimated due to the inability of satellites to see glacier changes occurring underwater.”
“March 2023 in South Korea was exceptionally warm: Average temperature was 9.4C, which is 3.3C above the 1991-2020 norm and was the warmest March on records.
“Dozens of records were beaten all along the month, even more than once in the same stations, including Seoul.”
“Firefighters were scrambling Monday to contain wildfires across South Korea as a dry spell led to blazes in multiple regions, including on a mountain popular with hikers in central Seoul. A fire broke out Sunday morning on Mount Inwang, a popular outdoor destination in Seoul’s Jongno district, and spread rapidly…”
“March 2023 in Japan was extremely warm: With a temperature anomaly of +2.75C above the 1991-2020 it was the warmest March on records (data from 1898).
“Hundreds of records were broken throughout the month, even multiple times in the same stations.”
“Waterborne diseases surge among Vanuatu children after cyclones… It is expected to take years for Vanuatu to fully recover from the effects of March’s cyclones…
“Cyclones Judy and Kevin, which hit Vanuatu at the beginning of March, affected 80 percent of the Pacific island nation’s population of more than 320,000 people, including 125,500 children, according to Vanuatu’s NDM Office.”
“Ozone-depleting CFCs hit record despite ban: Study.
“Despite being banned under the Montreal Protocol, the five chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) measured increased rapidly in the atmosphere from 2010 to 2020, reaching record-high levels in 2020, according to the study published in the journal Nature Geoscience.”
“Either all the forecasts from every major international meteorological organization are wrong or we are heading into El Niño territory by June, strong El Niño by Fall.“
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
“California’s snowpack soars to record high after 17 atmospheric rivers.
“The latest in the long onslaught of storms that began in December has pushed California’s snowpack to its highest level on record. This week’s storm dumped another one to two feet in the Sierra Nevada helping this season eclipse 1982-83, the previous record-holder.
“The water stored in the state’s snowpack is 235 percent of normal, according to the California Department of Water Resources, surpassing 234 percent in 1982-83. By far, the central and southern Sierra have seen the most unusual amounts of snow, with their snow water content 233 percent and 298 percent of normal, respectively.”
“San Diego experienced the coldest March it’s had in almost 90 years.
“…figures released Friday by the National Weather Service. That’s nearly 4 degrees below normal. The average temperature in San Diego in March 1935 was 54.5 degrees. The coldest March on record occurred in 1880, when the average temperature was 52.1.”
“1,000 Years of Tree Rings Show Just How Hardcore the 2021 Pacific Northwest Heat Wave Was.
“…the largest rates of temperature change have occurred in the last decades of the 1900s. “While the 2021 value substantially increases the period’s average anomaly, even without its inclusion, the period from 1979—2020 CE is still the warmest on record,” the team wrote.”
“Dennis Todey of the US Department of Agriculture Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, IA, says the best chance of precipitation this spring is in the areas currently experiencing extreme drought to exceptional drought. Still, he says it’s going to be very hard to eliminate the drought in those areas.”
“At least 3 dead, dozens hospitalized after violent tornadoes devastate central US…
“The first death was reported in North Little Rock, Arkansas after a violent tornado devastated the area Friday afternoon, Madeline Roberts, a spokesperson for Pulaski County, confirmed to CNN. There were at least 50 hospitalizations reported in the area and more were expected…”
“2023 seeing hottest start ever on record – Orlando has seen eight days with temps 90+…
“According to climate data, the average first day with 90 degrees usually arrives by April 9. But in 2023, the first 90-degree day popped up a month earlier on March 3. Since then, most of the reporting stations have experienced 90+ days several times by the end of March.”
“Ecuador landslide death toll rises to 23; rescuers continue to look for 67 missing people.
“Almost a week since the landslide in Ecuador, as rescue teams continue to search for missing people, the number of dead has risen to 23. As per the latest figures, 67 people remain missing, while 37 people are injured.”
“[Incipient El Nino at work here] Ecuador: Adverse weather forecast nationwide through at least April 4.
“Adverse weather is forecast nationwide through at least April 4. As of March 31, Ecuador’s National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (INAMHI) has issued a weather warning for rainfall and thunderstorms across the country through late April 4.”
“Rains in Peru: despair in Lambayeque and Piura due to flooding of houses, streets and avenues.
“The population affected by the heavy rains in the city of Chiclayo, in the Lambayeque region, have been desperately asking the authorities to remove all the water accumulated in houses, streets, avenues and other public areas. “There are mosquitoes, mosquitoes, everything”…”
“Floods in Brazilian state of Acre affect 40,000 people.
“The Acre River hit the 17.22-meter mark Thursday morning, the highest level since historic flooding in 2015, when it reached 18.4 meters… Six municipalities in Acre are in an emergency situation: Rio Branco, Assis Brasil, Brasiléia, Epitaciolandia, Xapuri and Sena Madureira.”
“This March 2023, which should be part of meteorological autumn, was not just 2.1C hotter than the previous hottest March, but tied Jan 1989 and Dec 2013 as its hottest month on records overall.”
“Argentina Debuts ‘Dollar Malbec’ to Aid Exports Amid Drought.
“Argentina is rolling out a temporary, subsidized exchange rate for wine and other agriculture products in an elaborate bid to boost exports and foreign reserves as the worst drought in a century exacerbates a looming recession.”
“Met Office data shows March was England’s wettest in 40 years[February was the driest in 30 years]…
“Dr McCarthy added, “While the rainfall has been notable in England and Wales, it hasn’t been enough to fully recover the deficit of rain over the last 12 months.””
“Spring Starts With a Chill in Europe After Second-Mildest Winter[Cold Aprils are becoming a theme; I recall in particular the frosts that devastated French vinyards in April 2021 and to a lesser extent in 2022; Spain had huge snowfalls in late April 2022]…
“The frigid weather of the past week is a stark change from the previous mild months. Only the winter of 2019-2020 was warmer, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service. That helped Europe avoid rolling blackouts that some governments warned about…”
“Several injured as 2 Swiss regional trains derail in storm.
“Two regional trains in Switzerland derailed in separate incidents, injuring more than a dozen people Friday after a storm brought high winds and strong rains to the small Alpine nation, police said. The incidents occurred at Lüscherz and Büren zum Hof…”
“Austrian glaciers last year retreated “more than ever”, the country’s Alpine Club said Friday, as climate change threatens glaciers around the globe…
“”Never before in the history of the Alpine Club’s glacier measurement service, which dates back to 1891, has there been a greater loss of glaciers,” it said.”
“Macron unveils water-saving plan as France faces record drought.
“The summer of 2022 in France was marked by scorching temperatures and record droughts and the unusually dry winter has failed to recharge groundwater supplies. Such events are predicted to become more and more common… The government therefore wants to reduce the entire country’s waster usage by 10 percent by 2030.”
“36.8C Canary Islands (34.0C / 93.2F at 3am at Agaete!)or 29.8C Mallorca and Ibiza (26.9C Airport is also record); Also Communities of Andalucia 32.6C; Murcia 32.8C; Valencia 32.3C; Catalonia 30.8C… It’s March…”
“Is Cyclone Freddy’s record-breaking devastation the new normal?
“Thousands have been displaced by weather-related disasters in Southern Africa, which are becoming more brutal and frequent… Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which struck Southern Africa between February and March, broke multiple records for both power and duration.”
“Torrential rains in Yemen cause floods and cut off towns.
“Since last April, flash floods in Yemen have damaged already poor infrastructure across the country, including roads, water sources and healthcare centres. Last summer, at least 10 500-year-old buildings collapsed in Sanaa’s historic Old City, a Unesco World Heritage site.”
“Schools closed in 9 provinces as rain, snow grips Türkiye.
“Türkiye is grappling with extreme weather emergencies as torrential rains once again cause floods in the southern quake-hit province of Hatay’s Iskenderun district, while heavy snowfall forces schools to close in nine out of all 81 provinces in the country.”
“Iraq’s first sandstorm of the year blankets Baghdad.
“In 2022, Iraq experienced more than a dozen sandstorms, an unprecedented number that was attributed to desertification. Iraqis who ventured outside on Friday afternoon were greeted with the increasingly familiar ochre sky and unbreathable air typical of sandstorms…”
“Rajasthan sees rain, hailstorm for 6th time in March…
“This was the sixth spell of rainfall, hailstorm and lightning in the state. Farmers have already suffered crop damage due to inclement weather. The wheat crop has been badly damaged.”
“Today, with rare hot dry winds, the humid coastal resort town of Krabi rose to a record high of 39.6C [103.3F]. In Southwestern Thailand only Trang has ever recorded higher temperatures than this.”
“Thai forest fires worsen pollution that’s left 2 million ill.
“Raging forest fires in northern Thailand are threatening to worsen the country’s air pollution, which has sent nearly 2 million people to hospitals with respiratory illnesses since the beginning of the year.”
“South Korea grapples with one of its worst water scarcity crises.
“More than 1 million people in South Korea are currently facing a water crisis, as two main reservoirs that supply the Jeolla province – about 440km south of Seoul – run dry. A drought has ravaged the region, known for its pristine landscapes, for about four months now…”
“Crazy day [E China]! Today, 81 stations broke the March record (nearly half of the stations in Liaoning broke the record), and Yangshan, Liaoning, was the highest in Northeast China at 27.8C [82F].
“The cold Daxing’an Mountains also raised the March record by 2-6C!”
“Another insane warm day in Siberia/Far East Russia with dozens records beaten with huge margin.
“Most important: 22.0 [71.6F] Aginskoe; 21.8 Aksa; 21.6 Ulety; 21.1 Chita; 20.9 Priargunsk; 20.8 Borzja; 20.1 Sretensk; 18.4 Bagdarin… Records broken these weeks in Asia amount to many thousands.”
“Perth traffic: Peak-hour gridlock after record rainfall causes roads to flood.
“Bureau of Metrology duty forecaster Jessica Lingard said Perth 35mm of rain had hit gauges since 9am on Thursday. The average rainfall for March in Perth is 19.9mm.”
“La Niña ending and Southern Annular Mode to blame for Australia’s delayed summer, record hot March, says meteorologist.
“”We do see a warming trend quite consistently for Australia as we do globally,” Dr Trewin said. “One of the things that means is the average temperatures we see in early autumn we might have seen at the end of summer 50 years ago.”
“New Zealand’s extreme summer has bitten another chunk out of our postcard glaciers – some of which have now largely vanished.
“Scientists had been expecting to find devastation when they recently took to the skies to run their 46th annual health-check of our mountain wonders following a scorching West Coast summer: and that’s just what they found.”
“A Heat Wave at -37˚C? That’s Bad News at the South Pole…
““The culprit for the unusually high temperatures [at the South Pole] is likely to be a shift in the southern jet stream, the undulating high-altitude current that carries warm air masses far into the south while bringing colder air masses farther north,” wrote Dr. Michael Wenger in a recent post on Polar Journal.”
“What caused the record-low Antarctic sea ice in austral summer 2022?
“…”We found that the combination of stronger positive sea surface temperature anomalies in the Maritime Continent during July–September 2021 and the preceding near-strongest positive-phase Southern Annular Mode during August–October 2021 induced a deepened and southwestward-shifted Amundsen Sea Low, causing sea ice retreat via horizontal wind anomalies,” explains Prof. Li.”
“Arctic’s ‘Last Ice Area’ may soon disappear during summer months…
“New research reveals that the “Last Ice Area” north of Canada and Greenland has disappeared during the summer months in the past and it will do so again, perhaps sooner than we think… we are quickly approaching a tipping point…”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back on Monday with an “Economic” thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
“Melting Antarctic ice predicted to cause rapid slowdown of deep ocean current by 2050…
“The research suggests if greenhouse gas emissions continue at today’s levels, the current in the deepest parts of the ocean could slow down by 40% in only three decades.”
“Thawing permafrost poses environmental threat to thousands of sites with legacy industrial contamination…
“Here we identify about 4500 industrial sites where potentially hazardous substances are actively handled or stored in the permafrost-dominated regions of the Arctic. Furthermore, we estimate that between 13,000 and 20,000 contaminated sites are related to these industrial sites.”
“Ocean temperatures soared to new ‘pretty alarming’ highs off Nova Scotia in 2022.
“Ocean temperatures off Nova Scotia hit record highs last summer, eclipsing the record-breaking temperatures set in the Atlantic a decade earlier. “It’s pretty alarming,” said Fisheries and Oceans Canada research scientist Chantelle Layton.”
“New York City on pace for least-snowy season since recordkeeping began in 1869.
“According to the National Weather Service, only 2.3 inches of snow has fallen in New York City this season as of Tuesday. The record for the least amount of snow stands at 2.8 inches from 1972-73.”
“Average ice cover on the Great Lakes this year ties for third-lowest on record.
“Average ice cover on the Great Lakes dropped to one of the lowest levels on record this winter as the region has witnessed warmer than normal temperatures. Less ice sets the stage for the lakes to warm up sooner earlier in the year, and researchers say that could affect water quality and the food web.”
“‘Super weird’ spring keeps pothole patchers busy [Michigan]…
“Drastic swings in temperatures send meltwater into cracks in the street, which freeze when it cools down again and breaks pavement loose, he said. The worst ones are on the city’s busy thoroughfares, where heavy traffic shortens the lifespan of any patch the street crews apply.”
“A dangerous spring for severe weather gains momentum…
“In its Day 4 outlook issued Tuesday, March 28, the NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center (SPC) is flagging much of the Plains and Midwest for a potential outbreak of severe weather on Thursday and Friday.”
“California faces a second day of heavy rain and snow, adding to record snow levels and flooding concerns.
“The multiday storm comes as the state has already been slammed by at least 12 atmospheric rivers that have delivered a barrage of rain and snow in recent months. Waterlogged California will continue to see rain through the day Wednesday and Thursday…”
“”This is the worst drought situation that I have ever seen. The drought is so much on us that the grass is brown instead of green,” stated Samuels. He said schools and health centres are of concern and the corporation is prepared to assist, should assistance be requested.”
“In Brazil’s northern states, 6 people died in floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains.
“…a state of emergency (OHAL) was declared in some cities due to the downpours that have been effective since last week. Authorities reported that 6 people have lost their lives in floods and landslides, and more than 50 thousand people have been negatively affected by the situation.”
“Argentina becoming net importer of soybean to feed its grain processing industry.
“Argentina’s soybean imports are expected to more than double this season due to the devastating impacts of the historic drought on the country’s 2022/23 harvest, the country’s Rosario grains exchange said in a report.”
“Argentina seems a factory of heat waves and this is the last of the season.Temperatures in the North are at record levels for end of March, >38C [100.4F] at Reconquista /Santa Fe Province.
“13 stations above 35C. The heat will end in the next 2 days but will persist in Central Chile.”
“UK government ‘strikingly unprepared’ for global warming.
“The UK government is “strikingly unprepared” for the effects of global warming leaving vital sectors, including agriculture, vulnerable even if emissions are cut, its independent climate advisers have warned.”
“France sees growing divide over irrigation reservoirs.
“This weekend’s clashes between police and protesters in the small French town of Sainte-Soline reflect growing anger over water reservoirs that are meant to help farmers to irrigate their crops in times of drought. But farmers who do not use reservoirs and environmentalists say the reservoirs will simply worsen water shortages.”
“Extreme weather and tree die-offs have hampered the Spanish capital’s plan to establish a 75-kilometer woodland, turning a “tree cemetery” into a political flashpoint… For the past three years, the Castilian plain on which Madrid sits has experienced summer heat waves and reduced rainfall in autumn and winter…”
“More than 60 forest fires ravage Asturias as Spain´s Military Emergency Unit joins over 500 others working on ground.
“…many of the fires are small in size and in areas of scrubland, but others pose a much greater risk and resulted in people having to flee their houses. The condition has been made much worse due to the bad weather conditions, which has resulted in strong gusts of winds and high temperatures of up to 29 degrees Celsius [84F].”
“Exceptional heat in SW Europe: 6 stations in Portugal yesterday rose above 30C [86F], many of which beat their monthly records for March.
“31.5C [89F] at Santarem is the 2nd hottest day ever recorded in March in Portugal just 0.1C behind the 31.6C of Amaraleja of 31 March 2005. List from IPMA.”
“Canary Islands see record high temperature for March at 37.7ºC [99.9F].
“On Wednesday, March 29th, the weather station in La Aldea de San Nicolas in Gran Canaria registered a temperature of 37,7ºC, setting a new record for the highest temperatures registered in the Canary Islands archipelago in the month of March.”
“As announced yesterday, today Morocco really exaggerated 39.8C [103.6F] at Agadir Airport under harsh hot wind of chargui. It’s the highest temperature ever recorded in March at Agadir.
“Blazing hot also at Taroudant, Tiznit, Guelmin, Marrakech, Zag… all above 36C.”
“Tunisia cuts off water supply at night amid severe drought…
“Cutting off water without prior announcement, in areas of the capital Tunis, Hammamet, Sousse, Monastir and Sfax, threatens to fuel social tension in a country whose people suffer from poor public services, high inflation and a weak economy.”
“A major part of Namibia is experiencing an acute drought, with the situation particularly serious south of the capital, Windhoek, with little or no rain received during the 2022/23 rainy season. According to Thinus Pretorius, chairperson of Namibia’s Livestock Producers’ Organisation, some parts south of Keetmanshoop had not received any rain.”
“Somalis displaced by long-term drought struggle to celebrate Ramadan.
“As the sun sets, families gather together to break their fast with generous dinners and special treats. But faced with the country’s longest drought, many people are struggling to make ends meet. Five consecutive failed rainy seasons has withered local crops and millions of livestock that are central to people’s diets have died.”
“Kenya: At Least 7 People Killed in Gilgil Flash Floods After Heavy Rainfall
“At least seven people were killed in flash floods at Oljorai area, Gilgil following heavy rains Monday night. According to Gilgil Sub-County Police Commander, Francis Tumbo, scores others have been injured in the incident.”
“Storm kills 4 people, injures several in war-torn Syria…
“The heavy winds forced Syrian authorities to close all ports on the Mediterranean Sea while in the war-torn country’s rebel-held northwest, dozens of tents collapsed in settlements housing people displaced by Syria’s 12-year conflict.”
“Massive water shortages likely months after unprecedented floods [Pakistan]…
“In the coming Kharif season, beginning on April 1, the country is heading towards a ‘massive water shortage’, somewhere between 27 per cent and 35 per cent, only months after unprecedented floods submerged large swathes of lands across Sindh and southern Punjab, Irsa sources told Dawn.”
“Thai authorities on Thursday ordered urgent action to stop the spread of a fire that overnight engulfed forests on two mountains in a province northeast of the capital Bangkok.
“Firefighting vehicles had been deployed to extinguish the blaze, which broke out Wednesday night in Nakhon Nayok province, 114 kilometers (70 miles) northeast of Bangkok…”
“As hydropower dams quell the Mekong’s life force, what are the costs?
“… over the past few decades, the construction of hydropower dams has undermined the river’s capacity to support life: more than 160 dams operate throughout the Mekong Basin, including 13 on the river’s mainstream, with hundreds more either planned or under construction.”
“…unfavourable weather contributed to the smog, with temperatures hitting record highs for the time of year in some parts of the north, making it harder for pollution to disperse. The lack of cold air contributed to smoggy weather in the north in early March…”
“Urandangi residents consider future as outback Queensland town ‘wiped off map’ by floods.
“Founded in 1885 as a hub for the Northern Territory and Queensland droving industries, the country town remains an important centre, servicing outlying cattle stations, tourists and the dozen locals who love the simple outback life. But it could be the last time residents tread its streets after record floods destroyed everything.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with a “Economic” thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
“Prek Pnov district governor Them Sam An said district authorities have been distributing water for more than two months, especially to those in Kork Roka, Poan Saing and Ponhea Poan. “We are concerned about the water shortage and we are trying to help the people.”
“The brutal heatwave in Thailand continues unabated.
“Today temperatures again up to 41.5C [106.7F] at Bua Chum with also near 40C on the Gulf (39.5C Chachoengsao). High humidity and Tmins up to 28C (Bangkok and Rayong) make the heat hard to stand. No relief in sight.”
“Yushan in central Taiwan breaks record for latest snowfall.
“Yushan, the highest mountain in Taiwan, set a record on Sunday (March 26) morning for the latest-ever snowfall recorded by the Yushan weather station since it was established 80 years ago… According to CWB data, Yushan had not seen any snowfall this winter from December to February, which is the longest Taiwan’s highest mountain has ever gone without snow, per CNA.”
“North China to See More Sandstorms in Coming Months.
“The ongoing dusty weather that has impacted vast parts of northern China will continue in the coming months, one of the country’s top meteorological officials said, noting that climate change had contributed to the acceleration of such severe and frequent weather patterns.”
“This is very cold for late March anywhere in Russia.Oymyakon has a record of -49.6°C on Mar. 28, 1998. Verkhoyansk has a record of -50.1°C on Mar. 29, 1942 (there was a dubious -54.5°C [after correction] recorded on Apr. 2, 1896).”
“West Bengal has 23% more forest fires after no-rain winter…
“The “exceptionally rare” surge for Bengal, said experts, could be attributed to a rainless winter – more than four months of no rain – and corresponded with a 215% rise in forest fires around the country in the same period.”
“Record Heat Waves Push India Closer to Limit of Human Survival…
“While temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) are unbearable in any condition, the damage is made worse for those of India’s 1.4 billion population who are stuck in tightly packed cities and don’t have access to well-ventilated housing or air-conditioning.”
“Severe water scarcity in Skardu as key dam falls to dead level [Pakistan].
“The citizens of Skardu are expected to suffer from severe water shortages as the water level in Sadpara dam, a key dam in the region, has dropped to a dead level, Dawn reported. The Sadpara dam, city’s sole water source, supplies water for irrigation, drinking, and other uses as well as for producing electricity.”
“At Least 9 Dead And 74 Injured As Heavy Rains, Flash Floods Rip Through Afghanistan…
“Recently, nine Afghan provinces have been deeply impacted by the extreme weather conditions, including Nuristan, Zabul, Nangarhar, Kunar, Faryab, Balkh, Uruzgan, Nimroz, and Laghman.”
“The governorates of Dhi Qar, Najaf, Babylon, Anbar, Diwaniyah, Wasit, Maysan and Salah Al-Din announced earlier on Sunday the suspension of work due to the heavy rains. Videos and pictures of torrential rains and floods that hit Iraqi cities including the capital, Baghdad, went viral on social media.”
“Eastern Cape floods claim three lives, divers search for missing person…
“The heavy downpours have left a trail of destruction to infrastructure, households, and businesses. Zimkhita Macingwane, O.R. Tambo District Municipality spokesperson, said in Port St Johns, 10 bridges have been washed away…”
“Temperature to exceed 40°C [104F], NiMet warns [Nigeria]…
“The statement partly reads, “parts of Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Taraba, and Adamawa are expected to record temperatures greater than 40°C. While most parts of the Northern cities are expected to record temperatures between 35°C to 40°C, this includes parts of Oyo, Kwara, FCT, Nasarawa, and Benue.””
“Water Scarcity On Nigeria’s Coast Is Hardest On Women: 6 Steps To Ease The Burden…
“The effects of climate change are evident in the region. They lead to crop failures, erosion and loss of livelihoods due to extreme weather events such as droughts and floods. The coastal region of Nigeria is particularly at risk…”
“Vegetative health maps show most of the region is experiencing below average crop growth… That doesn’t bode well because last year was a disaster for Morocco. Farmers in that country harvested 789,000 tonnes of durum in 2022, a 68 percent drop from the previous year.”
“Pray for rain: Spanish farmers hold unique Mass amid drought.
“When Josep Altarriba looks across his parched fields, the Spanish farmer can’t remember a time of such widespread drought in Catalonia. If it doesn’t rain in the next two weeks, he says there’s little chance of saving the harvest.”
“Weather tracker: Spain edges towards record March heat…
“The heat is expected to build through the week with temperatures more widely reaching close to or just over 30C. If these temperatures are achieved, the March temperature record could be exceeded. Highs of 28C are forecast for Madrid this Wednesday, threatening the March temperature record of 27.1C.”
“The era of ‘mega forest fires’ has begun in Spain. Is climate change to blame?
“…As our climate warms, wildfires are burning more frequently and intensely. They are also starting earlier in the season, as seen in Spain. Like much of Europe, Spain has experienced a hot, dry winter.”
“Tourist villa pools in Tuscany may run dry in summer due to water curbs…
“Acquedotto del Fiora (ADF), the aqueduct serving a third of Tuscany through a network more than 8,000 km (5,000 miles) long, will outlaw the use of regular drinking water to fill private swimming pools open to guests between June and the end of September.”
“‘Very precarious’: The European countries facing another year of drought…
“Europe and the Mediterranean region could experience another extreme summer this year. The European Commission says that it could be an even drier summer than in previous years with the precipitation in the coming weeks crucial to determining what happens.”
“Here we are again in USA: Endless wintry weather in the North/Northwest and abnormally warmth in the SE, a pattern which has been persistent throughout 2023 so far.
“Yesterday Mayport in Florida (near Jacksonville) with 91F [33C] had its hottest March day on record.(POR since 1955).”
“Mississippi tornado recovery will likely take years, officials say.
“Long-term recovery from Friday’s deadly, devastating tornado in Mississippi will likely take years, US government officials have cautioned as communities throughout the deep south state destroyed by the storm sought reassurance they would not be forgotten.”
“A way of life is all but extinguished by New Mexico’s largest wildfire.
“Nearly a year after the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fire destroyed adobe homes that had survived for centuries, and millions of acres of forestland that sustained many, families are still struggling to find their footing.”
“Even Sonoran Desert plants aren’t immune to climate change.
“In North America’s hottest, driest desert, climate change is causing the decline of plants once thought nearly immortal and replacing them with shorter shrubs that can take advantage of sporadic rainfall and warmer temperatures.”
“They grow America’s strawberries. A vicious flood made them climate migrants…
“In the early hours of 11 March, pummeling rains wore down a levee on the Pajaro River, unleashing a torrent. [Theresa] Barajas, 50, had escaped with her daughter and grandson under the blare of sirens. But the floods swallowed the town – and perhaps their future here.”
“New winter storm could push California’s snowpack to record high.
“Here we go again. After a several-day break in the rain, snow and wind across California and the West Coast, another intense storm system is poised to slam into the region late Monday night into Tuesday.”
“‘We are very vulnerable’: cyclone-hit Vanuatu pins climate hopes on UN vote.
“Last month, twin cyclones tore through Port Vila, the capital of the Pacific nation of Vanuatu. The category-four storms left corrugated iron roofs crumpled like leftover wrapping paper, flooded the streets with waste-ridden mud, cut residents off from water and electricity for several days, and sent many fleeing to hastily established evacuation centres.”
“Campaigners have warned that this year’s El Niño ocean cycle could bring ‘unimaginable heat’ after three years of the world-cooling La Niña effect.
“Forecasters have predicted that the El Niño weather cycle will return later this year – and campaigners and observers have warned that it could push the world past crucial climate change barriers.”
“These Flesh-Eating Bacteria Are Thriving Because of Climate Change.
“Infections caused by a type of deadly, flesh-eating bacterium are becoming more common and widespread as ocean temperatures rise because of climate change. And without intervention to halt global warming, such cases are likely to continue increasing and spreading…”
“As Antarctica’s penguins struggle with record low sea ice, one species is adapting — and it offers lessons to us all…
“While Adélie and chinstrap penguins remain stuck in their ancient ways come hell or warm water, the much more flexible gentoo penguins are ranging further and further south. And as they show willingness to chase new prey or abandon a nest to increase the odds of long-term survival, their numbers are exploding.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
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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.
“Earth has second-warmest March even before arrival of planet-heating El Niño.
“‘Headed off the charts’: world’s ocean surface temperature hits record high.
“Greenhouse gas emissions rose at ‘alarming’ rate last year, US data shows.
“Exceptional autumn mildness in the Antarctic Peninsula. Monthly records keep falling, the most important ones:
“Calendar says autumn but weather is full summer in Chile: today temperatures reached 38C [100.4F] in Valparaiso Region and 36.1C in Metropolitan Region at Huechun, north of the capital Santiago, which rose above 32C.
“Historic drought adds to Argentina’s economic woes.
“Buenos Aires airport turns into unofficial homeless shelter.
“Brazil’s Cerrado, the second largest biome after the Amazon, could lose almost 34% of its water by 2050.
“Strong evolving El Nino likely ….Pacific watch starts.
“Coldest ocean water temperature in decades recorded off San Diego County.
“Dramatic photos show how series of storms filled California reservoirs…
“[Bucking that trend] Lake Mead Water Levels Due to Hit Record Low Within Weeks.
“478 tornado reports across 25 states: How a mild winter led to destruction…
“Climate crisis causing more home runs in baseball, study suggests… Data from 100,000 US Major League games reveals higher temperatures lead to more balls hit out of park…
“April fools? Record heat is real deal as temperatures feel more like July [Florida]…
“Hundreds of thousands still without power for 3rd night in Quebec following ice storm…
“The Arctic’s Permafrost-Obsessed Methane Detectives.
“Cost of living fears outweigh mental health and climate change as biggest concern for parents [UK].
“Winter in April: exceptional snowfalls in Romania with accumulations locally >50cm [20 inches] at low elevations. Remember they started January with over 20C/22C and people in the spas.
“Italy to appoint drought special commissioner.
“Firefighters battle Spanish wildfires fuelled by drought and winds.
“Breaking News: With a temperature of 38.6C [101.5F] at Tubu, Botswana broke again its national record of highest temperature in April. Australia, South America and South Africa are breaking records heat constantly in this summer which doesn’t want to leave despite its mid autumn….”
“Refugee camp in Kenya at ‘breaking point’ following severe droughts…
“Amid long dry spell, 74 sporadic forest fires in Goa [India] in early March, Rajya Sabha told…
“Keralites brace for another heatwave as mercury soars rapidly; warning issued.
“Frozen “Mummies” Of The Mongol Empire Are Rising From Melted Permafrost.
“Bangkok heatwave: Thai capital faces heat index of over 50 deg C [122F].
“Thunderstorm wreaks havoc like a typhoon in Sibu [Sarawak, Malaysia].
“Victoria headed for coldest Easter weekend in 80 years… One state [WA] is being urged to brace for a possible category 3 tropical cyclone over the long weekend, while another is set to break an 80 year record.
“Morioka [Japan] breaks the record for the earliest full bloom ever recorded, by a week!!
“‘We will have to get used to new varieties’: How climate change will make wine sweeter and more alcoholic.
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