A reminder that tomorrow will be my last thread until the 14th Feb, as I am heading for England. I do apologise for deserting my station for so long but family calls. If it’s any consolation, this will likely be my last significant trip until Christmas.
“Let’s have our cake and eat it, too!” say humans: “The fight against global warming should not be at the expense of economic growth, the United Arab Emirates’ oil chief who will lead this year’s UN climate talks said on Monday.
“Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE’ special envoy for climate change and CEO of oil giant ADNOC, said the energy transition needed to make the planet “wealthier and healthier”.”
“Germany made ‘painful choices’ in clearing village to make way for coal mine, climate envoy says.
“In an interview with Sky News, Germany’s climate envoy Jennifer Morgan admitted Germany was “vulnerable” to the energy crisis, saying it had “learned the hard way” to reduce dependence on fossil fuels or on any one country.”
“…as the Dutch this week commemorate the great flood of 1953, thoughts are inevitably turning to current-day climate change and how the low-lying country remains vulnerable to rising ocean levels. Horrific images of men, women, children and cattle trying to stay afloat in icy waters that swamped villages and thousands of acres of farmland remain etched in the collective memory…”
“Spain’s prized jamón ibérico bellota is under threat from the climate crisis as rising temperatures and low rainfall imperil a key ingredient of the pigs’ diet – acorns.
“In a country where pigs are as populous as people, there are many varieties of ham but none is so revered as jamón ibérico bellota, which retails at upwards of €100 (£88) a kilo.”
“Sub-Saharan Africa Heat Wave: Temperatures again around 38C/40C even at 300m-400m above sea level between Northern Nigeria, Niger and Chad.
“Kano in Nigeria with 38.2C 100.8F (hourly max) set a record for January, while many other stations just across the Nigerien border were few decimals short.”
“Over 450 families face starvation as hailstorm wreaks havoc in Mitooma, Uganda…
“The hailstorm claimed the lives of several animals including cows, goats, and pigs, and destroyed several acres of banana, coffee and cassava plantations as well as beans, maize, and Irish potato gardens.”
“Cyclone in Madagascar kills dozens [30, latest toll], displaces tens of thousands.
“More than two dozen Madagascans have died and tens of thousands have been left homeless since a severe tropical cyclone made landfall last week and swirled for days off the island’s western coast, official records show.”
“Unusual cold weather in the Strait of Hormuz area in the Middle East:
“Yesterday cold and rainy with just 14.4C of Tmax. in the Kish Island of Iran. After very mild weeks, the cold reached Oman where snow has been falling on the Jabal al Shams Mountain (>2700m) in the past 5 days.”
“UAE received rainfall for three days straight. At the end of it, one station — Al Faqa’a — received 118mm [4.6 inches] of precipitation. This is significant, considering the UAE records an annual average of 100mm rainfall.
“Storm Centre posted a stunning video that shows a valley bloom green after the rains.”
“UAE president’s trip to Islamabad postponed due to ‘extreme weather conditions’…
“The leader of the oil-rich Gulf nation was scheduled to meet Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif here to discuss bilateral ties and broaden his country’s investment footprint… Islamabad’s sky was overcast with intermittent rains accompanied by gusty winds lashing it since Sunday night, which apparently made it impossible for the royal aircraft to land.”
“Unseasonal rain, hailstorm hit crops on 14.9L hectares [Rajasthan, India]…
“Jaipur: Agriculture minister Lalchand Kataria on Monday informed the state assembly that according to preliminary estimates crops over 14.92 lakh hectares (out of 109 lakh hectares of rabi crop) were affected by the untimely rain, frost and hailstorm in the state in the last two days. The loss to crops ranges from 2 to 65 per cent.”
“Study links record-breaking rainfall events in separate regions.
“In September 2021, record-breaking rainfall occurred in both Northwest India and North China. This was unexpected… A study published in Advances of Atmospheric Sciences found that the rainfall and large-scale circulations in September 2021 resembled those of the peak rainy season (July and August), possibly due to warmer conditions over continental Eurasia.”
“In Hongyuan, Sichuan, the lowest temperature is – 24.2C [-11.6F] this morning, the highest temperature is 14.4C [57.9F] in the afternoon, and the temperature difference throughout the day is as high as 38.6C!
“This is the second largest temperature difference between day and night since China has meteorological records.”
“With the exception of western Tibet, which is snowing, the whole [of China] is warming violently. Yunnan and western Sichuan may hit the highest record in January today.”
“In the North China Plain, the temperature has risen to the highest this year. Beijing 14.0C [57.2F] and Tianjin 13.6 C are not only the highest this year, but also the highest in late January, the second highest in January.”
Update: “Today, 12 provinces and 89 stations across the country broke the record of January; three stations equalled the record, including 48 stations in Yunnan. Kunming was 24.7C [76.5F], breaking the January record again after five days.”
“A forest fire broke out on Saturday in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and firefighters continued to battle the blaze as of 9 p.m. Monday, local authorities have said… More than 500 firefighters and other emergency response personnel have been dispatched to tackle the blaze.”
“Floods followed by droughts, or droughts followed by floods, will rise in frequency in a warming world. Global warming will amplify a new type of natural hazard in East Asia: drastic and rapid swings in weather, from heat or drought to flood, and vice versa.”
“The death toll from flooding and landslides prompted by persistent rains since December [Philippines] has climbed to 43 while eight others have been reported missing, according to Jan. 30 update of the national disaster management council.
“Rains are expected to continue this week in affected areas, including southern parts of Luzon, eastern Visayas, and parts of Mindanao…”
“A number of rainfall records have been broken in Albury and parts of north-east Victoria [Australia] following heavy downpours…
“The Bureau of Meteorology said Albury Airport received its highest 24-hour rainfall total on record with a reading of 132 millimetres [5.2 inches] at 9am on Monday.”
“A torrential downpour overnight capped off Sydney’s wettest start to the year in more than three decades. Locals watched a steamy, still day turn into a summer storm on Monday evening… Sydney’s main rain gauge at Observatory Hill recorded 52mm between 5:20pm and 6:20pm.”
“-48.7C [-55.7F] at Vostok in Antarctica yesterday 29 January is the lowest reliable temperature on records in January (a couple of lower temperatures in 1994 and 1998 didn’t pass the quality control) and few decimals from the Antarctic lowest on records for this month.“
“South America under an endless sequences of heat waves:
“Yesterday very hot in Patagonia up to 41.0C [105.8F] at San Antonio Oeste; Monthly record at Chapelco (779m) with 37.0C and missed by just 0.1C at Bariloche (845m) with 34.3C. More severe heat waves are looming and more records can fall.”
“Record heat in Florida and Georgia today. Jacksonville Int. AP with 87F [30.6C] broke its record of hottest January day on records. Even hotter the Cecil AP with 88F.
“In Georgia 86F at Stafford and Oke West, just 1F from the State record of highest temperature in January.”
“January 2023 will be remembered more for its tornadoes and severe weather than for more traditional winter weather like snow and ice for everyone east of the Rockies. January is not typically a severe weather month, but this year was a big one.”
“NYC just broke the record for the longest winter without snowfall…
“Not only is there no snow in sight for the near future, but NYC is also seeing some above-normal temperatures. Today, Monday, January 30, the high was predicted to be 52 degrees…in the supposed dead of winter. Many New Yorkers have been describing the lack of snow and warmer temps as “weird” and “unnerving.””
“Honey bee colony loss in the U.S. linked to mites, extreme weather, pesticides…
“The research team found that several stressors impacted honey bee colony loss at the national level, including the presence of nearby pesticides, frequent extreme weather events, and weather instability.”
“Hinman Glacier, largest between Mount Rainier and Glacier Peak [Washington State], melts away…
“Hinman Glacier, which sits on the Cascade Mountains spine between Snoqualmie and Stevens passes, shrunk to just 0.04 square kilometers in 2022, according to glaciologist Mauri Pelto. This is just 4% of its 1958 size.”
“Warmer climate may drive fungi to be more dangerous to our health…
“A new study out of Duke University School of Medicine finds that raised temperatures cause a pathogenic fungus known as Cryptococcus deneoformans to turn its adaptative responses into overdrive.”
“Earth is on track to exceed 1.5C warming in the next decade, study using AI finds.
“The world is on the brink of breaching a critical climate threshold, according to a new study published on Monday, signifying time is running exceedingly short to spare the world the most catastrophic effects of global heating.”
Missed this one a couple of weeks ago: “New report shows alarming changes in the entire global water cycle…
“The key conclusion? Earth’s water cycle is clearly changing. Globally, the air is getting hotter and drier, which means droughts and risky fire conditions are developing faster and more frequently.”
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.
“Torrential rain in Auckland left three people dead and another missing, police said on Saturday, after widespread flooding hit New Zealand’s largest city…
“The city has broken all its rainfall records – 249mm [nearly 10 inches] compared with a previous record of 161mm in 24 hours – making this its wettest day and month on record.”
“Southland’s record-breaking summer [New Zealand] set to continue, but when do we call it a drought?
….””There is no significant rain forecast and the long-term outlook is for more of the same… “Tiwai Point near Bluff has only recorded 1mm this year; that’s the driest start to a year recorded since records began in 1975.””
“Record dry spell threatening Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area…
“Tasmania’s west is predicted to continue to dry out due to climate change, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change February 2022 report. Unusually dry weather is leaving the sensitive ecosystems of the Wilderness World Heritage Area sensitive to fire.”
“Swarms of slimy gray fish are clogging up irrigation water filters in Australia thanks to a flood-triggered boom in their population.
“”#BreakingNews another unprecedented boom in class 1 noxious pest [weatherloach] in #MurrayDarlingBasin,” the NSW Irrigators’ Council, a group representing Irrigation Farmers in New South Wales, tweeted.”
“3-meter-high flood submerges Indonesia’s North Sulawesi, 1 killed.
“One people died after floods 80 to 300 cm high destroyed dozens of homes in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi on Friday. “Heavy rains in several areas of Manado City have caused the Tondano River to overflow, and flooding cannot be avoided,” said Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.”
“‘We are getting sick of this’: Anguish among Johor villagers [Malaysia] amid recurring floods… After experiencing their second major flood in three years, some residents of Kampung Contoh have grown weary…
“…the frequency of floods has intensified over the last decade… “Over the last five years especially, it has happened almost every year. And it is getting bad.””
“People displaced by the growing climate disasters in Bangladesh’s coastal region are vulnerable to human trafficking, a report has said…
“Human trafficking has increased in Bangladesh after millions of people were displaced by devastating cyclones and typhoons, providing traffickers an opportunity to organise large recruitment campaigns, the report said.”
“A dust storm hit the southeastern Mongolian province of Dornogovi on Friday, causing low visibility on roads…
“Around 90 percent of the province’s total territory had been somehow affected by desertification and land degradation… In 2021, Mongolia launched a national campaign initiated by President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh to plant a billion trees by 2030 to combat climate change and desertification.”
“Alarming rise in landslides now a pan-India peril…
“While there has certainly been a rise in outlier climate events, especially intense rainfall as seen in Maharashtra and Kerala in recent years, their effect on populations has been outsized mainly because of human folly in the form of deforestation, massive growth in traffic, unsustainable rise in permanent settlements, and a significant rise in buildings, both unauthorised and otherwise.”
“The United Arab Emirates spent almost 1,000 hours trying to encourage rainfall last year, representing the latest push for one of the world’s driest countries to remain a leader in tackling global water security. There were 311 missions involving aircraft shooting chemical flares into clouds…”
“Qatar is set to increase scientific research and experimentation in order to manage wastewater and salts discharged from desalination plants…
“.. the desalination process releases brine, a highly concentrated and saline effluent with a variety of chemical compositions – posing an environmental threat.”
“When the authorities look at the records and archives, they say that such a situation has not been encountered in previous years. Mount Nemrut, whose roads have been opened, welcomes tourists for the first time in winter.”
“At least 16 people have been killed while 19 are missing after strong tropical storm Cheneso hit Madagascar, according to the government’s risk management agency…
[If you’re confused to see this story recurring, the cyclone re-strengthened over sea after its initial landfall, returned to Madagascar and then pretty much stalled out over the same location for four days.]
24 hour rain records set: 469.7mm (18.5 inches) Gros Piton Ste-Rose, and 441.2mm The Colossus.
“Nelson Mandela Bay residents are seeking divine intervention as it deals with an extended drought in its eighth year.
“Combined dam levels have reached an all-time low of just below 15%. A series of church services have been held since Sunday to pray for rain. Mayor Retief Odendaal said that the situation was dire.”
“Tunisia milk market ‘collapsing’ as feed prices soar…
“The North African country’s farming union says the price of cattle feed has risen by up to 40 percent in the past year due to the impact of the war in Ukraine on imported fodder ingredients. The dairy sector’s woes have been exacerbated by years of drought, drying up reservoirs and making it harder for farmers to grow their own fodder.”
“Pilot whale stranded off Pembrokeshire coast [Wales] shows impact of climate change, say scientists.
““The identification of this short-finned pilot whale in UK waters adds to the growing evidence of a clear trend of cetacean life being affected by climate change, part of a wider impact across our seas and oceans.“”
“Parts of Scandinavia witnessed very high temperatures in the past 2 days for local fohn winds. Stunning 17.0C [62.6F] on Tuesday evening 11pm at Marstein in Norway.
“Yesterday in Finland, Vaasa Airport rose to 8.2C which is a new January heat record for the station.”
“Ice coverage in the Gulf of St. Lawrence was measured at less than two per cent this week, putting it on course for breaking the low-ice record for the second time in three years.
“In the last 10 to 15 years, normal ice coverage for this time of year is about 15 per cent, but that is a recent change… [1995 was the watershed]
“The Colorado River is overused and shrinking. Inside the crisis transforming the Southwest.
“…the region has for years depended too heavily on the river, taking more than its flows can support. And in recent years, the river’s water-generating heart in the Rocky Mountains has begun to fail. The Colorado River can no longer withstand the unbridled thirst of the arid West.”
“Historically, tornadoes were most likely to strike within a column of the central U.S. that was nicknamed “Tornado Alley.” The area includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. In recent years, however, researchers noticed that fewer tornadoes were touching down in the Great Plains and that more were hitting the Southeast.”
“Texas heat-related deaths reached a two-decade high in 2022 amid extreme temperatures.
“Heat-related deaths in Texas last year reached a new high for this century amid a sharp rise in migrant deaths and soaring temperatures enhanced by climate change, according to a Texas Tribune analysis of state data going back to 1999.”
“New day, new records in Cuba. Another very hot day with temperatures up to 34C/93F. Hottest January day on records were set at Velasco with 33.8C and al El Jibaro with 32.5C. 7 stations so far in Cuba had their warmest January day on records (some beat it twice).”
“Cuba poised for production of wheat modified by radiation mutagenesis that adapts to extreme heat and climate fluctuations.
“The history of Cuban science is full of the challenges faced by daring, diligent and, above all, persistent researchers. An example of this are the scientists who have tried to introduce and promote wheat in our country, a staple food on a global scale.”
“‘The country’s on fire’: wildfires hit every province in Argentina in 2022…
“According to government figures… 561,165 hectares of land were hit by wildfires in 2022. Communities in affected areas told the report’s authors they’ve seen a significant decline in the presence of animals like caimans, capybaras, monkeys, and reptiles, as fires kill wildlife and destroy species’ natural habitats.”
“An agricultural emergency was declared in October and recently extended through April as the situation has not improved, according to a press release by the agriculture ministry. Since the original declaration, 1,300 producers had requested assistance from an emergency fund, with over half of the applications having been submitted this month.”
“Human activity and drought ‘degrading more than a third of Amazon rainforest’.
“Human activity and drought may have degraded more than a third of the Amazon rainforest, double the previous estimate, according to a study that heightens concerns that the globally important ecosystem is slipping towards a point of no return.”
“Climate extremes in the Amazon rainforest are directly affecting those in the Tibetan Plateau, scientists said Thursday, warning that the Himalayan region crucial for the water security of millions was close to a potentially disastrous “tipping point”…
“…can one tipping point have a domino effect on another region? Recent research suggests this is already happening.”
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.
“‘Heat February’ likely to follow Germany’s warmest January on record so far [2022 was Germany’s joint-hottest year on record; lower gas consumption is the very thin silver lining].
“After seeing the hottest January so far since records began, meteorologists in Germany are now predicting a warmer-than-usual February, which could bring about problems for winter sports resorts…
“We are now experiencing hot spells and intensities that we would actually not have expected from climate models for a few decades,” said Andreas Becker, head of the DWD’s climate monitoring department.”
“Climate migrants: How even rich Bavaria cannot provide shelter from global warming.
““We took ketchup.” …This is the only food Karl Bretzendorfer remembers taking up to the attic where he spent 13 days trapped with his wife Irina, as the waters rose around them in what Chancellor Angela Merkel called “the flood of the century” in Bavaria, south-east Germany.”
“Netherlands on track for the rainiest January ever.
“The Netherlands is on track for the wettest January since weather services started keeping track of the rainfall. This month is already in the top 5 wettest Januaries ever recorded, and more rain is expected in the week to come, Weeronline reported.”
“Fish removed from ‘toxic’ Canvey Island lake where hundreds of dead fish found [Essex, UK]…
“The Essex lake was significantly impacted by extreme heatwave conditions last summer, which also caused thousands of fish to die across the UK. The lake was ‘so deprived of oxygen’ during the summer, that caused the dead fish.”
“Satellite data shows sustained severe drought in Europe.
“Europe lacks groundwater – a lot of groundwater. The continent has already been suffering from a severe drought since 2018. This is confirmed by satellite data analysed at the Institute of Geodesy at TU Graz… The result of this cooperation shows that the water situation in Europe has now become very precarious.”
“Water woes: Drought raises tensions between Spain and Portugal.
“In September of 2022, Spain announced that it would no longer fully honour the Albufeira Convention, a treaty on water transfers to neighbouring Portugal… Portuguese farmers are finding the decision difficult to accept, while environmentalists say it creates a major ecological risk.”
“The Costa Del Sol has been blanketed with a thick layer of snow less than a month after it registered record-breaking temperatures.
“The Spanish coastal strip recently experienced its warmest winter since records began, with temperatures reaching highs of 23°C on Christmas Day in Valencia and Castellon.”
“The National Emergency Management Agency [of Nigeria], NEMA, said, yesterday, that flood disasters, in 2022, left over 2.4 million persons displaced and 662 dead.
“Director-General, NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed said… “As we are all aware, this event is taking place in the immediate aftermath of the devastating 2022 flood disaster which is unprecedented in the history of Nigeria.””
“South Africans urged to bury dead within four days amid load shedding, heatwave…
“The South African Funeral Practitioners Association’s (SAFPA) national secretary-general Vuyisile Mabindisa urged people to bury their loved ones within four days of their death to ease pressure on funeral parlours, and to ensure that they are buried with minimal decay.”
“Cyclone Cheneso hits Madagascar and destroys roads to capital…
“Cyclone Cheneso continues to hit the island with more than 15,000 people affected to date. “I left my house because it was destroyed by the strong winds of the cyclone. The house tilted, so I ran away. My house was totally destroyed,” said flood victim Bonne Fehy.”
“Horn of Africa may see record sixth straight failed rainy season.
“The eastern Horn of Africa just saw an unprecedented fifth straight failed rainy season on record, making it the longest and most severe drought in 70 years of precipitation data. The region is likely headed for a sixth poor rainy season this spring, a new forecast warns.”
“Drought hits Türkiye’s 3rd-largest city İzmir amid global warming.
“In İzmir, Türkiye’s third-largest city, which lies on the Aegean coast, levels in dam reservoirs sounded an alarm about a severe drought and no prospects of precipitation in the near future.”
“In the Middle East, temperatures are soaring. Will the region remain habitable?
“…“If we assume the business-as-usual scenario, we are going to face extreme heatwaves, the likes of which we haven’t seen before,” he says. “This scenario would be disastrous; some places can expect 60-degree temperatures [140F] from 2060, for several weeks at a time.”
“The Islamic republic of Pakistan is running out of fresh water at an alarming rate, and authorities anticipate that is likely to suffer a shortage of 31 million acre-feet (MAF) of water by 2026. The shortfall will be for a devastating country with an agriculture-based economy [seems a bitter irony, given the deluge they’ve just endured – one that I am sure is not lost on the Pakistanis themselves!]”
“Amid the financial and food crisis in Pakistan, major regions of Balochistan are suffering from an acute shortage of drinking water as filtration plants installed have gone out of order due to “poor maintenance”, as per a report by The Express Tribune.”
“Warmer winters in the Kashmir Valley are leading to early flowering of the gul toor.
“The Kashmir Valley is experiencing warmer winters and as a result the flowering period for the Sternbergia vernalis flower has shifted from mid-March to mid-February. Changing climatic conditions have the potential to disrupt the plant-pollinator interaction…”
“Thousands swarm airport in South Korea and five die in Japan as snow and ice cause chaos in east Asia.
“Travellers face severe delays as planes, trains and cars are halted due to snowstorms and high winds, as temperatures plummet to -20C [-4F]. In Japan, the deaths of up to five people are being linked to the weather and thousands are forced to sleep in train carriages or stations.”
“More than 1,000 people [now 5,500] evacuated from flood-hit Johor districts [Malaysia].
“The number of flood victims seeking shelter in relief centres in Johor state rose to 1,093 in the late afternoon on Tuesday, as several districts were inundated with rising river waters amid the heavy rain.”
“Tensions are running high in the far-north West Australian town of Derby as the clean-up begins following the state’s biggest flooding disaster on record.
“The small town of about 3000 people, more than 2000 kilometres north of Perth, has been cut off geographically from the outside world since ex-tropical cyclone Ellie hit the Kimberley region at the start of January.”
“Tolaga Bay residents still stranded as 22 roads remain closed following Cyclone Hale [NZ].
“Some families in Tolaga Bay are still stranded, two weeks on from the devastation of Cyclone Hale. There are 300 identified faults across the Tairāwhiti region, such as dropouts and damaged bridges, with 22 roads still closed.”
“January storms leave L.A. County flood-control dams at risk of overflowing.
“Now that the shock of a series of January storms has worn off, Los Angeles County officials face a herculean chore: Five reservoirs along south-facing San Gabriel Mountain slopes are filled with so much debris and soupy mud that they pose a flood risk to the communities below.”
“Texas refining facilities report upsets following tornado…
“Shell said it was experiencing an incident at its Deer Park chemicals facility following severe weather, according to a company tweet. Petroleos Mexicanos also reported operational upsets due to weather at its neighboring oil refinery, according to a company alert.”
“One example of this incredibly mild January in USA is New York City. Central Park hasn’t dropped below 28F/-2C this month. No trace of snow was recorded.
“Its average temperature so far is 42.86F (+9.16F above average) and it’s the warmest January on records (Jan 1932 42.0F).”
“The US Federal Reserve is running its very first climate change experiment.
“The central bank this month announced details about how it will conduct a “pilot climate scenario analysis exercise” involving the six largest US banks: Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo.”
“Climate Is Forcing the Most Risk-Aware Industry to Reinvent Itself.
“When it comes to climate impacts, the frontline of the finance industry is insurance. Last year’s payout from damages caused by extreme-weather events totaled $120 billion—about the same as the economic output of Kenya. And that’s a 50% increase over the previous decade’s average.”
“Inuit warn of ‘rock concert-like’ noise from ships affecting Arctic wildlife…
“Ship noise can be caused by everything from propellers to hull form to onboard machinery. It can disrupt activities that marine mammals need to survive, by shrinking their communication space, causing stress and displacing them from important habitats.”
“Arctic Swedish mine poses threat to indigenous Sami.
“The indigenous reindeer-herding Sami people in northern Sweden say they are facing an existential threat from an iron-ore mine billed as a pivotal shift towards the EU’s green transition.”
“Norway plans to offer record number of Arctic oil, gas exploration blocks…
“Norway’s push to keep producing oil and gas comes as energy firms are under contradictory pressures, with a need on the one hand to produce hydrocarbons that are not from Russia, and on the other to limit the effects of climate change.”
“This article explains why traditional climate science methods cannot keep up with rapid change. It provides an analysis of the psychological defences that prevent most climate scientists from admitting this in public when, unofficially, they all do and say they are afraid.”
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.
“Chinese City Experiences Coldest Temperature in Nation’s Records – the temperature in Mohe, a city in northern China’s Heilongjiang province, dropped to -53C (-63.4F) on Jan. 22.”
[Given that temperatures exceeded 47C in Xinjiang last year, as China endured possibly the world’s worst recorded heatwave, the nation has now seen temperatures span a range of 100C+ within the past seven months].
“Two die, seven missing after flash flood hits holidaymakers on China’s Yellow River.
“At least two people are dead and seven remained missing on Monday after families celebrating Lunar New Year were swept away in a sudden flood from China’s Yellow River, state media reported. Video of the tragedy circulated widely on social media…”
“At least 104 people have been killed in Afghanistan by a powerful cold wave and flash floods in recent weeks, the Taliban government said on Monday.
“The Taliban’s decision to ban women from working in nonprofits, which led to many organizations pulling out of the country, has been criticized for leaving millions of Afghans without crucial assistance.”
“El Niño could worsen India’s inflation worries in 2023…
“The annual monsoon rains are usually the worst-hit by this phenomenon. Considering how important these rains are for its agricultural sector and the overall economy, El Niño is a major cause for worry for India, which is already battling inflation.”
“Sundarbans has ‘lost 110 square kilometres of mangroves in two decades’.
“West Bengal has lost 110 square kilometres of mangroves in the Sundarbans in the past two decades due to climate change and global warming, according to experts. They said the “climate refugees”, who have been forced to migrate from various islands in the Sundarbans, are facing the rage of nature.”
“Over 21,000 Affected by North Aceh Floods [Sumatra, Indonesia].
“The Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of North Aceh district, Aceh province, has reported that 21,389 people from 4,234 families have been affected by the floods in the region over the past three days. The floods have been caused by the overflow of several rivers due to heavy rain…”
“Argentine government, farm exporters seek relief from historic drought.
“Argentine Economy Minister Sergio Massa met with agricultural exporters on Friday to analyze and “seek solutions” to help the country’s key grain industry after it was hammered by the worst drought the country has faced in at least 60 years. The dry spell is contributing to a broader economic slump battering the South American country…”
“Record hot day… in Western Cuba: Santa Lucia (Pinar del Rio Province) pulverized its January record of highest temperature with 33.2C [91.8F].Pinar del Rio fell 0.1C short with 31.4C.
“In the Isla de la Juventud (Youth Island) new record at Punta del Este with 31.4C [a location of particular interest, as it it is the site of the world’s largest panopticon!].”
“California strawberry industry could see $200 million in losses due to storm damage…
“According to the California Strawberry Commission, due to the onslaught of rain, wind and flooding, 1,840 acres of strawberry crops are facing losses that could reach $200 million from crop, property, and equipment damage.”
“Ghost Squirrels: Numbers in Texas down 92% from 2020.
“Many who lived through the polar vortex will remember it as a chaotic week when Texas froze over and all sorts of problems followed impacting millions of people as well as fish and wildlife populations.”
“New York City’s snow drought nears all-time record.
“The Big Apple is just days away from breaking a record that might seem unimaginable: the latest date to see measurable snowfall in recorded history. While the city has seen precipitation since the winter season officially began, it has primarily come in the form of rain instead of snow due to abnormally warm temperatures.”
“Scallops dying off in Long Island are ‘a cautionary tale’ for New England…
“Data shows over the past two decades, the Peconic Bay estuary — and the entire Northeast — are warming at rates during summer that far exceed global average; Gobler said, “about threefold higher.” “We found that when placed in areas that were experiencing heatwaves, all the scallops died, whereas the ones that were in cooler temperatures, they survived,” he said.”
“Preparing for ‘Firmageddon,’ researchers watch B.C.’s forests for die-offs and droughts.
“Across the Pacific Northwest, firs are dying in record numbers as beetles, extreme heat and fires test the trees’ endurance… “We’re calling it Firmageddon,” said Danny DePinte, who runs the aerial survey program for Oregon and Washington State, in an interview. “Or, Fir Zombie Land.””
“Environment Canada believes January [in New Brunswick] could become one of the warmest ever since weather records began in the late 1800’s.
““The whole province of New Brunswick is running nearly six degrees above normal in terms of the mean temperature for the month and that is very much above normal,” noted Maepea.”
“Emergency pesticide authorisation approved to protect national sugar beet crop [UK].
“Defra has approved an emergency temporary authorisation for the use of a neonicotinoid pesticide treatment on this year’s sugar beet crop due to the risk to the crop from yellows viruses.”
“More than 13,000 trees will be planted to replace the newly-planted ones which died in Gloucester [UK] after not being watered during last summer’s drought.
“Gloucester City Council planted thousands of new saplings across all the city’s wards last year. But the trees died due to lack of water during the summer heatwave.”
“Volunteers plant mini-forests in Paris to slow climate change, tackle heatwaves.
“French volunteers are using a pioneering Japanese tree-planting method to create pocket forests in Paris in the hope they will slow climate change, create biodiversity hotspots and tackle the growing number of heatwaves in the capital.”
“Europe Sees Record-breaking Hailstorms As Severe Weather Disrupts Life & Damages Houses.
“Amid winter storms, 8,224 large hail have been reported in 2022 which exceeded 2021’s record by nearly 2,800 reports, said the European Severe Storms Laboratory (ESSL)…”
“Records come and go in this wild 2023 full of extreme weather so far. On 22nd January the station of Tepak in Cyprus, with the support of fohn winds from the Trodos Mountains, rose to 25.5C [78F] which is a new record for January in Cyprus.
“Van’s Çaldıran [Turkey] embraces sudden spring amid extra-mild winter.
“Eastern Van province’s Çaldıran district, usually one of the coldest spots in Türkiye with record-breaking frigid temperatures, remained snowless this winter due to the effects of global warming. In fact, the region has embraced a surprising spring instead.”
“Weather tracker: Storm Cheneso brings flooding risk to Madagascar.
“Storm likely to bring huge rainfalls to African country this week… Rainfall totals of 75-100mm are expected each day, bringing storm totals in excess of 500mm [nearly 20 inches] – approaching the average annual rainfall in the west coast town of Morondava of 764mm.”
“Locals resort to dirty water amid scarcity [Uganda]…
“Ms Joyce Nagudi, another resident, says her family often suffers from diarrhoea, which she blames on drinking contaminated water… Ms Joan Nambozo, a resident of Nabweya Ward in Northern City Division, says most of the boreholes in the area have dried up.”
“Heatwave, load shedding blamed for Johannesburg’s latest water woes…
“High temperatures, in most of the country since the second week of January, have been especially severe in the Northern Cape. Johannesburg suffered severe water restrictions last year after Rand Water, which purifies water from the Vaal Integrated System and sells it to Joburg Water, throttled its water supply in October.”
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.
“More and more records in Ukraine [the eleventh European nation to beat its national heat record this month] in this insane January.
“21.1C / 70F at Djankoi (yesterday) new Ukraine record for January.
“Today new records: 20.8C Simferopol; 18.7C Chernomorsky; 13.7C Svitlovodsk; 13.3C Myronivka; 11.2C Lubny. In Russia warmest January day ever at Anapa with 17.9C.”
“The Stormy South Wind broke Five Temperature Records in Bulgaria.
“The absolute records for high temperatures for January were improved yesterday in five stations… In Pleven yesterday the temperature reached 21.7 degrees Celsius [71.1F], and the old temperature record was 21.2 degrees and was from January 2002.”
“States of emergency have been declared in some Western Balkan cities as floods block roads and cut off power while two people in Montenegro and Serbia reportedly drowned.
“Heavy rain was blamed for at least two deaths in Western Balkan countries, while in some towns transportation was affected as local roads and bridges were damaged by flooding.”
“Turkey is experiencing a severe drought as dams around the country’s major cities have reached low levels amid a lack of rain and an unusually warm winter stemming from global climate change.”
“Israel sees driest winter season in about 60 years.
“…this winter season raised the water levels of the Sea of Galilee by just 2 cm… Eyal Wiesel, a director at the hydrological service of the government’s Government Water and Sewage Authority, told Haaretz that 2 cm was the most modest rise since 1964 when national rainfall measurements began.”
“Climate Change is Fueling Conflict and Migration in Lake Chad…
“The report found that shrinking natural resources due to adverse weather are heightening tensions across communities and displacing people. It said that around 3 million people have been displaced and an additional 11 million were in need of humanitarian assistance.”
“Seven people in Kakamas in the Northern Cape have died due to heat stroke in the past few weeks. Another person is recovering in Kakamas hospital… Over the last few weeks, the Kakamas area experienced temperatures in the forties [104F+].”
“The Karee Dam in Calvinia in the Northern Cape has run dry, again.
“Officials from the Hantam Local Municipality said that reservoirs there were also without water. The town has been plagued by a severe drought and low rainfall over the past few years.”
“Madagascar’s 1st tropical storm of season floods 700 houses, 1 missing – Preliminary reports.
“On Friday (Jan. 20), Madagascar’s city of Sambava was still under water… “Everything is flooded here, we ask the State to improve the draining of flood water, so that in case of rain, it can flow away. We’re living in misery right now,” farmer Jean Claude laments.”
“An avalanche occurred on the evening of January 17 on the road from Linzhi to Pai.
“The accident occurred at the exit of the Duoxiongla Tunnel, 8 [now 20] people have been killed and many are missing. The temperature in Tibet is abnormally high recently, the avalanche may be related to it.”
“Today 21 January with -50.6C [-59.1F] at Mohe, China witnessed again the lowest temperature ever recorded in a national station since February 1969. Record low temperatures set:
“-49.8C Huzhong; -47.9C Tahe; -46.9C Xinlin (tied); The cold air mass will move Southeast to Koreas and Japan.”
“Philippines: Flooding ongoing across most of the country as of Jan. 20. Further adverse weather forecast…
“Officials could update and possibly extend the coverage of weather alerts over the coming days. Heavy rainfall Dec. 25-Jan. 11 resulted in flash flooding that killed at least 52 people across central and southern Philippines.”
“Kununurra resident takes 4,770km [nearly 3,000 miles] journey home from airport after record-breaking WA floods…
“Kununurra resident Chris English is currently taking a 64-hour scenic route from Broome to his home town in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, via the Northern Territory. That’s because the most direct route between the two communities was cut off by the state’s worst ever flood disaster earlier this month.”
“Bushfires May Follow Floods as Climate Chaos Grips Australia…
“Rain over the past three years has led to excessive plant growth that could pose a bushfire risk if conditions become more hot and dry, said Agus Santoso, a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales. Prolonged wet weather also makes it harder for so-called fuel reduction burning…”
“Blazing heat again in Argentina today. Monthly records beaten at Oran with 44.8C / 112.6F (all time record of 45.0C was set 1 month ago!) and at Tucuman with 43.2C.
“Very hot also in Santiago del Estero,Rivadavia and La Rioja with temperatures of 44C/46C. A stifling hot summer so far…”
“Argentina: Thousands of cows killed by drought cause millions in losses in the sector.
“…some 26 million cows are at risk, half of the national total. If the deaths of these animals continue in Argentina, where meat exports contributed more than 3.4 billion dollars in July 2022, it could trigger a food problem at the national level, says farmer Pablo Giailevra.”
“Trees have long protected Sacramento [California]. Storms turned them to ‘carnage.’…
“More than 1,000 trees have come down in Sacramento since a major storm tore through Northern California on New Year’s Eve. Residents have reported more than 2,000 tree-related incidents in January, according to the city.”
“As the South reels from more than 30 tornadoes reported across the region last week, new climate data shows that the destructive storms may be on the rise…
“The devastation comes as scientists continue to study the effects of climate change on the production of tornadoes, and almost a year after the U.S. saw a record-breaking month of tornado activity, with over 200 storms.”
“London, Ontario: Where did winter go? A ‘startlingly mild’ January upends winter season and nature’s rhythms.
“A “startlingly mild” January has brought spring-like temperatures and hardly a trace of snow to the London region, leaving drivers relieved, children disappointed, and nature’s rhythms upended by the unusual weather.”
“Ice lies thick over Russian Arctic waters, but this winter might be record warm…
“According to the Russian meteorological service Roshydromet, the year 2022 was the second warmest on record in Russia. All of the country’s eight federal districts were abnormally warm. And the biggest deviations from the norm were found in the North.”
“With 76.5 mm of precipitation, the beginning of January (1-19.1.2023) has been the wettest on record in Helsinki Kaisaniemi. Records kept since 1845.”
“Nearly two-thirds of coral reef sharks and rays face extinction…
“Many shark and ray species, ranging from apex predators to filter feeders, play a major role in these delicate ecosystems that cannot be filled by other species. By examining 134 species of sharks and rays, the experts found that 59 percent of coral reef shark and ray species worldwide are threatened with extinction.”
“Stars are disappearing before our eyes – and faster than we thought.
“Light pollution doesn’t just spoil the view of the sky, it can also impact our health – and that of wildlife. This is because it disrupts the natural cyclical transition from sunlight to starlight that we and other organisms have evolved alongside – and sky glow is anything but natural.”
“Global cooperation needed on climate change as emissions, temperatures continue to rise after pandemic lull.
“There were hopes carbon emissions might have peaked as the Covid-19 pandemic’s disruptions led to large declines, but these have proved to be temporary… most major economies have failed to “build back better” and, today, the challenge of reducing emissions is bigger than ever.”
Also perhaps worth keeping an eye on:“‘Pandemic potential’: bird flu outbreaks fuelling chance of human spillover…
“Today, with parts of Europe and North America in the midst of the worst outbreak on record, a global cohort of researchers is keeping cautious watch amid concerns about the impact the disease could have on humans.”
“…the viruses detected at the mink farm are distinguished from all the clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses characterised thus far in the avian population in Europe as they bear an uncommon mutation (T271A) in the PB2 gene, which may have public health implications.”
“Three grizzly bears were euthanized in Montana after they became ill and tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, according to the state’s Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
““The virus is spread from one bird to another,” Dr. Ramsey told CNN via email. “These mammals likely got infected from consuming carcasses of HPAI infected birds.”
“The mass death of thousands of crabs and lobsters off the UK coast may have been caused by a disease previously unknown to science, a new government report has found…
“The report added: ‘Although there is no direct evidence of a novel pathogen – a disease or parasite – it would explain the key observations including mortality over a sustained period and along 70km of coastline, the unusual twitching of dying crabs and the deaths being predominantly crabs rather than other species.'”
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.
“Record January temperature reached in southern Romania: +22.5C [72.5F]… The day brought the maximum temperature ever recorded in the country: +22.5C, at Turnu Măgurele, ANM representatives told Hot News. The previous record was set in January 2001 in Oravița.
“Before the year 2000, temperatures above +20C in January were extremely rare.”
“2022 was third hottest year on record in Romania, official data says…
““This statistic proves what we have all felt for many years, that climate change threatens and affects the entire planet, we can no longer talk about a local problem or a national problem,” minister Barna Tánczos commented.”
“Record warm also in North Macedonia: The capital Skopje with 19.9C [68F] was the 3rd European capital today to have its warmest January day on records.
“In Serbia monthly record at Veliko Gradiste with 17.8C; in Russia 18.5C at Goryachy Klyuch; Tomorrow Bulgaria 23C/24C.”
“Istanbul may experience its warmest January: Experts.
“Noting that the southwester winds will start to be effective in Türkiye and increase the temperatures during the whole week, prominent meteorologist Orhan Şen stated that the hottest days of January may be experienced in the Marmara region and the Black Sea regions.”
“It’s mid winter but it feels like a summer evening in parts of Turkey with warm downslope winds.
“Temperatures rose even above 22C [71.6F] and in the next 4 days the unusual warmth will continue. Monthly records will be broken in several countries. Stay tuned.”
“Drought hits Türkiye’s Lake Sapanca as water recedes by 40 meters.
“Lake Sapanca, the main drinking water source of Sakarya, has set off alarms in Sakarya and Kocaeli as water levels have receded to 40 meters. The lake, being one of the few lakes in Türkiye that provides drinking water to the two big cities, has been exposed to drought due to low precipitation and increased urbanization.”
“Work begins to connect Malaga [Spain] water plant to supply drought-hit Axarquía…
“Although the rain in December did something to alleviate the critical situation of the Axarquía’s La Viñuela reservoir, which had previously reached a record low at 9.1% of its capacity, the situation remains precarious. Following the wet spell that figure went up to just 11.2 per cent.”
“Morocco Launches Campaign on Water Rationing in 400 Hammams.
“As part of Morocco’s ongoing efforts to address the country’s water shortage, the Bouregreg and Chaouia Hydraulic Basin Agency (ABHBC) has launched a campaign to raise awareness on water conservation in Hammams (traditional bathhouses).”
“The Ghana GRID Company (GRIDCo) has said a raging bush fire under its high voltage near Tarkwa caused some power line trips leading to power outage in most parts of the country.”
“Record-breaking temperatures expected in KZN [South Africa] as heatwave intensifies.
“Etemperatures presently being experienced across the country are set to persist in Zululand until Thursday. Over Zululand, extremely high temperatures, with some record-breaking minimum and maximum figures, are expected on Wednesday and Thursday.”
“Drought kills over 6,000 wild animals in Amboseli ecosystem [Kenya] within six months.
“Kenya’s idyllic Amboseli eco system has lost some 6,093 wildlife as a result of ravaging drought between June and November 2022. According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Kenya Wildlife Service, rains that have been experienced within the ecosystem after a long dry spell is in short supply.”
“‘The Coldest In Recent Years’: At Least 70 killed By Cold Snap In Afghanistan
“Freezing temperatures that dipped as low as -33 Celsius in Afghanistan have killed at least 70 people and 70,000 animals, according to officials on January 18, as the country’s humanitarian crisis worsens.”
“Pakistan still an ‘ongoing nightmare’ for millions of children, following major flooding.
“Deadly floods hit Pakistan last summer, and have now only partly receded. 33 million people were affected in Sindh and Balochistan provinces, in what is widely regarded to have been Pakistan’s greatest climate disaster.”
“Pakistan: Adverse weather forecast across Balochistan Province through at least Jan. 19… Sustained heavy rainfall could trigger flooding in low-lying communities near rivers, streams, and creeks. Urban flooding is also possible in developed areas with easily overwhelmed stormwater drainage systems.”
“Explained: How forest fires worsen flash floods in the Himalayas…
“Officials in Nepal said that the November 2020-March 2021 fire season was the country’s worst since records began in 2012. Similarly, officials described the number of fires reported last year in areas of northern Pakistan as “unheard of”.”
“Yesterday 17 January, the town of Hakha in Myanmar (altitude 1866m asl) dropped to -6.0C [21.2F]. It ties the lowest temperature ever recorded in Myanmar which was recorded at the same place in 1990, 2008 and 2021.”
“Yakutsk, the capital city of Russia’s Sakha Republic in eastern Siberia, is widely identified as being one of the coldest places in the world. Large parts of Russia are currently experiencing record low temperatures and Yakutsk is seeing an abnormally long cold snap.”
“Out-of-this-world weather: Polar vortex in Siberia could bring record cold to Canada…
““[The polar vortex] is coming right from Siberia where it’s very cold, coldest moments in decades,” Phillips told Daily Hive over the phone. “It’s on the move… and winter will come back in a gusto for the West in terms of the cold.””
“Parts of Greenland now hotter than at any time in the last 1,000 years, scientists say.
“The coldest and highest parts of the Greenland ice sheet, nearly 2 miles above sea level in many locations, are warming rapidly and showing changes that are unprecedented in at least a millennium, scientists reported Wednesday… the finding is probably an underestimate…”
“Alaska’s cold climate ‘luck’ with three consecutive La Niña years is about to run out…
“Alaska pretty consistently has cooler than normal La Niñas. But as you indicated, there’s more variability, so we can have warmer than normal La Niñas. Maybe about two-thirds of them are cooler than normal. El Niños, on the other hand, are uniformly warm in Alaska.”
“Mildest January on record sends Milwaukeeans outdoors.
“As of Jan. 17, Southeast Wisconsin is experiencing the warmest January since records started to be kept in 1871. Steve Gastrau, owner of Gastrau’s Golf Center in Oak Creek, says people are taking advantage. “Busier this January than any other January,” he said.”
“California storms: The past three weeks were the wettest in 161 years in the Bay Area…
“From Dec. 26 to Jan. 15, 17 inches of rain fell in downtown San Francisco. That’s the second-wettest three-week period at any time in San Francisco’s recorded history since daily records began in 1849 during the Gold Rush. And it’s more than five times the city’s historical average of 3.1 inches over the same time.”
“Atmospheric rivers force California to manage floods during drought…
“The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) warned Monday that it is “acting with urgency to capture as much water as it can to help alleviate drought conditions, however current infrastructure to move water through the Delta is outdated, vulnerable to earthquakes” and “limits the export of water during these long, sustained winter storms.””
“Mississippi River dredging makes supply transport possible amid ongoing drought.
“Commerce on the Mississippi River accounts for a majority of the country’s agriculture and grain exports. But because of the recent lack of rain, water levels are being compared to one of the worst droughts in 2012. Each year, ships going through the Mississippi River transport tons of critical goods.”
“Major incident declared due to Somerset flood risk [UK].
“A major incident has been declared in Somerset because of flooding risks, the Environment Agency (EA) says. “Enhanced pumping” began on Tuesday at Northmoor to clear water off the Somerset Levels.”
“Record-breaking rain continues to pound Queensland [Australia] as an intense heatwave strikes five cities and forces the Australian Open to postpone up to a dozen games.
“Play at the Australian Open in Melbourne was suspended on Tuesday as part of the tournament’s official Extreme Heat Policy… Finch Hatton has been pounded with a metre of rain in just five days.”
“Ants can’t alter behaviour to deal with warmer climate.
“Ants may be unable to adapt to global warming, a new study looking at their behavioural flexibility has warned. This leaves them highly vulnerable to impacts of climate change, as the insects could not move away from warmer sites despite costs to their well-being, suggested the paper published in the Journal of Animal Ecology.”
Apparently, humans not much good at altering their behaviour either: “The rich and powerful flocked to Davos via private jet to discuss climate change, study finds.
“At the World Economic Forum, which started Monday in Davos, Switzerland, the global business and political elite will discuss how to combat climate change, but their own private jet travel to attend the conference will cause a spike in planet-warming carbon emissions, according to a new study from Greenpeace International.”
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.
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About This Site
Weekday updates on both climate change and the global economy. Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.
“Let’s have our cake and eat it, too!” say humans: “The fight against global warming should not be at the expense of economic growth, the United Arab Emirates’ oil chief who will lead this year’s UN climate talks said on Monday.
“Germany made ‘painful choices’ in clearing village to make way for coal mine, climate envoy says.
“Dutch flood memories unleash new climate fears.
“Spain’s prized jamón ibérico bellota is under threat from the climate crisis as rising temperatures and low rainfall imperil a key ingredient of the pigs’ diet – acorns.
“Sub-Saharan Africa Heat Wave: Temperatures again around 38C/40C even at 300m-400m above sea level between Northern Nigeria, Niger and Chad.
“Over 450 families face starvation as hailstorm wreaks havoc in Mitooma, Uganda…
“Cyclone in Madagascar kills dozens [30, latest toll], displaces tens of thousands.
“Unusual cold weather in the Strait of Hormuz area in the Middle East:
“UAE received rainfall for three days straight. At the end of it, one station — Al Faqa’a — received 118mm [4.6 inches] of precipitation. This is significant, considering the UAE records an annual average of 100mm rainfall.
“UAE president’s trip to Islamabad postponed due to ‘extreme weather conditions’…
“Unseasonal rain, hailstorm hit crops on 14.9L hectares [Rajasthan, India]…
“Study links record-breaking rainfall events in separate regions.
“In Hongyuan, Sichuan, the lowest temperature is – 24.2C [-11.6F] this morning, the highest temperature is 14.4C [57.9F] in the afternoon, and the temperature difference throughout the day is as high as 38.6C!
“With the exception of western Tibet, which is snowing, the whole [of China] is warming violently. Yunnan and western Sichuan may hit the highest record in January today.”
“Forest fire rages in Guangxi.
“Asia faces weather whiplash as earth warms.
“Heat wave in Myanmar. Two records of highest temperatures for January were beaten on 28 January: 30.5C [86.9F] at Monyin and 29.5C at Kyaukmae.
“The death toll from flooding and landslides prompted by persistent rains since December [Philippines] has climbed to 43 while eight others have been reported missing, according to Jan. 30 update of the national disaster management council.
“A number of rainfall records have been broken in Albury and parts of north-east Victoria [Australia] following heavy downpours…
“Sydney cops two weeks’ rain in half-hour deluge…
“A precautionary state of emergency has been declared in New Zealand’s most northern region as parts of the country prepare for more extreme weather.
“South America under an endless sequences of heat waves:
“Record heat in Florida and Georgia today. Jacksonville Int. AP with 87F [30.6C] broke its record of hottest January day on records. Even hotter the Cecil AP with 88F.
“Tornadoes ravage the South in month of extremes.
“NYC just broke the record for the longest winter without snowfall…
“Honey bee colony loss in the U.S. linked to mites, extreme weather, pesticides…
“Hinman Glacier, largest between Mount Rainier and Glacier Peak [Washington State], melts away…
“Warmer climate may drive fungi to be more dangerous to our health…
“Earth is on track to exceed 1.5C warming in the next decade, study using AI finds.
Missed this one a couple of weeks ago: “New report shows alarming changes in the entire global water cycle…
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“Chinese City Experiences Coldest Temperature in Nation’s Records – the temperature in Mohe, a city in northern China’s Heilongjiang province, dropped to -53C (-63.4F) on Jan. 22.”
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“Records come and go in this wild 2023 full of extreme weather so far. 
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Apparently, humans not much good at altering their behaviour eit