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“Extreme heat and drought: Argentina suffers its most scorching summer ever.
“Argentina is enduring this year’s hottest summer on record, with record temperatures and lack of rainfall damaging agriculture and keeping the country under a weather alert, according to official data… This week, a red alert covers a third of the country.”
“This March heat wave in Argentina has been extreme (see SMN 1-7 March anomalies of Max. temp. up to +10C vs 91-20) and it’s getting worse. Today more records for March fell:
“Argentina’s ‘unprecedented’ drought pummels farmers and economy.
“A historic drought ravaging Argentina’s crops is deepening the grain exporting giant’s economic crisis, crushing farmers across the Pampas, heightening default fears and putting at risk targets agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).”
“South America: High temperatures forecast to continue…
“High temperatures are likely to persist across parts of eastern Argentina, far southern Brazil, and western Uruguay through at least March 13. Temperatures of up to around 39 C (102 F) are possible across parts of the affected area over the coming days.”
“Record deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest shows challenge facing Lula.
“Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest rose in February to the highest level on record for the month, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the administration of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, as it tries to undo the environmental destruction wreaked under the far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro.”
“Wildfires in Jamaica surged 224 percent in February
“The always-on drought conditions fueled such a situation, stressed Stewart Beckford, while setting at 1,303 the reports of wildfires reported, over 402 similar month of 2022. Climate change puts pressure on our resources, he said, and urged farmers to give up using the slash-and-burn technique.”
“Catastrophic flash floods have hit California as the state is slammed by its third major storm of the year.
“The devastating ‘Pineapple Express’ storm hit the West Coast on Thursday evening, placing 21 counties under a state of emergency while evacuation orders were issued in several coastal counties… rapidly melting snow is leading to fears over severe property damage and travel chaos in the coming days.”
“Sunny skies accounted for 126,000 of the jobs added in January, according to the bank’s analysis, which drew on research into the effects of weather on employment by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco… the weather clearly matters when it comes to price stability, even if its precise effects remain hard to quantify.”
“Climate scientists tell Britons to brace for frequent wild weather.
“The sudden swing from the extreme dryness of February to March’s wetter conditions comes as new research suggests Britons will need to prepare for greater frequency of extreme rainfall events that can lead to flash flooding.”
“An apparent tornado made out of snow was spotted in Scotland.
“In an exceptionally rare close-up video, an apparent tornado was captured within a snow squall in Scotland on Tuesday… while we can’t conclude definitively, we can assert it probably was a tornado rather than a run-of-the-mill snow whirl.”
“Drought fears fuel race to use sea for drinking water [UK]…
“… the country’s biggest water firm, Thames Water, is rushing to finish maintenance on the UK’s only large-scale desalination facility. The Beckton plant in east London was offline last summer during an extreme dry spell, and is still not operational.”
“Seven French départements on weather alert for high winds…
“In Languedoc area, gusts of wind reached up to 140 km/h [87mph], and in the Aude département gusts of 120 km/h were recorded. Corsica has experienced the highest wind, with gusts reaching up to 180km/h [112mph] in Balagne.”
“Heat wave in March? The AEMET explains what the rise in temperatures in Spain will mean…
“In cities such as Murcia, Alicante, Valencia or Castellón temperatures can exceed 30 degrees [86F]. “Among the most remarkable data is that in Valencia it has never reached 30 degrees in the first half of March, with data from 1869,” says Del Campo.”
“Po river authority warns of worsening drought [Italy]…
“Low levels of rain and snowfall this winter have exacerbated an already difficult situation after the severe drought and long series of heat waves Italy endured last summer hit its water resources badly. Mild winter temperatures have also brought forward the melting of snow on the mountains.”
“Severe water scarcity worries Istanbulites amid driest season in decades…
“Ekrem Imamoglu, mayor of Istanbul, said insufficient rainfall for the past few months has put more strains on the already-limited water resources in Istanbul, a city that hosts more than 20 million people and consumes 1.1 billion cubic meters of water every year.”
“Harsh heat wave in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia highlands. Yesterday Tubu in Botswana (967m above sea level) rose to 41.1C [106F], which ties the highest temperature ever recorded in March in Botswana.
“In South Africa; 42.6C Twee Rivieren (879m) record 42.9; 41.2C Van Zylrus (938m) record 41.3.”
“Rwanda experienced a rare heat wave across the country in the past week, with a record high of 33 degrees Celsius in the capital city, Kigali.
“The highest temperatures in the capital, partly blamed on climate change, were “recorded for four consecutive days from March 5 to 8,” the Rwanda Meteorology Agency said in its weather updates on Thursday.”
“The storms and floods that have hit Mozambique since February have taken the lives of 117 people…
“Cyclone Freddy was responsible for much of the damage. When it hit… in late February, it dropped between 300 and 900 millimetres [35.4 inches] of rain in 24 hours. Instead of dissipating, this cyclone has returned to the Mozambique Channel and is now heading northwards towards Zambezia province, where it is expected to make landfall on Friday.”
“Schools in Goa [India] allowed students to return home at 12 noon on Thursday as heatwave conditions in the state worsened.
“A circular issued by state Director of Education Shailesh Sinai Zingade stated the heat wave will continue for another day as per the India Meteorological Department, due to which classes will be curtailed at noon on Friday as well.”
“Worst fires in Goa’s history burn down rare biodiversity.
“Scorched and burnt, Goa’s forests that have been ablaze for a week may have lost some of its biodiversity forever, while the evergreen Western Ghats may take years to regenerate.”
“Lack of cross-border flood alerts adds to disaster fears in Nepal.
“As climate change heats the planet, making rainfall more extreme and accelerating the melting of glaciers, Himalayan nations such as Nepal are facing growing risks from floods, often driven by glacial lake outbursts… a lack of information sharing among China, India and Nepal is hampering protection efforts.”
“Parts of northern China were hit by high temperatures on Thursday that smashed seasonal records, with the city of Shahe hitting 31.8 Celsius (89 Fahrenheit), official data showed.
“Besides Shahe, regions such as Gaoyi, Yongnian and Handan, all in Hebei province, surpassed the 30C / 86F mark earlier in the year than ever before, as well as experiencing their highest temperatures on record for the first half of March.”
“Incredible warm spell in China with a total of 585 stations breaking the records of highest temperature for early March and 21 for the whole of March.
“Some stations were nearly 6C above the previous record! like Beijing 27.9C [82.2F]. Today up to 34.3C in China.”
“Beijing air quality plummets amid dust storm, pollution.
“Concentrations of the tiny PM2.5 particles that can reach deep into the lungs and bloodstream entered a dangerous range on air quality monitoring sites, with the IQAir website showing an air quality index of 1,093, a “hazardous” level, many times higher than what are considered “unhealthy” levels.”
“Record-breaking floods in north-west Queensland cause partial evacuation of outback town.
“Vulnerable people will be evacuated from an outback town by air amid widespread record-breaking floods across Queensland’s vast north-west. Small helicopters and planes will be used to airlift elderly people from Burketown near the Gulf of Carpentaria to Mount Isa…”
“Longest New South Wales flood operation in SES history finally over after nearly six months.
“The largest and longest flood response operation on record from the New South Wales State Emergency Service (SES) has today come to a welcome end. The SES began ramping up operations for a major flood response in western NSW 177 days ago.”
“‘It is ginormous’: bushfire in NSW’s central west puts rural communities on edge…
“Dozens of fires have been burning across NSW since Sunday as gusty winds and vegetation growth from last year’s high rainfall make it easier for flames to catch, according to Dean Narramore, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology.”
“US forecaster says El Nino could arrive by summer 2023…
“”The forecaster consensus favors ENSO-neutral through summer 2023, with elevated chances of El Niño developing afterwards,” the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center said.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back on Monday with an “Economic” thread.
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“Deadly cyclone Freddy has become Earth’s longest-lived tropical storm… Now, poised to hit Mozambique for a second time, the storm has set a world record for tropical storm longevity, enduring 31 days and counting…
“Over its lifetime, Freddy has tracked more than 5,000 miles since it developed between Western Australia and Indonesia and even attained the strength of a Category 5 hurricane. It’s presently crossing the Mozambique Channel for a third time.
“Remarkably, the storm has rapidly intensified [an unprecedented] six times.”
“After Hottest February on Record, IMD Predicts It’s Only Going To Get Hotter [India]…
“There will be a higher possibility for the occurrence of heat waves, and India will need to prepare for this, it said. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has already written to states to take adequate measures to prepare for heatwave conditions.”
“Water Crisis Deepens in Delhi, Situation To Get Worse as City Braces for Harsh Summer…
“”It’s just February-March and the situation is similar to what Delhi saw in May last year. It means the problem is going to get worse in the coming months. Authorities have predicted an unprecedented summer this year,” Delhi Jal Board’s chairman Saurabh Bhardwaj said.”
“Record heat in Central Asia yesterday: 35.0 [95F] Turkmenistan; 30.5 Uzbekistan (will rise to 32/33C next days); 27.6 Kazakhstan; In Tajikistan 26.4 at Pendzikent at more than 1000m above sea level.
“Incredible heat in Northern Iran with 37.6C [99.7F] at Ezbaram, 25C above average and 8C above July average! [almost 38C at 37N of latitude on the Caspian coast – a world record for early march for that latitude, even above Death Valley!]”
““March 8 – A heavy dust storm hit the southern Mongolian province of Umnugovi on Wednesday, causing low visibility on roads…
“Located in the Gobi Desert region of southern Mongolia, Ummugovi is one of the provinces most affected by desertification. More than 70 percent of the province’s total territory had been somehow affected by desertification and land degradation, according to the provincial governor’s office.”
“China hits record high temperatures for early March, drought-like conditions in several parts.
“Temperatures in more than a dozen major Chinese cities last week reached record highs for the season. Temperatures in Wuhan and Zhengzhou in central China rose by more than 10 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) and were higher than the usual for early March, according to government data.”
“Desperate elephants flee massive forest fires in eastern Thailand.
“Desperate wild elephants are fleeing massive forest fires in Thailand’s eastern Trat province. The fires have destroyed more than 2,500 rai of forests since February 26, and the poor creatures are trying to escape.”
“Indonesia sends more rescuers as extreme weather hampers search after landslide.
“More rescuers and heavy machinery will be sent to Indonesia’s disaster-hit Serasan Island to search for dozens still missing after a deadly landslide, a disaster official said on Tuesday. The landslide struck Monday in the remote Natuna region between Borneo and peninsular Malaysia.”
“Threat of rising seas to Asian megacities could be way worse than we thought, study warns.
“…a report published in the journal Nature Climate Change offers fresh insight and stark warnings about how bad the impact could be for millions of people… the study suggests that previous analysis underestimated the degree of sea level rise and subsequent flooding caused by natural ocean fluctuations.”
“‘Insane’ – Gallipoli Station floods as 415mm [16.3 inches] of rain fall in one week [NT, Australia]…
“… a Barkly cattle station has shared incredible images of the extent of the flooding. Yarraki Dodd took to social media to showcase the ‘water views’ at Gallipoli Station, an outstation to Alexandria, one of the country’s largest cattle stations on the border between the Northern Territory and Queensland.”
“Parts of Queensland have been issued with more flood warnings as water levels continue to rise.
“Major flood warnings have been issued for the Nicholson, Gregory and Leichhardt Rivers and the surrounding areas. Burketown is expected to bear the brunt of the flood, with water levels expected to exceed the March 2011 record of 6.87m on Friday.“
“NSW RFS shares hectic vision of fire burning through state’s Central West as emergency crews respond.
“NSW Rural Fire Service has warned a bushfire which broke out on Monday is continuing to spread across the state’s Central West. In hectic vision shared to Twitter on Wednesday, flames are seen bursting through the Tambaroora area, north of Hill End.”
“Massive Australia wildfires increased Antarctic ozone hole: study.
“Smoke from monster wildfires in Australia caused a chemical reaction that widened the ozone hole 10 percent, researchers said Wednesday, raising fears that increasing forest fires could delay the recovery of Earth’s atmospheric protection against deadly UV radiation.”
“Signs of El Niño appear on the coasts of Peru and Ecuador.
“The equatorial Pacific is undergoing strong changes: the current La Niña is weakening and in certain areas of the coast of South America appear the first signs of warming surface waters with warm anomalies, signs of an incipient El Niño.”
“More records of monthly high temperatures in Peru, this time mostly in the highlands with exceptional temperatures up to 30C / 86F at 2500m above sea level and 23C at 4000m…
“In Chile temperature reached 32C/90F at 3120m/10200ft at Toconao.”
“February 2023 in Argentina had record hot spells interrupted by a brief but intense cold spell.
“As a result, temperature anomalies ranged from average to +2C above the 91-20 normal; Dry conditions continued in most of the country; summer was the hottest on record.”
“Cuba tobacco farmers recuperate after ruinous Hurricane Ian…
““Not a single tobacco house was left standing. There were no warehouses, there was no tree left,” Robaino told The Associated Press, remembering how the storm left the region at the end of September. “Everything broke and at that moment I did not believe it was possible to plant.””
“Atmospheric river comes for California as experts warn it ‘could get really ugly’…
“The state is still recovering from a series of major snow storms in late February that officials described as a “once-in-a-generation” event. Gavin Newsom, the state’s governor, declared emergencies in 13 of California’s 58 counties in response to the extreme weather.”
“The temperature reached 90F (32.2C) at Miami. That broke the daily record of 88F (31.1C) from 1992 and 2003. It was the 3rd consecutive 90F (32.2C) day and the earliest heatwave by more than a month.
“The previous earliest heatwave occurred during April 8-10, 2020.”
“These 12 US states had the hottest January and February ever recorded…
“Twelve states – New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia – had their hottest January and February ever recorded. A further 18 states had a top-ten hottest January and February.”
“Greenland temperatures surge up to 50 degrees above normal, setting records.
“Temperatures soared to record levels in Greenland early this week, up to 50 degrees above normal in some places… This latest warm spell in Greenland pushed the temperature in its capital, Nuuk, up to 59.4 degrees (15.2 Celsius) on Sunday, the warmest on record for March or April…”
“Scientists have revived a ‘zombie’ virus that spent 48,500 years frozen in permafrost…
“An anthrax outbreak in Siberia that affected dozens of humans and more than 2,000 reindeer between July and August in 2016 has also been linked to the deeper thawing of the permafrost during exceptionally hot summers, allowing old spores of Bacillus anthracis to resurface from old burial grounds or animal carcasses.”
“Europe is emerging from its second-warmest winter on record as climate change continues to intensify.
“The average temperature in Europe from December to February was 1.4 degrees Celsius (2.8 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 1991-2020 average for the Boreal winter season, according to data published by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.”
“2023 is expected to get even hotter [than 2022]. This is partly because a cooling weather pattern known as La Niña that has been in place for three years will come to an end. It is also due to greenhouse gas emissions pushing up temperatures, according to the UK’s Met Office.”
“Women’s Day in Italy hit by drought as flower supply dries up.
“The mimosa harvest has fallen by a third, with a drop in rainfall and higher temperatures forcing farmers to garner the twigs ahead of time, agricultural association Coldiretti said in a statement.”
“Tunisia wheat crop to drop by ‘at least’ 15% amid drought.
“Tunisia’s farmers have suffered the effect of persistent drought conditions across the country with a prolonged rainfall deficit expected to decrease wheat production by at least 15% in 2023, trade sources have told Agricensus.”
“Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has reaffirmed Egypt’s reliance on its Arab brothers to urge Ethiopia to refrain from its unilateral acts regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)…
“This comes while Ethiopia continues to fill and operate the dam despite failing to reach an agreement with the two downstream countries of Sudan and Egypt, the minister added.”
“Flash floods: why are more of them devastating the world’s driest regions?
“…Climate change is making such events more intense and frequent. In parts of Pakistan, for example, the 5-day maximum level of rainfall is 75% greater today than it was before 1900. Our analysis shows that globally, the rate of dryland flash flooding was 20 times higher between 2000 and 2022 than it was between 1900 and 1999.”
“Extreme rainfall events could become four times more frequent by 2080 if climate change continues, according to Britain’s top weather forecasters.
“For every degree of regional warming, the intensity of extreme downpours could also increase by 5 to 15 per cent, said climate scientists at the Met Office.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
“Beijing reports record-high air temperature for early March.
“Beijing on Monday reported a record-high local air temperature for early March, with readings coming in at 23 degrees Celsius [73.4F] at 3:14 p.m., surpassing the previous record high of 22.3 degrees Celsius set on March 10, 2008.”
“Except for the Upper Indus basin (high mountain ranges of the Hindukush, Karakoram and Himalaya (HKH) all other sub-basins show a substantial rate of glacier mass loss, which can affect future water availability, creating a need for relooking into some of the water-sharing practices in the basin, the paper has concluded.”
“Forest fires rage in Odisha, tiger sanctuaries & parks affected.
“Even though harsh summer is yet to set in, forest blazes are sparking concerns in Odisha, which recorded 2,200 active fire points on Monday across the state, including in tiger sanctuaries and wildlife reserves.”
“Thousands forced from their homes [5 dead] amid southern Malaysia floods.
“A clean-up is under way in parts of Malaysia after days of rain-triggered flooding forced thousands from their homes and killed at least four people. Nearly 50,000 people had been affected by the floods as of Monday morning at 8am (00:00 GMT), state news agency Bernama reported.”
“At least 15 people have been killed, with dozens missing after torrential rains and landslides hit Indonesia’s Natuna region on the edge of the South China Sea.
“Pictures and video from the national disaster mitigation agency (BNPB) showed landslides cascading through forested areas and dumping mud and debris on houses on the remote Serasan island.”
“Flooding in remote NT [Australia] cuts off rail line and roads, limiting food supplies in WA’s Kimberley and sparking freight concerns.
“Severe flooding in the Northern Territory is causing a logistical nightmare for people living on both sides of the NT-WA border, with floodwaters cutting off key road and rail links and impacting the supply of fresh food and supplies.”
“After a 2022 virtually without heat, today the Australian city of Sydney felt the intense heat again with 40.6C [105.1F] at the Airport station, the highest in March in 40 years.
“3 stations with short POR (Merriwa, Badgerys Creek and Bellambi) broke their records for March.”
“Dozens of bushfires burning across Australia’s east coast could get worse as a severe heatwave continues, fire services have warned.
“After two years of rains and floods, a return to warmer conditions has sparked New South Wales state’s worst fires since the 2019/2020 “Black Summer”.”
“Northland’s wettest summer on record – one metre of rain on Whangārei [NZ].
“The Winterless North may have to change its moniker to the Summerless North after the region suffered its wettest summer season on record, with Whangārei recording more than a metre of rain.”
“Nearly half the month‘s rainfall in one hour [Tauranga, NZ]…
“MetService meteorologist Peter Little confirms that indeed, the Tauranga region received an extraordinary dumping of rain overnight. “You guys had some pretty heavy rain last night. Our station at Tauranga Airport had 49mm of rain, which is a significant amount,” says Peter. “That was in the hour up until midnight.””
“-68.1°C [-90.58F] in Vostok, Antarctica; Exceptionally low temperature in the Russian base, since its *February* record [and Antarctic record] is -64.7°C and we are only March 7.
“This is probably the coldest temperature ever recorded so early in the year on the White Continent.”
“Argentina is boiling: Yesterday temperatures between 35C and 39C [102.2F] were widespread in the North but also in Central areas and down to the Patagonia.
“Rosario broke its March record again with 37.4C with more scorching heat expected for nearly 10 days and more records coming.”
“Residents of some California mountain towns are bracing to be stranded for at least another week after record snowfall.
“Repeat blizzards caused by a late-winter arctic blast have left high-elevation communities in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles, buried under as much as 10 feet of snow. The area is under a state of emergency…”
“California Braces for More Heavy Rains and Flooding.
“Torrents of rain and heavy mountain snows are expected to sweep across California at the end of the week, raising the risk of floods and mudslides on a region that’s already drenched… The Pacific storms are called atmospheric rivers and can transport as much water as flows from the mouth of the Mississippi River.”
“‘We don’t feel safe’: US community in shock after record methane leak.
“A billion cubic feet of the potent greenhouse gas were spewed into atmosphere in rural Pennsylvania amid state’s fracking boom… According to some calculations, the Jackson Township leak was equivalent to planet-warming emissions from burning more than 1,080 rail cars of coal or from running 360,000 cars for a year.”
“More than 1,000 “super-emitter” sites gushed the potent greenhouse gas methane into the global atmosphere in 2022, the Guardian can reveal, mostly from oil and gas facilities. The worst single leak spewed the pollution at a rate equivalent to 67m running cars.”
“After a record warm February, winter cold is returning [most of US]
“For the last several weeks, high temperatures have been breaking records. Many of you may have kissed winter goodbye and already moved on to spring. But don’t get too used to the warmer weather. We could see a huge shift in temperatures next week, and this one won’t be subtle.”
“France set for heavy rain as record-breaking dry period ends.
“After a record-breaking drought in February, France is set to return to more familiar winter territory this week. Heavy rainfall is expected across almost the entire country, and even snow in certain regions.”
“Türkiye fears droughts amid lowest rainfall this year.
“Türkiye is experiencing severe droughts as dams around the country’s major cities have reached low levels amid a lack of rainfall and an unusually warm winter stemming from global climate change.”
“In Egypt 39.5C [103.1F] at Kharga, exceptional 36.2C in the North at Ismailia and El Tor. In Israel 34.7C at Beer Sheva, 34.5C at Tel Aviv AP. 44.2C in Niger, 38C in Libya, 34C in Jordan, 28.4C in Cyprus; Many of these numbers are record for early March.”
“No water by 2040: The crisis engulfing Iraq and its historic river flow.
“The Middle East’s ancient Tigris-Euphrates river system flow is under threat, bringing a plethora of health emergencies to Iraq… “Diarrhoea, chicken pox, measles, typhoid fever, and cholera are currently spreading across Iraq because of the water crisis, and the government no longer provides vaccines to its citizens,” says Naseer Baqar, climate activist…”
“Cyclone Freddy kills four in ‘rare’ return to Madagascar.
“Tropical storm Freddy returned to Madagascar in what meteorologists described on Monday as a “rare” loop trajectory, killing four people, including two children as it hit for the second time in as many weeks.”
“Floods Kill 8, Leave Thousands Homeless in Zambia, Officials Say.
“Zambian officials say this year close to 400,000 people have been left homeless by the worst flooding in half a century — which started about four weeks ago. Heavy rains started a month before that and caused rivers to burst their banks, flooding tens of thousands of homes…”
“Emissions from the food system alone will drive the world past 1.5C of global heating, unless high-methane foods are tackled.
“Climate-heating emissions from food production, dominated by meat, dairy and rice, will by themselves break the key international target of 1.5C if left unchecked, a detailed study has shown.”
“Climate change is launching a mutant seed space race.
“Hurtling around the Earth at more than 20 times the speed of sound, some of the tiniest life forms aboard the International Space Station are on a mission to feed people on a warming planet… Farmers from Argentina to California, France and India are struggling to maintain yields amid global warming…”
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.
“Brutal heat in Mexico – on 2nd March the temperature reached 45C/113F at Magiscatzin.
“This is historic because it’s the earliest 45C ever recorded in North America climatic history, one day after the earliest 40C in US history. This heat is mind blowing for the first days of March.”
“At least 10 people are dead as severe storms bring tornadoes and flooding to South, sweep across Northeast [US].
“The storm spurred wind gusts strong enough to topple tractor-trailer trucks, leaving more than 1 million people without power and threatening to bring more torrential rain, tornadoes and heavy snow.”
“The South’s winter of tornadoes could be just a prelude to storm season.
“Record winter tornado activity has been taking place in the past three months in parts of the Deep South and central United States, fueled by springlike warmth. Now, as those regions enter what’s traditionally the stormiest stretch of the year, residents already weary and recovering from violent conditions face fresh threats of severe weather.”
“‘Weird’ winter weather and reminders of a warming planet.
“The recent climate divergence within the US led at one point to a remarkable, 100°F (38°C) disparity between the country’s warmest and coldest locations. Which added yet another footnote to what’s been a winter of weather in the northern hemisphere variously described as “wild,” “weird,” “crazy” and “freakish.””
“February 2023 goes does as the warmest February on record in Baltimore. The average temperature for February 2023 is 44.7 degrees… According to the Climate Prediction Center, there’s a good chance temperature will trend cooler and below average through mid March.”
“Wettest winter on record erased drought in eastern Minnesota.
“Mark Twain is credited with some astute weather quotes. And while we may not have a flood yet in most of Minnesota, the amount of moisture we’ve received this winter has reached record levels across most of our state.”
“California’s snowpack is approaching an all-time record, with more on the way.
“Statewide snowpack Friday measured 190% of normal, hovering just below a record set in the winter of 1982-83, officials with the Department of Water Resources said during the third snow survey of the season. The surveys are conducted monthly during the winter at Phillips Station near South Lake Tahoe.”
“Record snowfall and freezing temperatures have altered the landscape and lives of millions of people in California in recent weeks… Rescues were continuing farther south in the San Bernardino Mountains, where about 10 feet of snow had accumulated around the houses and roads…”
“Argentina melts in late-summer heat wave as records tumble [an unprecedented ninth heatwave and their hottest summer on record by far]…
“Some towns and cities have posted temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius (104°F), with Nueve de Julio and Ezeiza breaking records for the month. Buenos Aires itself hit 38 degrees Celsius [100.4F], breaking a record [for the month of March] previously set in 1952.”
“Uruguay’s water supply continues to be compromised today by the persistence of the drought, according to the administration of Obras Sanitarias del Estado.
“The agency began to publish a weekly report on the effects of the heat wave in the country, where the ban on the use of water for non-priority purposes remains in force.”
“UK droughts already threaten disastrous breeding year for frogs.
“The recent warm spell brought the first sightings of frog spawn in Bedfordshire, but amateur recorders have expressed alarm at the state of breeding sites. Last year’s drought and relatively low winter rainfall has left many favoured ditches and ponds less than half full.”
“February 2023 in Belgium (Uccle Observatory as reference) was record dry.Average temperature was 5.9C [42.6F],+1.7C above normal.
Total precipitation was 13.3mm (normal 65.5mm);it was the driest February in history. Winter as a whole had an average temperature of 5.0C, +0.9C above normal.”
“Towns in south of France halt new building projects due to drought…
“Nine municipalities in the south of France have announced that they will not issue any new building permits… According to reporting by 42 Mag, officials said that the areas concerned already have high populations, and the priority is to ensure adequate access to water for those already living there.”
“This Winter Was One of the Warmest on Record, Meteo Reports. The winter of 2022-2023 was the warmest on record in northern Greece and the third-warmest for other parts of the country, according to data collected by the network of 53 weather stations set up by the National Observatory of Athens weather service.”
“Record heat waves are all over these days; Africa is not an exception with 43.6C [110.5F] at Garoua in Cameroon, over 43C at Yola in Nigeria, 43C also at Birni N Konni in Niger. Over 42C also in Chad and in Togo.
“In Egypt temperatures are expected to rise to near 40C in the next few days.”
“Mozambique: Severe Tropical Storm Freddy and Floods.
“More than 232, 000 people have been affected by floods and Tropical Storm Freddy-induced rainfall and flooding… Continued rainfall in central and southern Mozambique and surrounding countries is adding to current flooding threatening critical road infrastructure, crops, housing, and public buildings like schools and health facilities.”
“Horn of Africa drought is set to become the region’s worst on record.
“The Horn of Africa may soon see its worst drought on record, as forecasts predict dry weather during this year’s March-to-May rainy season. This would be the sixth consecutive failed rainy season in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia since the end of 2020.”
“The record-breaking drought is forcing Kenya to confront a controversial topic: whether the country should grow genetically modified (GM) crops. These are plants that have had genes from another organism inserted into their DNA to give them a new trait, such as disease or drought resistance.”
“Giant hailstones as big as tennis balls, torrential rain and floods have hit parts of the UAE, as changing weather conditions were felt in the country.
“The reports of hail in Fujairah and flooding in Khor Fakkan come after the National Centre of Meteorology issued warnings of rain and strong winds that could reach speeds of up to 40kph earlier this week.”
“Abnormal warmth is affecting most of North Africa and Asia with records temperatures all over.
“Yesterday 30.2C in Turkey, 36.5C in Libya,34.4C in Israel; Today hottest day in history tied at Mangalore in India with 39.6C [103.3F]. Next days >30C in Central Asia and historic heat wave in China.”
“Flooding in Jakarta: A Call to Increase Climate Change Awareness.
“Within the last three years, the flood intensity has gotten worse. In early January 2020, heavy overnight rain caused flash floods with the highest inundations so far: 5 feet and 7 inches. That’s five inches over the average height of an Indonesian citizen. The severe flood almost submerged our first floor. Flooding is now no longer an annual disaster…”
“Teenage boy bitten by crocodile as hundreds evacuated from flooded NT communities [Australia].
“More than 700 people from three communities will be relocated by air to Katherine and then take buses 300km north to temporary accommodation in Darwin this week. Evacuees are expected to be housed in temporary accommodation…”
“NIWA releases record-breaking stats for summer’s extreme rain, winds and storm surges [NZ].
“New Zealand may be facing a new normal of floods, droughts, high temperatures and extreme cyclones, according to a new report by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. Niwa’s February climate summary said the country experienced one of its worst weather disasters last month.”
“Growers count cost as Cyclone Gabrielle buries New Zealand vineyards in silt.
““We were expecting a flood, what we got was got a tsunami of mud and trees,” Barber, who owns Petane Wines in Hawke’s Bay’s Esk Valley, said. Nothing had prepared the family for the scale of Gabrielle, which the government has called New Zealand’s biggest natural disaster this century.”
“State of emergency declared in Vanuatu after second cyclone in a week.
“A state of emergency was declared in Vanuatu as category 4 Cyclone Kevin brought gale-force winds and torrential rain to the Pacific nation battling its second major cyclone in a week. Cyclone Kevin passed over the capital Port Vila late on Friday…”
“Global warming may be accelerated by an ocean tipping point.
“The oceans play a fundamental role in limiting global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere. However, according to a new study led by the University of Texas at Austin, intense warming in the future will likely lessen this crucial ability, leading to even more severe climate change.”
“Climate graphic of the week: Glacial lakes flood risks rise…
“Glaciers are sensitive to rising temperatures, and “glacial lake outburst floods” from the melting ice are a “major hazard and can result in significant loss of life,” a paper published in the journal Nature recently concluded.”
“Earth’s lungs on fire: Fires in boreal forests carbon ‘time bombs’.
“Wildfires across the Northern Hemisphere have been raging increasingly more over the summers of the past two decades, particularly in boreal forests, and have created historic amounts of climate-changing carbon dioxide emissions in 2021, according to a new study.”
“From the Amazon to the evergreen forests of Africa and Southeast Asia, large-scale deforestation threatens reductions in rainfall across the tropics, according to new research. The threat is most acute in the Congo Basin…”
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.
“Extreme heat event ongoing in Texas: Falcon Lake in Texas just hit 104F/40C – this is the earliest 104F/40C ever recorded in the climatic history of the United Stateswith even hotter conditions expected tomorrow…
“Update: 105F/40.6C now at Falcon Lake, extraordinary event with even hotter conditions expected tomorrow.” [You may recall that Falcon Lake recorded the US’s hottest ever January temp in Jan 2022 – 99F / 37.2C.]
“West Texas town looks like Mars after mighty dust storm blankets region.
“An epic dust storm, also called a haboob, is pounding West Texas’ biggest cities this week. The dust coated Lubbock and other cities in the region starting late last week. Houston and the surrounding areas saw varying levels of hazy conditions and unusually vivid sunsets as a result.”
“Gulf of Mexico warming at faster rate than global ocean, study finds.
“For decades, scientists have been saying that the polar ice caps are melting due to rising global temperatures. And they’ve got the data to support that. But a more immediate worry for Texans is the Gulf of Mexico, which scientists now say is warming at twice the speed of the rest of the oceans on earth.”
“And Mexico keeps burning… 43.6C [110.5F] yesterday at Puente Mezcal is the 2nd highest temperature ever recorded in winter in the whole North America (including Central America and Caribbeans) and the highest in 62 years.
“Temperatures at record levels in almost the whole country.”
“Feel like a warm winter? February was the hottest in Jacksonville’s history.
“Nine of the past 40 days have tied or broke record highs, and last month was the hottest February in Jacksonville’s history, according to weather records. The average daily high last month was 79.4 degrees [26.3C], almost 11 degrees warmer than normal.”
“Mobile sets all-time temperature record for February.
“The last day of meteorological winter felt more like summer for the Mobile area. The National Weather Service in Mobile said the metro area hit 85 degrees on Tuesday, the last day of February and the last day of meteorological winter.”
“Historic and unprecedented warmth in Eastern USA continues: hundreds of stations are having their highest temperatures on records for this time of the year.
“83F in Indiana it’s the earliest 82/83F ever recorded in the State, also earliest 82F in Ohio history. 83F also in Kentucky.”
“The National Weather Service Miami confirmed Wednesday morning that Naples [Fla] experienced no recorded rainfall during the entire month of February.
“The last two recorded rainless Februarys for Naples were in 1948 and 1949. Luke Culver, NWS Miami meteorologist, said that since 1942, there have only been 10 rainless months in Naples.”
“Yosemite National Park closed indefinitely after record-breaking snowfall.
“The popular tourist destination was due to reopen on Wednesday (1 March) but will remain closed as 15ft of snow is covering some of the roads. Yosemite is located in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains and broke its snow record in recent days, with 40 inches on the ground, passing the previous high of 36 inches in 1969.”
“Chile’s Arauco warns of $50 million hit from wildfires.
“Chilean pulp and wood panel maker Arauco (ANTCOC.UL), the forestry arm of industrial group Empresas Copec (COPEC.SN), on Wednesday estimated it could take a $50 million hit due to fires raging in the country’s south.”
“New heat wave raises fears of resurgence of forest fires in southern Chile.
“The Meteorological Directorate of Chile issued on Wednesday an alert for a new heat wave in the center-south of the country that will affect from Wednesday until the weekend between the regions of Valparaíso and Ñuble, which has generated great concern among the authorities due to a possible resurgence of forest fires.”
“90% of ice around Antarctica has disappeared in less than a decade.
“Scientists say Antarctic sea ice has reached record low levels for the second time in less than a decade. CNN’s chief climate correspondent Bill Weir reports.” [Video]
“Ilulissat’s icebergs have vanished from Disko Bay, Greenland…
“Greenland is out of balance with more frequent calving, and surface melt, where the ice volume lost is not replaced with snowfall. It is the beginning stages of the Greenland tipping point. The sea ice is the Achilles heel of the Arctic…”
“Svalbard: The remote Arctic island warming seven times faster than the global average.
“There is less sea ice on the planet than at any time since records began. Summer in Antarctica has seen the ice retreat further than ever before, while winter in the Arctic has not been cold enough to produce the ice that once filled the seas around Svalbard.”
“In 2020, [Arctic] Siberia’s Temperature Climbed Above 100° F—In January 2023, it Fell Below Minus 80°.
“…as permafrost in places like Siberia continues to warm and thaw, decomposing organic materials that have long been trapped in frozen layers may release millions of tons of greenhouse gases. As with the release of stored carbon gases caused by deforestation, melting permafrost is likely to worsen the overall problem.”
“Driest February in England since 1993 signals drought ahead, say experts.
“Last year, most of England was plunged into drought conditions, with farmers struggling to plant and harvest crops, and hosepipe bans in action across the country. Water companies were preparing to take drastic action…”
“A ‘monster wildfire’ ravaged France last summer. It’s still burning.
“After a historic heat wave, an extended drought and a “monster wildfire” wreaked havoc here in [Bordeaux] southwest France last summer… Researchers and French officials say what’s known as a “zombie fire” is smoldering underground. It has spread to the site of a former lignite mine, inactive for decades, but with plenty of the highly combustible mineral remaining.”
“Catalonia announces new water restrictions amid serious drought…
““We are facing a situation of extreme seriousness, and we should react accordingly,” said Environment Minister Teresa Jorda, explaining that Catalonia has not experienced such an intense drought since 1905. The measures will affect 224 municipalities, including Barcelona and Girona.”
“Extreme weather in Europe: a very cold morning in Spanish highlands with -15.8C / 3.6F at Molina de Aragon (0.2C lower than the March record) and Tmins near +20C / 68F in the SE Mediterranean.
“In Cyprus exceptional 28.8C [83.8F] at Paphos AWS, which ties the Cypriot record for February.”
“[Kenyan] Herders turn to fishing in the desert amid severe drought, putting pressure on fish population.
“As Northern Kenya’s unabating drought continues, a growing wave of pastoralists are finding it challenging to keep their livestock alive and are switching to fishing in Lake Turkana, the world’s largest desert lake.”
“‘77 new glacial lakes in Kumaon Himalayas [Uttarakhand, India], can cause flash flood’…
“The water bodies, situated at an elevation of over 3,500 metres, formed over three decades — between 1990 and 2020 — due to shrinking of snow-covered areas… The largest glacial lake, with a 2.7km diameter, was found in Gonkha. “Any future geological activities can cause the lake to burst, triggering a flash flood,” the study mentioned.”
“India to get heat waves this year after hottest February on record.
“India is likely to experience heat waves between March and May, especially in the key wheat producing central and northern states, the weather office said on Tuesday, as the country recorded its highest ever maximum temperature in February.”
“Over 26,000 evacuated as floods hit Malaysia again; 1 dead.
“Rescuers in boats retrieved families trapped on rooftops and hauled others to safety as villages and towns in parts of Malaysia were submerged in floodwaters, leading to over 26,000 people being evacuated as of Thursday. One person died when his car was swept away by floodwaters.”
“Singapore experienced its wettest February day on Tuesday (Feb 28), with the highest daily total rainfall of 225.5mm [8.9 inches] recorded at Kallang.
“This exceeds the previous high of 159.3mm on Feb 4, 1995, the Meteorological Service Singapore said on Wednesday. ”
“The central government announced Wednesday it will enforce new water restrictions in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, next week following a lack of rain in the region…
“The government is strictly controlling the water supply from reservoirs in southern Taiwan in an effort to combat looming water shortages after minimal rainfall in the south of Taiwan since last year.”
“In February, temperature in China was significantly higher, and the average temperature in Huili, Sichuan and Jingdong, Yunnan broke the highest record in February. The average temperature in China this winter ended at 0.1C higher than the average [averaged out by extreme cold in the north].”
“February ends with a waterfall of records in Japan:
“Besides 32 records of monthly high temperatures, there were 49 records of highest minimum temperatures: 81 records in just 1 day, mostly in Hokkaido but also in Aomori, Akita and Iwate.”
“Cyclone Judy wreaks havoc across Vanuatu, Red Cross ready to respond.
“Cyclone Judy has left a massive trail of destruction in its path across Vanuatu as over 160,000 people are estimated to be affected. A category 4 cyclone with destructive winds of up to 150 km per hour and gusting to 200 km [125mph] per hour, has also caused severe damage to infrastructure, buildings, connectivity, and crops.”
“Global temperatures ‘likely’ to see another spike as chances of El Nino increase…
““The first triple-dip La Nina of the 21st century is finally coming to an end. La Nina’s cooling effect put a temporary brake on rising global temperatures, even though the past eight-year period was the warmest on record,” said WMO secretary-general Petteri Taalas.”
“Global warming could lead to increase in ‘hot lightning’ strikes causing more wildfires.
“A combined team of Earth scientists from multiple institutions has found evidence that suggests that in the coming years, a warming planet could lead to more “hot lightning” strikes that could cause more wildfires in many parts of the world.”
“Global energy-related CO2 emissions edged up to record high in 2022 – IEA…
“Deep cuts in emissions, mainly from burning fossil fuels, will be needed over the coming years if targets to limit a global rise in temperatures and prevent runaway climate change are to be met, scientists have said.”
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.
“Much of the Northern Hemisphere is struggling with drought or the threat of drought, as Europe experiences an unusually warm, precipitation-free winter and swaths of the American West remain mired in an epic megadrought.
“But it’s not just those pockets feeling the pain in the U.S. Most of the Western United States is in some form of drought, with areas of extreme drought concentrated in the Great Plains and Texas. A 23-year megadrought has left the Southwest at the driest it is estimated to have ever been in 1,200 years, based on tree-ring data.”
“The wheat farmers across the northern states of India are in a panic state with the ongoing heat wave. The farmers are in fear of losing their crops like last year due to high temperatures.
“Agricultural experts say that if the increase in temperature continues, then there may be a decrease in the yield of wheat. The government has constituted a committee to monitor the situation.”
“Even before investors could heave a sigh of relief on inflation, a potential fresh risk in the form of El Niño has emerged. In its February forecast, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from the US has predicted the possibility of an El Niño year. For India, El Niño creates dryer and hotter summers and a deficient monsoon.”
“Prolonged drought in China’s Yunnan province likely to worsen hydropower shortage.
“China’s Yunnan province, the country’s second largest hydropower producer after Sichuan, has been facing a prolonged drought that could worsen in coming weeks, forcing it to ration power supply to domestic industries and neighboring provinces, according to market participants, government announcements and state media reports.”
“Exceptional mildness in Mongolia, Southern Siberia and Northern China. Many records of highest temperatures for February were broken in all 3 countries.
“Temperatures reached 12C [53.6F] at 1300m in Mongolia, 10C in Siberia at 700/800m. In China record broken at Huzhong.”
“3,500-Year-Old Mummified Bear Found in Siberian Permafrost.
“As the permafrost in Siberia melts, it has revealed a mummified brown bear that lived more than three millennia ago. Scientists are now planning to conduct an autopsy on the bear, with the hope of making a breakthrough in the study of ancient animals.”
“Jakarta Floods Spread to 104 Neighborhoods, 5 Roads.
“Jakarta areas hit by floods expanded from 82 neighborhood units (RT) to 104 RT as of 13:00 hours local time. The Jakarta Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) also reported that the number of roads inundated by floodwater also increased from two to five locations.”
“Perth goes through entire summer without recording 40-degree day [fourth time on record]…
“Summer of 2022-23 marks a strong contrast to last year, when tumbling heat records became common place, including a record number of days above 40 degrees Celsius and a record number of consecutive days above 40C.”
“The remote Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea 600km from the mainland coasts, dropped this morning to 13.7C [56.7F]. This is its lowest temperature ever recorded in February, which is normally its hottest month.”
“‘Intense’ rain, flooding leads to evacuations in Gisborne [NZ]…
“A “number of families” in Gisborne’s Mangapapa were evacuated this morning amid heavy rain and flooding. “Heavy rain has caused drains to flood and creeks to rise to about 2 metres,” Tairāwhiti Civil Defence said about 5am.”
“Like many places, the Antarctic Peninsula is falling victim to rising temperatures. However, when scientists used radar images from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission acquired between 2014 and 2021, they were taken aback to discover just how the fast 105 glaciers on the west coast are flowing in the summer months.”
“Sea ice in Antarctic at new record low: US data center.
“Antarctic sea ice likely shrunk to a record low last week, US researchers said Monday, its lowest extent in the 45 years of satellite record-keeping. The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado Boulder said that Antarctica’s sea ice fell to 1.79 million square kilometers (691,000 million square miles) on February 21.”
“Bad news for the South Americans who are tired of this long hot summer:
“A new, intense and long heat wave will persist in Chile, Northern half of Argentina and Uruguay for at least nearly 10 days. March Records will fall.Today temperatures up to 36C/38C [100.4F] in Chile in 5 regions.”
“JPMorgan Sees Argentina Economy Facing Prospect of Hard Landing.
“Argentina’s economy is facing the prospect of a “hard landing” scenario this year as a crop drought deepens expectations of a larger downturn, according to a note published Monday by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co.”
“Record rainfall out to sea has water agencies talking about tapping the potential [California]…
“The Carmel River Watershed has seen record rainfall this winter beating out 1998 for the wettest year to date and the rain is not done yet. But most of that water won’t end up in your tap instead it’s flowing out to the ocean.”
“California approaching a record snow year as yet another storm hits.
“California was hit Monday with yet another winter storm, adding to what has become an unusually cold and wet season that some experts say has the chance to become one of the snowiest on record if conditions continues.”
“How climate change is making California’s weather more extreme.
“…the whiplash from one extreme to another is consistent with climate change, experts say. Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, California’s average temperatures have risen between 2-4 degrees Fahrenheit, and the dramatic variability seen in recent years is a consequence of that fact.”
“Another active weather week forecast after storms bring more than 100 mph wind gusts and tornadoes to the central US.
“If you are waking up across the south-central US, chances are you didn’t get much sleep. Insanely strong storms ripped through traveling close to 100 mph. At one point, the National Weather Service Office in Norman, Oklahoma called them “historic.””
“USA is stuck with full wintry conditions in the West and North and abnormal endless warmth in the SE.
“Yesterday 99F again in Texas, today up to 78F in Kentucky,81F in Tennessee. Hottest February day on records beaten (again!) at Troy, Alabama with 86F / 30C.”
“Hurricane winds will get stronger in states like Illinois and Tennessee, threatening more properties.
“More than 13 million properties that are not currently exposed to tropical cyclones will be at risk of damage from hurricane-force winds, which are projected to reach further inland as storms increasingly shift up the East Coast, according to the report.”
“Another 2 U.S. Ski Resorts Close Early Due to Warm Weather.
“While the West Coast is drowning in a snowy storm front with record snow falls, ski resorts in the Southeast are starting to close after two consecutive weeks of record warm temperatures, far above February averages… Wintergreen Resort in Virginia was one of those forced to close.”
“DC Cherry Blossom Trees May Hit Peak Earliest Date Ever.
“The winter temperatures regularly topping out above 60 degrees, and sometimes near 80, many fans of the District’s famed cherry blossoms are wondering how early the trees might bloom. Peak bloom is defined as the day when 70 percent of the cherry blossoms are open.”
“Because of climate change, yearly annual temperatures in the region [western Quebec] and across Canada have trended up for decades. This winter is one of the warmest in decades in Ottawa, about 110 kilometres south of Diabo’s home in Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg First Nation.”
“West Cork [Ireland] firefighters save crucial radar installation while tackling 20 wildfires at weekend.
“Firefighters have been praised for saving a critical aviation radar installation from a massive wildfire over the weekend. The blaze on Mount Gabriel in West Cork has now prompted renewed calls for more funding for the region’s retained firefighting service.”
“Agony on a Cornish beach: what do whale strandings tell us about our oceans?
“In recent years, reports of cetacean strandings on UK coasts have reached record levels, with numerous mass strandings and a greater variety of species appearing on beaches… human activity is largely to blame.”
“Mallorca has been gripped by a winter storm that is wreaking havoc, with 20 inches of snow shutting roads and cutting power in dozens of towns.
“The Spanish holiday island is covered with snow today and officials issued a rare red alert warning for the second day in a row as a further 15 inches is expected to fall in the next 24 hours.”
“Levels of Iraq’s Tigris and Euphrates plunge in south.
“Iraq’s Tigris and Euphrates rivers have witnessed a sharp decrease in their levels in the south of the country, officials said Sunday, pledging to take urgent measures to ease water shortages. In Nasiriyah, capital of the southern province of Dhi Qar, an AFP photographer saw the river bed of the mighty Euphrates dry in patches.”
“Pressure Grows on Kenyan President to Declare Drought a National Disaster.
“Pressure is growing on Kenya’s President William Ruto to declare a national disaster over a record drought in the country’s north that has affected five million people. The failure of a sixth consecutive rainy season is making hunger worse across the region.”
“Fleeing drought, Somalis face malnutrition and cholera in Kenya.
“After five consecutive failed rainy seasons, parts of Somalia are on the verge of famine… Those who flee often find little relief in neighbouring countries which have also been hit by the Horn of Africa’s worst drought in more than four decades and are groaning under the strain of an influx of new refugees.”
“Love Island was reportedly thrown into mayhem as a ‘destructive’ wildfire raged next to the South Africa villa on Saturday night.
“An evacuation plan was allegedly put in place for islanders at the £1.2million pad while fire crews fought a blaze just two fields away. Show bosses were thought to have been on ‘high alert’…”
“Cape Town’s 2021 runaway wildfire: an effect of climate change.
“Climate change played a large role in weather conditions that contributed to the devastating runaway wildfire that gutted large parts of the University of Cape Town’s upper campus almost two years ago. And as global temperatures soar, wildfire weather conditions as severe as those seen on that fateful day are now 90% more likely to reoccur.”
“Hoarding Onions Threatens a New Chapter in Global Food Crisis…
“Onions are the staple of cuisines across the world, the most consumed vegetable after the tomato (technically a fruit)… The jump in prices is a knock-on effect from disastrous floods in Pakistan, frosts damaging stockpiles in Central Asia and Russia’s war in Ukraine. In North Africa, meanwhile, farmers have battled severe droughts and an increase in the cost of seeds and fertilizers.”
“Research reveals climate crisis is driving a rise in human-wildlife conflicts.
“From blue whales colliding with ships to African elephants raiding crops in villages, the climate crisis is causing a rise in conflicts that lead to injury or death for humans and wildlife, new research shows.”
“Climate change is fuelling the rise of superbugs. What can we do to save ourselves?
“The next time you need to take antibiotics, they may not work. So you may be prescribed a different antibiotic, which also may not work. Maybe nothing works. This is what happens when bacteria develop resistance to drugs designed to kill them, putting modern medicine at risk, and making everyday infections deadly.”
“Reflecting sunlight to cool the Earth must be studied before climate change gets much worse, urges group of 60 scientists…
“Air pollution is currently “masking” as much as a third of the impacts of global warming [quiteunusual to see global dimming mentioned in the MSM], and as regulations around the world tighten, the amount of global warming will be “unmasked.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
“As far as I know, your work is unique in pulling together stories from all over the world. Very sobering but a better and more complete view. Terrific and necessary work. Thank you!” – Simon
“With the inundation of so much depressing news, Justin Panopticon presents it in a succinct format that one can quickly go thru and see the big picture of climate and economics/politics to stay current and if a particle topic is of interest one can delve into the details… I try never to miss any of his posts…I am a Patreon of his work.”
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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.
“Extreme heat and drought: Argentina suffers its most scorching summer ever.
“This March heat wave in Argentina has been extreme (see SMN 1-7 March anomalies of Max. temp. up to +10C vs 91-20) and it’s getting worse. Today more records for March fell:
“Argentina’s ‘unprecedented’ drought pummels farmers and economy.
“South America: High temperatures forecast to continue…
“Record deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest shows challenge facing Lula.
“Wildfires in Jamaica surged 224 percent in February
“Catastrophic flash floods have hit California as the state is slammed by its third major storm of the year.
“Inflation: it was the weather wot did it [US].
“Climate scientists tell Britons to brace for frequent wild weather.
“An apparent tornado made out of snow was spotted in Scotland.
“Drought fears fuel race to use sea for drinking water [UK]…
“Seven French départements on weather alert for high winds…
“Heat wave in March? The AEMET explains what the rise in temperatures in Spain will mean…
“Po river authority warns of worsening drought [Italy]…
“Severe water scarcity worries Istanbulites amid driest season in decades…
“Harsh heat wave in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia highlands. Yesterday Tubu in Botswana (967m above sea level) rose to 41.1C [106F], which ties the highest temperature ever recorded in March in Botswana.
“Rwanda experienced a rare heat wave across the country in the past week, with a record high of 33 degrees Celsius in the capital city, Kigali.
“The storms and floods that have hit Mozambique since February have taken the lives of 117 people…
“Schools in Goa [India] allowed students to return home at 12 noon on Thursday as heatwave conditions in the state worsened.
“Worst fires in Goa’s history burn down rare biodiversity.
“Lack of cross-border flood alerts adds to disaster fears in Nepal.
“Parts of northern China were hit by high temperatures on Thursday that smashed seasonal records, with the city of Shahe hitting 31.8 Celsius (89 Fahrenheit), official data showed.
“Incredible warm spell in China with a total of 585 stations breaking the records of highest temperature for early March and 21 for the whole of March.
“Beijing air quality plummets amid dust storm, pollution.
“Temperatures were over 10℃ above average in much of Japan Wednesday, making it feel like April or May.
“Record-breaking floods in north-west Queensland cause partial evacuation of outback town.
“Longest New South Wales flood operation in SES history finally over after nearly six months.
“‘It is ginormous’: bushfire in NSW’s central west puts rural communities on edge…
“US forecaster says El Nino could arrive by summer 2023…
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“Another very mild day in East Asia with 12.2C in Mongolia,16C in North Korea and 20C in South Korea.
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