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An eight-year-old boy has become the youngest person to successfully climb El Capitan - a 3,000-foot cliffside in Yosemite. Sam Baker, of Colorado Springs, Colo., has been climbing since he was two years old and has been training to climb El Capitan since he was six.On Friday, the boy's father, Joe Baker, posted that the four-person climbing team had made it safely to the top of the cliff.'What an amazing week! I'm so proud of Sam. He completed the youngest rope ascent of ElCap!' wrote Baker on his Facebook page, which he has been using to document Sam's trek.'In a few years he might be back breaking more records.' Joe faced criticism from some for letting his young child scale the huge - and often sheer - peak. But he insists Sam - whose middle name is 'Adventure' - is a dab hand at climbing, and that the youngster knows how to do so safely. Sam, his father and their group celebrate the completion of the ElCap ascent with a clifftop disco ball. Saturday they will descend eight miles down the mountain As the group reached the top of the cliff, Sam draped a sign off the side of the structure that read, 'I love you, mom, almost there' Sam, 8, and his dad Joe were part of a four-person climbing team that summitted the cliff this week. They met up with Sam's mother - Ann - at the top Sam has been training for the cliffside journey since he was six, according to his parents and was in a climbing harness since before he could walkEarlier on Friday, the father-son duo hung a sign off the cliffside that read, 'I love you, Mom, almost there.'His mother had previously told CNN that Sam 'seems really happy to be up there and spirits are high.' The climb started Tuesday and concluded with the team meeting Sam's mother, Ann, who hiked up the back of the mountain, at the top. The practically straight-up cliffside is 3,000 feet of granite, where climbers are 'hanging by their fingertips or their anchors,' Sam's dad, Joe, said. Despite the young boy's bravery and excitement, critics slammed his father for allowing Sam to perform such a 'dangerous' stunt at a location that sees more than 100 accidents per year. El Capitan is largely regarded as a stunt only experienced climbers should risk, but Sam seems confident that his tri-weekly training will pay off for this difficult climb. Sam, however, was enticed by the idea of enjoying lasagna from a hammock on the cliffside. I shot this on our test day last week! Tomorrow we blast off up the Captain for our five day adventure. I understand that this trip is not for everybody. There are lots of people talking about the risks and so it’s important to also be discussing the rewards which far outweigh the risks. Start by asking: How would I be different today had I ascended ElCap with my dad when I was 8 years old? What do you think some of the rewards are?Posted by Joe Baker on Monday, October 24, 2022 Sam Baker, eight, of Colorado Springs, (left) started scaling Yosemite's El Capitan (pictured) on Tuesday with his dad Joe (right) and two others If Sam completes the challenge, he will be the youngest person to reach the summit. The young climber said he's most excited about eating lasagna and sleeping cliffside (pictured: Sam on El Capitan) The group (pictured) are about a third of the way up, as of Wednesday morning. The entire climb is expected to take four or five days Sam has been climbing with his dad since he was two and has been preparing to climb El Cap since he was six 'We'll be sleeping on ledges and eating lasagna,' Sam told Good Morning America (GMA). Despite some worried observers, experienced climber Emily Harrington - who free-climbed El Capitan twice - told GMA that Sam and Joe's method of 'aid climbing' is 'actually quite safe.' 'They're essentially using the protection in order to ascend the wall,' she told the outlet. 'The most common and the most often [used] one is called aid climbing, which is when you use ropes and protection. You're actually using those things in order to aid your ascent up the wall, and that's been done by probably thousands of people.'If he's stoked to be up there and have an adventure with his dad, I see no [issue] with it at all in terms of safety and risk. It's not a dangerous form of climbing.' Harrington, who started rock climbing when she was 10, said regardless of how they 'choose to climb,' El Capitan is a 'wonderful adventure, no matter how you do it.' Sam has trained on multiple other mountains (pictured) leading up the climb, which is usually only done by experienced climbers Despite Sam's enthusiasm, critics have slammed his dad for allowing him to do the dangerous climb, which sees about 100 accidents a year His father argues that they are climbing it was 'safest' way possible and that Sam (pictured on a different excursion) will never not be in his harness, even while sleeping, eat, and using the restroom The youngest person to ever reach the mountain's summit was Selah Schneiter, then 10, in 2019. Joe said in a video posted to his Facebook that Sam 'knows this is going to be really, really hard and he needs to train for it.' 'We trained for it every day,' Joe said, accompanied by a video of his young son scaling down the side of their house and climbing indoor rock walls. 'You don't get on El Capitan unless you're an expert in the sport. That's what we're developing is a young man that is an expert in the sport. He can really do everything that the great climbers can do.' Joe also said there was 'never be a moment' where Sam is unclipped from his harness, not even while he is eating, sleeping, or using the restroom. Joe is also using climbing to help teach Sam how to be a man and said he is 'proud' to see 'this identity emerge that he owns, that's his. To see the warrior spirit coming out of him, he wants it, he's interested in his own self-mastery' His mother, Ann, also said they 'wouldn't just push him to do it just because he has to be eight when he does it.' 'It's OKif we don't make it,' Joe said in the video he posted to his Facebook. 'It will still be a lifechanging adventure that we will forever be talking about.' Just hours into his climb, Sam posted a picture of himself hanging from ropes off the steep cliffside, writing: 'Underestimate me! Cause I need a good laugh.' By Wednesday morning, Sam, Joe, and their friend Maison DesChamp were about a third of the way up, where they stopped near Mammoth Ledge to enjoy 'mac and cheese and watched the first half of the Lion King,' his father said on his Facebook page. 'Now it’s starting to get very cold but Sam can’t tell because he’s sawing logs in his mummy bag cuddled up next to me,' Joe wrote. Sam and I are going up El Capitan on October 24th! Sam has had it in his mind to climb this wall for the last two years. And we are finally here. Together we will spend at least four days and three nights living on the wall…the entire time hanging either our fingers or our anchors. Just imagine walking for a mile of sidewalk on your fingers, but strait up. But then we also have to drag up everything that they need to live, including hundreds of pounds of just water. This will be a historic achievement for an 8 year old. Watch this in HD! Follow us on our adventure of a lifetime. The best way to cheer us on is to give us your encouragement and share our story.Posted by Joe Baker on Monday, September 26, 2022 Sam is the oldest of three and his mother Ann (pictured together) will meet the group at the summit. She will be hiking up the back of the mountain A large part of climbing for Joe is using it as method to help 'initiate' Sam into 'manhood.' 'How does a boy become a man, it's such an important question,' the father-of-three wondered. 'The answer is initiation. Elementary school doesn't do it, you know? He gets invited in on some big adventures with his father. As parents we can create that environment - fully architect that environment - were our children can actually find great courage and strength. 'It's not about him being a rock climber...What we're really seeing happening here is seeing this identity emerge that he owns, that's his. To see the warrior spirit coming out of him, he wants it, he's interested in his own self-mastery. 'As a father, I've very proud to see it,' Joe said in the video. 'This is one of those moments that he will remember. I want that for him.' El Capitan is the 'ultimate challenge' for climbers The mountain is 2.5 times bigger than the Empire State Building and three times as high as the Eiffel Tower. Standing more than 3,000 feet above the valley floor, it's one of the world's hardest climbs to complete. The rock was once thought to be impossible to climb, but has since been climbed by many and been the subject of several movies. There are various ways to climb El Cap, including free climbing and aided and an array of routes to take. Many take 'The Nose' route, including then-10-year-old Selah Schneiter, who completed the climb in 2019. She is the current titleholder for youngest to climb it. Another more beginner friendly routes include the Salathe Wall, while the Tempest is one of the hardest. The first ascent on The Nose was in 1958. Despite being one of the easiest routes, almost half of the reported incidents on the mountain occur on that route. The mountain sees around 100 accidents per year and 30 fatalities have been recorded as of 2018. In 2018, two climbers - Tim Klein, 42, and Jason Wells, 46, of Boulder, Colorado - plunged to their deaths. Experts suspect they forgot to attach a rope to an anchor while using a risky technique, known as simul-climbing, which increases speed. They fell from about 1,000 feet on June 2, 2018, to the horror of witnesses. 'It was very traumatic,' a witness told the Seattle Times in 2018. | Extreme Sports |
A Portland man was arrested for allegedly planning a shooting at a rock climbing festival over the weekend in Oregon, authorities said.
Samson Zebturiah Garner, 39, was arrested Thursday after "evidence of a planned attack," including a rifle and two handguns, were found in his vehicle, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said in a media release.
Garner was allegedly planning to attack a three day climbing festival taking place from Oct. 20-22 at the Smith Rock State Park, NBC News affiliate KTVZ in Central Oregon reported. He was arrested on charges of attempted murder, attempted assault of the first and second degree, and unlawful use of a weapon, the sheriff's office said.
The event, known as the Smith Rock Craggin Classic, invites “all levels of climbers, ages, races, gender identifications, and abilities” to a series of clinics, workshops and speeches. The festival organizers, American Alpine Club, said they were made aware of the potential threat last Wednesday and worked with authorities until it was resolved.
"We worked closely with law enforcement agencies and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to monitor the situation and evaluate our ability to host the event," American Alpine Club said in a statement. "The associated individual was arrested and is now in custody, and authorities are confident there is no continued threat."
Authorities in Deschutes County started investigating Garner last week after receiving a tip from Portland Police Bureau detectives that a Portland resident was planning a violent attack during an event in the Deschutes County area, the sheriff's office said.
On Thursday, authorities learned that Garner had arrived in Deschutes County. Based on information obtained in the investigation, Garner was taken into custody in the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office jail on Saturday afternoon without incident.
Authorities obtained a search warrant for Garner's vehicle, where they found two handguns and an AR-15 rifle, along with climbing equipment, the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement. The equipment was considered “evidence of a planned attack” according to the sheriff's department.
Authorities said the investigation indicates that Garner was acting alone. The investigation is ongoing.
Garner was arraigned on Friday afternoon before Judge Beth Bagley, KTVZ reported. He was being held on $10 million bail. It was not immediately known if he had legal representation. | Extreme Sports |
A newly-wed couple have celebrated their marriage by climbing Skye's second highest summit in their wedding outfits.
Victoria Forbes and Mark Lyons carried the wedding dress, suit and climbing gear up Sgùrr Dearg.
The keen climbers from the Scottish Borders then donned their wedding outfits to scale the top section, called the Inaccessible Pinnacle.
Their wedding photographer captured the moment before they abseiled back down.
The 986m (3,234ft) high mountain in the Cuillins is topped by an imposing rocky formation, nicknamed the In Pinn.
Mark stressed they would not have attempted the roped climb and abseil descent if they had not had the skills and appropriate equipment to do so safely.
Portree-based Becy Stabler, of Belle Art Photography, captured the climb for the newly-weds' wedding album.
Victoria and Mark, who got engaged during a trip to north west Africa's Atlas Mountains, had previously climbed Sgùrr Dearg.
They were wed in a ceremony last Friday close to the mountain and saw an opportunity to rekindle the memory.
Mark, who has been climbing since the 1990s, said: "We were married in Glen Brittle just below the Cuillin mountains and due to our special memories of the original climb we decided to revisit it in our wedding attire the following day.
"Our amazing wedding photographer Becy Stabler accompanied us so we could have photos alongside our wedding photos."
Reaching the In Pinn, which involves rock climbing for the ascent and an abseil back down, meant walking and scrambling over rocky terrain for more than two hours.
Mark said: "On the Inaccessible Pinnacle there was a handful of fellow climbers. The love and all the congratulations that came with this is beautiful and we thank everyone for their best wishes.
"The wedding dress and suit held up well until we had an impromptu swim in the loch sat in Coire Lagan on the walk out."
He added: "The climb would never have happened if we weren't perfectly happy we could do it safely in the conditions that were given and our use of the necessary safety equipment carried.
"We would climb the In Pinn again - but will never repeat it dressed up."
All images copyrighted to Belle Art Photography. | Extreme Sports |
Former Dallas Cowboys tight end Gavin Escobar and a woman were killed in a rock climbing accident near Southern California on Wednesday, officials said.The Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department said rescuers were called around 12:30 p.m. local time to Tahquitz Rock near Idyllwild following a distress call. Officials said rescuers climbed up a steep remote area and found the climbers dead.The climbers were identified as 31-year-old Escobar and 33-year-old Chelsea Walsh.Escobar played in the NFL from 2013 to 2017 for the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens. He had 30 catches for 333 yards and eight touchdowns during his career. He ended his football career Alliance of American of Football.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Gavin Escobar #89 of the Dallas Cowboys in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 13, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)A small amount of rain fell in the area on Wednesday but it wasn’t clear whether they played a factor in the climbers’ deaths. Tahquitz Rock is known for its steep granite cliffs. Feb 17, 2019; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Fleet tight end Gavin Escobar (89) runs with the ball after a catch during the first half against the Atlanta Legends at SDCCU Stadium. (Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports)BUCS TO HOST CHIEFS AT HOME STADIUM DESPITE HURRICANE IAN'S DESTRUCTION IN FLORIDAEscobar began working for the Long Beach Fire Department in February. He’s survived by his wife and two children.The fire department, Cowboys and his alma mater San Diego State sent their condolences on Twitter."We are devastated to hear about the passing of Gavin Escobar. Gavin was the epitome of a student-athlete, and a leader on and off the field. Our thoughts and prayers are with Gavin's family in this incredibly difficult time," San Diego State AD John David Wicker said in a statement. November 2, 2014: Dallas Cowboys tight end Gavin Escobar (89) warms up before a football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPTwo climbers from Los Angeles fell 200 feet to their deaths on the rock in 2000, according to the Los Angeles Times.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Ryan Gaydos is the sports editor for Fox News Digital. | Extreme Sports |
'It was very traumatic': Group of mountaineers witness solo climber, 22, fall 200 feet to his death from San Diego's El Cajon Mountain before search-and-rescue team had to hike two hours on foot to retrieve body from tough terrainThe 22-year-old male had been 'free soloing' - rock climbing done without the use of a rope or protective equipment - when he plummeted to his deathThe rock climber fell 200 feet - as tall as a 20 story building - off the granite mountain and into what climbers call 'The Wedge' Dachel Fohne, friend of the deceased, learned about the fatality on the mountain, 'I just didn't want to believe it, I still don't want to believe it,' she said The fallen rock climber was rescued more than 12 hours after he fell from the mountainside Published: 17:47 EST, 6 December 2022 | Updated: 17:48 EST, 6 December 2022 A group of 'traumatized' mountaineers witnessed the horrifying fall of a 22-year-old rock climber - who plummeted 200 feet to his death - while climbing San Diego's El Cajon Mountain on Sunday.Witnesses say the climber, whose name has not been released, had been 'free soloing' - rock climbing that is done without the use of a rope or protective equipment - just before noon when the tragedy occurred.A group of climbers propelled over to help the young victim but it was too late. When search and rescue arrived the climber was pronounced dead.James Faerber said he was 'traumatized' witnessing the man fall to his death off the popular mountain, known as El Capitan or El Cap, that has a summit of 3,677 feet.'I've been through a huge range of emotions for sure,' Faerber told the San Diego-Tribune. On Monday, crews walked the hazardous terrain to recover the victim's remains, hiking two hours on foot, as a helicopter was in the air assisting in the recovery mission Search and rescue teams had a difficult time retrieving the body due to the treacherous terrain.'By the time we were able to get to where the climber was, it's about 2,500 feet in elevation, and it's about a two-hour hike to get to the climber. So it made yesterday's recovery impossible,' Lt. Ruben Medina with San Diego County Sheriff's Department said.Another obstacle the crew was facing, the sheriff said, was nightfall. The darkness complicated getting back down the mountain.On Monday, crews hiked the hazardous terrain to recover the victim's remains, located near the Lakeside area of the mountain, as a helicopter was in the air assisting in the recovery mission.The rock climber was rescued more than 12 hours after he fell from the mountainside.The cause of the young man's fall remains unknown and is being investigated. Billy Ortiz, who has lived near El Cajon for 63 years, told CBS 8 that the area where the hiker was found is a very 'treacherous' and known as 'the Wedge,' an area that rock climbers love to climb. 'It goes up to the left and then the right, and then there's an overhang,' Ortiz said.Ortiz had his camera focused on the recovery mission as the search and rescue crews recovered the climber's body from the southside of the mountain. A helicopter is seen flying over the treacherous terrain en route to the 22-year-old man that tragically fell to his death on Sunday just before noon The San Diego County Sheriff's Department received a call about the climber's fall from El Cajon Mountain in the afternoon on Sunday, Dec. 4Dachel Fohne, a friend of the deceased, said she learned about a fatality on the mountain and then discovered it was her climbing partner, Fox5 SanDiego.'I just didn't want to believe it, and I still don't want to believe it,' she said.Before the tragic news, Fohne had left a note on the windshield of her friend's car that had been sitting in the parking lot, at the base of mountain.'I waited until 5pm for you,' she wrote. 'Hit me up when you are safe. Text me anytime.' Dachel Fohne, a friend of the deceased, left a note on the windshield of her friend's car that had been sitting in the parking lot, at the base of mountain. 'I waited until 5pm for you,' she wrote. 'Hit me up when you are safe. Text me anytime' Fohne, known as 'Adventure Tick' on Instagram, expressed her devastation on the tragic loss in a recent post, and her gratitude for those who tried to help. 'My heart hurts so much,' she wrote. 'If you were one of those climbers who tried to help, thank you for your kindness. Calling the ranger station this morning to hear that a climber has fallen, come to find, a close friend… It's an empty, helpless feeling'Fohne - known as 'Adventure Tick' on Instagram - expressed her devastation on the tragic loss in a recent post, and her gratitude for those who tried to help.'My heart hurts so much,' she wrote. 'If you were one of those climbers who tried to help, thank you for your kindness. Calling the ranger station this morning to hear that a climber has fallen, come to find, a close friend… It's an empty, helpless feeling.' She said that she and her climbing buddy were both 'loners' who had both connected over their love of the mountain and the magic feeling it both brought them.She added, 'Being alone on the mountain is pure freedom.' Advertisement Read more: fox5sandiego.com... Sheriff's helicopter recovers body of rock climber who fell to his death from El Cajon Mountain | cbs8.com | Extreme Sports |
A rookie skydiver found herself in a dangerous snarl on her very first jump after having her parachute tangled in power lines in California, setting the stage for a dramatic caught-on-camera rescue.
The nail-biter took place just before noon Monday in the 31900 block of Croydon Street in Lake Elsinore, located 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
Crews from Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department found the unfortunate skydiver dangling from the SoCal Edison’s high-tension electrical lines above the street level.
“She was just up there chilling, which was surprising because that’s pretty scary,” eyewitness Jose Olea told the station KCAL.
Firefighters had to wait about 40 minutes for utility workers to cut power to the wires to avoid electrocution during the rescue operation.
First responders used an aerial ladder to reach the trapped parachutist, who was conscious and talking, and lead her down to safety before 1 p.m.
Incredibly, the woman escaped unscathed. She was evaluated at the scene by medics but refused any further medical treatment.
Once back on firm ground, the skydiver, who declined to give her name, told NBC Los Angeles that she was trying to avoid flying into another set of power lines but ended up ensnared on Croydon Street.
The woman said she is “not sure” how she survived but was “super thankful.”
Reflecting on her harrowing ordeal, she said: “it was very, very scary, but I was trying not to panic.”
The ill-fated parachutist is a student at Skydive Elsinore and was making her inaugural jump Monday using her own canopy, according to Josh Hall, the skydiving facility’s general manager.
“The parachute opened properly and was in perfect working order. At some point during the parachute descent, the jumper became confused and flew away from an open landing area and into power lines,” Hall told The Press-Enterprise.
Battalion Chief Jeff Roberts, of the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department, said he does not know how the skydiver avoided electrocution, “but she did,” he noted.
When asked if she would consider taking to the skies again after her brush with death, the skydiver sounded skeptical.
“I don’t know if I’m going to jump again,” she replied. “Probably not.” | Extreme Sports |
A TikTok influencer has died while skydiving in Toronto after her reserve parachute did not have enough time to inflate, according to reports.Tanya Pardazi, 21, who had more than 100,000 followers on TikTok, died on 27 August during her first solo dive after completing a course with Skydive Toronto.
She had also taken part in a previous contest of Miss Canada in which she is said to have reached the semi-final stage.The skydive facility requires students to complete a course in "all of the fundamentals required to successfully complete your first skydive" before they take their first jumps from 4,000 feet, according to the website. Image: Pic: philosatea The facility confirmed a 21-year-old student's death in a Facebook statement but did not identify Pardazi by name.
The statement said a philosophy student had "released a quickly-rotating main parachute at a low altitude without the time or altitude required for the reserve parachute to inflate"."The jumper was a welcomed recent addition to the skydiving community and will be missed amongst the student's new friends and fellow jumpers of Skydive Toronto Inc," the statement added."The team at Skydive Toronto Inc has been profoundly affected by this accident as they have refined their student training program for over 50 years."In a post on Instagram, the University of Toronto's cheerleading team said Ms Pardazi was "one in a million" and would be "forever part of our team and in our hearts". Read more on Sky News:TikTok star found dead aged 19Friends said she had lived her life to the "fullest" and "don't believe" she has passed away.Childhood friend Melody Ozgoli told CTV News Toronto: "She really lived every second to the fullest."This is the biggest shock to us. It's very hard to process. It's been a couple of days, but we still don't even believe it." | Extreme Sports |
Surf’s up, dawg! This past weekend at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, California — about a 20-minute drive south of San Francisco — a variety of dogs and their owners gathered for the World Dog Surfing Championships. The organization, billed as “Where the Top Dog Surfers come together” on its Instagram, subscribes to the motto “It’s a big world, let your dog surf it.”For the annual event, owners often dress their dogs in beach-appropriate fits, including sunglasses, costumes, and doggy-size life jackets. The dogs are judged on some of the same proficiency categories as a human surfing competition, from technique to the length of the ride. Awards are handed out based on dog size (Small, Medium, Large/XL) as well as other categories, including Human/Dog Tandem. A 10-year-old rescue dog named Faith grabbed the top spot in the Large/XL group, while Skyler, an Australian cattle dog, nabbed first place as the Top Dog Final Overall Champ.Though dog surfing is said to have started in the 1920s, it was first recorded circa 1932 in the silent film On the Waves at Waikiki, in which a man and his terrier named Night Hawk can be seen riding waves together in Hawaii on a wooden surfboard. The World Dog Surfing Championships has been held on the California coast since 2016, and it is one of several such contests that have been established around the world. Abbie Girl, an Australian kelpie, set a mark recognized by the Guinness World Records for the longest wave surfed by a dog in open water, catching a 351-foot-8-inch-long wave at Ocean Beach in San Diego, California, on Oct. 18, 2011. Besides surfing, Abbie Girl has gone skydiving with her owner, Michael Uy. Time will only tell if there's a dog skydiving competition one day. incomingYour weekday morning guide to breaking news, cultural analysis, and everything in between | Extreme Sports |
Watch this 104-yr-old woman break the world tandem skydiving record
Dorothy Hoffner tried skydiving for the first time on her 100th birthday and loved it.
If you're looking for some aging inspiration, look no further, because Dorothy Hoffner is about to blow your mind.
At 104, Hoffner just became the oldest person to parachute out of an airplane in a tandem skydive. That's right, skydive. At 104 years old—or to be exact, 104 years and 289 days old—beating the previous world record set by a 103-year-old in Sweden in May of 2022.
But it's actually even more impressive than that. It's not like Hoffner is someone who's been skydiving since she was young and just happened to keep on doing it as she got older. She actually didn't go on her first skydiving adventure until her 100th birthday.
On Oct 1, 2023, she joined the team at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois, for the world-breaking tandem skydive. Though she uses a walker to get around, she manages the physical toll of plummeting through the air at 10,000+ feet before parachuting to a skidding stop strapped to a certified U.S. Parachute Association (USPA) tandem instructor with impressive ease.
“Let’s go, let’s go, Geronimo!” Hoffner said after she boarded the plane, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Watch her do what many of us would be too terrified to attempt:
The way she rolls right out of that plane cool as a cucumber! Hoffner told the Tribune that on her first skydive, at age 100, she had to be pushed out of the plane. But this time, knowing what she was in for, she took charge with calm confidence.
“Skydiving is a wonderful experience, and it’s nothing to be afraid of," Hoffner shares. "Just do it!”
That's some seriously sage advice from someone who knows firsthand that age really is just a number. Learn more about skydiving with Skydive Chicago here. | Extreme Sports |
Heart-stopping moment YouTuber attempts Dorset's cliff 'walk of death' with a 160ft vertical drop either side and wearing just trainers - before he bottles itPaul Brown diced with death after he tried to shuffle along the edges of Old Harry Rocks in DorsetYouTuber walks up to the drop wearing trainers and favourite American football team's kit before he freezesThe podcaster could be heard saying 'okay, I don't like it' to his two friends behind him before walking away Published: 05:06 EDT, 15 August 2022 | Updated: 09:45 EDT, 15 August 2022 Advertisement This is the heart-stopping moment a man attempted to carry out the 'walk of death' on a cliff before bottling it saying he realised 'one silly mistake and I'm dead'. Paul Brown, 41, who is a superfan of US football team Cleveland Browns, diced with death after he tried to shuffle along the edges of the chalk cliffs at Old Harry Rocks near Swanage, Dorset.The YouTuber walked up to the drop in just his trainers and wearing the American football kit of his favourite team before he froze and began to inch away from the vertical rock face. The footage, filmed by the online vlogger, zoomed into the cliff's rocky terrain and shows off the 160 foot drop either side. The podcaster then squatted down to get his bearings and slowly turned around before he stood up and walked to the mainland. He could be heard saying 'okay, I don't like it' to his two friends who were sat behind him and watching him attempt the impressive feat. Mr Brown said the path 'looked steeper than it looked'. Overhead footage showed Mr Brown in his American football shirt and trainers overlooking the mammoth 160ft drop either side of him This is the moment the YouTuber squatted down and shuffled around before turning back to his two friends and telling them that it was 'steeper than it looked' Although Mr Brown is one of many daredevils to have attempted the impressive feat, a few visitors have nearly fallen to their deaths on the steep cliff Mr Brown believed part of the Dorset beauty spot should be cordoned off as it was a danger for potential tourists One user replied to the stomach-churning footage on Twitter: 'Watching you walk across!' alongside moving image of a man profusely sweating with terror.Another person said: 'that's crazy' before another tweeted 'be careful. I couldn't do that and I've been skydiving twice.'In 2017 a woman in her 30s suffered minor injuries after she plunged from the cliff into the sea below. In 2021 two men were branded 'idiotic' after they played Russian roulette with their lives as they peered off the edges of the 120ft cliff.Paul told MailOnline: 'When I got to the edge I thought hang on a minute, there's a 50 metre drop to the left and right, one silly mistake and I'm dead. 'Every Sunday I travel the UK, exploring the UK coast on my Super73 e-bike trying out local foods, as I'm more of a food blogger than a YouTuber.'I was on a bike ride... and stopped off [at Old Harry Rocks] and then saw there were signs warning people but they weren't that dramatic.'I've never had a fear of heights before, even though when I went to the Hoover Dam it freaked me out. But I thought it looked easy. 'When I started walking I realised I didn't like it. 'The reason why I'm keen to talk about it is to save other people's lives in the future, it's a cliff edge but you don't realise how scary it is until you walk across it. 'It looks as if it is a well trodden path, lives could be saved if it was crossed off, there should've been a barrier or a fence there.' The London foodie has amassed a TikTok following of 109,000 and a separate Instagram audience with his account paulbrown_uk of 17,000 followers. Advertisement | Extreme Sports |
A new world record for the oldest tandem parachute jump was set when a Swedish woman parachuted at the age of 103 years and 259 days. Rut Linnea Ingegard Larsson jumped in tandem with parachute expert Joackim Johansson, according to Guinness World Records. New record: Oldest tandem parachute jump (female) - Rut Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson at the age of 103 years and 259 days.She first tried paragliding at the age of 90, and did her first parachute jump at the age of 102 👀 https://t.co/mVtDrksfim— Guinness World Records (@GWR) June 14, 2022 As Larsson took the free fall on May 29, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren waited for her on the ground. WATCH: BILL MAHER DEFENDS NFL COACH JACK DEL RIO AFTER FINE OVER JAN. 6 COMMENTS During the jump, she listened to Lasse Dahlquist’s song "Try Your Wings." Larsson praised the sunny weather, saying, “You get new strength when summer comes. It will be exciting, of course, and I have no regrets!" Larsson’s interest in skydiving and parachute-jumping began more than a decade ago. She reportedly went paragliding for the first time on her 90th birthday and soon followed up with other sky-high ventures, including her first parachute jump at the age of 102. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The oldest man to do a tandem parachute jump is Alfred Blaschke. He completed his jump in 2020 at the age of 103 years and 181 days, according to Guinness. | Extreme Sports |
The idea of skydiving is enough to get even the most daring adrenaline junkie's palms sweating.And while the average skydive takes place from a height of around 10,000ft, this pales in comparison to a record-breaking jump that took place 10 years ago.On this day in 2012, daredevil Felix Baumgartner, now 53, jumped from the edge of space, armed only with a pressure suit, a parachute, and nerves of steel.He free fell to Earth for more than four minutes, during which time he reached dizzying speeds of 843.6mph and broke the sound barrier, before opening his parachute and safely gliding down to land in New Mexico.To celebrate the tenth anniversary of his jump, MailOnline spoke to Mr Baumgartner, who described his memories of the terrifying stunt - and why he would never attempt it again. On this day in 2012, daredevil Felix Baumgartner, now 53, jumped from the edge of space, armed only with a pressure suit, a parachute, and nerves of steel Felix Baumgartner's record-breaking jump On 14 October 2012, millions of people around the world eagerly tuned in to watch Mr the record-breaking jump from the edge of space, which played out live across 77 TV channels and online. At 9:28 MDT, Mr Baumgartner boarded the Red Bull Stratos capsule wearing a pressurised suit, before soaring up to the edge of space, guided by a helium balloon. Once the capsule reached an altitude of 127,852.4ft (38,969.4 metres), Mr Baumgarnter stepped off. His freefall back to Earth lasted 4 minutes 30 seconds, and saw him reach dizzying speeds of 843.6mph (357.6 kph). Once at 8,421.3ft (2,566.8 metres) above sea level, he pulled his chute and parachuted down to the ground. Mr Baumgartner was an accomplished skydiver who had completed thousands of jumps before setting his sights on space. His inspiration was Captain Joe Kittinger, a retired fighter pilot who had jumped to Earth from 102,800ft back in 1960. Speaking to MailOnline, he said: 'As a skydiver, you always want to push the envelope.'What Joe accomplished in the 1960s after only 33 skydives – this is what I call a true pioneer.'And I had a couple thousand skydives under my belt.'You're always thinking, what more can I do? Go faster? Go higher? It's always floating out there.'Mr Baumgartner had previously worked with Red Bull on base jumps, and reached out to them once again with the idea of jumping from space. 'Because of all the trust I'd built with Red Bull with base jumps, we took on that challenge trying to find the right people,' he explained. This included his inspiration, Joe Kittinger, who agreed to help him. 'Joe made it very clear the first time I met him – I'm interested but I'm only going to support you if you take it seriously. You can't go from zero to hero. We have to do it the right way.'The two years that followed involved rigorous planning and testing, which wasn't always smooth sailing. On 14 October 2012, millions of people around the world eagerly tuned in to watch Mr the record-breaking jump from the edge of space, which played out live across 77 TV channels and online Once he reached an altitude of 114,829ft (35,000 metres), Mr Baumgartner would open the capsule door and jump, freefalling for four minutes before opening his parachute and gliding to the ground'A lot of people didn't believe in us, so it took us a while to convince people to come on board,' Mr Baumgartner said. 'We had to be really patient.'The plan was simple - Mr Baumgartner would board the Red Bull Stratos capsule wearing a pressurised suit, before soaring up to the edge of space, guided by a helium balloon. Once he reached an altitude of 114,829ft (35,000 metres), Mr Baumgartner would open the capsule door and jump, freefalling for four minutes before opening his parachute and gliding to the ground. While the entire mission would take less than three hours, Mr Baumgartner knew there were several things that could go wrong. 'It's a very hostile environment up there. If the suit fails, your blood would start to boil and you'd die in 15 seconds,' he said.'The parachute could malfunction or you could flat spin, which pushes all your blood into your skull. If that happens, at a certain RPM your blood only has one way out – through your eyeballs.' Mr Baumgartner was an accomplished skydiver who had completed thousands of jumps before setting his sights to space Despite surviving the stunt unscathed, his main concern was whether or not he had hit his key goal - breaking the sound barrierFollowing a briefing with a doctor, Mr Baumgartner was told the 'good news' - if something went wrong 'it would only take 15 seconds to die.' The launch was originally scheduled for 9 October 2012, but was aborted due to adverse weather conditions. 'The first test got called off, and we only had one spare balloon,' said Mr Baumgartner. 'If the second test failed, we would have had to wait another six months to try again.'Thankfully, Mr Baumgartner woke up on the 14 October to better conditions, and felt optimistic for the second launch attempt. 'You wake up a 2am and go out to mission control, do the weather brief and medical tests,' he described. 'They put on my pressure suit and then put me in the capsule. Once the balloon launched, it was a big relief – we were on the way.'During the 90 minute ascent, several questions were going through Mr Baumgartner's head. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of his jump, MailOnline spoke to Mr Baumgartner, who described his memories of the terrifying stunt - and why he would never attempt it again Thankfully, the data revealed that Mr Baumgartner had not only broken the speed of sound, but had also hit Mach 1.25 - 1.25 times the speed of sound'Will we reach jump altitude of 35,000 metres? Can I even open the door? It might be frozen shut?' he described.His worries were put to rest, however, when the capsule reached 38,969.3 metres (127,852 feet) and the door opened without a hitch, at which point he knew there was only one way down. While you might think Mr Baumgartner would be nervous at this point, he explained how he actually felt strangely peaceful. 'I looked up and the sky was black,' he said. 'It was completely silent. All you can hear is yourself breathing. It was very peaceful.'As much as he wanted to enjoy that moment, Mr Baumgartner didn't have long - he had already disconnected from the capsule's oxygen supply, and now relied on an oxygen cannister, which would only last for 15 minutes. He saluted the capsule's camera, took one step forwards and jumped. As he fell back down to Earth, Mr Baumgartner quickly accelerated, going from 0 to 890mph in just 50 seconds and breaking the sound barrier. While the footage of his four minute and 19 second descent is terrifying to watch, he explained that he didn't even feel it. Ten years on from the jump, Mr Baumgartner says he has no plans to recreate the stunt, and is now focused on his work as an acrobatic helicopter pilot'You don't feel it. There's nothing rushing by to give you a sense of speed. The suit isn't flapping because it's pressurised. So there's not indication of how fast you're going,' he said.At 1,500 metres (4,921ft) above ground level, Mr Baumgartner opened his parachute and safely glided to the ground in New Mexico. Despite surviving the stunt unscathed, his main concern was whether or not he had hit his key goal - breaking the sound barrier. 'Once I landed, I was super happy it had gone well, but I still didn't know if I'd broken the sound barrier,' he said.'It took 10 minutes to download my data before I knew if I'd done it.'Thankfully, the data revealed that Mr Baumgartner had not only reached the speed of sound, but had hit Mach 1.25 - 1.25 times the speed of sound. 'That was a very relieving moment,' he added. Ten years on from the jump, Mr Baumgartner says he has no plans to recreate the stunt, and is now focused on his work as an acrobatic helicopter pilot. 'Of course I wouldn't do it again! We were trying to accomplish breaking the sound barrier in freefall,' he said. 'If we did it again, it's as risky. Just because it worked once, doesn't mean it would work again. I'll leave it to the next generation.'A new documentary featuring never-before-seen images and perspectives, 'Space Jump: How Red Bull Stratos Captured the World's Attention' premieres on Red Bull TV on October 14. THE BILLIONAIRE SPACE RACE: HOW BRANSON, MUSK AND BEZOS ARE VYING FOR GALACTIC SUPREMACY Jeff Bezos in front of Blue Origin's space capsuleDubbed the 'NewSpace' set, Jeff Bezos, Sir Richard Branson and Elon Musk all say they were inspired by the first moon landing in 1969, when the US beat the Soviet Union in the space race, and there is no doubt how much it would mean to each of them to win the 'new space race'.Amazon founder Bezos had looked set to be the first of the three to fly to space, having announced plans to launch aboard his space company Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft on July 20, but Branson beat him to the punch.The British billionaire became Virgin Galactic Astronaut 001 when he made it to space on a suborbital flight nine days before Bezos - on July 11 in a test flight.Bezos travelled to space on July 20 with his younger brother Mark, Oliver Daemen, an 18-year-old physics student whose dad purchased his ticket, and pioneering female astronaut Wally Funk, 82.Although SpaceX and Tesla founder Musk has said he wants to go into space, and even 'die on Mars', he has not said when he might blast into orbit - but has purchased a ticket with Virgin Galactic for a suborbital flight.SpaceX became the first of the 'space tourism' operators to send a fully civilian crew into orbit, with the Inspiration4 mission funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman. His flight was on a Dragon capsule and SpaceX rocket built by space-obsessed billionaire, Elon Musk and took off for the three day orbital trip on September 16 - going higher than the International Space Station. SpaceX appears to be leading the way in the broader billionaire space race with numerous launches carrying NASA equipment to the ISS and partnerships to send tourists to space by 2021. On February 6 2018, SpaceX sent rocket towards the orbit of Mars, 140 million miles away, with Musk's own red Tesla roadster attached. Elon Musk with his Dragon Crew capsuleSpaceX has also taken two groups of astronauts to the |International Space Station, with crew from NASA, ESA and JAXA, the Japanese space agency. SpaceX has been sending batches of 60 satellites into space to help form its Starlink network, which is already in beta and providing fast internet to rural areas. Branson and Virgin Galactic are taking a different approach to conquering space. It has repeatedly, and successfully, conducted test flights of the Virgin Galactic's Unity space plane. The first took place in December 2018 and the latest on May 22, with the flight accelerating to more than 2,000 miles per hour (Mach 2.7). More than 600 affluent customers to date, including celebrities Brad Pitt and Katy Perry, have reserved a $250,000 (£200,000) seat on one of Virgin's space trips. The final tickets are expected to cost $350,000.Branson has previously said he expects Elon Musk to win the race to Mars with his private rocket firm SpaceX. Richard Branson with the Virgin Galactic craftSpaceShipTwo can carry six passengers and two pilots. Each passenger gets the same seating position with two large windows - one to the side and one overhead.The space ship is 60ft long with a 90inch diameter cabin allowing maximum room for the astronauts to float in zero gravity.It climbs to 50,000ft before the rocket engine ignites. SpaceShipTwo separates from its carrier craft, White Knight II, once it has passed the 50-mile mark.Passengers become 'astronauts' when they reach the Karman line, the boundary of Earth's atmosphere.The spaceship will then make a suborbital journey with approximately six minutes of weightlessness, with the entire flight lasting approximately 1.5 hours.Bezos revealed in April 2017 that he finances Blue Origin with around $1 billion (£720 million) of Amazon stock each year.The system consists of a pressurised crew capsule atop a reusable 'New Shepard' booster rocket. At its peak, the capsule reached 65 miles (104 kilometres), just above the official threshold for space and landed vertically seven minutes after liftoff. Blue Origin are working on New Glenn, the next generation heavy lift rocket, that will compete with the SpaceX Falcon 9. | Extreme Sports |
The women were tandem skydiving when they lost control about 20 or 30 feet from the ground and crashed, authorities said.June 21, 2022, 6:48 PM UTC / Source: Associated PressMILWAUKEE — Two women suffered serious injuries while skydiving in Racine County on Sunday, authorities said.According to the Racine County Sheriff’s Office, emergency responders were called to Skydive Midwest, a skydiving facility in the village of Yorkville, around 1:40 p.m., the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.A 28-year-old female from Racine, Wisc., and a 49-year-old female from Chicago were tandem skydiving and crashed on June 19, 2022.Racine County Sheriffs Office / via FacebookA 28-year-old woman from Racine and a 49-year-old woman from Chicago were tandem skydiving, the sheriff’s office said. Their parachute deployed but they lost control about 20 or 30 feet from the ground and crashed.Both women sustained life-threatening injuries and were airlifted to trauma centers.According to Skydive Midwest’s website, in tandem skydiving a participant attached to an instructor leap from a plane together. They can reach speeds of at least 120 mph as they approach the earth. | Extreme Sports |
Lewis Hamilton Catchin' Waves In Malibu ... Impressive Surfing Skills 6/27/2022 3:04 PM PT BACKGRID Lewis Hamilton isn't just a killer on the track -- the Formula 1 superstar clearly knows his way around the water, too ... showing off his incredible moves during a surf session in Malibu this week. Of course, Lewis is all about getting his adrenaline rush when he's not behind the wheel -- he recently went skydiving in a pretty terrifying video. But things were a bit more chill during the Mercedes driver's off-week before Silverstone ... throwing on his wetsuit and catching some waves in California. The guy clearly knows what he's doing ... propping himself up on the board and maintaining his balance throughout the run (no porpoising here, thankfully). Instagram / @lewishamilton Sir Lewis also had some fun on a different type of board as well ... longboarding through the streets before getting his beloved doggo, Roscoe, in on the fun. It's been a challenging start to the 2022 campaign for the 7-time champ -- he's currently 6th in the standings with only two podiums -- but he looks more than happy during his time away from the track. Luckily for Hamilton, he's got the British Grand Prix this weekend ... a race he's won eight times. | Extreme Sports |
Man goes skydiving with a cardboard sign asking for work. His new boss responded the same way.
Sometimes you gotta just take a leap of faith.
Chris Serrano, a creative director who “does all his own stunts,” found himself in one of these abysmal situations after getting laid off.
However, Serrano quickly turned his luck around by thinking outside the box and leaning into his daredevil personality. On his LinkedIn, he posted a video of himself jumping out of a plane with a cardboard sign that read, “Open4Work.”
“I got laid off last week. So I’ll be freefalling until I find a new gig—literally. If you’re looking for an award-winning creative that works hard, takes risks, and knows how to pack a parachute, reach out. Don’t let your brand plunge to its death. Hire me instead,” he added in the caption.
Can’t say this guy isn’t clever. Or brave.
It wasn’t long before Serrano’s post caught the attention of Jack Peagam, UK- based entrepreneur and co-founder/CEO of the social app Linkup, which aims to authentically connect people based on similar hobbies and interests. Fitting that these two connected over a shared passion for extreme sports.
Peagam seemingly one-upped Serrano’s stunt—videoing himself skydiving with a cardboard sign that read. “Hey Chris, sorry 2 see you got laid off. We’ve got work 4 U. Let’s Link Up”.
In his own caption, Peagam matched Serrano’s knack for wordplay, writing, “Can't guarantee you a parachute payment, but we're ready to catch you and launch you into new heights of success. 🪂 ✈️ I'm sure you'll free-fall in love with what we're doing. I believe this is the ultimate way to extend the offer."
Because clearly these two are a match made in workplace heaven, Serrano then shared a subsequent video showing both thrill-seekers signing a new employment contract while jumping out of a plane together.
“When I lost my job, I was a bit nervous as to what could be next, but taking a leap of faith from a plane is sometimes all you can do,” Serrano shared, according to Good News Network.
That leap of faith certainly paid off. Peagam loved Serrano’s “bold” and “daring” ad, telling Good News Network it “featured everything I love about creative talent.” Serrano was also "blown away" by the support he received after posting, from folks sending positive comments to sharing the video across the platform.While maybe not all of us can jump out of a plane to secure the job of our dreams, there is something to be said for the magic that happens when we use our imaginations and show up as our most authentic selves. Losing a job isn't fun, but it doesn't take away the special, unique qualities that we bring to the table. And when we can harness that, often opportunities seem to fall from the sky—quite literally, in this case. Bottom line: even in less-than-ideal circumstances, or perhaps especially then, a dose of optimism and ingenuity goes a long way. | Extreme Sports |
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A scientist with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) handles grains in Texcoco, Sonora, Mexico.Marco Ugarte/AP This story was originally published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.
A dozen or so farm workers perched on wooden stools carefully emasculate wheat spikes using nail scissors and tweezers—the first step in a years-long breeding process to develop climate-resilient varieties.
It’s late afternoon, and the farmhands are shaded by wide-brimmed sun hats as they work in an experimental wheat field in northern Mexico, preparing the wheat flowers to be cross-pollinated in a couple of days. For each pollination, both wheat parents have been selected by crop scientists for desirable traits such as fungus resistance, photosynthesis efficiency, and yield.
It’s a quiet scene, but the stakes increase every year as concerns grow that our food system is not ready for the climate crisis.
Scientists at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Sonora are focused on developing wheat varieties which can better cope with drought, rising temperatures and excessive rainfall. In other words, wheat that can thrive under the extreme and unpredictable weather conditions farmers are experiencing globally due to the rapidly warming planet.
“We’re trying to stay ahead of climate change and give farmers everything,” said breeder Leo Crespo as he inspected new varieties planted last winter in meticulously divided micro-plots. Some are lofty and green with open leaves, while others are dry and stumpy.
The diversity is the crucial to breeding resilience and adaptability, which is why scientists are turning to wild and forgotten wheat varieties from across the world to search for those with temperature- and drought-tolerant traits such as deep roots, waxy leaves and stress hormones. But it’s a complicated, never-ending race against time, as global heating drives climate disasters and the emergence of new, adapted or more aggressive pathogens. “Breeding is a continuous process. We have to keep the evolutionary wolf from the door by breeding varieties which are resistant to a wide range of diseases and improve yields even if there’s drought or heatwave,” said Crespo, 39.
Wheat is the most widely consumed grain globally, accounting for a fifth of our carbohydrate and protein intake, and is farmed in every inhabited continent to make bread, chapatis, pasta, couscous, noodles and pastries eaten by billions of people. The wheat we eat today can be traced back to wild grasses domesticated by Neolithic farmers in western Asia and northern Africa, coming to Mexico relatively recently with Spanish settlers.
Wheat does best in temperate climates, but no matter where humans took seeds, wheat adapted to the local ecosystem, evolving over generations as each variety or landrace developed good and bad quirks.
Diversity was the norm, and before the second world war thousands of landraces were being cultivated across the globe, often side by side with other crops—which partially buffered communities from ecological disasters such as disease epidemics and extreme weather. But yields were often low as many wheats were tall and gangly, and would be harvested too early or else tumble in windy conditions.
Global wheat production tripled after the Green Revolution in the mid-20th century after Norman Borlaug, an American plant pathologist deployed to Mexico by the Rockefeller Foundation, used a semi-dwarf gene from a Japanese wheat to create shorter stem varieties which when farmed with fertilizer and water improved yields beyond anyone’s dreams.
This was the birth of extractive industrial agriculture and Borlaug’s discoveries in Mexico changed the way the world farmed wheat, rice and many other crops.
Uniformity, standardization, and fossil fuel-driven technologies became the gold standard and Borlaug was awarded the Nobel peace prize as malnutrition declined. But the loss of diversity in crops, ecosystems and traditional sustainable practices came at a huge environmental and human cost. And now the climate crisis is making us pay. Some wheat varieties from “Agriculture for the Kansas Common Schools,” 1914. Library of Congress via Flickr
“After the Green Revolution the focus was on breeding high-yield disease-resistant specialists for different regions, but the mega-varieties were not bred to cope with unpredictable climate conditions. Now we need generalists, and there’s enough diversity to cope with unpredictable climate events—we just need to find and exploit it, but funding is an issue,” said Matthew Reynolds, head of physiology at CIMMYT’s wheat program (which Borlaug led until his retirement in 1979).
CIMMYT is an international research organization that develops new maize and wheat varieties as “international public goods” for national food programs and the private sector. Its funding comes mostly from government development agencies and foundations like Bill and Melinda Gates and the Carlos Slim Health Institute, but with some direct and indirect private sector money—and influence.
The end goal is to create varieties that can adapt to and thrive in unpredictable conditions without expensive and ecologically damaging fungicides that commercial seeds are designed to require.
It’s a painstaking, never-ending process. Every year 5,000 newly bred lines or varieties are tested between November and April, in four different environments: severe and intermediate drought, late season heat and optimal conditions. Simultaneously they are tested in Kenya for stem rust, a fungal disease and serious threat to wheat.
At the end of the season, some of the best-performing wheats are selected as parents for the next generation of crosses, while others are taken to Toluca to evaluate their susceptibility to other diseases. (Zinc and protein composition—which determines the grains’ end use—is also measured.)
In the end, about 1,000 make it through to the second year, when two further test conditions are added, and so it goes on until year five, when the best performers are sent to 100 or so countries to grow and test in their nurseries. This is critical, as wheat is grown on about 544 million acres worldwide, from hot and humid conditions in Bangladesh to the arid heat of Nigeria and the chilly mountains of Turkey. After six years, the program ends up with 50 or so new wheat varieties which countries can take and test before releasing to their farmers. The goal is to shorten the breeding cycle to four years to help farmers with few resources better cope with the rapidly changing climate and emerging disease threats.
“The private and public sectors are not in this together. No one is getting rich selling drought-resistant wheat seeds in Africa, so we need public programs to develop diverse seeds and reach small farmers who are not served by commercial seed companies,” said Luigi Guarino, director of science at the Crop Trust.
About 70 percent of the world’s wheat can be traced back to seeds developed here, yet just four transnational agrochemical companies control 60 percent of the global seed market. The big four focus on yield, and produce most of the world’s fungicides and pesticides, which degrade the environment and reduce biodiversity, making farms more vulnerable to climate change shocks.
It’s unclear how many wheat varieties with useful climate- and disease-resistant traits have been lost as a result of the industrialization of our food system, but there are about 800,000 unique wheat seeds stored in gene banks globally, of which nearly a quarter are at CIMMYT. The collection includes wild grassy ancestors, landraces and obsolete varieties that developed disease susceptibility but may contain useful traits such as deep roots, which are good at finding water during drought, or the ability to delay stress-related premature aging, which affects photosynthesis.
About a third of the CIMMYT seed collection has undergone genetic fingerprinting, which allows physiologists to identify which previously unknown diversity might be helpful. Once tested in the fields, promising varieties end up in the breeding pipeline, with some eventually fast-tracked to be tested across the world as part of a bigger climate change project.
But in order to breed new seeds that can adapt to the rapidly heating planet, scientists must figure out what’s happening at night—an under-researched area until now.
A 2007 study found that for every 1C increase in night-time temperature there is a staggering 6 percent drop in wheat yields—a steeper decline than hotter days. The climate crisis is triggering record-breaking day temperatures, but night temperatures are increasing significantly faster.
This is potentially catastrophic and “makes understanding plant night-time responses to temperature so important to researchers, breeders and farmers,” said Lorna McAusland, a wheat physiologist at the University of Nottingham collaborating with CIMMYT.
In one field, heaters are installed over micro-plots growing eight popular or elite varieties in order to better understand how higher nocturnal temperatures reduce yield.
Drones take thermal images which help scientists on the ground measure things like canopy temperature and water loss or transpiration—the plant’s internal air conditioning system. It’s long been thought that plants rest at night, conserving water for photosynthesis and to transport nutrients. If the air conditioning is overworking at night in order to keep cool, the plant could run out of water, get dehydrated and stop growing or die.
Initial results found that some varieties lost more water than others, so now researchers must tease out the genetics to help breeders improve nighttime heat tolerance in future seeds. The aim is to outpace human-made global heating and breed climate-resilient varieties so yields do not collapse, as worst-case scenarios predict. “Researching night-time temperatures is the new frontier,” said Reynolds.
Agroecologists, regenerative farmers and others would say that diversity in farmers’ fields—plots with different crops and diverse varieties—is crucial to build climate resilience and minimize the ecological footprint of agriculture.
Still, the diversity in these experimental plots is striking, given the uniformity of commercial wheat fields. Crespo said: “Diversity is essential in breeding but not all diversity is good, and that’s the challenge.” | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Topline
Two people were found dead inside a car after the McKinney fire, the largest of 2022, scorched swaths of Northern California, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office reported Monday, as many in the West brace for what experts worry may be a prolonged and deadly fire season. Firefighters found two people dead inside a scorched car in the path of California’s McKinney fire, ... [+] which is already the state’s largest fire so far this year. (Photo by Terray Sylvester/Getty Images) Getty Images Key Facts Thousands were forced to evacuate as the McKinney fire exploded in size over the weekend, to more than 55,000 acres, just north of California’s drought-stricken Cascade Range, near the Oregon border. The fire is one of six active wildfires in California and it’s 0% contained, according to the state-run site Cal Fire, sparking fears forecasted erratic winds could spread it uncontrollably. So far this year, wildfires have burned more than 5.7 million acres, with active fires primarily in Alaska (1.1 million acres), New Mexico (342,111), California (78,280) and Idaho (52,302), according to the National Interagency Fire Center, while at least 11 people have died from the fires, including seven in helicopters involved in firefighting. The deaths include two who died in a helicopter crash last week while combating a wildfire in Idaho, just days after four more were killed in a helicopter crash while responding to a fire in New Mexico and another pilot carrying fire equipment died in Alaska. The remains of an elderly couple were also found outside their New Mexico home, which burned in a wind-blown wildfire in April, which appeared to be the first wildfire-related deaths of the year. Key Background
Wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of severe droughts and hotter weather driven by climate change, and changes in forestry management that have left large stretches of forestland overgrown, scientists say. California wildfires killed 106 people in 2018, including 85 in the Camp Fire in Butte County — the deadliest in state history.
Tangent
The death toll from a devastating flood in rural Kentucky rose to 30 Monday, three days after a storm dropped more than 10 inches of rain on the eastern part of the state. It was just the latest example of extreme weather this summer, following floods in St. Louis and intense heat waves across the country, and the toll could rise even more, Gov. Andy Beshear said. Further Reading
California’s Largest Wildfire This Year Surpasses 50,000 Acres (Forbes)
Death Toll Hits 25 In Kentucky Flooding—And Expected To Rise, Governor Says (Forbes) | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
BEMPOSTA, Portugal (AP) — More than 3,000 firefighters battled Thursday alongside ordinary Portuguese citizens desperate to save their homes from several wildfires that raged across the European country, fanned by extreme temperatures and drought conditions linked to climate change.Central Portugal has been particularly hard hit by a spate of blazes this week. In the village of Bemposta, residents used garden hoses to spray their lawns and roofs in hopes they could save them from the raging wall of red flames that approached through the wooden hills late Wednesday.“It began spreading towards that way, the wind was blowing that way towards the mountain,” said 88-year-old Antonio Carmo Pereira, while pointing to the flames on the outskirts of his village. “In a few minutes I couldn’t see anything, just smoke.”“(It’s) dangerous, yes. It’s surrounding all the houses,” he said. “I am afraid, but where can I go? Jump into a water tank? Let me stay here and look.”More than 800 firefighters were still fighting blazes in the Leiria district, where Bemposta is located, on Thursday.Temperatures in the interior of the Atlantic country were forecast to hit 44 C (111 F) as hot, dry air blown in from Africa lingers over the western edge of the Iberian Peninsula. In June, 96% of Portugal was classified as being in either in “extreme” or “severe” drought. The hot air and parched ground, combined with strong winds, has created the perfect cocktail for severe wildfires.Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa’s government on Thursday extended a state of alert for wildfires until Sunday due to high temperatures. The week-long alert was originally to run until Friday. The Portuguese government has temporarily barred public access to forests deemed to be at special risk, banned the use of farm machinery and outlawed fireworks.Costa said firefighters had to respond to 200 different blazes Wednesday and pleaded for his fellow citizens to take extra care when in the countryside.“More than ever, we are the ones who must be extremely careful,” Costa said. “From a small act of carelessness a great tragedy can be born.”About 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) have been scorched this week in Portugal, according to the Civil Protection Agency. About 865 people had to evacuate their homes over the past week, although many had returned by Thursday. More than 30 homes and other buildings have been damaged.Civil Protection commander André Fernandes said 160 people, including at least 70 firefighters, have been injured so far, but there are no confirmed fatalities from the fires in Portugal. Four people, including two firefighters, were seriously injured. Portugal has improved its fire safety since wildfires killed more than 100 people in 2017.The European Union has urged member states to prepare for wildfires this summer as the continent faces another extreme weather shift that scientists say is being triggered by climate change.In central Hungary, firefighters discovered a body Thursday where a small forest fire had burned overnight. It was found buried under the collapsed roof of a burned farmhouse near the village of Soltszentimre.Spain was still combating a fire started by a lightning strike on Monday in the west-central Las Hurdes area that has consumed about 3,500 hectares (8,600 acres). Temperatures in many parts of Spain have been topping the 40 C (104 F) mark for several days and are expected to stay high until next week.In France, two fires raged out of control in the region around Bordeaux in southwest France for a third consecutive day, despite the efforts of 1,000 firefighters and water-dumping planes to contain them.The fires have destroyed more than 3,850 hectares (9,500 acres) of forest and grassland, the regional emergency said. It said firefighters struggled to contain the fire because of high winds and the difficulty of accessing the heart of the fires. More than 6,000 people have been evacuated from French campgrounds and villages in recent days.___Joseph Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain. Angela Charlton in Paris, Ciarán Giles in Madrid, and Justin Spike in Budapest, Hungary, contributed to this report.___Follow all AP stories on climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
A firefighter works to extinguish a forest fire, during a heatwave, near Thiendorf, north of Dresden, Germany, July 19, 2022. REUTERS/Matthias RietschelRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comJuly 21 (Reuters) - Brutal heatwaves are gripping both Europe and the United States this week and are forecast to dump searing heat on much of China into late August.In addition to temperatures spiking above 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), wildfires are raging across southern Europe with evacuations in towns in Italy and Greece. read more The searing heat is part of a global pattern of rising temperatures, attributed by scientists to human activity. Pope Francis on Thursday called on world leaders to heed the Earth's "chorus of cries of anguish" stemming from climate change, extreme weather and loss of biodiversity. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comHOTTER, MORE FREQUENT HEATWAVESClimate change makes heatwaves hotter and more frequent. This is the case for most land regions, and has been confirmed by the U.N.'s global panel of climate scientists (IPCC).Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities have heated the planet by about 1.2 Celsius since pre-industrial times. That warmer baseline means higher temperatures can be reached during extreme heat events."Every heatwave that we are experiencing today has been made hotter and more frequent because of climate change," said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London who also co-leads the World Weather Attribution research collaboration.But other conditions affect heatwaves too. In Europe, atmospheric circulation is an important factor.A study in the journal Nature this month found that heatwaves in Europe have increased three-to-four times faster than in other northern mid-latitudes such as the United States. The authors linked this to changes in the jet stream - a fast west-to-east air current in the northern hemisphere.FINGERPRINTS OF CLIMATE CHANGETo find out exactly how much climate change affected a specific heatwave, scientists conduct "attribution studies". Since 2004, more than 400 such studies have been done for extreme weather events, including heat, floods and drought - calculating how much of a role climate change played in each.This involves simulating the modern climate hundreds of times and comparing it to simulations of a climate without human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.For example, scientists with World Weather Attribution determined that a record-breaking heatwave in western Europe in June 2019 was 100 times more likely to occur now in France and the Netherlands than if humans had not changed the climate.HEATWAVES WILL STILL GET WORSEThe global average temperature is around 1.2C warmer than in pre-industrial times. That is already driving extreme heat events."On average on land, heat extremes that would have happened once every 10 years without human influence on the climate are now three times more frequent," said ETH Zurich climate scientist Sonia Seneviratne.Temperatures will only cease rising if humans stop adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Until then, heatwaves are set to worsen. A failure to tackle climate change would see heat extremes escalate even more dangerously.Countries agreed under the global 2015 Paris Agreement to cut emissions fast enough to limit global warming to 2°C and aim for 1.5°C, to avoid its most dangerous impacts. Current policies would not cut emissions fast enough to meet either goal.A heatwave that occurred once per decade in the pre-industrial era would happen 4.1 times a decade at 1.5°C of warming, and 5.6 times at 2°C, the IPCC says.Letting warming pass 1.5°C means that most years "will be affected by hot extremes in the future," Seneviratne said.CLIMATE CHANGE DRIVES WILDFIRESClimate change increases hot and dry conditions that help fires spread faster, burn longer and rage more intensely.In the Mediterranean, that has contributed to the fire season starting earlier and burning more land. Last year more than half a million hectares burned in the European Union, making it the bloc’s second-worst forest fire season on record after 2017.Hotter weather also saps moisture from vegetation, turning it into dry fuel that helps fires to spread."The hotter, drier conditions right now, it just makes [fires] far more dangerous," Copernicus senior scientist Mark Parrington said.Countries such as Portugal and Greece experience fires most summers, and have infrastructure to try to manage them - though both have received emergency EU help this summer. But hotter temperatures are also pushing wildfires into regions not used to them, and thus less prepared to cope.CLIMATE CHANGE ISN'T THE ONLY FACTOR IN FIRESForest management and ignition sources are also important factors. In Europe, more than nine out of 10 fires are ignited by human activities, like arson, disposable barbeques, electricity lines, or littered glass, according to EU data.Countries, including Spain, face the challenge of shrinking populations in rural areas, as people move to cities, leaving smaller workforces to clear vegetation and avoid "fuel" for forest fires building up.Some actions can help to limit severe blazes, such as setting controlled fires that mimic the low-intensity fires in natural ecosystem cycles, or introducing gaps within forests to stop blazes rapidly spreading over large areas.But scientists concur that without steep cuts to the greenhouse gases causing climate change, heatwaves, wildfires, flooding and drought will significantly worsen."When we look back on the current fire season in one or two decades' time, it will probably seem mild by comparison," said Victor Resco de Dios, professor of forest engineering at Spain's Lleida University.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Kate Abnett in Brussels; Additional reporting by Gloria Dickie; Editing by Katy Daigle, Barbara Lewis and Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
This year's flooding in Pakistan has killed more than 1,000 people and displaced 33 million.Sherry Rehman, the country's top climate official, has warned Pakistan is "at the ground zero" of "flash foods, multiple glacial lake outbursts, heatwaves and now the monster monsoon of the decade".
Since monsoon season started earlier than usual in June, a third of the country has disappeared underwater, with whole villages washed away, crops ruined and people desperately seeking higher ground.Meanwhile, Pakistani officials have been calling on the UN and the international community for aid.Here Sky News looks at why Pakistan is on the frontline of the climate crisis - and whether it can withstand the increasingly extreme weather yet to come. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Pakistan minister on 'apocalyptic' floods More glaciers than anywhere outside the Arctic and AntarcticPakistan is home to around 221 million people.The majority of the population live along the Indus River, which flows from the Himalayas, through most of the country down to the Arabian Sea at Karachi. During monsoon season in July and August, the Indus is prone to flooding - something that has been accelerated by climate change. In the northern Himalayan regions, Pakistan is home to more glaciers than anywhere else in the world outside the Arctic and Antarctic - some 7,000 in total.Rising global temperatures, which reached almost 50C (122F) in the city of Nawabshah earlier this year, are causing those glaciers to melt and form glacial lakes.Around 3,000 new lakes have formed, with officials warning 33 of them are currently at risk of bursting.Many already have so far this year.When the Shisper glacier burst in May, it released millions of cubic metres of water, causing landslides and creating a lake that destroyed a bridge, two power plants and hundreds of homes in the Hunza Valley. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Nail-biting flood rescue at raging river 'Monster monsoon'While the Indus flows fuller and faster than usual from the north of the country, the southern provinces of Sindh and Balochistan are suffering unprecedented levels of rainfall.Sindh in the southeast has had 784% of its normal rainfall levels this year, while Balochistan in the southwest has had 522%.The mountain region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the north has also been hit badly by the same "monster monsoon", with none of Pakistan's four provinces escaping unaffected. Image: Flooding in Mingora, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pic: AP Usually the active rainfall season only lasts for a month-and-a-half in July and August, but this year, it started early and is not showing any signs of slowing.Climate minister Sherry Rehman said recently on Twitter: "Pakistan has never seen an unbroken cycle of monsoon like this."Eight weeks of non-stop torrents have left huge swathes of the country underwater. This is no normal season. This is a deluge from all sides, impacting 33 million people, which is the size of a small country." Image: Boy grabs at a rescue rope in Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Image: An elderly man helps a child through the water in Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Can Pakistan cope on the frontline of climate change?Pakistan is the eighth-most vulnerable country in the world to extreme weather, according to the Global Climate Risk Index compiled by NGO Germanwatch.This summer's flooding has impacted 15% of the total population, leaving roads, bridges and key infrastructure underwater, communities cut off and people without food or resources. Image: A damaged road in Peshawar The government declared a state of emergency on 25 August, but with dry land sparse, airlifting supplies to the displaced is proving difficult for the military and aid organisations.The UN has allocated £2.6m for its agencies and their partners to help respond to the floods, with the UK adding £1.5m in urgent support, alongside pledges from the US and UAE. Image: A mud hut ruined in Jaffarabad, Balochistan Rebuilding could take yearsBut Pakistani military chief General Javed Bajwa warned on Sunday that it could take years for the country to recover.And many Pakistanis and climate change campaigners have blamed the government for ignoring the urgency of the crisis and not building enough preventive infrastructure.Political instability and the recent ousting of former prime minister Imran Khan, some argue, has also seen climate change pushed further down the agenda.Despite being deadly, Pakistan's newly-formed glacial lakes have become tourist attractions, with the authorities criticised for allowing developers to build hotels nearby - and on the banks of swollen rivers - in areas at extreme risk of flooding. Image: A lake formed in Hunza, Attabad, northern Pakistan. Pic: AP The UN Development Programme has also singled out Pakistan for failing to provide up-to-date information on glacial changes, making potential disasters difficult to predict.And with more rain expected in September, climate change minister Ms Rehman told Sky News: "There's absolutely no capacity left to absorb any more water."In the longer-term, a 2019 study by the Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development predicts that even achieving the 1.5C limit on global warming by 2050 would mean a third of Pakistan's glaciers melting.Ms Rehman said the current crisis will "cause a series of long and medium-term repercussions" and mean a huge reconstruction effort. Image: Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Dr Asif Khan Khattak, an environmental scientist at the University of Peshawar, added: "We will be seeing more extreme weather events."It's very important that we take into account climate change planning in our regulations, our policies."If we don't have that, we will experience the same problems in the future."Read more:Pictures reveal devastating impact of Pakistan's floodsQueen and PM send messages to PakistanThere has been some external investment already.In the mountainous Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions, the UN's Green Climate Fund has funded better early warning systems, 50 weather stations across 24 valleys, slope stabilisations and better irrigation systems.It claims this will benefit up to 700,000 people directly and 29 million indirectly. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Wildfires broke out across the UK today as residents tried to save houses with buckets of water amid blazes across the country in record 40.3C heat.Firefighters have described blazes tearing through homes and buildings in London as 'absolute hell' - with residents evacuated after at last five houses were destroyed, two people taken to hospital for smoke inhalation, and 1,600 calls for assistance.Elsewhere in the country hundreds of fire crews are out battling raging infernos in Wales, Scotland and the rest of England as 'tinderbox' dry conditions in the UK caused wildfires to threaten homes, animals and people.Fire services in London, Hertfordshire, and Leicestershire declared major incidents as they were hit with tens of thousands of calls and 'significant fires' meaning automatic fire alarms will not prompt a response and people are asked to refrain from calling unless it's an emergency. At least 34 parts of the country broke the UK's previous national record of 38.7C today, the Met Office said with the new national record set by Coningsby, Lincolnshire which hit an unprecedented 40.3C (104.54) while London Heathrow also saw highs of 40.2C (104.4F). Scotland also recorded its hottest day ever as temperatures climbed to 34.8C (94.64) at Charterhall and Wales might beat its new record set yesterday of 37.1C in Hawarden, Flintshire.Smoke has seen the skies turn grey throughout most of the country and so far in these areas below firefighters are tackling blazes: ** Are you in Wennington or anywhere else hit by wildfires today? Please email: [email protected] ** 30 fire engines tackling a grass fire on Pea Lane in Upminster;15 fire engines tackling a fire on The Green in Wennington;12 fire engines tackling a fire involving garden fencing and trees on Uxbridge Road in Pinner;Ten fire engines tackling a restaurant fire on Green Lanes in Southgate;Eight fire engines tackling a grass fire on Oaks Road in Croydon;Eight fire engines tackling a grass fire on Ballards Road in Dagenham;Eight fire engines tackling a fire on The Broadway in Wembley;Six fire engines tackling a grass fire on Sunningfields Crescent in Hendon;Four fire engines tackling a grass fire on Chapel View in Croydon;Four fire engines tackling a fire on Sidcup Road in Eltham;Two fire engines tackling a field fire near Rotherham, South Yorkshire; Six fire engines tackling a farm blaze near Kelso, Scotland Six fire engines at a combine harvester fire in Hamels Lane, BuntingfordFive fire engines at an RTC on the M1 in Hertfordshire Six fire engines at a field fire in Rushden, Hertfordshire Six fire engines at a field fire in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire12 fire engines at a field fire in Codicote, HertfordshireEight fire crews at a large grass fire near Bradgate Park, LeicestershireTen fire engines are tackling a grass fire on Western Avenue, UxbridgeCrews attend a grass fire caused by accidental ignition near Crow Lane, Henbury The extreme heat has been caused by a plume of hot air from north Africa and the Sahara and an 'Azores High' subtropical pressure system creeping further north than usual - which experts say is a result of climate change. Forecasters said an absolute maximum of 43C (109F) is possible later on - and the highs in England are equal to the warmest spots anywhere in Europe today. The UK is also hotter than Jamaica, the Maldives and Barbados.The 'extreme heat' also led to almost 15,000 homes in the North East being left without power at about 2pm as electrical equipment overheated during the record temperatures. Roads have also been closed as fires broke out on the major motorways including the M25 and M1 today due to wildfires and vehicle blazes. Ambulance services are also under 'extreme pressure' from sunstroke patients with 999 and 111 handlers getting hundreds of calls an hour. This is all while public transport was cancelled in much of the country with trains and London Underground services suspended as tracks continued to buckle and combust. The UK is also being warned these temperatures could soon be the 'new normal' as Britain starts to see wildfires, extreme heat and pressure on the water supply which has long plagued Europe. A huge grass blaze broke out in Wennington, East London, this afternoon and appeared to have destroyed this house (centre) A fire burns the Walnut Tree area of Milton Keynes today as blazes take hold of areas across England A row of houses is on fire in the village of Wennington in East London this afternoon as temperatures soar again today The fire at Wennington is shown today (left) and the area is also pictured before the blaze (right, file picture) A woman is given water and comforted close to the blaze in the village of Wennington, east London, where 100 firefighters are tackling a fire This picture shows homes on fire as a huge heath fire ravages at least three houses near Rotherham, South Yorkshire Shocking pictures show a huge bush fire raging on the Dartford marshes, Kent today Around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze in the village of Wennington in East London today as the heatwave continues People remove gas canisters from Lennards pub as firefighters tackle a blaze in the village of Wennington this afternoon Another house was also destroyed in the Wennington fire this afternoon which was seen from above in this Sky News aerial The huge grass blaze has spread to houses in Wennington, East London, this afternoon amid the extreme heat Some 15 fire engines and 100 firefighters from the London Fire Brigade are dealing with the Wennington blaze today Around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze in the village of Wennington this afternoon as the heatwave continues A fire on Dartford Heath next to the A2 in Kent this afternoon, with smoke spreading across the road Around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze in the village of Wennington in East London today as the heatwave continues Around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze in the village of Wennington this afternoon as the heatwave continues A fire on Peckham High Street in South London this afternoon as the heatwave continues to cause chaos in the capital The fire broke out in Wennington this afternoon and was having a major impact on local residential areas Firefighters attend a gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon Firefighters attend a blaze on Dartford Marshes in Kent today after temperatures reached 40C for the first time on record Firefighters attend a gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon A firefighter tackles a grass fire in a park in New Brighton in Merseyside this afternoon amid the heatwave Firefighters attend a gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service issued this picture of firefighters attend to a grass fire in Rixton, Warrington, today A gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon amid the very high temperatures The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes Firefighters rest as they attend a gorse bush fire during a heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes Drone footage of the aftermath of a field fire by Cheshunt Park in Hertfordshire pictured today, after it started yesterday A gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon amid the very high temperatures The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes A fire in Upminster, Essex, today as the hot weather continues amid a series of extreme weather warnings The burnt out remains of Lickey Hills parkland in Birmingham this morning where fire crews are still on the scene TEN hottest places as old record is obliterated 40.3C Coningsby, Lincs40.2C Heathrow, London40.0C Waddington, Lincs40.0C Humberside40.0C Robin Hood Airport, Doncaster39.5C Northolt, London39.4C Scampton, Lincs39.3C Woburn, Beds39.2C Watnall, Notts39.2C Cranwell, Lincs---38.7C Previous UK record (Cambridge, July 2019) In Charlwood, Surrey, beat the previous all-time UK high of 38.7C (101.7F) in Cambridge in July 2019. In third place is 38.5C (101.3F) in Kent in August 2003, and 38.1C (100.6F) in Suffolk yesterday is fourth.Elsewhere in England this afternoon, by lunchtime the mercury had got up to 39.9C (103.8F) at Charlwood, 39.6C (103.3F) at Kew Gardens in West London, 39.3C (102.7F) at Wisley in Surrey, and 39.2C (102.6F) at both Chertsey in Surrey and Northolt in West London - with all of these readings also beating the all-time UK high from 2019.And smoke drifted over the M25 as almost 200 firefighters and 30 fire engines tried to extinguish a corn field blaze in Upminster. Firefighters in London said they were battling 'several significant fires' including these ten:Residents were evacuated from their homes in the village of Wennington, east London, on Tuesday afternoon, where black smoke billowed into the air, while flames destroyed buildings and ravaged nearby fields.A firefighter at the scene, asked by the PA news agency what conditions were like, replied: 'absolute hell', while those affected by the blaze said it had been spreading 'fast'.Two people were also taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation following a fire in Dagenham. London Fire Brigade (LFB) declared a major incident due to 'a huge surge' in blazes across the capital.While London Ambulance Service Gold Commander Peter Rhodes said: 'We are seeing an increase in the number of patients experiencing heat exposure' 'Sustained demand on our 999 and 111 services as a result of the heatwave, and with hot weather set to continue, we are currently at Level 4 of our Resource Escalation Action Plan (REAP) – which is the highest level and represents 'extreme pressure'.'This move allows us to allocate even more staff on the road and in our control rooms and to reprioritise our operational efforts to ensure we provide the best care possible to Londoners.'A huge blaze also broke out on heathland just across the Thames near a housing estate in Dartford today. Kent Fire and Rescue Service said 12 fire engines and 100 firefighters were called in to battle the inferno near a housing development on the site of the former Joyce Green Hospital. A technical rescue unit were in attendance, and crews were working to extinguish the flames. There have been no reports of any damage to property in this incident.Firefighters warned people nearby to close their windows and doors as a precaution due to smoke - and drivers travelling on the A2 or surrounding roads were told to take extra care because the smoke may impact visibility. The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes Maximum temperatures of at least 40C are expected in England this afternoon - but could rise even further to as high as 43C The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a grass fire came within feet of homesJonathan Smith, assistant commissioner at LFB, told Sky News many of the fires are spread over wide areas and began because the ground is 'tinderbox dry'.He continued: 'So even a small fire will develop very, very quickly if it's not tackled effectively and efficiently in its early stages. We would also say to people that they don't try and tackle fires themselves.'The situation that you can see is extremely dynamic and these fires can develop very very quickly and we would not want to see members of the public exposing themselves to unnecessary risk.'Ed Miliband, Labour's shadow secretary of state for climate change, said that extreme hot weather like this will become the 'new normal' under climate change.'Reports of fires across the country are deeply distressing. We must do everything we can to support the families and communities affected. I urge everyone to stay safe and salute the courage of our fire services,' he said.'The frightening truth is that in time we will come to see today not as the hottest summer ever but the new normal. Britain is in no way prepared for this new reality because of years of neglect by this Government.' Wennington resident, Lynn Sabberton, who said she was evacuated from her home with her partner who has a lung difficulty, told Sky News: 'We thought it was one of the fields that caught alight over the back of us.'But then a neighbour rang me and said, 'oh no, it's on the green, the green has caught fire'. I saw the black smoke and the helicopters came over and more police came into our neighbourhood and it was really spreading very fast.'It just spread so quickly, I think the wind caused the fire to go our way towards the village.' A man runs along a street with a hosepipe on July 19, 2022 in Wennington, England Police were called amid concerns over public safety due to people jumping into the river and lighting portable BBQs at River Swales WaterfallsFreya Gutteridge, 23, from nearby Hornchurch - who works in marketing, told PA: 'I noticed the fire in Wennington when I went to lunch at two and since then our whole office has just been watching - everywhere we look there's a new one.'We're all really worried, the wind is strong and we're seeing on the news that loads of houses are on fire and there isn't enough fire engines.'It's crazy. Most of us in the office live really locally so we're all worried about families' houses at the moment.'Witness Pierre L'Aimable told Sky News: 'We were driving down the road and we just saw so much smoke, we could see it from Hornchurch just going into the air.'We were going to visit one of my business partners and the fire was just immense.'Mr Smith added that resources would be at the scene into the evening, warning that any spark not dealt with could risk 'reignition'.The inferno is also close to the Grade II-listed medieval St Mary and St Peter's Church which dates back to the 12th century. Police were not letting the public through the cordoned off area and were extending the danger zone.Distressed residents could be seen on the phones trying to get information, and villagers were also seen carrying buckets of water to the Lennards Arms pub where the community had gathered – but officers then evacuated the pub as the inferno rapidly approached.Briae Brazier, 75, who lives in Rainham and works with horses, was leaning on a police car topless and said: 'The fire has burnt my stables out. It started as a little fire around the back of the houses and if someone had been there to put it out we wouldn't have had all this trouble. It was a little fire out the back garden.'Walter Martin, 61, landlord of the Lennards Arms, a local pup that has escaped the flames for now, said: 'I got a phone call at about 12:50 and I saw a little smoke, I walked around and saw a small fire and then saw it just go up. I've never seen anything like it. It's awful. People are in shock. People are devastated.'Pensioner Lynn Sabberton told Sky News police came to her home and told her she and her husband who suffers from a lung condition had to evacuate. She said: 'We were told that one of the fields had caught fire. The police came to our house and told us to get what we could like personal belongings.'Lorry driver Gary Ruel, 63, who has lived in the area since 2005 was evacuated from his house today and said: 'My house is right next to the fire. All we have heard is the fire is close to the church. I live at number 19 but we can't go down there so no one knows what's going on.'No one will give us any information. I just hope everyone is safe, that's all I can say. I'm really worried about my house. I might have lost three cats, I got the dog out but didn't have time for the cats.'Kent Fire and Rescue Service said 18 fire engines were now at the scene of a grass fire near Durrell Dene, in Joyce Green, Dartford. People wait to see if they will get on any trains today as services remain cancelled in much of the train network Alton Towers thrill-seekers had to be led down the Oblivion rollercoaster at the Staffordshire theme park on the hottest day of the year today Some 15 fire engines and 100 firefighters from the London Fire Brigade are dealing with the Wennington blaze in East London Homes in Wennington can be seen on fire and completely blackened by the raging wildfire amid devastating temperatures The scene of a blaze in the village of Wennington, east London. London Fire Brigade has declared a major incident due to 'a huge surge' in blazes across the capital A view near Dartford heath as fires raged throughout London today as unprecedent wildfires raged in the capital People jump and do somersaults on Brighton Beach as some try to cool off during the record breaking temperatures Shocking videos show a huge bush fire raging on the Dartford marshes, KentA spokesman said: 'Firefighters are using a fogging unit, two all-terrain vehicles and a bulk water carrier to bring the fire under control and extinguish the flames.'The technical rescue unit is also in attendance and crews are using a telehandler machine to create a fire break, to stop the fire from spreading further. No injuries have been reported.Members of KFRS' volunteer response team are on-hand to provide welfare and support. People who live or work in the affected area are advised to close their windows and doors as a precaution, due to smoke coming from fire. Drivers travelling on the surrounding roads are also asked to take extra care, as the smoke may impact visibility.One blaze at Lickey Hills Country Park near Birmingham, spread to 50,000 square metres and forced 15 people to flee their homes, while firefighters in Essex said they were receiving three times their average number of calls.There was also a fire near Stonehenge this afternoon, with Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Rescue mobilising crews who used pumping appliances and water carriers to fight 'multiple seats of fire' around fields at Winterbourne Stoke.West Midlands Fire Service received 717 incident calls yesterday - a rise of 280 in the space of a week, while crews in Hereford and Worcester had 54 fires based around fields, undergrowth and woodland. In Nottinghamshire, fire crews saw a 'significant increase' in grass fires over the last month, with numbers up even more this week.Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said it has had a very high volume of 999 calls today leading to crews attending more than 240 emergency incidents so far, in part due to the extreme weather. These incidents include crop fires, field fires, and road traffic collisions on major roads. Eight fire crews also battled a grass in Bradgate Park forcing Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service to also declare a major incident. The service said its one of many its currently tackling, writing on Twitter: 'The fire service have declared a major incident due to the increase of call outs relating to the heatwave. Fires spread in the heat - assess the risk, is it worth it?'Meanwhile Scotland saw a huge blaze at farm this afternoon which six crews tried to tackle assisted by farm workers.A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson told the Daily Record: 'We were alerted at 1.56pm on Tuesday 19 July to reports of a large fire in a field at Hadden Farm near Kelso.'Operations control immediately mobilised six fire appliances to the location. Farm workers assisted in creating a fire break and firefighters extinguished the fire.'Crews left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe.'Northern Powergrid told the BBC it is trying to restore power to around 14,500 properties in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the North East. 'We worked last night and into the early hours of today to restore power after yesterday's extreme temperatures,' a spokesperson from the firm said.The Met Office has confirmed that last night was the warmest night on record in Britain, with temperatures not falling below 25C (77F) in many areas of England and Wales. The highest overnight minimum in the UK last night was 25.9C (78.6F) at Emley Moor in West Yorkshire, while it was 25.8C (78.4F) at Kenley in Croydon, South London.This smashed the previous record of 23.9C (75F) in Brighton set on August 3, 1990. It comes one day after Wales had its hottest day ever with 37.1C (99F) in Hawarden, Flintshire - beating a record set in the same village in 1990. Smoke issuing from a fire on Fields Road in Denham, several buildings were on fire which sent thick black smoke in to the air Firefighters at a fire on Fields Road in Denham, several buildings were on fire which sent thick black smoke in to the air Police are seen as crowds gather at River Swales Waterfalls, in Richmond as people enjoy the hottest day recorded in the UK Police were called amid concerns over public safety due to people jumping into the river and lighting portable BBQsIn Cambridgeshire today, the surface of the A14 at Bottisham appeared to have melted and buckled. And on the trains, Network Rail and operators upgraded their travel advice for those heading north out of London into the red warning area to 'do not travel', saying there will be no services in or out of London King's Cross all day today. The heat has brought major rail chaos for commuters around the capital, with no Thameslink or Great Northern trains running in any location north of London, from Blackfriars via St Pancras, or from King's Cross or Moorgate.There was a lineside fire in London's Harrow today, while overhead electric wires were down in Rugby, Birmingham and Carlisle, leading to a number of trains being trapped. Emergency evacuations of passengers were ongoing. Network Rail said passenger numbers today were around 40 per cent lower than during the same day last week. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told people across Britain today to 'apply common sense' and 'depending on the nature of your journey and reason for it, you might want to consider rearranging your day around it'. But the sight of parts of the UK shutting down sparked a backlash, with complaints that ministers and health chiefs were 'acting like nanny' - while holidaymakers were delayed yesterday as a part of runway at Luton Airport melted.Today, the Supreme Court in London was closed to visitors because of the heat and an air-conditioning fault. A sign was posted at the building's entrance explaining the problem, although hearings could still be viewed online. But the extreme heat is likely to end with a bang tomorrow, with the Met Office issuing a thunderstorm warning for between 1pm and 9pm across the South East amid concerns of sudden flooding, lightning strikes and power cuts. Forecasters said up to 1.2in (30mm) of rain could fall in some areas in just an hour and 2in (50mm) in three hours. Before then, with the UK's first ever red warning for extreme heat still predicted to see the 40C (104F) barrier broken for the first time ever this afternoon, normal life was on hold in parts of the country as:At least 171 schools closed, with teachers claiming learning was impossible in sweltering classrooms;Hospitals cancelled appointments and non-urgent operations as operating theatres turned into ovens;Royal Mail workers were told to return to sorting offices with undelivered mail amid fears they would fall ill;Experts recommended avoiding the beach and holding off exercising until the extreme heat has passed;Commuter numbers on roads and railways were down by up to a fifth, and tracks on some lines buckled;There was a spate of water-related tragedies, including a 13-year-old boy's body pulled from the River Tyne;A 50-fold increase in demand for fans alongside a boom for bottled water, ice lollies and canned cocktails;Water companies raised the prospect of hosepipe bans amid fears of a summer drought.LNER will run no trains from south of York and south of Leeds to King's Cross - and Southern, Southeastern, South Western Railway and Great Western Railway are among the operators running significantly reduced services.All trains between London Euston and Milton Keynes were suspended this afternoon as emergency services dealt with a lineside fire. The blaze was caused when 25,000 volt overhead electric cables came down in Harrow.James Dean, Network Rail's West Coast South route director, said: 'As predicted the extreme temperatures have impacted the overhead cables on the West Coast main line and all trains have had to be stopped at Harrow in North London. Please follow our 'do not travel' message today as journeys are being severely impacted. 'Once the emergency services give us the go ahead we will work as fast as we can to restore the railway lines. We're sorry to people impacted and we're working as fast as we can to get things back up and running.'All trains were also stopped at Birmingham New Street station after a power line fault. Network Rail said its rapid response team is dealing with a fault involving the overhead electric cables outside the station.Denise Wetton, Network Rail's Central route director, said: 'As predicted the extreme temperatures have impacted our overhead cables which power trains and we've had to stop all trains at Birmingham New Street station.'Please keep following our 'do not travel' message today as journeys are being severely impacted. We're sorry to people impacted and we're working as fast as we can to get things back up and running.'On the London Underground, there was no Hammersmith & City line, no Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate due to 'heat-related speed restrictions' and no Jubilee line between Waterloo and Willesden Green.There were severe delays on the Central, District and Victoria lines; severe delays on the sections of the Jubilee and Metropolitan that were in operation; and no Overground between Willesden Junction and Richmond or Romford and Upminster. There were also delays on the western and eastern sections of the Elizabeth line. Woman is seen in a bikini in Battersea Park where people are cooling off today amid scorching heat Scorching temperatures in London where people were seen cooling of in the fountain in Battersea ParkTwo women dip their heads into the fountain to cool off at Trafalgar Square in London this morning amid the extreme heat A packed Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon on day two of the red extreme heat warning The surface of the A14 at Bottisham in Cambridgeshire appears to have melted and buckled today during the heatwave A group of women walk along the pebbles of Brighton beach today as they head to the coast of East Sussex People on the beach in Bournemouth in Dorset this morning as Britons melt on the hottest UK day on record A member of F Company Scots Guards swelters during the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace today The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a huge grass fire came within feet of homes People on the beach in Bournemouth today as temperatures soar across England to record levels A packed Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon on day two of the red extreme heat warning A young woman in the fountains at Trafalgar Square in London today as the heatwave continues Beachgoers make the best of the scorching morning temperatures at West Bay in Dorset today Peter Dolby jumps into the water at Compton Lock in Winchester today on what is expected to be the hottest day on record Two women lay a towel on the sand at Bournemouth beach today as sunbathers flock to the Dorset coast to enjoy the heat A man and woman sit in the River Dove in Dovedale today during the heatwave as people enjoy the weather in Derbyshire Sunworshippers on Brighton beach this morning on day two of the red extreme heat warning People on the beach in Bournemouth today as temperatures soar across England to record levels Commuters struggle in the extreme heat this morning as they cross London Bridge on the way to work A woman sits by the fountains at Trafalgar Square in London today as Britons experience the hottest UK day on record Commuters struggle in the extreme heat this morning as they cross London Bridge on the way to work today People enjoy the hottest day of year at Stainforth Force in the Yorkshire Dales this afternoon as they cool off People flock to the beach and seafront at Southend-on-Sea this morning as an Essex Police officer walks past Cyclist Oonagh Thin, 24 takes a rest to enjoy the sun at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh this morning Australian cabaret and circus troupe Briefs take to the water to attempt to cool themselves during a photocall for 'Bites' outside the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London today Two women sunbathe on Brighton beach in East Sussex this morning on day two of the red extreme heat warning Racehorses get cooled down at trainer Sue Smith's yard near Bingley in West Yorkshire this morning People enjoy an early morning swim at the Serpentine Lido in London's Hyde Park today A member of the Household Cavalry has a fan placed next to him at Horse Guards Parade in Central London this morning People at Harpur Hill Quarry in Derbyshire - known as 'Blue Lagoon' - on what is the hottest day on record in the UK A horse at Horse Guards Parade in Westminster is given some water to cool down as the heatwave continues Siblings Joshua, Harry and Chloe jump into the water at Compton Lock in Winchester, Hampshire, this morning A member of the Household Cavalry feels the heat at Horse Guards Parade in London today as the heatwave continues The Tarmac on Crook Mill Road in East Halton, North Lincolnshire, is sizzling today due to the current heatwave People walk along the sand at Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning ahead of another very hot day at the seaside Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground Friends Isaac Pratt and Connie Dolby hold hands as they drift down the river at Compton Lock in Winchester this morning The dried out bed and reduced water levels in the Thruscross Reservoir in North Yorkshire, pictured this morning A woman enjoys the hot weather on a paddleboard at Tynemouth Longsands in North Tyneside this morning People on the beach in Bournemouth this afternoon as Britons bake on the hottest UK day on record Police smashed the window of a £25,000 electric Hyundai to save a dog trapped inside in London's Leicester Square The UK has experienced its warmest night on record, according to provisional Met Office figures as shown in this mapIn the West End, Oxford Circus station was closed this morning while London Fire Brigade crews investigated what they said were 'reports of smoke issuing from an escalator machine room on the northbound Victoria line'. Transport for London said London's rail network will be running a reduced service throughout today due to safety restrictions put into place to deal with the heat, and Gatwick Express trains were completely suspended. Heatwave death toll soars to 13 with two missing: Man in his 20s dies in Cotswolds as search is launched for swimmer dragged out to sea in Essex and hunt continues for 14-year-old boy in River Thames A man in his 20s has become the latest to drown after attempting to cool off from the scorching temperatures by going for a swim at a water park in Wiltshire.At least 13 people have died in heatwave-related incidents since the heatwave began on July 9, bringing with it record-breaking temperatures. It comes after it was confirmed a man had died from drowning, bringing Monday's death toll alone to five.Robert Hattersley, 13, died after an incident on Sunday at Ovingham, Northumberland The 70-year-old man was pulled unconscious from the water in Sandown on the Isle of Wight. Emergency services battled for 40 minutes to save his life but he was declared dead at the scene.In Wiltshire, police confirmed the man in his 20s had died at Cotswold Water Park in Ashton Keynes. The force said the man was pulled from the water but pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 6pm. Meanwhile, a boy aged 14 is feared dead in Richmond after he was declared missing when he was spotted getting into difficulty in the Thames in West London and at least one person is missing after going for a swim in Clacton, Essex, with a search operation ongoing.In Richmond, emergency services were called at 5pm yesterday to reports of a child seen in the water at Tagg's Island in Hampton and searched the area for the boy but were unsuccessful. Also yesterday, a 16-year-old boy died after getting into difficulty in Bray Lake in Maidenhead, Berkshire. A 16-year-old boy died after getting into difficulty in Bray Lake near Maid | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSAN CASCIANO IN VAL DI PESA, Italy, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Farmers in Tuscany, the heart of Italy's prized wine and olive oil industry, are battling to salvage as much as they can of this year's crop from the ravages of drought and heatwave.A lack of rainfall since spring has affected even plants that traditionally thrive in hot and dry conditions.In San Casciano in Val di Pesa, near Florence, olive trees dot the picture-book hillsides, but the soil parched by the scorching sun is not producing enough fruit.
"Climatic issues had a decisive influence," said olive grower Filippo Legnaioli.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com"We had a very dry spring with practically no rainfall from March to today and this happened at a crucial time during the transition from flower to fruit," added Legnaioli, president of the local "Frantoio Grevepese" cooperative.Without water, many flowers fall to the ground before they can bear fruit. And with few olives on the branches, even the sparse harvest becomes an economic headache.
According to Legnaioli, this year's oil production could be reduced by 50-60%.SPECIAL REMEDIESA dried olive is seen on a branch, as Tuscany's famed wine and olive oil industry suffers from a heatwave and drought, in Greve in Chianti, Italy, July 29, 2022. REUTERS/Jennifer LorenziniOther olive growers have decided to change their methods of cultivation, opting for a supplementary irrigation system that can offset the effect of drought and scorching heat.
"This year we use a, let's say, 'rescue' irrigation to protect the production of olives on the plants while on traditional olive trees, unfortunately, high temperatures and drought lead to the loss of many olives," farmer Luigi Calonaci explained.The system works through a black tube that has been set up beneath the trees and that spurts out small amounts of water.
The Calonaci farm has also opted to use white netting to protect the plants from olive fruit flies whose larvae feed on the fruit of the trees, a problem which is not directly related to the drought but can cause a big loss in yield.The effects of climate change not only impact production and plants but are even changing the geography and rhythms of the Italian farming landscape.
A few years ago, olive groves were mainly the preserve of historically hot and arid areas such as Sicily. Now regions such as Val d'Aosta in the far north of Italy, famous for its ski resorts and mountains, can produce their own oil.EARLY HARVESTNot only heat and lack of rain, but climate change also affects timings and the properties of wine.
In Castellina in Chianti, September is normally the month of the grape harvest, as it is throughout the country.
But with extreme and prolonged high temperatures, the bunches of grapes are ripening earlier than expected."We have smaller grapes, and we expect the number of grapes to be lower than the average of the last few years, probably in line with last year's", the vice-president of "Chianti Classico" Consortium, Sergio Zingarelli, told Reuters.
In the Chianti region, one of the most famous for wine production, in addition to a reduction in grapes, wine growers also have to deal with extreme weather events that do not quench the thirst of the soil but damage the crops.
"Extreme weather phenomena are getting stronger and stronger," said Paolo Cianferoni, the owner of "Caparsa" wine estate."A couple of weeks ago, a hailstorm destroyed 40% of grapes here. Luckily the quality of the grapes has not been affected, so we'll see what happens."Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Matteo Berlenga, Writing by Fabiano Franchitti
Editing by Emily Roe, Keith Weir and Jane MerrimanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
BEIJING (AP) — Flash floods in southwest and northwest China have left at least a dozen dead and put thousands of others in harm’s way, state media reported Sunday.In the southwestern province of Sichuan, at least six people have died and another 12 are missing after torrential rain triggered flash floods, state-owned news outlet CGTN reported.Some 1,300 people had been evacuated as of Saturday, the report said.Meanwhile, in Longnan city in the northwestern province of Gansu, another six deaths were reported and 3,000 people have been evacuated, state broadcaster CCTV said. Rainfall in 1 1/2 day was as much as 98.9 millimeters (3.9 inches) in the worst affected areas, almost double the July average. The rains come amid a heat wave in parts of the country including eastern Zhejiang province and the city of Shanghai, with temperatures soaring as high as 42 degrees Celsius (107 Fahrenheit) last week.Experts say such extreme weather events are becoming more likely because of climate change. Warmer air can store more water, leading to bigger cloudbursts when it’s released.The flooding adds to economic woes brought on partly by stringent “zero-COVID” measures restricting travel and disrupting supply chains.China is not the only country experiencing extreme weather this summer. In Germany, low water levels in the Rhine due to droughts have disrupted the supply chain for commodities into the country. Heat waves have also hit the southern part of the U.S., with temperatures expected to soar over 38 C (100 F) in coming days. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
By Matthew Brown and Amy Beth Hanson | Associated Press
BILLINGS, Mont. — The Yellowstone National Park area’s weather forecast the morning of June 12 seemed fairly tame: warmer temperatures and rain showers would accelerate mountain snow melt and could produce “minor flooding.” A National Weather Service bulletin recommended moving livestock from low-lying areas but made no mention of danger to people.
By nightfall, after several inches of rain fell on a deep spring snowpack, there were record-shattering floods.
Torrents of water poured off the mountains. Swollen rivers carrying boulders and trees smashed through Montana towns over the next several days. The flooding swept away houses, wiped out bridges and forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 tourists, park employees and residents near the park. As a cleanup expected to last months grinds on, climate experts and meteorologists say the gap between the destruction and what was forecast underscores a troublesome aspect of climate change: Models used to predict storm impacts do not always keep up with increasingly devastating rainstorms, hurricanes, heat waves and other events.
“Those rivers had never reached those levels. We literally were flying blind not even knowing what the impacts would be,” said Arin Peters, a senior hydrologist with the National Weather Service.
Hydrologic models used to predict flooding are based on long-term, historical records. But they do not reflect changes to the climate that emerged over the past decade, said meteorologist and Weather Underground founder Jeff Masters.
“Those models are going to be inadequate to deal with a new climate,” Masters said.
Another extreme weather event where the models came up short was Hurricane Ida, which slammed Louisiana last summer and then stalled over the Eastern Seaboard — deluging parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York with unprecedented rainfall that caused massive flooding. The weather service had warned of a “serious situation” that could turn “catastrophic,” but the predicted of 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 centimeters) of rain for New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania was far short of the 9 to 10 inches (23 to 25 centimeters) that fell.
The deadly June 2021 heat wave that scorched the Pacific Northwest offered another example. Warmer weather had been expected, but not temperatures of up to 116 degrees (47C degrees) that toppled previous records and killed an estimated 600 or more people in Oregon, Washington state and western Canada.
The surprise Yellowstone floods prompted a nighttime scramble to close off roads and bridges getting swept away by the water, plus rushed evacuations that missed some people. No one died, somewhat miraculously, as more than 400 homes were damaged or destroyed.
As rock slides caused by the rainfall started happening in Yellowstone, park rangers closed a heavily-used road between the town of Gardiner and the park headquarters in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming. It later washed out in numerous places.
The rain and snowmelt was “too much too fast and you just try to stay out of the way,” Yellowstone Deputy Chief Ranger Tim Townsend said.
If the road hadn’t been closed, “we probably would have had fatalities, unquestionably” park Superintendent Cam Sholly said.
“The road looks totally fine and then it’s like an 80-foot drop right into the river,” Sholly said.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland was scheduled to visit Yellowstone Friday to survey the damage and ongoing repairs.
Within a matter of hours on June 12, Rock Creek, which runs through the city of Red Lodge and normally is placid and sometimes just ankle deep, became a raging river. When the weather service issued a flood warning for the creek, the water already had surged over its banks and begun to knock down bridges.
By the time the warning was sent, “we already knew it was too late,” said Scott Williams, a commissioner for Carbon County, Montana, which borders Yellowstone.
Red Lodge resident Pam Smith was alerted to the floods by something knocking around in her basement before dawn. It was her clothes dryer, floating in water pouring through the windows.
Smith says her partner keeps track of the weather on his computer and they were aware rain was coming and that the creek was running high. But they were not aware of flooding threat when they went to bed the night before, she said.
In a scramble to save belongings including her violins, the music teacher slipped on the wet kitchen floor and fell, shattering a bone in her arm. Smith recalls biting back tears and trudging through floodwaters with her partner and 15-year-old granddaughter to reach their pickup truck and drive to safety.
“I went blank,” Smith said. “I was angry and like, ‘Why didn’t anybody warn us? Why was there no knock on the door? Why didn’t the police come around and say there’s flooding, you need to get out?'”
Local authorities say sheriff’s deputies and others knocked on doors in Red Lodge and a second community that flooded. But they acknowledged not everyone was reached as numerous rivers and streams overflowed, swamping areas never known previously to flood.
While no single weather event can be conclusively tied to climate change, scientists said the Yellowstone flooding was consistent with changes already documented around the park as temperatures warm.
Those changes include less snowfall in mid-winter and more spring precipitation — setting the stage for flash floods when rains fall on the snow, said Montana State University climate scientist Cathy Whitlock.
Warming trends mean spring floods will increase in frequency — even as the region suffers from long-term drought that keeps much of the rest of the year dry, she said.
Masters and other experts noted that computer modelling of storms has become more sophisticated and is generally more accurate than ever. But extreme weather by its nature is hard to predict, and as such events happen more frequently there will be many more chances for forecasters to get it wrong.
The rate of the most extreme rainstorms in some areas has increased up to a factor of five, Masters said. So an event with a 1% chance of happening in any given year — commonly referred to as a “one in 100-year” event — would have an approximately 5% chance of happening, he said.
“We are literally re-writing our weather history book,” said University of Oklahoma Meteorology Professor Jason Furtado.
That has widespread implications for local authorities and emergency officials who rely on weather bulletins to guide their disaster response approaches. If they’re not warned, they can’t act.
But the National Weather Service also strives to avoid undue alarm and maintain public trust. So if the service’s models show a only a slim chance of disaster, that information can get left out of the forecast.
Weather service officials said the agency’s actions with the Yellowstone flooding will be analyzed to determine if changes are needed. They said early warnings that river levels were rising did help officials prepare and prevent loss of life, even if their advisories failed to predict the severity.
Computer-based forecasting models are regularly updated to account for new meteorological trends due to climate change, Peters said. Even with those refinements, events like the Yellowstone flooding still are considered low-probability and so often won’t make it into forecasts based on what the models say is most likely to occur.
“It’s really difficult to balance that feeling that you’ve got that this could get really bad, but the likelihood of it getting really bad is so small,” Peters said. He added that the dramatic swing from drought to flood was hard even for meteorologists to reconcile and called it “weather whiplash.”
To better communicate the potential for extreme weather, some experts say the weather service needs to change its forecasts to inform the public about low probability hazardous events. That could be accomplished through more detailed daily forecasts or some kind of color-coded system for alerts.
“We’ve been slow to provide that information,” North Carolina State University atmospheric scientist Gary Lackmann said. “You put it on people’s radars and they could think about that and it could save lives.”
Hanson reported from Helena, Montana. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Record-breaking temperatures are already causing chaos across the country today, with trains grinding to a halt and thousands facing an unbearably sticky morning commute. But the scorching temperatures have also led to a range of other more unusual outcomes, from a beach being closed because the sand is too hot, to school detentions being cancelled and farmers smearing suncream on their prized pigs. Detentions have been cancelled at one school, while discount chain Aldi has begun rationing bottles of water at a supermarket in south London - with customers limited to one bottle of still or sparkling per person. The Met Office has warned that temperatures could rise even further to 43C (109F) tomorrow. Temperatures had already hit 32C (90F) in Cambridge and West London by 11am today. Pigs get suncream and wet towels at Royal Welsh Show - while horses are offered bottled water Pigs are being covered in suncream to protect them at one of Britain's biggest country shows.Farmers are using the suncream to protect the animals' sensitive skin in the blistering heat at the Royal Welsh Show.Award-winning pig farmer Ela Mair will be covering her six entrants - including five pedigree Welsh pigs - in cold wet towels to keep them cool. Joel Orman sprays SPF 50 sunscreen on British Lop pigs at the Royal Welsh Show A police officer offers a bottle of water to a police horse named Zack during hot weather, on Whitehall in London'Pigs don't let out the heat as well as other animals so it is difficult to keep them cool,' said Ela, 45, of Pwllheli in Gwynedd.'We put cold wet towels over them but we need to be careful that the heat doesn't dry the towels too quickly so it can reheat them.'So we'll be keeping them in the shade as much as possible and keeping the fans on them as much as we can.'More than 50,000 people are expected every day at the four-day Royal Welsh Show - one of Europe's biggest agricultural events - and organisers have been told by public health bodies to prepare for the extreme heat.The Royal Welsh's chief vet Dafydd Jones admitted the forecast for the show near Builth Wells in Powys was 'worrying'.'Animals suffer like people - if not worse - in extreme heat and with so many animals there, it is very worrying that animals will find it difficult to cope with the heat,' he said.Organisers have spent more than £50,000 on extra fans and ventilation in livestock sheds to keep the approximate 8,000 animals as cool as possible while extra water will be available.Meanwhile, on Whitehall in London, Zack the horse was offered a bottle of water by his caring police handler. 'Beach' closes because the sand will be 'too hot for children' A beach is closing today because the sand will be 'too hot for kids to play on'.Officials have decided to close the attraction at Leicester's Humberstone Gate shopping centre for two days. Funfair rides have also closed..Deputy city mayor Cllr Piara Singh Clair said: 'In these extreme temperatures, the sand on our beach would be far too hot for children to play in. Officials have decided to close the artificial beach at Leicester's Humberstone Gate shopping centre for two days'And there's also a risk that the funfair rides' generators would overheat.'In the interests of our customers' wellbeing, and the safety of our staff, we have decided to close these attractions on Monday and Tuesday.'While this extreme weather continues, we would advise people to seek out the shade - and, weather permitting, we hope to reopen the City Beach and the funfair on Wednesday.'One local - called Mark - said: 'Blimey. Red Alert sounds serious. Wondering if real beaches will be closed as well?'Supermarket limits water to one bottle of still or sparkling per person This sign warning shoppers was spotted at the Streatham store in South London over the weekendAldi is rationing water - limiting customers to one type of bottled water per person.A sign warning shoppers was spotted at the Streatham store in South London over the weekend.It read: 'Maximum 1x type of water per person.'Scorching summer temperatures have already caused disruption for UK retailers. In B&M, a video showed chocolate bars melting on shelves.And shoppers have been asked to ensure they wear t-shirts and tops when heading to the supermarket and the pub.Meanwhile, Iceland invited customers to chill out in its freezer aisles amid the heatwave.Aldi has been contacted for comment.Saved by the heatwave! Detentions are CANCELLED at secondary school Schools are cancelling detentions and sports days because of the heatwave.Northwood Community Primary School in Kirkby, Merseyside said that sports day had been cancelled on Monday, although 'children can still attend school in their PE kits until the end of term'.And King Charles I School, a secondary school in Worcestershire, has cancelled all on-site detentions on Monday and Tuesday. 'Please note that detentions will be cancelled on Borrington and Hillgrove sites today and tomorrow,' the school tweeted. The school was originally founded in 1566 and is the only one in England to bear the name of the executed king. King Charles I School, a secondary school in Worcestershire, has cancelled all on-site detentions on Monday and TuesdayWatering the... guards? Queen's Guard soldier is kept hydrated while on duty outside Buckingham Palace in full military uniformWhile some schools have closed and rail services have been delayed by the hot weather, one group not budging an inch are the Queen's Guard.Despite the roasting heat, the troops today remain in full military uniform, including their thick bearskin caps, outside Buckingham Palace today.But the guards, who are very limited in when and how they can move during their two hour stints, are being kept hydrated.Pictures show a security officer providing water to one of the soldiers today - with temperatures now above 30C in London. A member of the Queen's guard at Buckingham Palace is given water by a policeman | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
By Reality Check teamBBC NewsImage source, Getty ImagesPeople on social media have been comparing the high temperatures in much of the UK with the heatwave of 1976, suggesting that the severity of the current hot weather is being exaggerated. So, what does the evidence show? How hot was the summer of 1976?The peak that year was 35.6C. That has already been beaten by the current temperatures and could go as high as 41C. The heatwave of 1976 started in June and lasted for two months. There was a lack of rainfall and a significant drought, with the government enforcing water rationing. The heatwave was rare for that decade. The average maximum temperature in July in the 1970s was 18.7C. In the 2010s, it was more than 20C.The UK has been slowly getting warmer since the 19th Century, and this has sped up. In the past three decades the country has become 0.9C warmer on average, according to the UK State of the Climate report in 2020. Nine out of ten of the hottest days ever recorded in the UK have been since 1990, according to the Met Office. 1976 ranks 12th in the list of the hottest UK days on record (some of these, not shown in the chart above, have occurred in the same year)."1976 was indeed a heatwave and we have had heatwaves before, but the point is they're happening more often and they're becoming more intense," says Prof Hannah Cloke, a climate scientist at the University of Reading.There is also the scale of the heatwaves to consider, when comparing temperatures to those in 1976.That summer, the UK and France were among a handful of countries experiencing high temperatures. But if you look at the heat maps (produced by NASA) for June 2022, it shows many more countries affected."We can easily see how much warmer the global climate has become - with very few areas actually colder than normal," says BBC Weather presenter, Matt Taylor.Who's spreading the misleading comparison?Suggestions that there is nothing unusual about this heatwave appear to have found a willing audience among climate change sceptics.Hundreds of people have shared their experiences of the 1976 heatwave on social media, with some making the misleading suggestion that the current heatwave is "no different".Others have accused the Met Office and the media of spreading "alarmism" and "hysteria". Some have suggested people need to "toughen up", describing those complaining about the heat as "snowflakes".But even in the 1976 heatwave - which saw lower temperatures - excess deaths in parts of the country were up 30%. Last week, the UK Health Security Agency issued its highest level four heat alert, warning illness and death could occur "among the fit and healthy".The comparison with the 1976 heatwave has also proven popular among users sharing conspiracy theories - including unfounded claims that a "climate lockdown" is about to be imposed. How is the current heatwave linked to climate change?The Met Office estimates that this heatwave has been made ten times more likely because of climate change.The overwhelming majority of scientists agree greenhouse gases - which trap the sun's heat - are causing a rise in global temperatures and climate change. This has brought more extreme weather. Periods of intense heat do occur within natural weather patterns, but they are becoming more frequent around the world, more intense and are lasting longer as a result of global warming."We should expect more and longer heatwaves in the future," says Prof Nigel Arnell, a climate scientist at Reading University. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
London Fire Brigade has 'never seen anything like the sheer scale of yesterday's wildfires' London Fire Brigade's assistant commissioner says he has not seen anything like the fires that unfolded yesterday in terms of the "sheer scale across the whole of London".Speaking in Wennington where a significant fire broke out in yesterday’s heatwave, Jonathan Smith said: "We've never asked firefighters to operate in 40C heat before outside of dealing with a fire inside a building."To have 15 significant fires requiring multiple pumping appliances, sometimes over 100 firefighters needing to be deployed…Those are incidents that we would normally expect to see one or two of at any one time."He added tackling yesterday's wildfires "on top of all the other incidents that we were dealing with is something I've never seen in my 23-year career."The London Fire Brigade are considering how to prepare for incidents of this scale in the future as "climate change is going to continue to pose challenges for us". Hertfordshire steps down major incident The major incident declared in Hertfordshire yesterday has been stepped down. Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service earlier said the number of incidents had doubled against usual figures during the extreme heat. Crews attended more than 240 emergency incidents yesterday alone. East London flat fire under control as residents describe 'real inferno' Some good news to bring you - a fire at a block of flats in North Woolwich, east London, is now under control.There have been no reports of injuries and all people are accounted for. Pete Sanders, press liaison officer for the London Fire Brigade, said a large number of possessions in the flat are making it "very challenging for crews to completely get the fire out", although he said it is under control.He added there will be a "thorough investigation" to find out the cause of the fire. Rolly Apao, 45, who lives a few metres from the block of flats, described the scene as a "real inferno". He said he was "scared" but confirmed the fire appears to be out now. "I noticed the fire because of the thick smoke," he said. "When the fire started our neighbours were also curious and we saw peoples outside the burning building, the smoke was on the top floor."It looked like a real inferno... but I am glad as well because firefighters were able to tackle the fire quickly. [I was] scared, but I have to pay attention of my surroundings for my safety."We just had the heatwave yesterday which we (have had) to deal with mentally and physically.. the heat is too much to bear." Aerial images of Norfolk fires These striking images reveal the scale of huge fires in Norfolk yesterday. The blazes destroyed homes and led to a major incident yesterday, with more than 100 incidents reported. It is believed five homes were destroyed in Brancaster Staithe, while people were also evacuated from buildings in Poringland and Ashill. Why France is cutting down trees to save a forest It seems counterintuitive cutting down trees to save a forest, but that's exactly what's happening in France, writes our Europe correspondent Siobhan Robbins.Crews tackling two massive fires in la Gironde have been clearing huge strips of land to create fire breaks.Teams with chainsaws cut down trees and clear bush to leave a gap the width of a motorway between both sides of the forest.The hope is if the flames were to reach one side it would be harder for sparks to jump across the divide and spread the fire further.It also acts to protect properties in the area. It's not bulletproof - some fires have jumped 400 metres - but it's a quick way of trying to deny these blazes fuel. What to expect this weekend weatherwise If you've got plans this weekend and you're wondering whether there will be more extreme weather, you'll be pleased to know the worst of the heat is over for now.Dan Suri, Met Office chief forecaster, said we can "look forward to more typical conditions" now. Moister air from the Atlantic is triggering the risk of thunderstorms and heavy showers for parts of the UK today, but things should be better by the weekend. "There's a further risk of thunderstorms on Friday but by the weekend it'll turn drier, brighter and increasingly warm in the south and east of England," Mr Suri said."Northern and western parts of the UK are set to experience relatively fresher conditions as it turns breezier and wetter here over the weekend." Another fire has broken out near site of huge blaze in Wennington A waste fire is burning just three miles from where a large blaze broke out in Wennington yesterday.A road has been completely closed off and thick black smoke is filling the air. In images: Wildfires across Europe today As the UK faces extreme weather conditions, wildfires have also swept across Europe as blazes continue burning in Italy, Greece, Spain and France. 22-year-old woman arrested after protest on M25 A woman has been arrested after a protest by Just Stop Oil caused nine-mile tailbacks. Protesters climbed on motorway signs on the M25 and caused disruption to call for more action on climate change from the government. Surrey Police said the female protester was seen sitting on top of a gantry over the motorway and three lanes had to be closed so she could be removed. A specialist team had to be used that was trained in dealing with incidents at height. The 22-year-old was arrested on suspicion of causing a danger to road users, causing a public nuisance and being a pedestrian on the motorway.All lanes have since been reopened on the M25. Death of Madrid street sweeper leads to contractors suspending work in heatwaves A 60-year-old street sweeper died in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday after collapsing at work in the extreme heat.Jose Antonio Gonzalez had a body temperature close to 42C and died from heat stroke in hospital, emergency services said. His son, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, told El Pais newspaper that his father was hoping to have a one-month contract extended and was working that afternoon because he swapped shifts with a colleague."I am convinced that he did not stop cleaning that street until he fainted. He thought his contract was not going to be renewed and he was giving his all to prove himself," he said.The death prompted unions to call for a change in working conditions, and now the unions and contractors have signed an agreement that suspends street sweeping on afternoons where average temperatures go above 39C.Over certain temperatures, the companies must also provide sun cream and caps and use only air conditioned vehicles. However, the agreement came too late for another street sweeper who collapsed with heat stroke yesterday. He remains in hospital in a "very serious" condition. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
PHOENIX — Hundreds of blue, green and grey tents are pitched under the sun’s searing rays in downtown Phoenix, a jumble of flimsy canvas and plastic along dusty sidewalks. Here, in the hottest big city in America, thousands of homeless people swelter as the summer’s triple digit temperatures arrive.The stifling tent city has ballooned amid pandemic-era evictions and surging rents that have dumped hundreds more people onto the sizzling streets that grow eerily quiet when temperatures peak in the midafternoon. A heat wave earlier this month brought temperatures of up to 114 degrees (45.5 Celsius) — and it’s only June. Highs reached 118 degrees (47.7 Celsius) last year.“During the summer, it’s pretty hard to find a place at night that’s cool enough to sleep without the police running you off,” said Chris Medlock, a homeless Phoenix man known on the streets as “T-Bone” who carries everything he owns in a small backpack and often beds down in a park or a nearby desert preserve to avoid the crowds.“If a kind soul could just offer a place on their couch indoors maybe more people would live,” Medlock said at a dining room where homeless people can get some shade and a free meal.Excessive heat causes more weather-related deaths in the United States than hurricanes, flooding and tornadoes combined.Around the country, heat contributes to some 1,500 deaths annually, and advocates estimate about half of those people are homeless.Temperatures are rising nearly everywhere because of global warming, combining with brutal drought in some places to create more intense, frequent and longer heat waves. The past few summers have been some of the hottest on record.Just in the county that includes Phoenix, at least 130 homeless people were among the 339 individuals who died from heat-associated causes in 2021.“If 130 homeless people were dying in any other way it would be considered a mass casualty event,” said Kristie L. Ebi, a professor of global health at the University of Washington.It’s a problem that stretches across the United States, and now, with rising global temperatures, heat is no longer a danger just in places like Phoenix.This summer will likely bring above-normal temperatures over most land areas worldwide, according to a seasonal map that volunteer climatologists created for the International Research Institute at Columbia University.Last summer, a heat wave blasted the normally temperate U.S. Northwest and had Seattle residents sleeping in their yards and on roofs, or fleeing to hotels with air conditioning. Across the state, several people presumed to be homeless died outdoors, including a man slumped behind a gas station.In Oregon, officials opened 24-hour cooling centers for the first time. Volunteer teams fanned out with water and popsicles to homeless encampments on Portland’s outskirts.A quick scientific analysis concluded last year’s Pacific Northwest heat wave was virtually impossible without human-caused climate change adding several degrees and toppling previous records.Even Boston is exploring ways to protect diverse neighborhoods like its Chinatown, where population density and few shade trees help drive temperatures up to 106 degrees (41 Celsius) some summer days. The city plans strategies like increasing tree canopy and other kinds of shade, using cooler materials for roofs, and expanding its network of cooling centers during heat waves.It’s not just a U.S. problem. An Associated Press analysis last year of a dataset published by the Columbia University’s climate school found exposure to extreme heat has tripled and now affects about a quarter of the world’s population.This spring, an extreme heat wave gripped much of Pakistan and India, where homelessness is widespread due to discrimination and insufficient housing. The high in Jacobabad, Pakistan near the border with India hit 122 degrees (50 Celsius) in May.Dr. Dileep Mavalankar, who heads the Indian Institute of Public Health in the western Indian city Gandhinagar, said because of poor reporting it’s unknown how many die in the country from heat exposure.Summertime cooling centers for homeless, elderly and other vulnerable populations have opened in several European countries each summer since a heat wave killed 70,000 people across Europe in 2003.Emergency service workers on bicycles patrol Madrid’s streets, distributing ice packs and water in the hot months. Still, some 1,300 people, most of them elderly, continue to die in Spain each summer because of health complications exacerbated by excess heat.Spain and southern France last week sweltered through unusually hot weather for mid-June, with temperatures hitting 104 degrees (40 Celsius) in some areas.Climate scientist David Hondula, who heads Phoenix’s new office for heat mitigation, says that with such extreme weather now seen around the world, more solutions are needed to protect the vulnerable, especially homeless people who are about 200 times more likely than sheltered individuals to die from heat-associated causes.“As temperatures continue to rise across the U.S. and the world, cities like Seattle, Minneapolis, New York or Kansas City that don’t have the experience or infrastructure for dealing with heat have to adjust as well.”In Phoenix, officials and advocates hope a vacant building recently converted into a 200-bed shelter for homeless people will help save lives this summer.Mac Mais, 34, was among the first to move in.“It can be rough. I stay in the shelters or anywhere I can find,” said Mais who has been homeless on and off since he was a teen. “Here, I can stay out actually rest, work on job applications, stay out of the heat.”In Las Vegas, teams deliver bottled water to homeless people living in encampments around the county and inside a network of underground storm drains under the Las Vegas strip.Ahmedabad, India, population 8.4 million, was the first South Asian city to design a heat action plan in 2013.Through its warning system, nongovernmental groups reach out to vulnerable people and send text messages to mobile phones. Water tankers are dispatched to slums, while bus stops, temples and libraries become shelters for people to escape the blistering rays.Still, the deaths pile up.Kimberly Rae Haws, a 62-year-old homeless woman, was severely burned in October 2020 while sprawled for an unknown amount of time on a sizzling Phoenix blacktop. The cause of her subsequent death was never investigated.A young man nicknamed Twitch died from heat exposure as he sat on a curb near a Phoenix soup kitchen in the hours before it opened one weekend in 2018.“He was supposed to move into permanent housing the next Monday,” said Jim Baker, who oversees that dining room for the St. Vincent de Paul charity. “His mother was devastated.”Many such deaths are never confirmed as heat related and aren’t always noticed because of the stigma of homelessness and lack of connection to family.When a 62-year-old mentally ill woman named Shawna Wright died last summer in a hot alley in Salt Lake City, her death only became known when her family published an obituary saying the system failed to protect her during the hottest July on record, when temperatures reached the triple digits.Her sister, Tricia Wright, said making it easier for homeless people to get permanent housing would go a long way toward protecting them from extreme summertime temperatures.“We always thought she was tough, that she could get through it,” Tricia Wright said of her sister. “But no one is tough enough for that kind of heat.” | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
UK records hottest night everThe UK recorded its provisionally warmest night ever from Monday into Tuesday.The mercury never got below 25C in places, the Met Office said this morning. That beats the previous nighttime high of 23.9C in Brighton in August 1990.Key events:10m agoUK records hottest night ever43m ago'Unprecedented' day ahead as UK temperatures could hit 41CShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureThe ambulance service in London reported a slight increase in 999 calls for fainting and heat exposure on Monday. Brian Jordan, director of 999 operations for London ambulance service, told BBC Radio 4 the service received 6,600 emergency calls yesterday, slightly lower than predicted.“We really hope that’s because the public really have been listening to the messages about how they can look after themselves and only call 999 if it’s a genuine emergency,” Jordan said.“People have been through a very long day yesterday and there’s been high temperatures overnight, and with the even hotter temperatures today I cannot really emphasise enough that people need to continue to do what we were asking them yesterday – to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, keep hydrated, look after more vulnerable friends, families, neighbours and use sun cream etc.”For tips on how to deal with the temperatures, my colleague Nicola Davis has this guide to keeping cool:The Met Office tweeted this graphic to give details of what to expect on Tuesday:The hot weather has sparked health warnings as there is a higher risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, dehydration as well as breathing problems due to high pollution.People have been urged to stay inside during the hottest part of the day – between 11am and 4pm – and wear sun cream, a hat, stay in the shade and keep hydrated with water.A construction worker digging up a road in the Northern Quarter in Manchester wipes sweat from his face. Photograph: Joel Goodman/The GuardianThere were warnings about swimming in lakes, rivers and reservoirs after three people died in waters in England and a fourth was missing believed drowned.There is a higher risk of wildfires, with people asked not to use barbecues or leave litter that could spark fires in the countryside – while zoos and wildlife parks were closed to protect animals, staff and visitors.Water companies have been experiencing “unprecedented peak demand”, with people encouraged to “carefully consider” their water usage and urged not to waste it.The UK transport secretary, Grant Shapps, was on Sky News this morning to say issues on the rails and roads will continue for decades during extreme heatwaves.Asked how long it will take to upgrade existing rail infrastructure to be more resilient, Shapps said: “Decades, actually, to replace it all. Ditto with Tarmac on the roads.“There’s a long process of replacing it and upgrading it to withstand temperatures, either very hot or sometimes much colder than we’ve been used to, and these are the impacts of global warming.”He said there was no Cobra meeting planned for Tuesday, with the prime minister instead chairing cabinet.Boris Johnson was accused on Monday of having “checked out”, missing an emergency Cobra meeting about the searing heat. He instead attended the Farnborough airshow, where he gave a whimsical speech about completing a loop the loop and a barrel roll in a Typhoon fighter jet.On Tuesday, Shapps denied Johnson was “checked out”. He said: “It’s literally not true, in fact exactly the opposite is the truth.”'Unprecedented' day ahead as UK temperatures could hit 41CGood morning and welcome to our extreme weather blog.The UK is bracing itself for the hottest day on record on Tuesday, as forecasters said temperatures could reach 41C.The mercury is set to rise higher than on Monday – already the hottest day of the year at 38.1C (in Santon Downham, Suffolk), though slightly short of the all-time UK heat record of 38.7C. That was set in Cambridge in July 2019 but could be broken today.Rachel Ayers, from the Met Office, told PA Media that Tuesday was going to be “unprecedented”. She said: “The temperature will be very hot throughout the day, before rising as high as 40C, maybe even 41C in isolated spots across England during the afternoon.“This will make it the hottest day on record and the first time we have seen temperatures as high as 40C.”Scotland and Wales could also have their hottest days on record. Holyrood minister Keith Brown urged people “to think about whether they need to travel and, if they do, make sure they’re properly equipped and plan their journey in advance”.Travel routes will be affected by the heat and National Rail told customers only to travel if absolutely necessary. The operator said: “There will be delays, cancellations and last-minute changes to train services due to the unprecedented record heat on those days.”There will be no Thameslink or Great Northern trains running anywhere north of London, from London Blackfriars via St Pancras, or from London King’s Cross or London Moorgate on Tuesday.Merseyrail said the number of trains running and journey times will be “seriously affected”, with some routes closed completely. LNER will run no trains from south of York and south of Leeds to London King’s Cross.Southern, South Eastern, South Western Railway and Great Western Railway are among the dozens of train companies running significantly reduced services across the country.Transport for London (TfL) said London’s rail network would also be running a reduced service on Tuesday due to safety restrictions put into place to deal with the heat.My name is Fran Lawther and I’ll be keeping you up to date with the latest weather news, analysis and tips on how to deal with the heat. Please get in touch with any updates from your local area. You can email me at [email protected]. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Some of Britain's beauty spots continue to be plagued by pollution, after dog walkers found foul smelling oil dumps, sheep manure led to swimming being banned at a Devon beach and deadly E.coli was discovered in a river in Kent. Days after dozens of beaches were flooded with pollution, the safety and cleanliness of Britain's waterways and beaches continues to be thrown into question.More than 50 beaches have had sewage pumped onto them in recent days, with more incidents in beauty spots across the country coming to light today. In Greater Manchester a 'foul smelling' oil was dumped along a walking trail in the Prestwich Clough Woodland Trust, prompting concern from locals who say the potent odour and greasy pollution is 'ruining the area.'The Environment Agency has launched a probe into the incident, but the source of the spill remains unknown at this time. Local utility companies have denied responsibility for the 'possibly illegal dump.'Meanwhile, an Selaine Saxby, the MP for North Devon, has confirmed that people were told not to go into the water at Saunton Sands beach in the county after it was polluted by sheep manure.The faeces, which had dried out in the extreme heat of the last couple of months, were washed into the water after heavy rain caused flash floods earlier this week.The Environment Agency urged people not to swim in the water, and said that on investigation the manure did not appear to come from leaks in water company pipes. It said the water has since been cleared for swimming.The investigation at the woodland comes just days after the agency revealed diesel fuel had been dumped at the River Helford near Port Navas, a small village in Cornwall.Alarming levels of potentially deadly E.coli bacteria have also been found in a section of the River Stour, which is popular with swimmers and canoeists in Kent.Public Health England has advised against swimming in the contaminated water due to increased risks of stomach illness, diarrhoea, vomiting and respiratory, skin, ear and eye infections, among other ailments. A 'foul smelling' oil was dumped along a walking trail in the Prestwich Clough Woodland Trust, which is near Manchester The Environmental Agency has launched a probing into the incident, but the source of the spill remains unknown at this time. Local utility companies have denied responsibility for the 'possibly illegal dump' Diesel fuel was also found dumped in the River Helford near Port Navas, a small village in Cornwall People were urged not to swim off Saunton Sands (file picture) earlier this week after sheep manure was found in the waterThe latest environmental concerns follow warnings that beachgoers should avoid more than 50 dangerously-contaminated shores across England and Wales due to huge amounts of raw sewage being pumped into the sea by water companies.Heavy rain earlier this week caused sewer overflows which have been eased by emptying into UK waters after they struggled to cope with the high volumes of water placing pressure on drainage systems. Water treatment company Southern Water told Mail Online the discharges are 'heavily diluted and typically 95 per cent of them are rainwater.'Residents are angry about the oil spills, with one alleging the woodland site in Prestwich Clough has become a 'no go zone' for dog walkers.'It's ruining the area, a lot families go there, people take their dogs and especially with the hot weather the dogs go under the stream. There's been quite a lot of posts from people saying it's hard to clean grease off the fur of their pets,' the local, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Manchester Evening News on Wednesday. 'It's become a bit of a no go area, all the frogs are dead. The rats are having a field day, it's nasty, someone needs to investigate this as a criminal offence.' The tipster added: 'It's a really foul smell, it's that sort of smell you get when you walk past a takeaway, it's that intense you can smell flavouring and spices that have been dumped. It's obviously been done overnight.' United Utilities has denied responsibility for the leak, telling thew newspaper: 'Our teams have visited Prestwich Clough and established that the oil has not been discharged via any of our assets in the area. 'We have now passed our findings over to the Environment Agency who will be able to investigate this potentially illegal discharge.'The Environmental Agency, in a statement to Mail Online on Thursday, confirmed it was aware of the pollution in Prestwich Clough and said its officers were 'investigating the source.'The agency declined to provide further details in order 'not to prejudice our enquiries.' The agency also confirmed on Sunday it was probing a likely-diesel fuel spill in Cornwall. It is unclear what is responsible for the spill, but the agency is working with its 'partners to reduce impacts to wildlife and the environment.' Alarming levels of potentially deadly E.coli bacteria have also been found in a section of the River Stour, which is popular with swimmers and canoeists in Kent. A canoeist is pictured on the river over the weekend Local operator Canoe Wild posted on its Facebook page of a 'crazy weekend' last weekend with a record 300 crafts being sent out in one day. This section of the River Stour is not a designated swimming site, meaning its popularity is a concern for public health experts Members of Sturry and Broad Oak Residents' Association in Kent are also now said to be 'extremely disturbed' by the latest pollution readingsIn Devon, a warning was put out telling people not to go into the water at Saunton Sands, a stretch of coast Selaine Saxby, the MP for North Devon, said she had been involved in investigating the issue and it is now safe to go back into the water.On her website, she wrote said: 'This weekend there has understandably been much concern about a pollution incident at Saunton Sands beach.'Having spent much of Sunday and today (Monday, August 15) trying to get further details on what has happened, and ensuring additional tests were carried out at the beach today, the Environment Agency have confirmed that the water is safe for swimming - indeed Saunton Sands enjoys excellent water quality the vast majority of the time.'However, with the exceptional high tides this weekend, combined with the extreme heat, some sheep manure on the Burrows opposite had dried up, making it very light, and then floated into the water on the high tide, eventually some washing up into the water on the Saunton Sands side.'She added: 'Despite everyone's best efforts, on occasions there are pollution incidents, and this weekend's, whilst unusual, is not the first time that sheep manure has entered the water in this area, and with the large overnight tide is now confirmed as cleared.'There is also often some confusion between algae blooms and sewage.'There had been reports of algae blooms across the south west this weekend and this may have contributed to the condition of the water as they tend to appear this time of year.An Environment Agency spokesperson said: 'Officers have inspected Saunton Sands and believe the source was animal waste which entered the sea as a result of exceptionally high tides and south-westerly winds.'Advice not to swim was issued based on reports from the public. This was verified as organic waste.'Officers have confirmed there is no sign of pollution from water company assets.'Meanwhile, deadly E.coli was discovered on Thursday during water sampling in Fordwich, a town near Canterbury.Despite the waters being crystal clear, traces of the bacteria which often originates from human faeces were found.The tests used the recognised Aquagenx testing method for E.coli. These were originally developed for delivering quick results in Third World countries.Trained environmentalist Andy Harvey took the samples after stopping for a pint at a riverside pub and noticing how many people were in the water.'The test was positive for E.coli, we are very concerned,' Mr Harvey said. 'I was having lunch at the Fordwich Arms recently and noticed how many people were enjoying swimming and canoeing in the water, which looked very clean.'Just out of interest I thought I would take a few samples and test them using the Aquagenx kit, which we have been using successfully to conduct tests in Herne Bay and Whitstable.'But the results really surprise and worry us because they showed that coliform bacteria levels are greater than 1,000 per 100 millilitres - a level that is acknowledged as 'highly unsafe' by water quality experts.' Footage on social media shows sewage being released into the sea just feet away from a popular beach in East Sussex earlier this week Dark grey and black sewage water can plainly be seen polluting UK waters at popular beach sites, affecting England, Wales and the Isle of WightBognor Regis Beach in West Sussex (left) and beaches in Bournemouth (right) are just a few of the 50 which are classed as currently pollutedHe added: 'I am not sure what the cause could be for such high levels, although it has been very dry.'Local operator Canoe Wild posted on its Facebook page of a 'crazy weekend' last weekend with a record 300 crafts being sent out in one day.This section of the River Stour is not a designated swimming site, meaning its popularity is a concern for public health experts.On their website, Public Health England says: 'Our advice on swimming in rivers is that people should be aware that very few are designated bathing waters and therefore swimming is not advised.'They continued: 'Open-water swimming can increase the risk of gastrointestinal illnesses, or stomach bugs, which may cause diarrhoea and/or vomiting, as well as respiratory, skin, ear and eye infections.'Most symptoms of these illnesses caused by micro-organisms such as norovirus, giardia and cryptosporidium, will generally be mild.'However, there is also a risk of more severe infections caused by E.coli O157 which may cause severe gastrointestinal illness and leptospirosis (Weil's disease), which can cause liver and kidney problems.'Members of Sturry and Broad Oak Residents' Association in Kent are also now said to be 'extremely disturbed' by the latest pollution readings.They have sent the findings to local councillors and MPs Roger Gale and Rosie Duffield.Southern Water is already under fire for the discharge of untreated sewage in the sea off the Kent towns of Herne Bay and Whitstable. An area of coastland next to where raw sewage had been reportedly discharged after heavy rain fell in southern England on Wednesday This photo shows how heavy rain caused the Totten sewage pumping station to become overwhelmed and flooded on TuesdayA spokesperson said: 'There are many sources of pollution in river water - agriculture, industry and wildlife all contribute.'In rural areas, many homes have septic tanks and unless regularly emptied and properly maintained these can be a continuing source of pollution. 'Our sites in the area have all been operating normally and would not have made storm releases during the recent hot dry spell.'A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: 'We are not aware of any recent issues in the River Stour at Fordwich regarding sewage pollution.'The Environment Agency only samples for E.coli at designated bathing waters during the summer bathing water season.'As Fordwich is not a designated bathing water, we do not have any E.coli sample data for this site.The agency advised that swimmers should 'be aware that very few are designated bathing waters' and discouraged swimming in the now-contaminated site. Meanwhile, huge amounts of raw sewage being pumped into the sea by water companies.According to data gathered by environmental campaign group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), there has been storm sewage discharge into the waters at beaches in Cornwall, Devon, Sussex, Essex, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Northumberland and Cumbria. It comes as millions of Britons head to the coast for a last trip away before the end of the summer holidays at the end of this month, but now face the risk of serious illnesses if they swim at affected beaches. Video footage shared online on Tuesday shows sewage being released into the open sea at Seaford in East Sussex. Dark grey water can be seen mingling with the rest of the pale blue ocean just feet away from the popular nearby beach. Heavy rainfall has overwhelmed drainage systems across the country. Southend-on-Sea and Newquay are particularly badly affected. Environmental campaign group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) keeps its own interactive map where surfers and other beach visitors can check the water quality of their local beach on a day to day basis. Ticks mean water quality is fine for water activities, while beaches with cross marks are to be avoided. Spanner and snowflake symbols mean water quality data is unavailable due to ongoing works or the beach being out of season The south coast and Isle of Wight are particularly hit by beach closures, including around Portsmouth and Southend-on-Sea The southern-most tip of Cornwall has three beaches which visitors are urged to avoid for at least the whole of today Half of Southend-on-Sea's beaches currently have dangerous pollution levels, with people urged to avoid going in the water at the eastern half of the resortAt some beaches sewage has been released directly into the sea but others which have seen sewage discharged into nearby rivers are also classed as polluted. A spokeswoman for SAS said other pollution warnings in place may not be linked to heavy rain, and those visiting the coast are advised to check its interactive map on their website before they swim.The most concentrated areas of pollution are across the south coast including Cornwall and Devon. Beaches on the Isle of Wight are also affected.The Environment Agency has an interactive map where individuals can check the water quality at their local beach, and it lists advice for eight of the 50 beaches warning bathing is not advised on a permanent basis.With millions of people expected to head to the coast this week, the SAS is urging people to not assume their local beach is safe.Usually highly popular seaside destinations including Exmouth, Cowes, Eastbourne, Bournemouth and The Headland Cornwall beaches are all deemed as unsafe for the moment. The video shot in East Sussex shows the short distance between sewage release points and seaside hotspotsPollution levels at many beaches in Scotland are currently unavailable due to them being classed as out of season.A spokesperson for Southern Water said: 'Yesterday's thunder storms brought heavy rain which fell onto parched ground and couldn't absorb surface run-off, meaning that more rain than usual overwhelmed our network. 'This led to some overflows – which are used to protect homes, schools, businesses and hospitals from flooding – spilling excess water into the sea in parts of Sussex, including Seaford. These discharges are heavily diluted and typically 95 per cent of them are rainwater.'We are dedicated to significantly reducing storm overflows and are running innovative pilot schemes across the region to reduce the amount of rainfall entering our combined sewers by 2030.'The SAS and other environmental groups have been campaigning for water companies to be prevented from allowing sewage to be released into the UK's oceans for several years.It comes after MPs voted against an amendment to a bill which would have prevented companies from dumping raw sewage into UK rivers in October last year.In 2020 there were more than 400,000 incidents of sewage being released by water companies in Britain. Britain's sewers struggle to cope in heavy rain, leaving sewage works overwhelmed - and, at this point, water firms are allowed to release rainwater and untreated sewage into rivers and the sea to stop waste backing up in streets and homes. However, environmentalists say better infrastructure such as storage tanks could prevent this.Raw sewage is dangerously harmful to wildlife and the health of surfers and wild swimmers. It also poses a dangerous risk to anyone entering the sea in the aftermath of a sewage release.Beach-lovers online have branded the sewage releases as 'revolting' and questioned why water companies are allowed to release it in this way. The government's water minister threatened to fine companies last week after it emerged that in addition to sewage releases, billions of gallons of water is being lost in leaks on a daily basis.Steve Double insisted water firms needed to do more to ensure they can withstand future droughts.'Water companies must continue to invest more, including to prevent leakage and work faster to fix leaks,' he told The Mail on Sunday.'We are losing somewhere between 15 to 20 per cent annually through leakage, which is not acceptable.'Progress has been made but my message to water companies is they need to prioritise customers, not shareholder returns. If we don't see the progress we expect, we won't hesitate to take further action.'The public and Government rightly expect more from our water companies.'Swimmers have already reported contracting nasty bugs including gastroenteritis in British seas this summer - a prolific vomiting bug which can cause serious illness - which are being blamed on sewage releases.A couple who came down with the bug blasted Southern Water after they swam at a beach where sewage had been released just 24 hours previously without their knowledge. The company apologised to the couple on social media. Wastewater being released from a large industrial complex into the River Swale in Kemsley, Kent. The Environment Agency has launched warnings about pollution and sewage being dumped onto beaches in England The usually busy Exmouth beach is one of 50 beaches in England and Wales where raw sewage has been dumped following heavy rainfall which has overwhelmed sewage systems Surfers protest against the dumping of sewage at the beach near Bournemouth Pier in 2021 in action which involved dozens of activists It's not just the south of England which is affected - the north coast is also seeing poor water quality in seaside towns such as Whitley Devon and Dorset both have multiple beaches which holidaymakers should avoid, although there are plenty of others availableSouthern Water was fined a record £90 million in July 2021 after bosses admitted deliberately dumping billions of litres of raw sewage illegally thousands of times over a five-year period into the sea.The company pleaded guilty to 6,971 unpermitted sewage discharges from 17 places - the equivalent of one pipe leaking continuously for seven years.Tons of sewage polluted rivers and coastal waters in Kent, Hampshire and Sussex between 2010 and 2015, a court was told.The Environment Agency brought a criminal investigation after shellfish conservations were found to be contaminated with E. coli.Passing sentence, the Honourable Mr Justice Johnson said, of the formal 51 guilty pleas, that the Southern Water's behaviour had been 'shocking' and the offences had been 'committed deliberately' by the company's board of directors at the time.As well as beaches, bodies of water and tourist hotspots are also facing pollution warnings across the UK. At Lake Windemere in the Lake District dead fish have been pictured washing up ashore after visitors were warned of poor water quality.The issues come as millions of UK residents are currently living under hosepipe bans and in areas officially in drought.Southern Water, South East Water, Welsh Water, Yorkshire Water and Thames Water have all announced hosepipe bans either now or in the coming weeks. South West Water and Severn Trent have all indicated they will also bring in restrictions.Together, the bans cover more than 32 million people.Despite the heavy rain seen across the UK over the last 48 hours, this will do little to help the drought-stricken countryside as it is prolonged rain that is needed rather than rare, heavy downpours. This is due to the dry ground becoming quickly saturated with water, meaning most of the downpour cannot be absorbed into the soil.Instead this excess water goes into our drainage systems, creating the overflow problems which are leading to sewage release.Experts warn that global warming will only lead to more extreme weather such as hotter temperatures and more frequent heatwaves, droughts and storms. Some fish and other wild animals are believed to have died as a result if high pollution levels in Lake Windemere in the Lake District Local officials have now warned the lake is covered in 'toxic' algae, and told locals not to enter the water or allow their pets to do so What are the current laws on water companies releasing sewage into rivers and the sea? Britain's sewer system, which is still largely Victorian, becomes unable to cope when there is too much rainwater, causing sewage works to become overwhelmed. It is under these circumstances that water companies are permitted to release rainwater, and a smaller amount of untreated sewage, directly into rivers and the sea, to stop waste backing up in streets and homes.But environmentalists say better infrastructure, like storage tanks at treatment works, or nature-based solutions like tree-planting, could better tackle the problem, which has become excessive.Figures show more than 400,000 sewage 'overflows' took place into English waters last year, lasting a total of 3.1 million hours, compared to 293,000 in 2019.The WWF has suggested that water companies are 'relying on sewer overflows to compensate for under-capacity'. Waste water is normally released to the environment following treatment, either out to sea through long sea outfalls or coastal discharges, or into rivers. The proposed amendment to the Government's Environment Bill had been inserted into the legislation by the House of Lords but MPs voted to remove it. The amendment aimed to clean up rivers by placing a new duty on water companies to reduce raw sewage discharges into rivers. Sewage pours onto a beach and into the sea at a site next to the North Sea in England | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
The startling heatwave has brought drought to some parts of England which has seen their driest month since records began, the Met Office has said.The lowest amount of rainfall in July since 200 years ago, in 1836, has been had in southern England. The South-east and central southern England saw an average of only 5.0mm of rain In July, while East Anglia had 5.4mm. Last month was also one of the warmest Julys on record, with a mean temperature across the UK of 16.6C and saw the UK's new record become 40.3C. Tomorrow will see temperatures of 29.4C (86.5F) in the UK with 27C in London, while parts of East Anglia will reach as high as 28C along with central southern England. The news comes as infrastructure advisers are calling for a national hosepipe ban and compulsory water metering and the first ban of the year is enforced following the recent heatwave amid of a pictured of dried out grass across the UK and depleted reservoirs. The startling heatwave has brought drought to some parts of England which has seen its driest month since records began, the Met Office has said. Pictured: Packed beach in Lyme Regis in Dorset South-east and central southern England saw an average of only 5.0mm of rain In July, while East Anglia had 5.4mm. Pictured: Two sunbathers in Lyme Regis in Dorset today For both areas it was the lowest amount of rainfall in July since Met Office records began almost 200 years ago, in 1836. Pictured: The seaside resort of Lyme Regis in Dorset today The beach is packed today with holidaymakers and sunbathers enjoying the scorching hot afternoon sunshine at the seaside resort of Lyme Regis in Dorset England as a whole saw an average of 23.1mm - the lowest figure for the month since 1935 and also the seventh lowest July total on record.The UK-wide average did not rank quite so low, with 46.3mm of rainfall - the 19th lowest July total since 1836.Both July 2021 and 1995 were also an average of 16.6C, with only four other Julys ranked higher. The highest recorded mean UK temperature for July was 17.8C in 2006. Met Office figures for temperature date back to 1884.Temperatures in London and the South East could then push as high as 29C on Tuesday, before turning sunnier and cooler from the middle of the week.Greg Dewhurst, a Met Office forecaster, said: 'There's going to be a very muggy feel, more so at night, so expect an uncomfortable time sleeping, with temperatures in the late teens.'He said an area of 'tropical maritime air' moving in from the south west will hang over the UK over the coming days. Another forecaster earlier said an 'odd rumble of thunder may be heard in isolated areas'.The Met Office also said there will be some rain across western and central parts Wednesday, showers in the north while it will continue to be hot in the southeast. Thursday and Friday will turn cool, the weather service added, with sunny spells and showers, which will be mainly confined to the north. People enjoying the good weather at Tynemouth beach today on the North East coast as the temperature hit 22C Greywell Cricket Club in Odiham, Hampshire looks decidedly parched amid the heatwaveAs the images show, this July the area from Hull to the Isle of Wight, taking in London and the South-East, was bleached by the scorching heatwave until the ground was as yellow as the Sahara Desert. Ironically, it is reported that one Saharan town experienced five times as much rainfall as the UK. Pictured: July 19 2022Photographs taken from space for Nasa in July last year, which was called by the Met Office the fifth warmest July on record, show a green and pleasant UK, unaffected by the sort of conditions experienced just last week. Pictured: July 17 2021 A man walks through a dry bank of a tributary to the Dowry Reservoir near Oldham on July 18. Some parts of the South and East of England have had less than 1mm of rain all month A view of low water levels at Roadford Lake in Devon as temperatures reached 40C for the first time on record in the UKThe National Infrastructure Committee (NIC) has said water needs to start being managed better across the UK, otherwise the country could face a future of queueing for emergency bottled supplies 'from the back of lorries'.The Government also needs to invest around £20 billion in the nation's water supply equipment, NIC chairman Sir John Armitt told The Observer. WHAT IS BANNED? Southern Water have outlined the following activities as being forbidden under their Temporary Use BanWatering a garden using a hosepipe Cleaning a private motor-vehicle using a hosepipeWatering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipeCleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipeFilling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling poolDrawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational useFilling or maintaining a domestic pond using a hosepipeFilling or maintaining an ornamental fountainCleaning walls, or windows, of domestic premises using a hosepipeCleaning paths or patios using a hosepipeCleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe 'You have to pay for (water), one way or another,' he said. 'That could be investing in new reservoirs or moving water around the country, as well as stopping leaks.'The committee's warning - which has been backed by the Rivers Trust - comes as the first hosepipe ban of the year is enforced following the recent heatwave and one of the driest starts to the year on record.Southern Water is to impose the temporary use ban on its customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from Friday, August 5.This will mean hosepipes cannot be used to water gardens or clean cars, and ornamental ponds and swimming pools must not be filled.The restriction is the first to be put in place in the region since 2012, with Southern Water saying river flows are down 25 per cent as a result of one of the driest years on record.A hosepipe ban was also introduced on Friday on the Isle of Man by Manx Utilities.The Rivers Trust and the Angling Trust echoed the NIC's calls for more mindful water use across the country as the situation is predicted to become more dire in the years ahead.Mark Lloyd, from the Rivers Trust, told The Observer: 'There needs to be a nationally co-ordinated publicity campaign to reduce water use, and universal water metering.'Low flows in rivers are disastrous for wildlife and, ultimately, we need to take much more care of this incredibly precious resource.'Mark Owen, of the Angling Trust, criticised the Government for its lack of planning for extreme weather, telling The Observer: 'There is no strategic, coherent, joined-up approach. The reaction is always knee-jerk.'What happens when we get to this stage - when it is very dry and hot - is that all of a sudden usage shoots up as people fill paddling pools and water their gardens.' The parched fairways at Ely Golf Club in Cambridgeshire compared to the well watered greens. Across the UK it has so far been the driest July since 1984, with an average of 1.5in (37.7mm) of rain, and it is the eighth driest in records stretching back to 1836 Data showed there has only been 15.8mm (0.6in) of rain averaged across England, just 24 per cent of the amount that would be expected in an average July. This graph shows data up to Monday The National Infrastructure Committee (NIC) has said water needs to start being managed better across the UK, otherwise the country could face a future of queueing for emergency bottled supplies 'from the back of lorries' A view of Bewl Water Reservoir near Lamberhurst in Kent when it was recently measured at 67 per cent of its capacity as the dry weather continues The Met Office has said figures also show England has had the driest eight-month period from November 2021 to June 2022 since 1976 Recent low water levels at Llwyn Onn reservoir in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. The Rivers Trust and the Angling Trust echoed the NIC's calls for more mindful water use across the country as the situation is predicted to become more dire in the years aheadA spokesperson for The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, told the Observer: 'Water companies have a duty to ensure supplies.'That’s why we continue to challenge those with a poor record on leakage and are working to ensure they introduce new infrastructure such as reservoirs and water transfers.'We’re also taking forward measures to support water efficiency in homes.'Across the UK it has so far been the driest July since 1984, with an average of 1.5in (37.7mm) of rain, and it is the eighth driest in records stretching back to 1836.Over that period, just 16.6in (421mm) of rain has fallen across England - less than three-quarters (74 per cent) of the 1991-2020 average of 22.4in (568mm).This year the temperature reached 38.1C in Santon Downham in Suffolk on July 18 and a record-breaking 40.3C in Coningsby in Lincolnshire on July 19.South-east England clocked up 24 days of zero average rainfall between June 1 and July 24 this year, Met Office figures show. In the same period in 1976, the region experienced 36 days without rain.Mark McCarthy, head of the Met Office National Climate Information Centre, said: 'It is not just July that has been dry. Since the start of the year, all months apart from February have been drier than average in the UK too.'The result of this is that the winter, spring and summer of 2022 have all seen less than the UK average seasonal rainfall.'England has seen the lowest levels during these periods and rainfall totals for the first six months of the year are around 25 per cent below their long-term average, with the driest regions in the east and south-east.' | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Government health officials today insisted there was no reason for schools or workplaces to close during next week's unprecedented 41C (106F) heatwave - as the Gatwick Express was cancelled and teachers and rail workers shup up shop as a 'national emergency' was declared..Bosses have also shot down the idea of Britons working from home to protect themselves - but many will face major disruption on their commute, with Network Rail advising passengers to 'only travel if absolutely necessary'.It comes as some schools said they would close early or shut altogether, one hospital cancelled all routine outpatient appointments or surgery and the UK faced a 'national emergency' ahead of the hottest day on record.The Gatwick Express will not be in service on Monday and Tuesday, while Thameslink and Great Northern will be running a 'significantly reduced service across all routes'.A statement from Thameslink added: 'Trains that do run will be busy and travel is expected to be disrupted with a high chance of incidents that cause cancellations.'Even if you are able to travel in the morning on Monday and Tuesday, you may find there is significant disruption to return journeys in the evening so if you are travelling you should consider alternative ways to get home.'The Met Office today issued a first-ever red warning for extreme heat for Monday and Tuesday next week. And the UK Health Security Agency in turn issued a Level Four heat-health alert covering the whole of England for both days, which warns: 'Illness and death may occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups.'Also today, a sombre Met Office chief executive Penny Endersby released a dramatic video warning Britons are 'not adapted to what is coming' as she warned of 'absolutely unprecedented' conditions for the UK.Health officials told Britons to 'look out for others, especially older people, young children and babies and those with underlying health conditions' – and transport bosses warned of major rail disruption. Operators advised passengers against non-essential travel next Monday and Tuesday, with speed restrictions likely.A blanket speed limit is expected to be imposed on all trains across South East England including London, with main line and high-speed services expected be allowed to run at only 60mph on Monday and Tuesday. Avanti West Coast has suspended ticket sales on its London-Glasgow route for Monday and Tuesday 'to minimise the number of people disrupted' while c2c, which runs from Essex to London, is 'advising customers not to travel'. Meteorologists said there is now an 80 per cent chance of breaking the all-time UK record of 38.7C (101.6F) set in Cambridge on July 15, 2019 - a probability that is up from 60 per cent earlier today, and 30 per cent on Monday.Parts of London are now set to hit 41C (106F) both next Monday and Tuesday, according to BBC Weather – and either would break the record, which itself overtook a previous high of 38.5C (101.3F) in Kent on August 10, 2003.Ms Endersby said: 'The extreme heat we're forecasting right now is absolutely unprecedented. We've seen when climate change has driven such unprecedented severe weather events all around the world it can be difficult for people to make the best decisions in these situations because nothing in their life experience has led them to know what to expect. Here in the UK we're used to treating a hot spell as a chance to go and play in the sun. 'This is not that sort of weather. Our lifestyles and our infrastructure are not adapted to what is coming. Please treat the warnings we are putting out as seriously as you would a red or amber warning from us for wind or snow and follow the advice. Stay out of the sun, keep your home cool, think about adjusting your plans.'Forecasters had already this week issued an 'amber' heat warning - for only the third time ever - from Sunday to Tuesday for most of England and Wales. But today this was extended to all of England and Wales and southern Scotland - and upgraded to an unprecedented 'red' for parts of central and southern England, including London.It comes as schools are preparing to send pupils home early or close altogether, scrapping PE lessons and banning children from playing outside in a series of measures being considered as the UK braces for the heat. TUESDAY: The Met Office expects temperatures to hit 40C (104F) in London next Tuesday, which would be unprecedented NEXT WEEK: The Met Office has issued this forecast map to accompany the extreme heat warning next Monday and Tuesday The Met Office had already this week issued an 'amber' heat warning - for only the third time ever - from Sunday to Tuesday for most of England and Wales. But today this was extended to all of England and Wales and southern Scotland - and upgraded to an unprecedented 'red' for parts of central and southern England, including London, on Monday and Tuesday 'National emergency': The UK Health Security Agency issued a Level Four heat-health alert today covering the whole of England for both days, which warns: 'Illness and death may occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups' A group of young people enjoy the hot weather at Bournemouth this morning as they go for a dip in the sea People on Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon as the UK continues to enjoy the warm weather Sunbathers on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning as they enjoy the continuing hot weather for England People on Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon as the UK continues to enjoy the warm weather A steam train travels past beach huts and sunbathers at Goodrington Sands in Paignton, Devon, this afternoon Two women sunbathe on Bournemouth beach in Dorset today on what is another hot day at the seasideThe red alert issued this morning warns of 'an exceptional hot spell on Monday and Tuesday leading to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure', adding that 'population-wide adverse health effects' will be 'not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to serious illness or danger to life'. How Met Office chief was previously part of MoD's secretive research unitBY JAMES ROBINSON FOR MAILONLINEProfessor Penny Endersby, who issued the sombre video about the heatwave shared online today, is the Met Office's first female chief.She took up the role in December 2018, taking over from Rob Varley who dramatically quit the agency following reports of a row with government chiefs.Professor Endersby, who studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge, joined the Met Office from the Ministry of Defence's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).DSTL is the executive agency which runs the highly secretive Porton Down research facility in Wiltshire. There, Professor Endersby led the cyber and information systems division.She was also acting chief technical officer, as well as a non-executive director of Ploughshare Innovations, the Ministry of Defence's technology transfer organisation.At the time of her appointment, the Met Office said Professor Endersby had wide-ranging experience with high performance computing, complex modelling and simulation, space systems and weather, geospatial intelligence and analytics, and - ultimately - delivering life-saving science for defence and security users.Met Office chair Rob Woodward said at the time he was 'delighted' she would be at the helm of the organisation.He said: 'I and the rest of the board are very much looking forward to working with her as we build on the outstanding reputation of the Met Office and continue the important transformation which will enable the Met Office to remain a world class organisation'.Speaking about her appointment in 2018, she said: 'Throughout my career my leadership ethos centres on creating the conditions wherein scientists and scientific excellence can thrive, while maintaining a keen focus on business delivery to customers. I look forward immensely to working with such a talented workforce.'At the time of her appointment, the Met Office chief executive job was advertised with a salary range of £88,000 to £162,500. Mr Varley's salary band was £120,000 to £125,000 according to the agency's annual report at the time he stepped down.Outside of her work, Professor Endersby is a mother-of-two and an expert choir singer. She is said to have an interest in wildlife and is a trustee of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.Confirming the new alert this morning, Met Office meteorologist Grahame Madge said: 'We've just issued a red warning for extreme heat for Monday and Tuesday which is the first such warning ever issued. The warning covers an area from London up to Manchester and then up to the Vale of York. This is potentially a very serious situation.'And England's chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty said: 'The Met Office has issued an extreme heat warning for next week. Please remember the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke especially for older and medically vulnerable people. Early intervention to cool people down and rehydrate them can be lifesaving.' The Met Office said the hot weather is being caused by high pressure over the UK, with a southerly air flow from the continent developing over the weekend to allow very high temperatures to start spreading northwards. The warmth is coming up from Spain and Portugal which have also had a record heatwave with 47C (117F) highs.The warning also says 'government advice is that 999 services should be used in emergencies only; seek advice from 111 if you need non-emergency health advice' and 'substantial changes in working practices and daily routines will be required'.There will also be a 'high risk of failure of heat-sensitive systems and equipment, potentially leading to localised loss of power and other essential services, such as water or mobile phone services'. The alert adds: 'Significantly more people visiting coastal areas, lakes and rivers, leading to an increased risk of water safety incidents.'Bookmaker Ladbrokes is now making it odds on at 1/2 that the UK's hottest day on record will come next week. The Met Office has also warned of travel chaos, saying: 'Delays on roads and road closures, along with delays and cancellations to rail and air travel, with significant welfare issues for those who experience even moderate delays.'A meeting of London's Strategic Communication Group was called today, and Transport for London warned commuters of a 'reduced service' on three Overground lines – Richmond to Stratford; Watford to Euston; and Romford to Upminster - 'due to the hot weather', with London Mayor Sadiq Khan warning of an 'impact on travel'.Mr Khan said: 'The Met Office has now issued a red warning for extreme heat on Monday and Tuesday. This is potentially dangerous and a very serious consequence of climate change. This warning is not limited to the most vulnerable and means that substantial changes in all our daily routines will be required, and there is likely to be an impact on travel. 'All of the capital's key agencies and emergency services are working closely together to ensure London is prepared for the extreme heat that is forecast and will continue to provide advice for Londoners ahead of Monday. I urge Londoners to be very careful and to look after each other in the comings days.'Employment lawyer Liam Entwistle, of Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP in Scotland, said workers could be legally entitled to leave the office next week if temperatures become too hot to work. He said: 'Bosses should be sensible and ensure their staff members aren't carrying out highly strenuous work when temperatures soar, in order to avoid complaints from disgruntled employees. If it gets too hot to work, employees could have the right to take the day off work, especially if employers don't put effective cooling measures in place.'Mr Madge added that computer modelling had been 'firming up around just how intense the heat will be for Monday and Tuesday, with the emphasis on Tuesday'. He added: 'It's now considered 80 per cent chance we will see the all-time UK record broken. There's stronger indications now of 50 per cent chance of seeing 40C (104F) being observed somewhere in the UK, and most likely that would be within the red warning area for extreme heat.'Probably the most likely areas to look at would be north of London and up to Lincolnshire, inland. Somewhere like Peterborough, Grantham, Sandy, Stevenage... A1 corridor. If we get to 40C, that's a very iconic threshold and shows that climate change is with us now. This is made much more likely because of climate change.'Mr Madge warned that if people have vulnerable relatives or neighbours, 'now is the time to make sure they're putting suitable measures in place to be able to cope with the heat'. He added: 'Because if the forecast is as we think it will be in the red warning area, then people's lives are at risk. This is a very serious situation.'Meanwhile, the heat has led to Hammersmith Bridge being wrapped in silver insulation foil to reflect the sun. Sunbathers on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning as they enjoy the continuing hot weather for England Sunbathers make the most of the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning Sunbathers on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning as they enjoy the continuing hot weather for England A group of women walk along the sand at Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as they enjoy the hot weather Sunbathers on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning as they enjoy the continuing hot weather for England Two women in the water off Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as they enjoy the hot weather Sunbathers on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning as they enjoy the continuing hot weather for England A group of women set up a tent on Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as they enjoy the hot weather Two men enjoy a drink on Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as they make the most of the hot weather Sunbathers on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning as they enjoy the continuing hot weather for England A zip wire across Bournemouth beach is used today as sunseekers flock to the Dorset coast Sunbathers on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning as they enjoy the continuing hot weather for England Two people enjoy an ice cream on Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as they make the most of the hot weather Sunbathers on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning as they enjoy the continuing hot weather for England A group of people walk along the sand at Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as they enjoy the hot weather Sunbathers on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning as they enjoy the continuing hot weather for England People in the sea at Brighton Beach in East Sussex today as the warm weather continues for England Visitors enjoy the hot weather on Brighton beach in East Sussex today as the heatwave continues across England People in the sea at Brighton Beach in East Sussex today as the warm weather continues for England A woman sunbathes on Brighton beach in East Sussex this morning as England continues to experience very hot weather People enjoy the sunshine on the beach in Brighton today as the Met Office issued a red extreme heat warning for next week People in the sea and on the pebbles at Brighton Beach in East Sussex today as the warm weather continues for England Beachgoers enjoy the weather at Goodrington Sands in Paignton, Devon, this afternoon A locomotive train on the Dartmouth Steam Railway travels past beach huts at Goodrington Sands in Paignton today Beachgoers enjoy the weather at Goodrington Sands in Paignton, Devon, this afternoon A locomotive train on the Dartmouth Steam Railway travels past beach huts at Goodrington Sands in Paignton today Beachgoers enjoy the weather at Goodrington Sands in Paignton, Devon, this afternoonMet Office chief executive Penny Endersby said in a sombre video online that the forecast is 'absolutely unprecedented', while Network Rail warned people to 'only travel in England and Wales if absolutely necessary' next Monday and TuesdayThe Grade II*-listed bridge in West London has had a £420,000 'temperature control system' fitted to reduce stress on its cast-iron pedestals, on which fractures widened in an August 2020 heatwave and forced it to be shut. What are the potential impacts of extreme heat in amber & red warning?The Met Office has issued an unprecedented red weather warning for 'extreme heat' for Monday and Tuesday for parts of central and southern England. This comes on top of an amber warning for some of England on Sunday - and for all of England and Wales and southern Scotland on Monday and Tuesday. The extreme heat warning system ranges from yellow to red and indicates how likely and how much of an impact the weather will have on public life. The alerts warn of 'widespread impacts on people and infrastructure'.Forecasters say the heatwave could impact the health of everyone – not only the vulnerable – while it could also impact electricity, gas and water supplies. Here is how it could impact different parts of daily life:RAIL TRAVELThe Met Office says that delays and cancellations to rail travel are possible with 'potential for significant welfare issues for those who experience even moderate delays'. And Network Rail has warned people to travel only if absolutely necessary amid the high temperatures, with speed restrictions and disruption likely.Jake Kelly, Network Rail's System Operator group director, said: 'Rail passengers in England and Wales should only travel if necessary on Monday and Tuesday as there will be delays and cancellations to train services due to the unprecedented heat we're expecting.'The wellbeing of our passengers is our first priority so we're asking all passengers who decide to travel to take time to prepare before leaving the house.'Network Rail has warned that services across the UK may be subject to the speed restrictions to avoid tracks buckling, with Avanti West Coast, South Western Railway and Heathrow Express among the operators warning of potential disruption. West Midlands Trains and London Northwestern Railway have already imposed limits on sections of their network this week.ROADS The Met Office says that delays on roads and road closures are possible during the heat alert period. The RAC has urged motorists to 'think carefully before they drive, and do everything they can to avoid a breakdown'. It says motorists should check the coolant and oil levels under the bonnet when the engine is cold. It added: 'If temperatures were to go as high as around 40C as some are predicting, then people should question their decision to drive in the first place.'Hampshire County Council is preparing to deploy gritters in response to melting roads, saying that the machines will be spreading light dustings of sand which 'acts like a sponge to soak up excess bitumen'.Motorists who find tar stuck to their tyres are advised to wash it off with warm soapy water.AIRPORTSThe Met Office has warned that air travel could also be disruption during the heat. This is because planes can become too heavy to take off in very hot weather due to reduced air density resulting in a lack of lift.This happened during a heatwave in summer 2018 at London City Airport when some passengers had to be removed so the services become light enough to take off on the relatively short runway.UTILITIESThe Met Office has warned that a failure of 'heat-sensitive systems and equipment' is possible. This could result in a loss of power and other essential services, such as water, electricity and gas. Hot weather can lead to high demand on the power network because people are turning on fans and air conditioning - and the heat can also lead to a drop in the efficiency of overhead power cables and transformers.WORKPLACESThe Met Office says that 'changes in working practices and daily routines will be required' in the extreme heat. There is no specific law for a maximum working temperature, or when it is too hot to work.But employers are expected to ensure that in offices or similar environments, the temperature in workplaces must be 'reasonable'. Companies must follow follow health and safety laws which include keeping the temperature at a comfortable level, known as 'thermal comfort'; and providing clean and fresh air.The Trades Union Congress says that during heatwaves staff should be allowed to start work earlier, or stay later, leave jackets and ties in the wardrobe and have regular breaks. It is also calling for an absolute maximum indoor temperature of 30C (86F) - or 27C (81F) for strenuous jobs - to legally indicate when work should stop.HEALTH The Met Office has said that adverse health effects could be 'experienced by all, not just limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to serious illness or danger to life' during the warning period. In addition, charity Asthma and Lung UK has warned up to three million asthma sufferers could be affected by high pollen levels, so should use their inhalers. SCHOOLS Plans to cope with the heat, created by the NHS and UKHSA, say children should not do 'vigorous physical activity' when temperatures rise above 30C (86F).Some sports days have been cancelled this week, while official advice suggests moving school start, end and break times to avoid the hottest points in the day.The bridge - which was reopened to pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic in July 2021 - now has what the council labelled as a 'giant air conditioning unit on each of the four pedestal chains', which are anchored to the river bed and regulated to be kept under 13C (55F) in the summer. If any of them reach 18C (64F), the bridge will be shut.The cooling system is now being run through the night and parts of the chains that are above the water level on the 135-year-old bridge over the River Thames are being wrapped in silver insulation foil which reflects the sun.Meanwhile students at three primary schools in Herefordshire have already been told they will not be allowed to play outside. Schools are also encouraging pupils to wear a T-shirt and shorts instead of normal clothes.The Hereford Academy is allowing secondary school pupils to start early next week and finish at 2pm to allow them to be 'away for the hottest part of the day'. The academy said it would also bring its sports day forward to avoid the high temperatures next week.And parents at Marlbrook, Little Dewchurch and St Martin's primary schools were told PE lessons will be scrapped and pupils will not be allowed outside to play. A letter added: 'We are also giving parents the option to keep children at home on Monday.' Crestwood Community School in Eastleigh, Hampshire, is among the schools to cancel sports day, saying that 'we do not feel that it is safe for students to be out in the heat all day, taking part in physical activity.'In East London, the headteacher of Clapton Girls' Academy warned of an early finish at 12.30pm amid fears school facilities will be unable to cope with the heat. Anna Feltham told parents: 'Already, many classrooms are very hot, even with fans, and students are struggling to keep cool, drink enough water and maintain concentration in lessons.'Next week's heatwave will make many teaching rooms unbearably hot by lesson two and five. We have reviewed a number of options but do not have sufficient 'cool' rooms to re-room lessons into.'St John's CE Middle School Academy in Bromsgrove has said pupils 'can come to school wearing non-uniform to enable children to wear loose, light-coloured clothing that will help keep them as cool as possible'. The school said it would sell ice pops to pupils in aid of Cancer Research, and that pupils would be encouraged not to run during playtimes to prevent heat exhaustion.At the Co-op Academy Swinton in Greater Manchester, pupils are being permitted to wear their PE kit rather than uniform on Monday and Tuesday, as a 'temporary adjustment to the requirements for uniform'.Arnold Hill Spencer Academy in Nottingham said pupils will have the option to wear their PE kit instead of their normal uniform, while pupils preferring to wear uniform will not need to wear a blazer or tie on Monday or Tuesday.Great Dunham Primary in Norfolk also advised that all pupils should 'wear PE kits rather than uniform on Monday and Tuesday'. The school added: 'Please ensure they have a sunhat, lotion and water bottles. We will not be going out at lunchtime, instead the children will eat and do activities in class. Stay safe.'Abercarn Primary School in Newport also said that pupils should apply sunscreen, wear a cap or hat and bring a water bottle to school, while pupils can wear non-uniform from Monday to Wednesday next week.Andy Byers, headteacher of Framwellgate School Durham, said he would be encouraging pupils to drink water and wear sunscreen and pupils would come to school in PE kit. We've got a sports day, we're going ahead with it, but we're making sure that we've got measures in place, risk assessments in place to do it.'In an update to schools, the Government signposted heatwave guidance for teachers and other early years professionals, noting that children sweat less than adults and cannot regulate their body temperature as well, which puts them at risk of heat stress and exhaustion.During heatwaves, teachers are advised to encourage pupils to wear loose clothing and sunhats 'with wide brims'. Staff should open windows as early as possible before pupils arrive in the morning to improve ventilation and should keep the use of electric light and equipment to a minimum. Mechanical fans can be used when temperatures are below 35C but not at higher temperatures as they can make dehydration worse.And Red Hall Primary School in Darlington has banned children from playing outside in the scorching heat unless they wear a hat, saying it was a 'real concern' that many pupils were attending school without one this week.Health chiefs fear the NHS will be overwhelmed by a number of heat-related casualties if the mercury does indeed rise to levels only usually seen at Death Valley in California, which is the world's hottest place.The chief executive of Milton Keynes University Hospital said routine outpatient appointments and surgery would not go ahead on Monday and Tuesday following the warning over extreme heat.Joe Harrison said on Twitter: 'It has been extremely busy @MKHospital over the past week, with more patients than usual needing emergency care and significant pressure on our staff. As we go into the weekend, temperatures are forecast to rise up to 39C on Monday and Tuesday.'We have taken the decision to stand down routine outpatient appointments and surgery on Monday and Tuesday because many of patients travelling to these appointments are frail and at increased risk, and due to the unpredictable nature of very high temperatures on demand for emergency care and on care environment. Beachgoers flock to the seaside resort of Lyme Regis to soak up the sun on another day of scorching hot sunshine today Sunbathers on the beach enjoying the scorching hot sunshine at the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare in Somerset today People enjoy the warm weather while sat on deckchairs at the Somerset seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare today People enjoy the weather in London this morning as they make the most of the conditions in a park A woman sunbathes on parched grass in London today as people make the most of the hot weather in the capital A woman uses an umbrella to shelter from the sun near Hammersmith in West London today People walk along Whitehall in Westminster today as they take a look at Downing Street in the sunshine Partially suntanned rowers travel on the River Thames near Hammersmith in West London in the sunny weather today A woman sunbathes on parched grass in London today as people make the most of the hot weather in the capital A man enjoys the sun on his boat on the River Thames near Hammersmith in West London today People enjoy the weather in London this morning as they make the most of the conditions in a park People enjoy the sunny weather on the banks of the River Thames near Hammersmith in West London today A woman sits in a park in London today as people enjoy the warm weather across the country Rowers enjoy the sunny weather on the River Thames near Hammersmith in West London today Empty deckchairs sit in a parched Hyde Park in London today as temperatures continue to rise and visitors stay in the shade People enjoy the weather in London this morning as they make the most of the conditions in a park A woman walks her dog through a parched Hyde Park in London this afternoon as temperatures continue to rise A woman uses an umbrella to shelter from the sun near Hammersmith in West London this afternoon People make the most of the conditions in a park in London today as the warm weather continues'We will do all we can to keep wards and departments as cool as possible, but we know this will be a challenge given the very high outside temperature.' What are Britain's ten hottest days on record? 1) 38.7C - July 25, 20192) 38.5C - August 10, 20033) 37.8C - July 31, 20204) 37.1C - August 3, 1990=5) 36.7C - July 1, 2015=5) 36.7C - August 9, 19117) 36.6C - August 2, 19908) 36.5C - July 19, 2006=9) 36.4C - August 7, 2020=9) 36.4C - August 6, 2003North Wales Police said today that a paddleboarder had died after getting into difficulty in water off Conwy Morfa. The force said it was called to reports of three people in trouble at 10.14pm yesterday.In a statement, the police said: 'Officers attended alongside colleagues from HM Coastguard, RNLI and Welsh Ambulance, who attended to three casualties.'Two of the casualties were taken by ambulance to Ysbyty Gwynedd but, sadly, despite the best efforts of all involved, one person passed away in hospital.'The local coroner has been informed and specialist officers will be supporting the family of the deceased.'The Met Office warning from Sunday to Tuesday - which was issued earlier this week - said the weather could cause health problems across the population, not just among people vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to potentially serious illness or danger to life.Rail firm Avanti West Coast has warned passengers who wish to use services between London Euston and Scotland to plan ahead due to the impact of the heat on rail lines. The company said that weekend services may be cancelled at short notice while journeys on Monday and Tuesday will be subject to amended timetables.Jake Kelly, Network Rail's System Operator group director, said: 'Rail passengers in England and Wales should only travel if necessary on Monday and Tuesday as there will be delays and cancellations to train services due to the unprecedented heat we're expecting. 'The wellbeing of our passengers is our first priority so we're asking all passengers who decide to travel to take time to prepare before leaving the house.Twitter users have claimed some schools and nurseries are closing next Monday and Tuesday because of the hot weather'Remember to bring a water bottle with you, along with whatever else you need to keep yourself well in the heat. Water bottles can be refilled for free at most Network Rail's managed stations. Hammersmith Bridge is given air conditioning unit to stop it overheatingHammersmith Bridge has been wrapped in silver insulation foil to reflect the sun during the heatwave as forecasters confirmed parts of England are now on course to hit a record-breaking 104F (40C) next week.The Grade II*-listed bridge in West London has had a £420,000 'temperature control system' fitted to reduce stress on its cast-iron pedestals, on which fractures widened in an August 2020 heatwave and forced it to be shut. Hammersmith Bridge has been wrapped in silver insulation foil and fitted with a £420,000 'temperature control system'The bridge - which was reopened to pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic in July 2021 - now has what the council labelled as a 'giant air conditioning unit on each of the four pedestal chains', which are anchored to the river bed and regulated to be kept under 13C (55F) in the summer. If any of them reach 18C (64F), the bridge will be shut.The cooling system is now being run through the night and parts of the chains that are above the water level on the 135-year-old bridge over the River Thames are being wrapped in silver insulation foil which reflects the sun.Project manager Sebastian Springer said: 'The safety of the public is our first priority. The temperature control system allows us to track weather spikes and maintain a constant temperature. As we deal with the current extreme heat, we are also coming | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
This aerial photograph taken on September 1, 2022 shows flood-affected people taking refuge in tents after heavy monsoon rains in Dera Allah Yar town of Jaffarabad district, Balochistan province. - Monsoon rains have submerged a third of Pakistan, claiming at least 1,190 lives since June and unleashing powerful floods that have washed away swathes of vital crops and damaged or destroyed more than a million homes.Fida Hussain | Afp | Getty ImagesThe cost of flood damage to insured property around the globe is rising drastically, and climate change is one of several factors, according to a new report out Thursday from the insurance giant Swiss Re.From 1991 to 2000, global insured losses from floods was about $30 billion. In the next decade, global insured losses from floods was $40 billion, and from 2011 to 2020, global insured losses from floods was $80 billion, according to Swiss Re.In the first year of the next decade alone, 2021, insured losses were $20 billion, Swiss Re said.That's only a fraction of the total losses from flooding. In the decade from 2011 to 2020, 82 percent of global economic losses from floods was uninsured, according to Swiss Re.Population growth, the growth of cities, and the increasing intensity of flooding events due to climate change are to blame for the surge in the damage done by floods. "Climate change is increasing likelihood of high-intensity, heavy rain and short-duration floods events associated with tropical cyclones," the report from Swiss Re said.Currently, Pakistan is struggling to recover from deadly floods that have killed more than 1,000 people and injured many more, according to António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations."Pakistan is awash in suffering. The Pakistani people are facing a monsoon on steroids — the relentless impact of epochal levels of rain and flooding," Guterres said on Monday. "As we continue to see more and more extreme weather events around the world, it is outrageous that climate action is being put on the back burner as global emissions of greenhouse gases are still rising, putting all of us – everywhere – in growing danger," Guterres said.In the United States, almost 40% of the population lives in coastal counties and another 10% in floodplains."Despite the private flood insurance market gaining traction over the last few years, too many people are still not covered for flooding and the majority of those impacted by these events are uninsured, leaving them to pick up the pieces at their own expense," Keith Wolfe, president of property and casualty for Swiss Re in the US, said in a written statement.Extreme rainfall can cause flooding anywhere, said Swiss Re."Flood risk is in a lot more places than your mortgage company tells you," Wolfe said.For the insurance industry, the ability to properly insure properties for flooding risk is improving due to better date and more granular risk mapping, Swiss Re said. It's still not perfect, though. The accuracy for measuring flood risk has improved but it still "remains limited," the report said. . | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Heat-related deaths in Spain and Portugal pass 1,000 As Europe faces a record-breaking heatwave, Spain and Portugal have confirmed at least 1,169 people have died from heat-related issues.According to the ministry of health in both countries at least 510 people have had heat-related deaths in Spain between 10 July and 18 July, with 273 of these deaths recorded on Friday.Meanwhile, Portugal has recorded 659 heat-related deaths between 7 July and 17 July, local officials have reported.Thousands of firefighters are struggling to contain the wildfires spreading across Western Europe and many locals have been forced to evacuate as extreme temperatures continue to grip the region. At least 60 houses destroyed in fires as government praises fire service Kit Malthouse, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has praised the fire service for their efforts yesterday during record temperatures. In a statement in the Commons, he said at least 41 properties have been destroyed in London, 14 in Norfolk, five in Lincolnshire and smaller numbers elsewhere."On behalf of the prime minister and the cabinet, I'm sure the whole House, I'd like to pass on our sincere condolences to those who have lost their homes or business premises," he said.Mr Malthouse said the preparation for the extreme weather worked, with five times as many people accessing NHS England's internet page on how to manage the symptoms of heat exhaustion. Fifteen fire engines tackling fire in east London flat Around 125 firefighters and 15 fire engines have been called to a blaze at an 18-storey block of flats in North Woolwich, east London. Emergency services were called just before 1pm. A flat on the 17th floor of the building is alight, and firefighters are also tackling a fire on grass opposite the block of flats.The cause of the fire is unknown for now. Satellite image shows east London fires from space Satellite images shows the fires that broke out in east London yesterday visible from space, Sky's Sanya Burgess reports.The area was one of the worst impacted regions on Tuesday as fires broke out across the country. The fires in the east of London were so large they could be seen in this satellite image captured by NASA. The photo is what is known as a "true colour" image, meaning the colours match what the human eye sees, as opposed to other images which are created using different techniques. Half of Britons say heatwave makes them think government should be more ambitious on climate change The latest polling suggests the vast majority of Britons (70%) believe climate change has fuelled the unprecedented heatwave.In a survey by the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit, just 17% of those polled thought climate change was not a factor. Around half (51%) said the heatwave had made them believe governments should be more ambitious in tackling climate change. Only 8% thought we should do less. Gareth Redmond-King, international lead for the Energy and Climate Unit (ECIU) said: "With TV pictures of homes on fire, a nursery burnt to the ground and Britons witnessing first-hand the tinderbox conditions in unprecedented heat, they are clearly connecting these events with climate change."They see this as serious and dismiss the idea that we can just adapt to these conditions. Many people will be looking to the new prime minister for leadership on climate, because without reaching net zero emissions these conditions will continue to get worse." 'Insane' to use disposable BBQs on grass, says Boris Johnson During this afternoon's Prime Minister's Questions, Boris Johnson faced a call for disposable BBQs and Chinese floating lanterns to be banned. The items have presented a hazard during the heatwave, with fire crews and authorities warning people against using them. Still, as we mentioned in our 12.15 post, not everyone is heeding this advice. Speaking in the Commons, the prime minister said it was "clearly insane to take a disposable BBQ onto dry grass". He added the "key thing is for people to behave responsibly first with the use of these things". Footage shows initial moments of huge fire in Wennington A resident managed to capture the blaze in Wennington as it started out, with grey smoke pluming into the sky. Earlier, we spoke to another resident who said the fire had started out as mostly smoke before developing into a terrifying blaze within minutes. Some 19 homes were set alight and cars and garages were also damaged. Wennington resident 'couldn't believe it' when he saw his house on fire on the news Earlier we spoke to Alfie whose home went up in flames yesterday in Wennington, East London. Speaking to Kay Burley, his father Tim shared how he "couldn't believe it" when he saw his house destroyed by the blaze on Sky News.The family had rushed round with a hosepipe and a couple of watering cans after first spotting the fire in their next-door neighbour's garden.He said although they lived next to a fire station, by the time the crew arrived "our house was gone, and next door's was gone".Tim added: "There were loads of fires around the estate and they [firefighters] were stretched to the max."You could never have anticipated it spreading the way it did”.He said "it was an accident waiting to happen".Speaking about whether it could have been prevented, Tim said that "global warming is not being taken seriously" and "this could be big eye opener for a lot of people". After losing everything in the fire, the optimistic father - who "only had a pair of wellington boots and shorts on yesterday" - thanked locals for their support and kindness after hitting "rock bottom".He also said was relieved that no one died. Fire continues to smoulder in Leicestershire By Lisa Dowd, Midlands correspondentLeicestershire Fire and Rescue Service are still dealing with smouldering woodland following an outbreak of fire yesterday near the village of Newtown Linford. Because of the thick undergrowth and fire travelling underground, fire crews think they could be damping down for another few days.The video below was sent to us by the fire service... The scene from a devastated area in Dagenham It was hard to believe that you were standing in residential east London and not a bombed out suburb in east Ukraine, writes our correspondent Matthew Thompson.The devastation wrought by the fires in Dagenham yesterday has to be seen to be believed. We picked our way through the twisted skeletons of burned out cars, over ground carpeted with ash, much of it still smoking and hot to the touch. Several houses were completely gutted by flames, their charred doors and windows gaping into the street beyond. Warped rafters open to the sky. Dozens of families have been evacuated. Many have lost everything. Makeshift shelters have been set up, with Dagenham & Redbridge FC becoming a hub of activity. Food, medical assistance, social workers, and counselling services are all on offer to displaced families. One woman broke down as she described to us the trauma of fleeing the flames and trying to rescue her dogs from the inferno.Slowly, some people are being allowed back to their homes as the fire brigade declare their neighbourhoods safe, piece by piece. They are the lucky ones. Others have nowhere to go, and no immediate prospect of an end to their waking nightmare. Due to your consent preferences, you’re not able to view this. 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Mahmoud Mohieldin, the United Nations climate change high-level champion for Egypt, says November’s Cop27 summit must focus on adapting to life in a changing climate and grapple with finance for loss and damage given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.Mohieldin told the Sydney Energy Forum on Wednesday adaptation had been “forgotten for many years” at UN climate conferences “because of a generous assumption that we are going to be doing fantastically well on mitigation, so nobody should worry about adaptation”.“But we are facing severe problems when it comes to adaptation,” he said. “This very great country Australia has more than its fair share of that in extreme weather events.”He said both the scientific community and the general public were now well aware of the existential dangers associated with global heating and the climate crisis – a development he said that was reflected in Australia’s election result in May “in the recent vote for the new government”.Egypt will host Cop27 in Sharm el-sheikh in November. The international climate talks will take place in the shadow of the war in Ukraine, as well as rising energy and food prices around the world. Wednesday’s intervention came on the second day of the Sydney Energy Forum, an event co-hosted by the Australian government and the International Energy Agency.Against the backdrop of a global energy crisis sparked by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, energy ministers from Australia, the United States, Japan and India – member countries of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue – also met for the first time on the sidelines of the event.At the conclusion of Wednesday’s discussion, ministers said in a statement they had a “shared commitment” to accelerating zero-emissions technologies necessary to driving the transition to low emissions – a strategy that would over time “mitigate against supply disruptions”.Mohieldin, a professor of economics, former Egyptian investment minister and World Bank Group senior vice-president for the 2030 Development Agenda, said the November climate conference in his home country needed to get from “summits to solutions” because previous events had “exhausted the English dictionaries of words of love and affection to the planet”.He said success in November would require abandoning the “siloed approach to climate action” and an “reductionist approach” that focused only on mitigation and a price on carbon. Mitigation relates to strategies reducing greenhouse gas emissions.Mohieldin said mitigation mattered but only in a holistic approach, including a focus on finance for loss and damage, which he said would be “very controversial” at Cop27.He said the looming global adaptation task was expensive, and it would be very difficult for small states and developing countries to finance that transition, particularly given the world was in a cycle of debt that often triggered a global economic downturn.Given renewable energy was now much cheaper, it would be possible, he said, for the private sector to fund a larger share of global mitigation efforts if governments did not crowd out business and investors from financing solutions. This would reserve more public finance for adaptation measures both domestically and internationally.He said the $100bn in climate financing committed at the Cop in Copenhagen “will not cover half of what is required for the energy transition in developing economies and emerging markets alone” so those funds needed to be leveraged to allow business “to do their miracles”.Mohieldin spoke at a session of the forum ahead of Japan’s trade and industry minister, Hagiuda Koichi, who told the event Japan was committed to achieving a 46% cut in emissions by 2030, and net zero by 2050.Given gas shortages triggered by the war in Ukraine, Japan has sought increased supply of liquefied natural gas from Australia and the US. The Japanese energy minister said on Wednesday the world needed to achieve a clean energy transition “to realise carbon neutrality, and stability of the energy market would be a prerequisite”.Hagiuda said it was “critical” for Japan to diversify its energy sources and secure stable supply “while realising carbon neutrality concurrently”. There were “a variety of paths” to reach net zero that aligned “with each country’s situation”.He said energy demand would continue to grow in Asia “while the potential for renewables was limited”. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
CNN — More than 7 million people in Bangladesh are in desperate need of shelter and emergency relief after what one aid agency has described as the worst flooding to hit South Asia in living memory. Hundreds of thousands of homes near the Bangladesh-India border are underwater, and in the worst-hit areas whole neighborhoods have been submerged, aid agencies said Tuesday. At least 207 people in both countries have died since the floods began in April, according to official figures. Torrential rain has caused rivers in Bangladesh – a densely populated delta nation – to overflow, submerging areas that border the Indian state of Meghalaya, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Some 94% of Bangladesh’s Sunamganj town and 84% of the surrounding Sylhet district are now submerged, the IFRC said. Roads leading to the region have been largely cut off and there are power cuts even in areas not underwater. Save the Children said the floods had “washed away homes, schools and livelihoods,” damaging at least 93,000 homes and 419 primary schools in Sylhet in May alone. “We have never seen this sort of flooding in our living memories in that region,” said Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Secretary General Kazi Shofiqul Azam. Bangladesh has about 700 rivers, making it particularly vulnerable to flooding during extreme weather events. The IFRC estimated the total number of people in Bangladesh in need of aid at 7.2 million. Meanwhile, in the eastern Indian state of Assam, which neighbors Bangladesh, flooding has displaced more than 270,000 people, according to authorities. Parts of Meghalaya state have experienced the most rainfall in decades, which has caused large river systems running between India and Bangladesh to overflow and inundate surrounding areas. The Bangladesh Red Crescent is spending $10 million on relief and recovery operations. Volunteer teams on the ground have been distributing food and drinking water. The IFRC has launched an emergency appeal to raise a further $7.8 million, which it says could help another 300,000 people. Aid agencies say those communities worst affected by flooding tend to be those that are already impoverished. Additional reporting by CNN’s Esha Mitra and Swati Gupta in New Delhi. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
CNN — New records have been set as temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) across much of Spain and Portugal Wednesday amid a persistent heat wave across western Europe. In northwest Spain, the city of Ourense set its all-time temperature record of 43.2 degrees Celsius (109.76 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, according to Spain’s meteorological agency, AEMET. On Wednesday, Zamora set its own record after reaching 41.1 degrees Celsius (105.98 degrees Fahrenheit), according to climate statistician Max Herrera. Soria set a record of 38.7 degrees Celsius (101.66 degrees Fahrenheit) that same day. The central Portuguese town of Lousã set an all-time record of 46.3 degrees Celsius (115.34 degrees Fahrenheit) and Lisbon set a July record of 41.4 degrees Celsius (106.52 degrees Fahrenheit). But the worst is yet to come. Officials in Spain and Portugal are bracing themselves for the hottest day of the heat wave so far. Temperatures are set to reach around 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of western and southern Spain, according to AEMET. In its afternoon update, AEMET warned that Spain is set to experience its hottest day of the heat wave on Thursday. Similar is being said of Portugal. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa told reporters that Thursday is set to be the “most serious day” for Portugal as far as the extreme weather is concerned, warning that the country needs “to be more careful than ever to avoid new occurrences.” Eight out of the country’s 18 mainland districts have been placed under a red weather warning by the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). In light of the heightened risk, the country’s “state of alarm” is set to be extended until Sunday, Costa added. Portugal continues to be one of the countries hardest hit by the current heat wave across western Europe. There are currently 1,656 firefighters fighting the 10 active rural fires across Portugal, the Portuguese Civil Protection Services said Thursday. More than 7,400 acres of forest have been burned in the Leiria district in central Portugal, according to the municipality of Leiria. France is in a similar predicament. Since Tuesday, more than 6,500 people have been evacuated from their homes and campsites as wildfires rage in the country’s southwestern regions, according to regional police on Thursday. More than 9,000 acres have been destroyed by two large forest fires in the Gironde department, according to a statement published by the department’s police. Around 1,000 firefighters from local and national brigades have been mobilized since Tuesday to stop the spread of the fires. Six water bomber planes are also being used. Grégory Allione, president of the national federation of firefighters, called on towns around the country to cancel their traditional Bastille Day firework displays, speaking on French channel Franceinfo on Thursday. “What is responsible, is to cancel them, what is responsible is to take into account that we are in a period of drought, of heat waves,” Allione said, adding that the fires “are still evolving, we expect to face difficulties today given the rise in temperature and the whirling winds.” During a visit to the area on Wednesday, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin told journalists that authorities “were on very high alert in the coming days, especially in the south of France.” The peak of the heat is occurring now across the Iberian Peninsula, and is set to spread to the north and east in the coming days. A “rare” amber extreme heat warning issued by the UK Met Office for Sunday, July 17, has been extended to Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures are expected to be in the mid 30s. The UK’s record high temperature is 38.7 degrees Celsius (101.7 degrees Fahrenheit), which could be surpassed, according to the Met Office. “Some models have been producing maximum temperatures in excess of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of the UK over the coming weekend and beyond,” the Met Office’s Rebekah Sherwin said. “Population-wide adverse health effects are likely to be experienced, not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to potential serious illness or danger to life,” the Met Office said. “Significantly more people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes and rivers leading to increased risk of water safety incidents.” The UK could also experience road closures due to melting surfaces, as well as delays to rail and air travel in the thick of the extreme heat. CNN’s Brandon Miller contributed reporting. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Yellowstone National Park area’s weather forecast the morning of June 12 seemed fairly tame: warmer temperatures and rain showers would accelerate mountain snow melt and could produce “minor flooding.” A National Weather Service bulletin recommended moving livestock from low-lying areas but made no mention of danger to people. By nightfall, after several inches of rain fell on a deep spring snowpack, there were record-shattering floods. Torrents of water poured off the mountains. Swollen rivers carrying boulders and trees smashed through Montana towns over the next several days. The flooding swept away houses, wiped out bridges and forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 tourists, park employees and residents near the park.As a cleanup expected to last months grinds on, climate experts and meteorologists say the gap between the destruction and what was forecast underscores a troublesome aspect of climate change: Models used to predict storm impacts do not always keep up with increasingly devastating rainstorms, hurricanes, heat waves and other events. “Those rivers had never reached those levels. We literally were flying blind not even knowing what the impacts would be,” said Arin Peters, a senior hydrologist with the National Weather Service.Hydrologic models used to predict flooding are based on long-term, historical records. But they do not reflect changes to the climate that emerged over the past decade, said meteorologist and Weather Underground founder Jeff Masters.“Those models are going to be inadequate to deal with a new climate,” Masters said.Another extreme weather event where the models came up short was Hurricane Ida, which slammed Louisiana last summer and then stalled over the Eastern Seaboard — deluging parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York with unprecedented rainfall that caused massive flooding.The weather service had warned of a “serious situation” that could turn “catastrophic,” but the predicted of 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 centimeters) of rain for New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania was far short of the 9 to 10 inches (23 to 25 centimeters) that fell.The deadly June 2021 heat wave that scorched the Pacific Northwest offered another example. Warmer weather had been expected, but not temperatures of up to 116 degrees (47C degrees) that toppled previous records and killed an estimated 600 or more people in Oregon, Washington state and western Canada.The surprise Yellowstone floods prompted a nighttime scramble to close off roads and bridges getting swept away by the water, plus rushed evacuations that missed some people. No one died, somewhat miraculously, as more than 400 homes were damaged or destroyed.As rock slides caused by the rainfall started happening in Yellowstone, park rangers closed a heavily-used road between the town of Gardiner and the park headquarters in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming. It later washed out in numerous places.The rain and snowmelt was “too much too fast and you just try to stay out of the way,” Yellowstone Deputy Chief Ranger Tim Townsend said.If the road hadn’t been closed “we probably would have had fatalities, unquestionably,” park Superintendent Cam Sholly said.“The road looks totally fine and then it’s like an 80-foot drop right into the river,” Sholly said. “No way if someone was driving in the rain at night that they would have seen that and could have stopped.”Rock Creek, which runs through the city of Red Lodge and normally is placid and sometimes just ankle deep, became a raging river. When the weather service issued a flood warning for the creek, the water already had surged over its banks and begun to knock down bridges.By the time the warning was went, “we already knew it was too late,” said Scott Williams, a commissioner for Carbon County, Montana, which borders Yellowstone.Red Lodge resident Pam Smith was alerted to the floods by something knocking around in her basement before dawn. It was her clothes dryer, floating in water pouring through the windows. In a scramble to save keepsakes, Smith slipped on the wet kitchen floor and fell, shattering a bone in her arm. She recalled holding back tears as she trudged through floodwaters with her partner and 15-year-old granddaughter to reach their pickup truck and drive to safety.“I went blank,” Smith said. “I was angry and like, ‘Why didn’t anybody warn us? Why was there no knock on the door? Why didn’t the police come around and say there’s flooding, you need to get out?’”Local authorities say sheriff’s deputies and others knocked on doors in Red Lodge and a second community that flooded. But they acknowledged not everyone was reached as numerous rivers and streams overflowed, swamping areas never known previously to flood.While no single weather event can be conclusively tied to climate change, scientists said the Yellowstone flooding was consistent with changes already documented around the park as temperatures warm. Those changes include less snowfall in mid-winter and more spring precipitation — setting the stage for flash floods when rains fall on the snow, said Montana State University climate scientist Cathy Whitlock.Warming trends mean spring floods will increase in frequency — even as the region suffers from long-term drought that keeps much of the rest of the year dry, she said.Masters and other experts noted that computer modelling of storms has become more sophisticated and is generally more accurate than ever. But extreme weather by its nature is hard to predict, and as such events happen more frequently there will be many more chances for forecasters to get it wrong.The rate of the most extreme rainstorms has increased by a factor of five, Masters said. So an event with a 1% chance of happening in any given year — commonly referred to as a “one in 100-year” event — now has a 5% chance of happening, he said.“We are literally re-writing our weather history book,” said University of Oklahoma Meteorology Professor Jason Furtado.That has widespread implications for local authorities and emergency officials who rely on weather bulletins to guide their disaster response approaches. If they’re not warned, they can’t act. But the National Weather Service also strives to avoid undue alarm and maintain public trust. So if the service’s models show a only a slim chance of disaster, that information is likely left out of the forecast.Weather service officials said the agency’s actions with the Yellowstone flooding will be analyzed to determine if changes are needed. They said early warnings that river levels were rising did help officials prepare and prevent loss of life, even if their advisories failed to predict the severity.Computer-based forecasting models are regularly updated to account for new meteorological trends due to climate change, Peters said. Even with those refinements, events like the Yellowstone flooding still are considered low-probability and so often won’t make it into forecasts based on what the models say is most likely to occur.“It’s really difficult to balance that feeling that you’ve got that this could get really bad, but the likelihood of it getting really bad is so small,” Peters said. He added that the dramatic swing from drought to flood was hard even for meteorologists to reconcile and called it “weather whiplash.”To better communicate the potential for extreme weather, some experts say the weather service needs to change its forecasts to inform the public about low probability hazardous events. That could be accomplished through more detailed daily forecasts or some kind of color-coded system for alerts.“We’ve been slow to provide that information,” North Carolina State University atmospheric scientist Gary Lackmann said. “You put it on people’s radars and they could think about that and it could save lives.”__Hanson reported from Helena, Montana.___Follow Matthew Brown: @MatthewBrownAP | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
U.S. August 12, 2022 / 8:59 AM / CBS News Climate change boosts risk of extreme weather Climate change elevating risk of dangerous weather 04:31 In Billings, Montana and other cities across the central and northern Plains, temperatures are forecast to soar above 100 degrees Fahrenheit this week. In England, the source of the Thames River has dried up for the first time since at least 1976. And in Spain, officials have issued extreme heat warnings as yet another heatwave swelters parts of the country following its hottest recorded month of July since at least 1961. And as the planet continues to get hotter, humans are at greater risk for heat-related illness and death. But an index aimed at calculating the impact of temperature on the body — called wet bulb globe temperature — could help people avoid such, which is why some meteorologists are pushing for its widespread use."With a warming climate and additional heat waves that are bound to happen, because of that, more people will by necessity become interested in 'What else can we do to keep people safe?" meteorologist Jen Carfagno of the Weather Channel told CBS News. "One of those things is the wet bulb globe temperature." What wet bulb globe temperature tells you about the weatherIn hot temperatures, the human body typically creates sweat as a way to control body temperature through evaporative cooling. But in environments with high humidity and high temperatures, it can be difficult for sweat to evaporate and cool a person down, creating the risk for heat illness to occur. During hot and humid weather, your body's ability to cool itself is challenged and you may experience a heat-related illness. Learn the symptoms of heat stroke and exhaustion and the appropriate responses. https://t.co/ihZJ1hmzXJ #NIHHIS #HeatSafety pic.twitter.com/Vn0NwXciex— National Weather Service (@NWS) August 3, 2022 So, the wet bulb temperature takes into account temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover to assess just how much a person can be cooled by water evaporation to avoid heat-related illness, according to the National Weather Service. It uses a tiered threshold, with a score of 80 or less that's considered to be safe to perform normal activities in like playing sports. But officials warn that working 15 minutes in a wet globe bulb temperature of 90 or above could likely stress the body out. Experts advise taking at least 45 minutes of breaks each hour if working or exercising in direct sunlight of this score.How wet bulb globe temperature is measuredOriginally measured by covering the globe of a thermometer with a piece of wet gauze, the index was invented and first used during the 1950s to address an uptick in serious outbreaks of heat illness in the U.S. armed services while they performed strenuous activity, Carfagno said. More recently, a device called a sling psychrometer can be used to calculate the wet bulb globe temperature. Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is a great indicator for outdoor, active populations! Check out the forecasted WBGT at https://t.co/2qA4RnC6vA. #NIHHIS #HeatSafety #HeatToolTuesday pic.twitter.com/6t0KVHhI6n— National Weather Service (@NWS) July 26, 2022 Wet bulb globe temperature versus heat indexAlthough the wet bulb globe temperature is similar to other metrics such as the heat index, which is calculated for shady areas and takes just temperature and humidity into consideration, Carfagno says key differences in the measurements' limitations impact their effectiveness.In a 1979 study, researcher R.G. Steadman used temperature and dew point to determine a method of assessing how sultry the air field is. But Carfagno noted that Steadman "made a ton of assumptions" in his research, including factors like the weight of a person, height, type of clothing worn and gender."That heat index equation which everybody uses is actually not completely representative of how the air is going to affect your body," Carfagno said. "So this wet bulb globe temperature is a really good measure of how the heat could affect someone's body because it doesn't even worry about assumptions – about the kind of person."Instead, she says the wet bulb globe temperature's limitations include environmental conditions. For example, other variables outside of those measured in the wet bulb globe temperature's equation can also affect a person's sweat evaporation, according to a recent study published in the National Library of Medicine. You may wonder what the difference between Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature and Heat Index is! WBGT is used for direct sunlight exposure & takes into account many different elements. Heat Index is calculated in shade & only takes into account temperature and humidity. pic.twitter.com/hRagWxlO7y— NWS Atlanta (@NWSAtlanta) May 15, 2018 Still, Carfagno says she thinks more platforms should shift to using the wet bulb temperature, saying that its use could help people manage their risk of heat stress.She says many weather service apps and companies, including the Weather Channel, still rely on the heat index model to determine features like "real feel" temperatures. But others, like schools and the U.S. armed forces, already do currently take the wet bulb globe temperature into account when deciding if it's safe to perform activities outside. "I think as a society, we need to be open to continually updating information," Carfagno said. "We can't get one number for the day and think that our day is set. When you're outside the weather changes." Tori B. Powell Tori B. Powell is a breaking news reporter at CBS News. Reach her at [email protected] Twitter Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
JACKSON, Kentucky -- More rainfall threatens eastern Kentucky on Sunday, including some areas hardest hit by the deadly flooding which has claimed the lives of at least 26 people and left rescuers scouring the region for those who remain missing."The forecast is concerning, and we're watching it very closely, obviously. We also are sending out warnings and making sure everyone knows," said Col. Jeremy Slinker, the Kentucky emergency management director."We're preparing for it and making sure all the residents there are prepared for it because we just don't want to lose anyone else or have any more tragedy," he told CNN's Pamela Brown Saturday.A flood watch is in effect through at least Monday morning for parts of southern and eastern Kentucky, according to the National Weather Service, and there is a Level 3 of 4 moderate risks for excessive rainfall Sunday across southeastern Kentucky, per the Weather Prediction Center, escalating the concern of additional flooding."The threat of flash flooding will be gradually increasing as showers and thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall rates develop and expand in coverage today," the center said, deeming the atmospheric conditions in the area as "tropical in nature," meaning it is warm, moist and can support an incredible amount of water.SEE ALSO: Death toll rises to 25 in Kentucky flooding, 'likely to increase,' governor saysWidespread rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are forecast over the next 24 to 48 hours, but as much as 4 or 5 inches is possible in localized areas. As little as 1 to 2 inches can revive flooding concerns, particularly in areas already inundated with heavy rain where the soil is saturated.The ominous forecast comes as crews in eastern Kentucky continue their search for people who remained unaccounted for after the devastating flooding last Thursday inundated homes and swept some from their foundations, sending residents fleeing for higher ground.Twenty-six people have been confirmed dead, Gov. Andy Beshear said on NBC's "Meet The Press" Sunday, in what officials describe as unprecedented flooding for the region -- and the death toll is expected to climb as crews gain more access to currently impassable areas."This is one of the most devastating deadly floods that we have seen in our history," Beshear said. "It wiped out areas where people didn't have that much, to begin with.""Our death toll right now is at 26," he added. "But I know of several additional bodies and we know it's going to grow with the level of water. We're going to be finding bodies for weeks, many of them swept hundreds of yards, maybe a quarter-mile plus from where they were last."Some areas remain unreachable, the governor saysOfficials believe thousands have been affected, and efforts to rebuild some areas may take years, the governor told CNN Saturday. The state's estimated losses are potentially in the "tens if not the hundreds of millions of dollars."After the rain, excessive heat is expected to build over the region Tuesday as many people are currently struggling with no access to clean drinking water, power outages, and cell service still out in some counties Sunday."We have multiple Kentucky State Police posts that are taking calls from loved ones that can't connect with those that they are worried about," the governor told NBC Sunday. "But it's going to take some time to get a firm grasp on that. We still can't get into some areas to check on people."More than 10,000 homes and businesses in the region were in the dark early Sunday, according to PowerOutage.us; three drinking water systems were totally out of operation Saturday, the governor said, leaving residents without access to water, or only access to water that needed to be boiled before it could be safely consumed.The federal government sent tractor trailers of bottled water to the region, and more financial assistance is on the way.The flooding -- as with other recent weather disasters -- was further amplified by the climate crisis: As global temperatures climb as a result of human-caused fossil fuel emissions, the atmosphere is able to hold more water, making water vapor more abundantly available to fall as rain.Scientists are increasingly confident in the role the climate crisis plays in extreme weather, and have warned such events will become more intense and more dangerous with every fraction of a degree of warming.Libby Duty, 64, of Jenkins, Kentucky walked through her back yard while clearing out her basement on Saturday after historic rains flooded many areas of eastern Kentucky.Officials have moved swiftly to approve financial assistance, given the scores of people in need of relief after losing everything.The federal government greenlighted funding for people in five counties "at a pace that we've never seen before," Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman told CNN's Pamela Brown Saturday."Residents will actually receive direct payments, which is some really good news in what will be a very long tunnel to see the light," Coleman said.SEE ALSO: At least 16 dead in Eastern Kentucky flooding, Gov. Andy Beshear saysColeman did not provide an exact date on when those payments are expected to reach residents, though she said they will be dispersed as soon as the state receives the money.Nearly $700,000 has been raised for relief efforts, Beshear said Saturday, noting funeral expenses for those killed in the flooding will be paid for.Additionally, the state is prioritizing placing generators at the shelters for flood survivors as temperatures are expected to soar Tuesday following the rain.Teresa Reynolds sits exhausted as members of her community clean the debris from their flood-ravaged homes at Ogden Hollar in Hindman, Ky., Saturday, July 30.'Hero' rescued family from flooded homeAmong the tales of heroism emerging from the disaster is an unidentified man who drifted through fast-moving water to get a 98-year-old grandmother, her grandson, and another family member out of their home as it was nearly swallowed by the flooding Thursday.Randy Polly, who witnessed the rescue in Whitesburg, Kentucky, and recorded parts of it on his cellphone, told CNN he got stuck a distance away from the home on his way to get gas Thursday morning.Polly said he heard people yelling across the flooded road, "Get me help, get help." He called 911, but first responders were overwhelmed and unresponsive to his calls.At about 9 a.m., he saw a man he described as a hero drift over to the house and start banging on the door and window.The man eventually helped get three people out of the home and guided them through rushing water, the videos show. The rescue took about 30 minutes, Polly said.Missy Crovetti, who lives in Green Oaks, Illinois, told CNN the people rescued in the video are her grandmother Mae Amburgey, uncle Larry Amburgey and brother Gregory Amburgey. They are safe and doing well, she said.Crovetti said she does not know the name of the man who rescued her family. Polly also said he does not know the man's name.The-CNN-Wire& 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Chinese lithium hub Sichuan province will ration electricity supply to factories until Saturday, state media reported, as a heatwave sends power demands soaring and dries up reservoirs.Temperatures in the province – home to nearly 84 million people – have hovered above 40-42 degrees Celsius (104-108 degrees fahrenheit) since last week, according to data from China’s Meteorological Administration, increasing the demand for air conditioning.The region relies on dams to generate 80% of its electricity, but rivers in the area have dried up this summer, Beijing’s Water Resources Ministry said.The province in China’s south-west produces half the nation’s lithium, used in batteries for electric vehicles, and its hydropower projects provide electricity to industrial hubs along the country’s east coast.But the local government has decided to prioritise residential power supply, ordering industrial users in 19 out of 21 cities in the province to suspend production until Saturday, according to a notice issued Sunday.Several companies including aluminium producer Henan Zhongfu Industrial and fertiliser producers Sichuan Meifeng Chemical Industry said in stock exchange statements they were suspending production.A plant operated by Taiwanese giant and Apple supplier Foxconn in the province has also suspended production, Taipei’s Central news agency reported.Some companies will be permitted to operate at a limited capacity, depending on their production needs.“Sources estimate at least 1,200 tonnes of lithium output will be cut due to the operations disruptions in these five days,” Susan Zou, an analyst at Rystad Energy, told AFP, adding the cost of lithium carbonate had jumped since Monday.A summer of extreme weather in China has seen multiple major cities record their hottest days ever.China’s national observatory reissued a red alert for high temperatures on Monday, state media reported, as the mercury soared past 40 degrees Celsius (104 fahrenheit) across swathes of the country.Provinces including Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Anhui that rely on power from western China have also issued electricity curbs for industrial users to ensure homes had enough power, according to local media reports.Scientists say extreme weather across the world has become more frequent due to climate change, and will probably grow more intense as global temperatures rise. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
A car is submerged in flood waters along Right Beaver Creek, following a day of heavy rain in in Garrett, Kentucky, July 28, 2022.Pat McDonogh | USA Today Network via via ReutersThe White House is making more than $1 billion available to states to address flooding and extreme heat exacerbated by climate change.Vice President Kamala Harris is set to announce the grant programs Monday at an event in Miami with the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other officials. The competitive grants will help communities across the nation prepare for and respond to climate-related disasters."We know that the impacts of the climate crisis are here, and that we must invest in building resilience to protect our communities, infrastructure and economy,'' the White House said in a statement.The announcement comes as the death toll from massive flooding in Kentucky continued to climb on Sunday amid a renewed threat of more heavy rains. In the West, wildfires in California and Montana exploded in size amid windy, hot conditions, encroaching on neighborhoods and forcing evacuation orders.Multiple Western states continued heat advisories amid a prolonged drought that has dried reservoirs and threatened communities across the region.Harris will visit the National Hurricane Center for a briefing by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and FEMA. She also will visit Florida International University, where she is expected to address extreme weather events across the country, including the flooding in Kentucky and Missouri and the wildfires in California.President Joe Biden announced last month that the administration will spend $2.3 billion to help communities cope with soaring temperatures through programs administered by FEMA, the Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies. The move doubles spending on the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, or BRIC, program, which supports states, local communities, tribes and territories on projects to reduce climate-related hazards and prepare for natural disasters such as floods and wildfires."Communities across our nation are experiencing first-hand the devastating impacts of the climate change and the related extreme weather events that follow — more energized hurricanes with deadlier storm surges, increased flooding and a wildfire season that's become a year-long threat," FEMA head Deanne Criswell said.The funding to be announced Monday will "help to ensure that our most vulnerable communities are not left behind, with hundreds of millions of dollars ultimately going directly to the communities that need it most,'' Criswell said.A total of $1 billion will be made available through the BRIC program, with another $160 million to be offered for flood mitigation assistance, officials said.Jacksonville, Florida, was among cities that received money under the BRIC program last year. The city was awarded $23 million for flood mitigation and stormwater infrastructure. Jacksonville, the largest city in Florida, sits in a humid, subtropical region along the St. Johns River and Atlantic Ocean, making it vulnerable to flooding when stormwater basins reach capacity. The city experiences frequent flooding and is at risk for increased major storms.The South Florida Water Management District in Miami-Dade County received $50 million for flood mitigation and pump station repairs. Real estate development along the city's fast-growing waterfront has created a high-risk flood zone for communities in the city and put pressure on existing systems, making repairs to existing structures an urgent need, officials said.The Biden administration has launched a series of actions intended to reduce heat-related illness and protect public health, including a proposed workplace heat standard. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Continuous dry weather has also contributed to the Italian island of Sardinia’s worst locust invasion in 3 decades. July 14, 2022, 2:36 PM UTCWildfires blazed across the Iberian Peninsula and half of Portugal has been placed on an extreme weather alert as a searing heat wave oppressed Western Europe on Thursday.Meanwhile, continuous dry weather has also contributed to Sardinia’s worst locust invasion in three decades. The heat wave caused temperatures in Spain and Portugal to soar to 113 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday, nearing record levels. The hottest day ever to be recorded for Portugal was 117 degrees Fahrenheit in 2003.A helicopter trying to extinguish wildfires collects water from the Navacerrada reservoir, on the outskirts of Madrid on Tuesday. Bernat Armangue / APOver 20 wildfires burned in Portugal and Spain, and around half of Portugal was placed under a red, or extreme, weather alert. Meanwhile, Spain’s meteorological agency warned Thursday is expected to be the hottest day in the current wave.Thousands of firefighters across Portugal, Spain and southern France fought to control the flames this week, which have destroyed thousands of acres of land and forced thousands to be evacuated from their homes.More than 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) have been destroyed in Leiria, Portugal, just north of Lisbon as of Wednesday, where 900 firefighters were combating three active blazes, according to Reuters. Some 2,841 firefighters were on the ground in Portugal as a whole. Antonio Ramalheiro, a retiree, blamed inadequate forest management in addition to the heat wave for the wildfires.“It is scary when the fire comes,” the 62-year-old told Reuters. “If it reaches the house, it is a disgrace ... you lose everything.”In Gironde department, in France's southwest, more than 2,700 hectares (6,672 acres) of terrain have been ravaged. On Wednesday, during the eve of Bastille Day, France's national day, all fireworks were forbidden in towns and villages close to forests until Monday.In the west of Spain, between Extremadura and Salamanca, more than 5,000 hectares (12,355 acres) were lost as a wildfire fueled by the rise in temperatures and strong winds continues. Highways were closed and 12 firefighter land units continue their efforts to control the fire. A man carries a sheep on his back as he escapes a wildfire in Leiria, Portugal, on Tuesday. Paulo Cunha / EPA via ShutterstockAccording to ABC News, a Spanish newspaper, the Ministry of Environment recognized that the fire was acquiring “an extremely virulent behavior, with very extreme propagation speeds.”The extreme heat has also derailed vacation plans at the height of the summer tourist season, causing more than 6,500 people to be evacuated from campgrounds and villages in Bordeaux, Gironde's capital.Officials have warned that people need to become accustomed to dealing with these kinds of weather extreme events.European Union officials last week issued a warning that climate change was behind the extremely dry and hot summer on the continent, telling countries to brace for wildfires, drought and other climate-related disasters.“Heat waves will become more and more frequent, and we do need to prepare not only in terms of how we do policies, but also in terms of how we teach people how to deal with these kinds of events,” Portuguese Home Affairs Secretary Patricia Gaspar said. Along with the weather, the insect population has also been wreaking havoc on the Italian island of Sardinia. Locusts have destroyed land equal to around 2% to 3% of Sardinia, while the ongoing infestation is expected to affect up to 60,000 hectares (148,263) of crop this year, with alfalfa and dried fodder among the worst-hit output.Italy is suffering its worst drought in 70 years, with extreme heat last week causing a chunk of a glacier to fall and kill six people.Rhoda KwanRhoda Kwan is a Taipei-based journalist.Reuters and Associated Press contributed. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
CBS Mornings Updated on: July 18, 2022 / 10:15 AM / CBS News Heat wave across Europe Evacuations in Europe as wildfires continue 02:06 London — People across the United Kingdom have been warned to brace for what could be Britain's hottest day ever recorded, with temperatures expected to soar over the 100-degree mark. People in London and a vast swath of England were already baking in temperatures well into the mid-90s before lunchtime on Monday. Forecasters warned that some areas could touch 40 degrees Celsius on Monday or Tuesday — a landmark which, at 104 Fahrenheit, is about 30 degrees over typical summer temperatures in the U.K.As CBS News correspondent Roxana Saberi reports, the same heat wave is already blamed for the extreme temperatures fueling widespread wildfires across other parts of Europe. Scientists say it is climate change driven by human activity that's bringing more heat, more often to Europe.Saberi reports the wildfires raging across southwest France have already scorched around 35,000 acres and forced more than 16,000 people to flee. Thousands forced to evacuate due to wildfires as devastating heatwave sweeps Europe 02:06 In Spain, where a new national high-temperature record was set just several days ago at 117 degrees, the scenes are similarly apocalyptic with fires tearing across the south. Authorities have already blamed more than 1,000 deaths on the current heat wave in Spain and neighboring Portugal, which remained on high alert Monday as fires charred land parched by a drought that has hit at least 96% of the country.Back in the north, the expected scorching temperatures prompted Britain's National Weather Service to issue its first-ever "red warning" for extreme heat, indicating a "risk to life."Scientists say heat waves have become more frequent, more intense, and longer lasting. Supreme Court's EPA ruling is a step back in the fight against climate change, experts say 03:39 "Climate change has everything to do with the extreme weather that we're seeing at the moment, and it's human-induced climate change, it's not a natural variation," Kirsty McCabe, a meteorologist at the U.K.'s Royal Meteorological Society, told CBS News. Asked if weather like this was likely to become the norm for Britain and its neighbors, she left little room for doubt. "Unfortunately, yes. That's exactly where we are heading at the moment," McCabe said, "if we don't do some drastic action, we will continue to see these things happening." Eddie, a four year old golden retriever, rides on a District Line train on London's Underground train network, during a heat wave, July 18, 2022. Yui Mok/PA Images/Getty The U.K. is more accustomed to rain and clouds than extreme heat. Most homes don't have air conditioning, and many schools don't either, prompting some to cancel classes early this week.Briton's have also been warned not to use the trains unless absolutely necessary. The heat could buckle the tracks, so many scheduled trips have been canceled or delayed in a bid to avoid last-minute cancelations and chaos at sweltering stations across the country. In: Italy Spain Heat Wave France European Union United Kingdom Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
This story originally appeared in The Guardian and is part of the Climate Desk collaboration.The climate crisis is the prime suspect for the devastating scale of flooding in Pakistan, which has killed more than 1,000 people and affected 30 million. But the catastrophe, still unfolding, is most likely the result of a lethal combination of factors, including the vulnerability of poor citizens, steep mountainous slopes in some regions, the unexpected destruction of embankments and dams, and some natural climate variation.The horrific scale of the floods is not in doubt. “We are witnessing the worst flooding in the history of the country,” said Fahad Saeed, a climate scientist with the Climate Analytics group, who is based in Islamabad.The obvious cause is the record-breaking rainfall. “Pakistan has never seen an unbroken cycle of monsoon [rains] like this,” said Sherry Rehman, Pakistan’s climate change minister. “Eight weeks of nonstop torrents have left huge swathes of the country underwater. This is a deluge from all sides.” She said the “monster monsoon was wreaking nonstop havoc throughout the country.”From the beginning of the month, the rainfall was nine times higher than average in Sindh province and five times higher across the whole of Pakistan. Basic physics is the reason rainfall is becoming intense around the world—warmer air holds more moisture.Scientists are already trying to determine the extent to which global heating is to blame for the rainfall and floods. But analysis of the previous worst flood in 2010 suggests it will be significant. That “superflood” was made more likely by global heating, which drove fiercer rains.Warmer oceans and heating in the Arctic were implicated in the 2010 superflood, one study found, as these factors affected the jet stream, a high-level wind that circles the planet. The greater meandering of the jet stream led to both the prolonged rain in Pakistan and an extreme heat wave in Russia that year.And according to a 2021 study global, heating is making the south Asian monsoon more intense and erratic, with each 1 degree Celsius rise in global temperature leading to 5 percent more rain.Pakistan has suffered regular flooding since 2010, as well as heat waves and wildfires. “Climate change is really affecting us,” said Saeed. “It has become a norm now that every year we kind of face extreme events.”The current floods would have been expected less than once a century, according to Liz Stephens, an associate professor of climate risks and resilience at the University of Reading, UK, who is part of a global flood forecasting system. “We can see it is very extreme flooding and, in many places, it will be worse than 2010, when the floods killed 1,700 people.”Two critical factors in the high death toll are flash flooding and the destruction of river embankments, Stephens said. Some of the intense rains have hit places where the water rapidly runs off steep slopes. “Flash flooding is very difficult to provide good warning for and to get people out of harm’s way quickly,” she said.River embankments have also been destroyed. “You can’t predict when they are going to fail, and people living in an area where they think they’re protected might not expect that they need to evacuate.”Stephens said: “We’re talking about potentially unprecedented volumes of water—it would have been inconceivable that some parts of these catchments would have been affected. People don’t prepare for risks that they are not familiar with.”Deforestation could also have increased the speed of rain runoff in places, Stephens said, while Saeed said dams had been destroyed on the Kabul River that runs into the Indus.A natural climate cycle driven by temperature and wind variations in the Pacific may also have added to the Pakistan floods, said meteorologist Scott Duncan. The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) appears to be in its La Niña phase, as it was in 2010. “La Niña is behaving very strongly in some metrics and is a significant factor for enhancing monsoonal rains, in my opinion,” he said. However, how global heating affects ENSO is not currently well understood.The population of Pakistan is especially at risk from extreme weather driven by the climate emergency, ranked eighth most at risk in the world by the Global Climate Risk Index. “Pakistan is very vulnerable to extremes, and the whiplash from unprecedented heat from March to May this year, followed by a strong monsoon, makes the impact on society and the economy even more severe,” said Duncan. The extreme heat wave suffered earlier in 2022 was made 30 times more likely by global heating, and another heat wave in 2015 was also exacerbated by global heating.“What you see today is just a trailer of what’s in store for us with poverty, hunger, malnutrition, and disease if we don’t pay heed to climate change,” said development and climate expert Ali Tauqeer Sheikh.The only silver lining in the current flooding situation is that it may not grow even more catastrophic. “Thankfully, no further significant rainfall is expected over the coming days as the end of the monsoon season nears,” said Nicholas Lee at MetDesk.However, it is clear that the climate crisis is supercharging the toll of extreme weather across the globe, even with just 1.1 Celsius of global heating to date. Pakistan is the latest country where lives and livelihoods are being lost. “It’s a real planet SOS here,” said Rehman. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Australia is badly prepared for food insecurity fuelled by the climate crisis and war, former military leaders have warned.A new report, to be released on Tuesday, describes Australia and the Asia-Pacific as a “disaster alley” for climate change, but says governments in Canberra have not properly planned for the impact of “cascading and compound events”.The report, by the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group, cites predictions that 2C of warming may see south-east Asia’s crop production decline by one-third per capita by 2040.It says small island developing states in the Pacific are especially vulnerable to the effects of drought and flooding on food production.Ahead of the report’s release, the former Australian defence force chief Chris Barrie said a rapidly heating planet “fundamentally threatens our ability to secure our food and water supplies”.“It is clear that a lack of food – driven by war, climate change or a combination of both – can destabilise and lead to even more conflict,” Barrie said.“Food insecurity is a growing crisis brought into the spotlight by the invasion of Ukraine, and it is a crisis that Australia is ill-prepared for.”Neil Greet, a former colonel in the Australian army, said Australia needed to prepare for “big consequences” from climate change. These would include disruptions to Australia’s own food growing systems.More broadly, Greet said food insecurity in the region would “drive political instability, conflict, and people displacement in ways that will significantly impact on Australia and the security of its people”.The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has accepted that the climate crisis poses national security risks and has promised to launch a climate security threat assessment.This work will be overseen by the intelligence chief Andrew Shearer, but with input from other agencies including the Department of Defence.Greet said the terms of reference for that assessment should include “an examination of the threat posed by climate change to our food, water, agricultural systems and supply chains”.Barrie and Greet are executive members of the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group, which notes that food scarcity has already become a contributing factor to major conflicts around the world, including the Syrian civil war.The group’s executive members also include Cheryl Durrant, a former director of preparedness and mobilisation at the Australian Department of Defence, and John Blackburn, a former deputy chief of the royal Australian air force.Its report argues the world’s “failure to address the root causes of climate warming will result in great pressure on the Australian defence force and emergency and disaster relief agencies to pick up the pieces in the face of accelerating climate impacts”.It urges Australia to adopt an accelerated path to net zero emissions, while also pushing for greater global ambition to tackle the climate crisis.Australia should work “with big and small Asia-Pacific governments to build alliances for climate action” and coordinate globally “to prevent irreversible tipping points”. Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morningThe report says the climate crisis “should be a primary focus of both economics and politics in Australia, with clear commitments to mobilise the resources necessary to address this clear and present danger”.“Australia and the Asia-Pacific region are a ‘disaster alley’ for climate change, with more than half the world’s population, low-lying small-island states, and most of the large cities vulnerable to sea level rise,” the report says.It says the Coral Triangle, which includes Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste, contains three-quarters of the world’s reef-building corals and more than a third of the world’s coral-reef fish species.“Nations in the Coral Triangle face the loss of their coral systems, the region’s most populous nations – India and China – will face increasing chronic water insecurity, and more extreme heatwaves will become unbearable in South and Southeast Asia,” the report says.“The consequences for Australia will be enormous: displaced people and nations, the economic impacts on major trading partners, supply chain disruption, geopolitical tensions, the need for more development support, and increasing demands for humanitarian aid and disaster relief.”The report also suggests that Central Asian countries, including Afghanistan, face the risk of “increasingly dire water insecurity and internal displacement” while regional conflict over water rights “is possible in this strategic zone that stretches to Iran”.The report urges the Australian government to boost the capacity of near neighbours to withstand climate change-driven food shocks and their security consequences.Australia could help deploy “a monitoring system to identify potential food insecurity hotspots, and commit to a programme to enhance food production capacity and resilience in the region”.Within Australia, the report warns that more extreme weather events and unpredictable impacts on food production would lead to more price and supply volatility. It says Australia’s supply chains “are precarious, being a geographical distant island in a hyper-connected global economy”.In March, a separate report by Farmers for Climate Action predicted that empty supermarket shelves would become a more frequent sight for Australians.The new agriculture minister, Murray Watt, told Guardian Australia earlier this month that he was open to the idea of a national food strategy, as governments globally grapple with food security and supply chain issues. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images Two sunbathers enjoy the cooling waters of fountains in Trafalgar Square in London on July 19, 2022. In the UK, Google searches for “air conditioner” skyrocketed just last week in anticipation of what has been 48 hours of history-making weather, and the public response has ranged from the ridiculous to the delightful. But as scientists point out, it’s time to buckle up because summers are going to look more and more like this.Brenda Ekwurzel, a director of climate science with the Union of Concerned Scientists, told BuzzFeed News the extreme weather conditions happening right now are emblematic of the climate crisis, and that this summer is “one of those previously extremely rare events that is now moving into the more common rare events for Europe and the UK.” The Met Office issued its first-ever “red extreme” heat warning, with temperatures soaring as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of the country — at least 34 locations broke the previous national records — and spontaneous wildfires erupting on the side of major roads.In its warning, Dr. Nikos Christidis, a climate attribution scientist, said that 104-degree summers in the UK are now up to 10 times likelier than they would be “under a natural climate unaffected by human influence.”Before Tuesday, the highest temperature experienced in the UK was 101.66 degrees Fahrenheit, recorded in 2019 at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden.Ekwurzel expressed concerns that the current conditions were mirroring the devastating heat wave of 2003, which reportedly killed up to 70,000 people across Europe, including an estimated 2,000 in the UK. “I'm hoping that the adaptations that Europe has made and the steps that have been taken can help protect people better through this horrific summer of the repeated heat wave,” she said.One major issue is architecture: The UK did not build homes for hot weather. Instead, buildings were designed to hold in heat, since historically that has been the biggest temperature concern. Amid rising temperatures, celebrities like Kylie Jenner have drawn greater criticism. Flight records showed Jenner recently took a three-minute flight for a journey that would have been a 40-minute drive. During the weekend, she posted on Instagram her and partner Travis Scott cuddling between two private jets, with the caption “you wanna take mine or yours ?” This resulted in her being called a “full time climate criminal” online.Ekwurzel called the emotional response “justified.”“This emergency — these heat waves and future weather disasters — have come about because of a system where the richest among us, like Kylie Jenner, can consume on an unimaginable scale, and policies are skewed in her favor to further enable her cohort,” said Noga Levy-Rapoport, a UK climate activist and student who has been at the forefront of #FridaysForFuture protests inspired by Greta Thunberg. She warned that lives were at stake if governments failed to act.The 20-year-old activist dismissed the suggestions that the individual habits or lifestyle changes of the average person could change the tides when the contribution is significantly smaller compared to “the level of resource extraction and exploitation” by fossil fuel corporations.“The climate crisis is a systemic crisis,” she said. “The heat wave is dangerous and terrifying and should be yet another crucial wake-up call for our leaders to finally take charge on climate.” Just last week, Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat and oil baron, finally killed the Biden administration’s attempt at a climate deal after months and months of lengthy negotiations. His colleague Sen. Ed Markey, who has been pushing hard for climate legislation, tweeted afterward: “Rage keeps me from tears.”President Joe Biden will make a climate speech on Wednesday, although Reuters currently reports that he won’t declare a “national emergency” over climate change, which would allow executive action measures to take place. The sound of ice cracking on Mont Blanc.
The regional authorities have advised people not to travel to part of the mountain due to the risk of rockfall, as melting glacier ice due to Europe's heatwave loosens boulders 02:30 PM - 18 Jul 2022 Twitter: @NaomiOhReally Levy-Rapoport said that support for the cause and concern over the crisis has ballooned since she began walking out of school lessons back in 2019 to lead protests to demand urgent climate action.“We’ve seen an immense rise in climate literacy and awareness, particularly in terms of media coverage and wider public concern, as evidenced by the emphasis placed on climate policy in elections and at crucial international summits,” she said, “but we have a long way to go; support has to be channeled into action and protest to bring about greater political pressure. We can’t let concern be forced into paralyzing eco-anxiety as corporations continue to get away with the planetary damage they’re inflicting.” 27 degrees by 9am in the UK. We are not built for this. Our country is built for rain and misery. No one can afford a good fan and the cheap fans feel like a ghost sneezing on you. Ice-cream vans will soon be mad max style warrior chariots. Pray for us. 07:56 AM - 18 Jul 2022 Twitter: @TechnicallyRon While the past two days have been lightened with British humor, it’s easy to overlook the very real eco-anxiety people are sharing online.“This weather has scared me into wondering what life will be like for my son when he’s older,” one Twitter user wrote.“As if my baseline eco-anxiety wasn't high enough, on weeks like these I'm absolutely terrified,” climate journalist Anna Gumbau tweeted.But activists such as Levy-Rapoport believe that there is still so much to fight for.“Eco-anxiety can be terrifying, but it’s vital to keep going to avoid even further damage,” she said. “We still have lives to save and entire front-line communities and countries to rescue from the brunt of climate change. It is never too late to take climate action.” | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Walter G. Arce Sr./ASP via ZUMA Wire This story was originally published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.
Phoenix is America’s hottest city, and it’s getting hotter. The global climate crisis and decades of sprawling urban growth have turned this desert city into a hazardous heat island with dwindling water supplies and inadequate shade.
An assortment of programs to cool down Phoenix and help people survive the heat have not been working: in Maricopa county, which includes Phoenix, record high temperatures contributed to at least 662 deaths between 2020 and 2021, while thousands more people needed emergency medical treatment.
That’s where the city’s new Office of Heat Response and Mitigation comes in. The pioneering heat team was created last September amid pressure from activists, researchers, faith groups, and health experts for a dedicated team responsible—and accountable—for making Phoenix more livable.
David Hondula, a climate and health researcher at Arizona State University, was hired to lead the four-person team and coordinate the city’s immediate efforts to cut heat deaths and illness, and come up with ways to cool the city and make it more comfortable in the long term. It’s the first local government-funded heat team in North America, possibly the world. “It’s a long game—we’re fighting for small wins that we hope will accumulate into larger wins,” said Hondula. “We need to prepare for and recover from every summer, not occasional heatwaves.”
The Guardian spent a day with the Phoenix heat team during one of the hottest spells of the year so far.
In cities like Phoenix, heat and homelessness are a deadly combination.
The number of unsheltered people in the city has more than tripled since 2016, and the homeless population accounts for about 40% of heat deaths. Reaching unsheltered people when it’s very hot is critical to reducing the city’s death toll.
Four times a week, every Tuesday and Thursday morning and afternoon, a city outreach team hands out essential supplies—cold water, cooling towels, hats, and sunscreen—to anyone struggling outside. (They also provide supplies to faith groups and concerned citizens who have been doing this work for years.)
The outreach is coordinated by the heat office and the city’s volunteers program, with 120 sessions scheduled for this summer, compared with just eight or 10 in previous years. A case worker from the city’s homeless team is on every shift, to help connect people with information on services like emergency shelters, free medical care, shower facilities, and food—if they are ready. “Don’t assume what people want, keep it open-ended,” Victor Rojas, a case manager, told the volunteers.
The team can help organize transport to a nearby cooling center: there’s a network of city and non-profit spaces (libraries, churches, day centers, etc.) that mostly operate during business hours (rather than the hottest times of the day/night), and aren’t all that easy to find. Yet even though cooling centers have operated in the city for years, many people who need them—including first responders and convenience store workers who have regular contact with the most vulnerable people—have no idea where they are. Changing this through better messaging is something Hondula describes as “low-hanging fruit”—small interventions that could render big wins.
Deciding on the best outreach locations, however, is tricky as there are thousands of people sleeping in parks, under bridges, in parking lots, and in shop doorways all over the city. Police sweeps can force people to suddenly move, sometimes without their life-saving belongings like tents, sleeping bags, and clothes. It’s a work in progress, and back in city hall, Mary Wright, the team’s built shade researcher, uses data and spatial analysis to map the 911 heat emergency calls and intel from homeless groups, to check the team is hitting the right spots.
On the day of the Guardian’s visit, Joe Biden faced calls to declare a national climate emergency as more than a hundred million Americans were under heat advisories as record-breaking temperatures scorched large swaths of the country. Hondula was in high demand with journalists that day and took time out for three interviews. “If the lack of attention to heat as a hazard is one reason why it’s under-resourced nationally, then getting the word out is a good use of my time for our community and others.”
The climate crisis requires a coordinated global effort to slash greenhouse gas emissions, in order to avoid the most catastrophic consequences of global heating. As political leaders fight but fail to take urgent action, cities like Phoenix must find ways to adapt to and mitigate the impact of extreme weather. That means lots of meetings to share data, ideas, and solutions on how best to cool the city. Top of the list is increasing canopy cover to cool the city, especially in the poorest mostly Black and brown neighborhoods, which have the fewest trees and most people without cars and air conditioning. Lora Martens, a landscape architect and expert in desert plants, is the team’s urban tree program manager, whose job is to work out the most effective and sustainable way to reduce the heat island effect and make people more comfortable. “We need so many trees for so many reasons, there is such a deficit here, but not all trees are the same. The hardest part is planting the right trees in the places that need them most. It’s not easy or cheap.”
Martens led the team’s first meeting on updating the city’s 2010 tree and shade master plan, which pledged 25% cover by 2030: no one is sure where that figure came from and what’s been achieved so far. More work needs to be done to ensure mass tree planting helps rather than worsens the region’s water shortages; also crucial is community outreach to understand—rather than assume—what people in tree-deprived neighborhoods want and need.
But it’s not all about trees: shade can also be engineered, so structures like awnings could be the more costly but best short-term solution to protect people quickly.
“In places that people need shade now, we can’t plant trees and hope they get to adulthood in 20 years,” said Mary Wright, the team’s built environment specialist.
In the long term, building codes will have to change. “In Phoenix, we’ve definitely lost touch designing for the climate over choosing cheaper solutions because we have air conditioning.”
As part of the city’s first heat response plan, the team will evaluate the 31 heat-related programs and services the city is involved in, from cooling centers and outreach work to cooling pavements and tree planting.
A big part of that is understanding what works and what doesn’t on the ground but as academics the team lack first-hand street experience. Now, after more than 30 three-hour outreach shifts under his belt, Hondula said: “I see the water and supplies as a Trojan horse, a way into a bigger conversation about what people need.”
Before heading out for the afternoon shift, Hondula participated in a webinar on drought and heat in the American west organized by Noaa and shared that heat-associated deaths and emergencies were actually trending higher than last year. Arguably every preventable death is a failure so this is shocking, but not all that surprising given the sharp rise in drug use, evictions, energy bills, and homelessness.
“Protecting people is not just about providing people with better weather information. If we want to focus on the big pieces of the pie in Phoenix, then drugs and housing are a lot of it,” he said.
In some ways, the buck now stops with him. “It’s motivation…the public health community says that heat-related deaths are preventable, there’s no asterisk or exceptions for high inflation or homelessness. We have to do more and we have to do better.” | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Homeowners have told how they were forced to grab their beloved pets and flee for their lives as their properties were decimated by an fire thought to have been sparked by a compost heap which spontaneously combusted. Two rows of terraced houses, four other homes, 12 stables and five cars were destroyed by the inferno in Wennington, near the Dartford Crossing east of London.Horrific fires swept through homes last night as Britain recorded the hottest day in its history, with the 40C (104F) barrier broken for the first time. The London fire brigade said Tuesday was their busiest day since the end of the Second World War, with at least 110 fire trucks sent to blazes across the capital. Extremely dry ground and searing temperatures created the perfect 'tinderbox' conditions for blazes to break out across the country on Tuesday, with major incidents declared in London, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, South Yorkshire and Leicestershire. Scotland and Wales also saw fires. Parts of the UK saw some relief from the blazing heat last night with showers and thunderstorms, particularly in the north of England and south of Scotland. The Met Office is warning of potential flooding with a yellow warning for thunderstorms in place for London and parts of the south east later today.Yesterday, in Wennington, terrified residents were ordered out as 100 firefighters tried to halt a lethal wall of flame spreading from home to home, fanned by warm winds. One firefighter at the scene branded it 'absolute hell'.Amid the scramble to evacuate, one woman said her uncle was trapped – and was 'digging a trench' around his house to thwart the flames. Police later rescued him.With its Norman church, Wennington features in the Domesday Book, and it seemed an apt description last night amid the smouldering ruins of charred homes. Local councillor Susan Ospreay said: 'Wennington Village has been completely devastated by fire.'The inferno appears to have been sparked by a burning compost heap around 1pm in parched grassland adjacent to Wennington fire station – which meant firefighters were immediately on the scene.But they fought in vain to stop it rapidly spreading on to tinder dry scrubland and incinerating back gardens. As homes were gutted, residents said they could hear the sound of panicked horses whinnying in a surrounding field.The heartbreaking village blaze was the most dramatic example of how the country was struggling to cope as the mercury reached unprecedented levels. Around 100 firefighters were called to an inferno in Wennington, Essex, alone, which one emergency worker described as 'absolute hell.' (Pictured: Row of destroyed homes in Wennington following Tuesday's inferno) Residents and emergency services are assessing the damage this morning after Britain's hottest day on record sparked a string of devastating wild fires which destroyed dozens of homes and businesses. (Pictured: Aftermath in Wennington, Essex) Burned out cars are among the wreckage left by a fierce wildfire in Wennington, Essex, sparked by record-breaking temperatures on Tuesday Firefighters are pictured dampening the flames in Wennington early on Wednesday morning, as warnings for fires remained in place due to the dry conditions Burnt grass surrounds St Mary and St Peter's Church in the village of Wennington, as historic place of worship miraculously remains largely untouched by the inferno A row of burnt out houses and gardens is seen in the village of Wennington east of London after yesterday's record temperatures A compost heap on the edge of Wennington village is believed by some to be the source of the inferno after it reportedly burst into flames before spreading to nearby grass and undergrowth and eventually reaching homes (destroyed properties pictured) The inferno appears to have been sparked by a burning compost heap around 1pm in parched grassland adjacent to Wennington fire station – which meant firefighters were immediately on the scene Firefighters fought in vain to stop the fire rapidly spreading on to tinder dry scrubland and incinerating back gardens. As homes were gutted, residents said they could hear the sound of panicked horses whinnying in a surrounding fieldResident John Bishop claims he saw the fire from his back window as it started to spread. He told the Telegraph: 'I saw a compost heap which went up in flames and I'm wondering if that was the source of this fire.'The fire became an inferno incredibly quickly. I really don't know about my home, I've been keeping an eye on it on the news via the helicopter pictures.'Another local, Ray Smith, 55, told the Sun: 'I've never seen anything like it before in my life. I got in my car and got out of there. People were scared. It's heartbreaking. I think I've lost everything.' Tim Stark, whose own house was destroyed, told BBC Radio 5 Live that he and his son saw the fire in his neighbour's garden but had been unable to stop it spreading.'I reckon about 15-20 houses might be gone or uninhabitable,' he said. 'My house is completely gone, as is the next door neighbour's and three or four other houses along that bit.'Neighbour Kia Meadows described how quickly things went ablaze. She told BBC's Radio 4 Today programme: 'I was sunbathing in my garden when a massive black cloud's come across, I looked up and that side of Wennington was on fire and within an hour it had spread to our house. 'A lot of this land is built on a lot of rubbish and as soon as the heat comes, this area goes on fire straight away but never did I believe it would come that close.'Some disruption is still expected on railway services this morning but timetables are set to improve throughout the day.Wennington is still cordoned off as emergency services remain on site to assess the damage. At least 40 hectares of grassland and farm buildings were affected and many houses and 12 stables were destroyed, while at least 90 properties were evacuated. While the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, a number of residents reported seeing a fire start in someone's garden. Warnings are still in place across the country today due to the very dry ground but temperatures are expected to drop significantly while some showers are predicted.Elsewhere in the country hundreds of fire crews battled raging infernos in Wales, Scotland and the rest of England as 'tinderbox' dry conditions in the UK caused wildfires to threaten homes, animals and people and a children's nursery was destroyed along with most of a street in Yorkshire amid police fears some of the fires could have been deliberate. Officers and fire chiefs also think deliberate blazes were set on scrubland, trees, fields, rubbish, buildings on a residential street and at a nature reserve during the heatwave since Saturday. Temperature records were shattered as sweltering Britons turned to beaches lakes and even fountains in Trafalgar Square in a desperate bid to cool off. Heathrow was first to reach the 40C barrier – breaking the old record of 38.7C (102F) measured in Cambridge in 2019. But hottest of all yesterday was Coningsby in Lincolnshire, which recorded 40.3C (104.5F). At least 34 parts of the country broke the UK's previous national record of 38.7C, the Met Office said stretching from West Yorkshire to Surrey. Staggeringly, meteorologists calculated that Britain was hotter than 98.9 per cent of the Earth's surface.Scotland also recorded its hottest day ever as temperatures climbed to 34.8C (94.64) at Charterhall and Wales set its record yesterday of 37.1C in Hawarden, Flintshire.But a band of thunderstorms moving across England and Wales from the Isles of Scilly spelt the end of the punishing temperatures for some.The 'extreme heat' also led to almost 15,000 homes in the North East being left without power at about 2pm as electrical equipment overheated during the record temperatures. Roads were also closed as fires broke out alongside major motorways including the M25 and M1. Emergency call centres were hit with tens of thousands of pleas for help. Greater Manchester Police said four fires were deliberate on moorland at Dovestone Reservoir near Oldham. Superintendent Phil Hutchinson said: 'This is being as arson which, following conviction, can result in a lengthy prison sentence.'The UK is also being warned these temperatures could soon be the 'new normal' as Britain starts to see wildfires, extreme heat and pressure on the water supply which has long plagued Europe.Families now homeless in Wennington, where the worst of the wildfires has been seen, were at first sent to a Premier Inn before that lost power and they were directed to go to Hornchurch Sport Centre to sleep on air mattresses as their 'worst nightmare' came true. A major incident has been declared due to a fire surge near Twickenham Golf Course between Feltham, Teddington, Richmond and Hounslow in West London on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. Police arrived, along with London Fire Brigades, arrived at the scene and started evacuating residents. Temperatures have reached more than 40C for the first time This pictures show how the dramatic fire in the village of Wennington engulfed a row of homes as the blaze spread from the grass A row of houses on fire in the village of Wennington in East London yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar again tod Families now homeless in Wennington, where the worst of the wildfires has been seen, were at first sent to a Premier Inn before that lost power and they were directed to go to Hornchurch Sport Centre to sleep on air mattresses as their 'worst nightmare' came true Shocking pictures show a huge bush fire raging on the Dartford marshes, Kent on Tuesday Geographic information system software Esri shows on this map where wildfires have broken out and in red where there has been strong thermal hotspots for serious blazes. In this picture you can see most are in England and the south with a few in the very north of England In this aerial view, smoke from fires in a residential area being fought by fire services are seen on Tuesday in Wennington Hundreds of fire crews are out battling raging infernos in Wales, Scotland and the rest of England as 'tinderbox' dry conditions in the UK caused wildfires to threaten homes, animals and people and a children's nursery was destroyed along with most of a street in Yorkshire. Pictured: A fire at Hatch End on Tuesday afternoon. A fire burns the Kiddi Caru nursery in the Walnut Tree area of Milton Keynes down to the ground as blazes take hold of areas across England The fire at Wennington is shown yesterday (left) and the area is also pictured before the blaze (right, file picture) A woman is given water and comforted close to the blaze in the village of Wennington, east London, where 100 firefighters are tackling a fire This picture shows homes on fire as a huge heath fire ravages at least three houses near Rotherham, South Yorkshire Fires sparked by lightning at Zennor Head, West Cornwall pictured burning on Tuesday evening Around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze in the village of Wennington in East London as the heatwave continues People remove gas canisters from Lennards pub as firefighters tackle a blaze in the village of Wennington yesterday afternoon A huge black smoke cloud spreads as round 100 firefighters tackle a blaze in the village of Wennington yesterday afternoon as the heatwave continues Around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze in the village of Wennington in East London as the heatwave continues A man attempts to damp down the smouldering field with a hose pipe as fire services tackle a large blaze in WenningtonThe remains of a fire near Dartford Heath on the A2 coastbound, Crayford is seen as smoke spreads throughout the area Firefighters attend a gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall yesterday afternoon Firefighters attend a blaze on Dartford Marshes in Kent after temperatures reached 40C for the first time on record Residents of Yorkshire queued for more than two hours to gain entry into Ilkley Lido The Dartford fire is seen raging yesterday as firefighters rushed to tackle the flames A thunderstorm is seen to rage in Thanet, Kent (left) while a major incident has been declared due to a fire surge near Twickenham Golf Course (right) between Feltham, Teddington, Richmond and Hounslow in West London Firefighters attend a gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall yesterday afternoon A firefighter tackles a grass fire in a park in New Brighton in Merseyside yesterday afternoon amid the heatwave Firefighters attend a gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall yesterday afternoon Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service issued this picture of firefighters attend to a grass fire in Rixton, Warrington The area surrounding Twickenham Golf Course was filled full of smoke as a fire raged and creeped closer to a Shell garage A gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall yesterday afternoon amid the very high temperatures The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, yesterday morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes Firefighters rest as they attend a gorse bush fire during a heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall yesterday afternoon The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, yesterday morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes Drone footage of the aftermath of a field fire by Cheshunt Park in Hertfordshire pictured yesterday A gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall yesterday afternoon amid the very high temperatures The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, yesterday morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes A fire in Upminster, Essex, as the hot weather continues amid a series of extreme weather warnings The burnt out remains of Lickey Hills parkland in Birmingham yesterday morning where fire crews are still on the scene Tinderbox Britain: Where did fires break out during Britain's hottest day on record? GREATER LONDONPea Lane, Upminster Uxbridge Road, PinnerGreen Lanes, SouthgateOaks Road, CroydonBallards Road, DagenhamThe Broadway, Wembley Sunningfields Crescent, HendonChapel View, CroydonSidcup Road, Eltham Western Avenue, Uxbridge Staines Road, Twickenham ENGLAND Joyce Green, Dartford Nare Head, Zennor New Brighton, MerseysideGroby, LeicestershireWalnut Tree, Milton KeynesWales village, Rotherham, South YorkshireHamels Lane, Buntingford M1 in Hertfordshire Rushden, Hertfordshire Hemel Hempstead, HertfordshireCodicote, Hertfordshire Bradgate Park, LeicestershireField Road, DenhamWhitehouse Lane, WycombeWoodland Avenue, BarnsleyNewton Arms pub, Sprotbrough Road, Doncaster Strauss Crescent, MaltbyKiverton Park, Clayton London Road, BostonSCOTLAND Hadden Farm, KelsoWALES Llanishen park, Cardiff People were seen being carried out by police as a golf course in Twickenham caught fire in the latest wildfire which firefighters were called to at 7.23pm.Two hectares of trees and undergrowth are alight, the London Fire Brigade confirmed while residents reported that they were evacuated from their homes.MP Munira Wilson tweeted: 'Very concerned to see reports of big fire in Twickenham at the golf course near David Lloyd. My thanks to all those from [the fire service] working hard to bring it under control. Please stay away from the area.' In one of the most dramatic incidents, at least eight houses were engulfed by flames in the village of Wennington, in the east London borough of Havering.Dramatic aerial footage showed an entire row of semi-detached homes in grave peril, with almost half of them alight as apocalyptic plumes of smoke rose above the scene and rear gardens reduced to cinders.Terrified residents were ordered out as 100 firefighters tried to halt a lethal wall of flame spreading from home to home, fanned by warm winds. One firefighter at the scene branded it 'absolute hell'.Amid the scramble to evacuate, one woman said her uncle was trapped – and was 'digging a trench' around his house to thwart the flames. Police later rescued him.With its Norman church, Wennington features in the Domesday Book, and it seemed an apt description last night amid the smouldering ruins of charred homes. Local councillor Susan Ospreay said: 'Wennington Village has been completely devastated by fire.' The inferno appears to have been sparked by a burning compost heap around 1pm in parched grassland adjacent to Wennington fire station – which meant firefighters were immediately on the scene.But they fought in vain to stop it rapidly spreading on to tinder dry scrubland and incinerating back gardens. As homes were gutted, residents said they could hear the sound of panicked horses whinnying in a surrounding field.Lorry driver Gary Rouel, 64, told how he raced back from work after a phone call from his wife Debbie, 64, saying: 'She just said, 'The house has gone up in flames.'Mrs Rouel, a dinner lady, tried to round up the couple's three cats and their dog as firefighters ordered her to evacuate.Mr Rouel said: 'It's terrible. I've just finished paying off the mortgage two months ago. It's heartbreaking. My wife has [the lung condition] COPD and the fireman was just telling her 'Get out, get out!'.'The couple's son William, 33, who lives in Halstead, Essex said: 'My mum sent me a picture of the fire outside the home from the bathroom. She was still in there when it was coming up to the house.'It started in the field, then came into the garden, then it was up to the decking and the conservatory. We think the neighbour's house has gone too. It's awful, I watched on TV as the house went up in flames.' Distressed residents could be seen carrying buckets of water to the Lennards Arms pub where the community had gathered. Others were hurriedly removing gas canisters from the pub.Others were hurriedly removing gas canisters from the pub. As the blaze drew nearer, police evacuated the building. Landlord Walter Martin, 60, said: 'I've never seen anything like it. It's awful. People are devastated.' Pensioner Lynn Sabberton said: 'The police came to our house and told us to get what we could.' Brian Brazier, 75, added: 'The fire has burnt my stables out. It started as a little fire around the back of the houses and if someone had been there to put it out we wouldn't have had all this trouble.' Resident Janet Hickey, 70, who has terminal pancreatic cancer, said she was forced to leave all her cancer drugs behind as they were evacuated. She said: 'I've got all my cancer drugs in the fridge.' As buildings surrounding the Grade II-listed medieval St Mary and St Peter's Church caught fire, vicar Rev Elise Peterson called for people to pray for the community.The scorching heat smashed the previous British record of 38.7C (102F). Properties faced unprecedented threats on a day when millions of people were working from home. Boris Johnson paid tribute to firefighters and frontline workers keeping the country safe. Black smoke billowed across traffic on the A2 near Dartford, Kent, as bone dry heathland next to the busy route led to a series of fierce blazes. Flames up to 30ft high spread to create a half-mile-long sheet of fire The fires came within yards of Spirits Rest, a horse and animal sanctuary. Owner Christine Bates, 63, said: 'I was just terrified for the animals. We got the horses into the back field, and local residents have now got chickens in their gardens and other people are looking after our kittens. The fire brigade were here so quickly and fought it back maybe four times – but it just kept springing up again.' One blaze at Lickey Hills Country Park near Birmingham spread to 50,000 square metres and forced 15 people to flee their homes. London's Labour mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted that the situation was 'critical' – but he was criticised for using the day's events as a way to promote his controversial car control measures, the ULEZ low-emission zone. In Yorkshire last night, six houses were reported to be on fire in Barnsley. In Skellow, near Doncaster, grass fires came within feet of homes, while in Manchester, actress Faye McKeever – who appeared in the Sky 1 sitcom Trollied – tweeted a photo of her back garden fence ablaze. South Yorkshire firefighters in Maltby after a fire started on scrubland before spreading to outbuildings, fences and homesGrasses to ashes: Fire erupts as if from nowhere and rips through fencing and part of TV actress Faye McKeever's back garden Picture shows a serious fire in Wennington, Essex, where a number of homes have been destroyedHouses on fire in the Kingstone area of Barnsley in Yorkshire at around 4pm yesterday. Police evacuated residents and closed roads to tackle the fire The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, yesterday morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, yesterday morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes Garden furniture and the inside of homes were gutted in the blaze in MaltbyIn Charlwood, Surrey, beat the previous all-time UK high of 38.7C (101.7F) in Cambridge in July 2019. In third place is 38.5C (101.3F) in Kent in August 2003, and 38.1C (100.6F) in Suffolk yesterday is fourth.Elsewhere in England yesterday afternoon, by lunchtime the mercury had got up to 39.9C (103.8F) at Charlwood, 39.6C (103.3F) at Kew Gardens in West London, 39.3C (102.7F) at Wisley in Surrey, and 39.2C (102.6F) at both Chertsey in Surrey and Northolt in West London - with all of these readings also beating the all-time UK high from 2019.And smoke drifted over the M25 as almost 200 firefighters and 30 fire engines tried to extinguish a corn field blaze in Upminster. Firefighters in London said they were battling 'several significant fires' including these ten:Residents were evacuated from their homes in the village of Wennington, east London, on Tuesday afternoon, where black smoke billowed into the air, while flames destroyed buildings and ravaged nearby fields.A firefighter at the scene, asked by the PA news agency what conditions were like, replied: 'absolute hell', while those affected by the blaze said it had been spreading 'fast'.Lizzie Pittman, from Aveley in Essex, who works at some stables by the roundabout, said she was looking after the five horses who had been removed from their stables in Wennington, which had burnt down. Ms Pittman said: 'This is your worst nightmare. You can see it getting closer and closer.'People are losing their houses but that's bricks and mortar. People are losing their livestock.'Two people were also taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation following a fire in Dagenham. London Fire Brigade (LFB) declared a major incident due to 'a huge surge' in blazes across the capital.While London Ambulance Service Gold Commander Peter Rhodes said: 'We are seeing an increase in the number of patients experiencing heat exposure' 'Sustained demand on our 999 and 111 services as a result of the heatwave, and with hot weather set to continue, we are currently at Level 4 of our Resource Escalation Action Plan (REAP) – which is the highest level and represents 'extreme pressure'.'This move allows us to allocate even more staff on the road and in our control rooms and to reprioritise our operational efforts to ensure we provide the best care possible to Londoners.'A huge blaze also broke out on heathland just across the Thames near a housing estate in Dartford. Kent Fire and Rescue Service said 12 fire engines and 100 firefighters were called in to battle the inferno near a housing development on the site of the former Joyce Green Hospital. A technical rescue unit were in attendance, and crews were working to extinguish the flames. There have been no reports of any damage to property in this incident.Firefighters warned people nearby to close their windows and doors as a precaution due to smoke - and drivers travelling on the A2 or surrounding roads were told to take extra care because the smoke may impact visibility. A fire on Dartford Heath next to the A2 in Kent yesterday afternoon, with smoke spreading across the roadA wildfire in Twickenham on David Lloyd golf course is pictured as residents have been evacuated and roads closed. Houses adjacent look like they starting to catch, and there are concerns for the Shell petrol garage further up the road Huge smoke plumes are seen as a fire sparked by lightning at Zennor Head, West Cornwall rages in the afternoon Jonathan Smith, assistant commissioner at LFB, told Sky News many of the fires were spread over wide areas and began because the ground is 'tinderbox dry'.He continued: 'So even a small fire will develop very, very quickly if it's not tackled effectively and efficiently in its early stages. We would also say to people that they don't try and tackle fires themselves.'The situation that you can see is extremely dynamic and these fires can develop very very quickly and we would not want to see members of the public exposing themselves to unnecessary risk.'Ed Miliband, Labour's shadow secretary of state for climate change, said that extreme hot weather like this will become the 'new normal' under climate change.'Reports of fires across the country are deeply distressing. We must do everything we can to support the families and communities affected. I urge everyone to stay safe and salute the courage of our fire services,' he said. Wennington resident, Lynn Sabberton, who said she was evacuated from her home with her partner who has a lung difficulty, told Sky News: 'We thought it was one of the fields that caught alight over the back of us.'But then a neighbour rang me and said, 'oh no, it's on the green, the green has caught fire'. I saw the black smoke and the helicopters came over and more police came into our neighbourhood and it was really spreading very fast.'It just spread so quickly, I think the wind caused the fire to go our way towards the village.'The record-shattering temperatures yesterday meant staying cool was a day-long challenge for many, with seaside resorts again packed, popular inland swimming spots like Compton Lock in Winchester rammed and shops cleaned out of ice creams.River Swales Waterfalls in Richmond, North Yorkshire, saw crowds flock to its refreshing waters in a bid to beat the heat. Another respite was the caverns of the Peak District, which stayed at 9C (48.2F) despite the sweltering conditions at ground level.Barry Jarvis, a senior tour guide at Peak Cavern in Castleton, Derbyshire, said it was 'a fabulous feeling when it's 35C on the surface'.Devastatingly, the drive to escape the heat also saw another spate of water-related tragedies despite repeated warnings from safety experts. By the evening, the death toll since the start of July's blazing hot weather had risen to as high as 13. The Wennington fire is still seen raging at night as hundreds of firefighters are deployed throughout London to tackle blazes The homes seen destroyed in Barnsley as fires created havoc across the country and families were left homeless The body of a teenage boy was recovered from the River Thames in Richmond at about 3.30pm yesterday. Police said it was believed to be that of a 14-year-old boy who was seen to enter the water on Monday afternoon. On the Isle of Wight, a holidaymaker in his 70s was declared dead after he was found unconscious in the water near Sandown Pier at 5pm on Monday. And 16-year-old Sean Norbert Anyanwu also passed away on Monday after he got into difficulties in Bray Lake amid sweltering conditions near Maidenhead.Another fatality on Sunday afternoon involved a man whose kayak capsized on the River Spey, near Fochabers, Moray, in Scotland. As many schools closed and major railway lines were shut, Boris Johnson warned the country should learn from the pandemic and avoid shutting down.Addressing his final Cabinet meeting on what he described as 'another scorching, sweltering day', the Prime Minister said people once again needed to 'balance risk with the need to keep our country, our society and our economy moving'. He told his ministers that 'as far as possible we should keep schools open and keep our transport system going.'Millions again opted to work from home, with footfall in towns and cities yesterday down another 5.9 per cent compared to Monday, retail analysts Springboard reported.However, it seemed some may have been pining for the air conditioning in their places of work, with a 14 per cent rise in central London office activity day-on-day, it added.People in parts of Kent have been told to use water only for essential purposes as stocks dwindled following months of below-average rainfall.It comes after water companies reported 'unprecedented peak demand', with people encouraged to 'carefully consider' their water usage amid warnings of a summer drought following months of below-average rainfall. Fires sparked by lightning at Zennor Head, West Cornwall continue burning into Tuesday evening A man runs along a street with a hosepipe on July 19, 2022 in Wennington, England Some 15 fire engines and 100 firefighters from the London Fire Brigade are dealing with the Wennington blaze Police were called amid concerns over public safety due to people jumping into the river and lighting portable BBQs at River Swales Waterfalls The huge grass blaze has spread to houses in Wennington, East London, yesterday afternoon amid the extreme heatMeanwhile at the Wennington fire, Freya Gutteridge, 23, from nearby Hornchurch - who works in marketing, said: 'I noticed the fire in Wennington when I went to lunch at two and since then our whole office has just been watching - everywhere we look there's a new one.'We're all really worried, the wind is strong and we're seeing on the news that loads of houses are on fire and there isn't enough fire engines.'It's crazy. Most of us in the office live really locally so we're all worried about families' houses at the moment.'Witness Pierre L'Aimable told Sky News: 'We were driving down the road and we just saw so much smoke, we could see it from Hornchurch just going into the air.'We were going to visit one of my business partners and the fire was just immense.'Mr Smith added that resources would be at the scene into the evening, warning that any spark not dealt with could risk 'reignition'. Emergency services fight fires in a row of houses on July 19, 2022 in Wennington as at least five homes have been gutted This picture shows the fire still burning at a home which has been blackened and its roof torn off amid devastating fires In this aerial view, smoke from fires being fought by fire services seen in Wennington as London's firefighters try to battle the infernos Another house was also destroyed in the Wennington fire yesterday afternoon which was seen from above in this Sky News aerial TEN hottest places as old record is obliterated 40.3C Coningsby, Lincs40.2C Heathrow, London40.0C Waddington, Lincs40.0C Humberside40.0C Robin Hood Airport, Doncaster39.5C Northolt, London39.4C Scampton, Lincs39.3C Woburn, Beds39.2C Watnall, Notts39.2C Cranwell, Lincs---38.7C Previous UK record (Cambridge, July 2019) Distressed residents could be seen on the phones trying to get information, and villagers were also seen carrying buckets of water to the Lennards Arms pub where the community had gathered – but officers then evacuated the pub as the inferno rapidly approached.Walter Martin, 61, landlord of the Lennards Arms, a local pup that has escaped the flames for now, said: 'I got a phone call at about 12:50 and I saw a little smoke, I walked around and saw a small fire and then saw it just go up. I've never seen anything like it. It's awful. People are in shock. People are devastated.'Pensioner Lynn Sabberton told Sky News police came to her home and told her she and her husband who suffers from a lung condition had to evacuate. She said: 'We were told that one of the fields had caught fire. The police came to our house and told us to get what we could like personal belongings.'Lorry driver Gary Ruel, 63, who has lived in the area since 2005 was evacuated from his house and said: 'My house is right next to the fire. All we have heard is the fire is close to the church. I live at number 19 but we can't go down there so no one knows what's going on.'No one will give us any information. I just hope everyone is safe, that's all I can say. I'm really worried about my house. I might have lost three cats, I got the dog out but didn't have time for the cats.'Kent Fire and Rescue Service said 18 fire engines were now at the scene of a grass fire near Durrell Dene, in Joyce Green, Dartford.A blaze started in a field around 4pm but soon spread to a nearby housing esta | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
The UK must learn to live with extreme weather, a minister has said, as the government was accused of going missing “while Britain burns”.Hundreds of firefighters battled fires across England as temperatures surged to a historic high of 40.3C on Tuesday. More than 60 homes were destroyed in wildfires, and fire services faced what was described as their busiest day since the second world war.Kit Malthouse, the Cabinet Office minister, said 13 people including seven teenage boys had died while swimming in recent weeks, as he updated MPs on the response to the heatwave.He said of the fires: “We do recognise that we are likely to experience more of these incidents and that we should not underestimate their speed, scope and severity.“Britain may be unaccustomed to such high temperatures but the UK, along with our European neighbours, must learn to live with extreme events such as these.“The government has been at the forefront of international efforts to reach net zero, but the impacts of climate change are with us now.”Kit Malthouse said ‘the government has been at the forefront of international efforts to reach net zero’.Malthouse said Britain would continue to face “acute events driven by climate change”, adding that a new national resilience strategy will be launched “at the earliest possible opportunity by the incoming administration”.But Labour’s deputy leader, Angela Rayner, hit back – saying his statement was “too late”.“It has literally taken the country to go up in flames for the minister to turn his focus on this emergency,” she said on Wednesday.“Isn’t it the truth that the prime minister and his entire government have gone missing while Britain burns?“We might have cooler temperatures today but another heatwave is inevitable as our climate heats up. Britain cannot continue to be so unprepared.”Firefighters. meanwhile, warned “the recipe for disaster is still here”.Riccardo la Torre, national officer of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), said firefighters worked in “ferocious and horrific conditions” on Tuesday in the wake of staff cuts. He said 11,500 firefighter jobs have gone since 2010.“The dry conditions are still there, the recipe for disaster is still there. We’ve got a lot of exhausted, overworked, dehydrated firefighters out there and the resourcing issue still exists today, the dry conditions still exist today,” he said.“This needs serious action, and it was thanks to the hard work of firefighters and control staff yesterday that it wasn’t worse – but it was was horrific.“So many accounts we’ve heard of people losing their homes and firefighters getting injured are heartbreaking and we don’t know the extent, obviously, of the exposures they [firefighters] faced.”He said injuries ranged from heat exhaustion to smoke inhalation and burns.The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, said the London fire brigade received more than 2,600 calls on Tuesday – seven times the usual volume.He told Sky News: “It was the busiest day for the fire service in London since the second world war.“They received more than 2,600 calls – more than a dozen simultaneous fires requiring 30 engines, a couple requiring 15, and some requiring 12.”West Yorkshire’s deputy chief fire officer, Dave Walton, described the outbreak of hundreds of fires on Tuesday as a “wake-up call”.Sign up to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every weekday morning at 7am BSTHe said the outbreaks were a “game-changer”, and “fires were spreading much more quickly than ever before”.The Met Office’s chief scientist, Prof Stephen Belcher, warned temperatures would get more extreme in the future. It would be “virtually impossible” for the UK to have experienced temperatures reaching 40C without human-driven global warming, he added.The high of 40.3C recorded at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Tuesday was 1.6C higher than the previous 2019 high. There was also a record for Scotland, with 35.1C recorded at Floors Castle in Roxburghshire.Concerns have now been raised over the risk of flooding after the Met Office issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms across a large swath of England from noon to 10pm on Wednesday.It said that while many places would only see relatively small amounts of rain, some slow-moving torrential downpours could occur.Meteorologist Craig Snell said wildfires were still a possibility, adding: “Because the ground is so dry, the risk is going to be fairly elevated for a couple of weeks really. But thankfully we’re nowhere near in the situation that we were in on Tuesday.” | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
MITCHELL, S.D. – A derecho swept across South Dakota earlier this week, unleashing strong winds, heavy rain, hail and eerie green skies.The severe storms caused damage across the state, even impacting farmers and their crops. HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER ON TVChet Edinger has been farming for 30 years. Due to the weather risk, he has a rotation of corn and soybeans and more drought-resistant crops like wheat and sunflowers.Edinger was checking the weather Tuesday morning and saw that the National Weather Service said a derecho was possible for the area, so he decided to buy additional hail insurance to help mitigate the financial losses. And while it helped cover his farm for any hail, none fell on his land. "We got straight-line winds," Edinger said. "We had up to 48 mph winds come through. When this storm came through, the eastern part of the state got even heavier winds at 70 to 90 miles an hour."WHY THE SKIES OVER THE PLAINS TURNED GREEN DURING TUESDAY'S DERECHO A derecho swept across South Dakota in 2020 and damaged Edinger's farm. (Chet and Charlie Edinger)Adverse weather is a part of life in South Dakota, and farmers like Edinger learn to work with it over time. While windstorms are not uncommon, they watch and try to manage them.Greensnap, also known as brittle snap, is the condition where rapidly growing stalks are broken by solid and sudden winds associated with thunderstorm downbursts, according to the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.Conditions that favor rapid growth, like adequate nitrogen, high temperatures and good soil moisture, will increase the incidence of greensnap. 7 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HAILSeveral factors influence the occurrence and severity of greensnap, the Extension said. Timing, direction and velocity of winds, growing conditions, management practices and hybrid characteristics are all key. Heavy wind during cool morning hours will cause more greensnap than if the wind occurred during the heat of the day, the Extension reports."You can see some snapped-off corn … but overall, we came out pretty decent," Edinger said. "The farmers on the eastern part of the state got hit real hard. They were basically shoulder-high and are now knee-high. And those are tough to see."Edinger considers his corn a "home run" crop. His production varies yearly and can yield half a million to a million bushels, depending on acres planted, weather and other variables."Swinging for the fence, you can hit a home run, but sometimes you strike out, and that’s mostly weather dependent," he said.WHAT IS A DERECHO?Farmers have been dealing with heat and extreme weather in portions of South Dakota, which has impacted their crops."The heat was stressing us in June," Edinger said. "The one good news about this derecho that came through is it did drop an inch of rain to an inch and a half of rain across our farm. So that’s going to help mitigate that stress."‘DESTRUCTIVE’ THUNDERSTORM ALERTS: WHAT THEY ARE AND WHY THE NWS ISSUES THEMIdeally, Edinger would like to see an inch of rain a week and temperatures below 90 degrees. But that’s asking for a lot. "In South Dakota, we don’t always get that," he said.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX WEATHER UPDATE PODCASTBe sure to download the FOX Weather app to track any storms in your area and receive potentially life-saving weather alerts issued by the National Weather Service. The free FOX Weather livestream is also available 24/7 on the website and app and on your favorite streaming platform. The FOX Weather Update podcast also provides weather information for the entire country. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
A house that was pulled into Rock Creek in Red Lodge, Mont., by raging floodwaters is seen Tuesday, June 14, 2022.Matthew Brown | APThe forces of fire and ice shaped Yellowstone National Park over thousands of years. It took decades longer for humans to tame it enough for tourists to visit, often from the comfort of their cars.In just days, heavy rain and rapid snowmelt caused a dramatic flood that may forever alter the human footprint on the park's terrain and the communities that have grown around it.The historic floodwaters that raged through Yellowstone this week, tearing out bridges and pouring into nearby homes, pushed a popular fishing river off course — possibly permanently — and may force roadways nearly torn away by torrents of water to be rebuilt in new places."The landscape literally and figuratively has changed dramatically in the last 36 hours," said Bill Berg, a commissioner in nearby Park County. "A little bit ironic that this spectacular landscape was created by violent geologic and hydrologic events, and it's just not very handy when it happens while we're all here settled on it."The unprecedented flooding drove more than 10,000 visitors out of the nation's oldest national park and damaged hundreds of homes in nearby communities, though remarkably no was reported hurt or killed. The only visitors left in the massive park straddling three states were a dozen campers still making their way out of the backcountry.The park could remain closed as long as a week, and northern entrances may not reopen this summer, Superintendent Cam Sholly said."I've heard this is a 1,000-year event, whatever that means these days. They seem to be happening more and more frequently," he said.Sholly noted some weather forecasts include the possibility of additional flooding this weekend.Days of rain and rapid snowmelt wrought havoc across parts of southern Montana and northern Wyoming, where it washed away cabins, swamped small towns and knocked out power. It hit the park as a summer tourist season that draws millions of visitors was ramping up during its 150th anniversary year.Businesses in hard-hit Gardiner had just started really recovering from the tourism contraction brought by the coronavirus pandemic, and were hoping for a good year, Berg said."It's a Yellowstone town, and it lives and dies by tourism, and this is going to be a pretty big hit," he said. "They're looking to try to figure out how to hold things together."This aerial photo provided by the National Park Service shows a flooded out North Entrance Road, of Yellowstone National Park in Gardiner, Mont., on June 13, 2022.Jacob W. Frank | National Park Service | APSome of the worst damage happened in the northern part of the park and Yellowstone's gateway communities in southern Montana. National Park Service photos of northern Yellowstone showed a mudslide, washed out bridges and roads undercut by churning floodwaters of the Gardner and Lamar rivers.In Red Lodge, a town of 2,100 that's a popular jumping-off point for a scenic route into the Yellowstone high country, a creek running through town jumped its banks and swamped the main thoroughfare, leaving trout swimming in the street a day later under sunny skies.Residents described a harrowing scene where the water went from a trickle to a torrent over just a few hours.The water toppled telephone poles, knocked over fences and carved deep fissures in the ground through a neighborhood of hundreds of houses. Electricity was restored by Tuesday, but there was still no running water in the affected neighborhood.Heidi Hoffman left early Monday to buy a sump pump in Billings, but by the time she returned her basement was full of water."We lost all our belongings in the basement," Hoffman said as the pump removed a steady stream of water into her muddy backyard. "Yearbooks, pictures, clothes, furniture. Were going to be cleaning up for a long time."At least 200 homes were flooded in Red Lodge and the town of Fromberg.In this aerial view, flooding is seen on June 14, 2022 in Livingston, Montana. The Yellowstone River hit has a historic high flow from rain and snow melt from the mountains in and around Yellowstone National Park.William Campbell | Getty ImagesThe flooding came as the Midwest and East Coast sizzle from a heat wave and other parts of the West burn from an early wildfire season amid a persistent drought that has increased the frequency and intensity of fires. Smoke from a fire in the mountains of Flagstaff, Arizona, could be seen in Colorado.While the flooding hasn't been directly attributed to climate change, Rick Thoman, a climate specialist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, said a warming environment makes extreme weather events more likely than they would have been "without the warming that human activity has caused.""Will Yellowstone have a repeat of this in five or even 50 years? Maybe not, but somewhere will have something equivalent or even more extreme," he said.Heavy rain on top of melting mountain snow pushed the Yellowstone, Stillwater and Clarks Fork rivers to record levels Monday and triggered rock and mudslides, according to the National Weather Service. The Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs topped a record set in 1918.Yellowstone's northern roads may remain impassable for a substantial length of time. The flooding affected the rest of the park, too, with park officials warning of yet higher flooding and potential problems with water supplies and wastewater systems at developed areas.The rains hit just as area hotels filled up in recent weeks with summer tourists. More than 4 million visitors were tallied by the park last year. The wave of tourists doesn't abate until fall, and June is typically one of Yellowstone's busiest months.A view shows rocks sliding down the side of a hill and hitting a car at the North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park in Gardiner, Montana, U.S. June 12, 2022 in this still image obtained from a social media video released on June 14, 2022. Anne Leppold | ReutersMark Taylor, owner and chief pilot of Rocky Mountain Rotors, said his company had airlifted about 40 paying customers over the past two days from Gardiner, including two women who were "very pregnant."Taylor spoke as he ferried a family of four adults from Texas, who wanted to do some more sightseeing before heading home."I imagine they're going to rent a car and they're going to go check out some other parts of Montana — somewhere drier," he said.At a cabin in Gardiner, Parker Manning of Terre Haute, Indiana, got an up-close view of the roiling Yellowstone River floodwaters just outside his door. Entire trees and even a lone kayaker streamed by.In early evening, he shot video as the waters ate away at the opposite bank where a large brown house that had been home to park employees before they were evacuated was precariously perched.In a large cracking sound heard over the river's roar, the house tipped into the waters and was pulled into the current. Sholly said it floated 5 miles (8 kilometers) before sinking.The towns of Cooke City and Silvergate, just east of the park, were also isolated by floodwaters, which also made drinking water unsafe. People left a hospital and low-lying areas in Livingston.In south-central Montana, 68 people at a campground were rescued by raft after flooding on the Stillwater River. Some roads in the area were closed and residents were evacuated.In the hamlet of Nye, at least four cabins washed into the Stillwater River, said Shelley Blazina, including one she owned."It was my sanctuary," she said Tuesday. "Yesterday I was in shock. Today I'm just in intense sadness." | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
A huge wildfire has destroyed at least five homes after sweeping through fields in east London.The homes on Sandy Lane, Rainham, were evacuated by firefighters as they tackled the blaze. A spokesman for Havering council said it was believed that five to seven homes had been set alight.Wildfires have broken out across the country as temperatures climbed above 40C today for the first time. Most of England is at “exceptional risk” of wildfires today, the Met Office has warned.Kent Fire and Rescue Service sent 12 fire engines to a fire in Dartford on the other side of the River Thames from the Rainham fire. It said in a statement: “People driving on the A2 and nearby roads are advised to take care due to smoke coming from the incident, which may impact visibility.”Firefighters were also called to reports of a fire three miles away in Shirehall Road, where one hectare of standing corn was alight.Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said that the London Fire Brigade had declared a major incident “in response to a huge surge in fires across the capital today” and was under “immense pressure”.The temperature has exceeded 40C in Britain for the first time after 40.2C was recorded at Heathrow this afternoon, according to the Met Office. It said that the record-breaking temperature was provisional and would be confirmed in the coming days.The UK experienced its warmest night on record last night as the extreme heat had temperatures remaining in the mid-20s.• How to stay safe in extreme heat: the expert guide• Do I have to work in hot weather? Your heatwave rights explainedRail passengers have been warned against travelling and of major disruption across the country due to the heatwave.A record 40.2C was recorded at Heathrow this afternoonPETER MACDIARMID/LONDON NEWS PICTURESGrant Shapps, the transport secretary, has conceded the UK’s transport network cannot cope with the extreme heat.About last night’s high temperatures, the Met Office tweeted: “It has provisionally been the warmest night on record in the UK.“Temperatures didn’t fall below 25C in places, exceeding the previous highest daily minimum record of 23.9C, recorded in Brighton on 3rd August 1990.”The Met Office said the “unprecedented” heat could bring highs of 41C in some isolated spots, making it hotter than Jamaica, the Maldives and Barbados.An ice cream seller uses a bottle of water to cool down in Hyde Park, central LondonTOBY MELVILLE/REUTERSSearch for missing swimmer as group savedA search for a missing swimmer off the pier at Clacton is continuing after at least three other people were rescued from the sea this morning (David Brown writes).Emergency services launched a major rescue operation shortly before noon after reports that a group of swimmers had got into difficulties at the Essex tourist attraction. Initial reports said that four people were involved but updates suggested it could be up to six.Nigel Brown, who works at Clacton Pier as its communications manager, told BBC Essex: “They seem to have got caught in the tide and the currents off the beach and drifted towards the pier and once you get under the pier you have the rip currents.“As far as I know, [the other people are ok], I saw them being put onto the boats and some of our staff at the pier had the lifebelts over the sides and managed to hold onto them until the lifeguards arrived.”The A14 at Bottisham, Cambridgeshire, was briefly closed due to a bump in the road; Network Rail said tracks were buckling under the heat; and two women find a way to cool off at Trafalgar Square in LondonEssex police said: “We are on the scene assisting emergency services colleagues with a serious and ongoing incident close to Clacton Pier. There is a significant emergency services presence in the area while the incident is being dealt with.”The coastguard said that rescue teams from Clacton, Walton and Holbrook had been sent to help look for the swimmer, believed to be a man, alongside members of Essex police, fire and ambulance crews.The pier has been closed, and beachgoers have been asked to keep clear while the search continues for the missing man.A man in his twenties died yesterday at the Cotswold Water Park. Wiltshire police said officers were called at 6pm and the man was confirmed dead shortly after being pulled from the water.At least five people, including three teenage boys, have drowned over the past three days as emergency services appealed for swimmers to take care during the heatwave.Commuter journeys drop as Londoners avoid heatTransport for London, which has urged people to “only travel if essential” said that about 1.03 million entries and exits were made by London Underground passengers up to 10am this morning — down 30 per cent compared with the same period last Tuesday, and also lower than yesterday’s figure of 1.06 million.Just over 1.04 million bus journeys were made up to 10am, a decrease of 16 per cent week on week, and down from Monday’s figure of 1.07 million.The Central line was still packed as commuters headed to work this morning — perhaps with the hope of benefitting from air conditioning in officesAARON CHOWN/PAThe Hammersmith and City line is suspended while sections of the Metropolitan line and the London Overground are also out of action. There are severe delays on almost all other Tube lines.Passengers travelling to London airports are being urged to plan ahead in order to reach terminals in time.Luton Airport, which closed yesterday afternoon when the runway melted, is open and fully operational.Hard rain’s a-gonna fall, with thunderstorms tomorrowThe heatwave is set to end with a bang with a warning tomorrow of thunderstorms covering London and much of southern and eastern EnglandThe Met Office’s yellow weather warning forecasts heavy showers, with downpours of between 20mm and 30mm, and even up to 50mm in places, between 1pm and 9pm.The area stretches from Gloucester in Gloucestershire and Salisbury in Wiltshire in the west, to Skegness in Lincolnshire and Sandwich in Kent in the east.The Met Office said that if flooding occurs, train and bus services could be cancelled, roads closed and a slight chance of power cuts.A camera operator shelters from the heat under an umbrella during the first one-day international match at the Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-StreetOWEN HUMPHREYS/PA‘Do not travel’ warning for rail passengers heading northNetwork Rail has upgraded its advice to “do not travel” for passengers heading north of London into the red zone (Ben Clatworthy writes).Jake Kelly, Network Rail’s operations director, said: “We have not taken the decision lightly to upgrade our travel advice to ‘do not travel’ if heading north out of London.“Please replan your journey as there will either be no services or very disrupted services. Any journey within the Met Office’s ‘red-zone’ is going to be long, disrupted and uncomfortable so, with free refunds or ticket swaps available, our best advice is to stay home and replan your journey.”Stations and rail services are said to be noticeably quieter today. A nationwide speed restriction is in force in England and Wales with all services limited to a maximum of 60mph.PM defends net zero target as debate and country heats upBoris Johnson has defended his government’s commitment to reaching net-zero emissions as he held his final scheduled cabinet meeting.The commitment to effectively eliminate carbon emissions by 2050 has been a major debating point in the Tory leadership contest.Johnson told ministers: “Who can doubt that we were right to be the first major economy to go for net zero? It may be sometimes unfashionable to say this but it is the right thing to do.”Yesterday Kemi Badenoch, the former Treasury minister, suggested that the government’s target to hit net-zero emissions should be delayed by as much as 20 years.The leadership contender, who could prove kingmaker if she is ousted from the contest today, gave contradictory answers to questions about the environment yesterday.PM holds his final cabinet meetingIn the early afternoon, she appeared at a hustings of the Conservative Environmental Network, leaving MPs with the impression that she was committed to the net-zero target date of 2050.Alok Sharma, the president of last year’s Cop26 summit, asked all the candidates if they supported the target. “All five candidates confirmed that they are committed to net zero by 2050,” he said after the hustings.Later that day, however, Badenoch described the 2050 target was an example of “government by press release”.In an interview with TalkTV, she was asked if there were any situations in which she would push back the target date. “Yes, there are circumstances where I would delay it, but I think that the target itself is a bit of a red herring,” she said. “I believe that there is climate change ... and that is something that I think we do need to tackle ... but we have to do it in a way that doesn’t bankrupt our economy.“The legislation we’ve put in is for 2050 ... Practically none of us will still be here to be held accountable for it.”Man dies after being found unconscious in seaA man in his seventies who died after being found unconscious in the sea off the Isle of Wight has become the latest casualty as Britons flocked to the water to cool down.Ryde Beach Lifeguards said on its Facebook page that yesterday afternoon its “team at Sandown responded to an unconscious non-breathing casualty to the west of Sandown pier.“The casualty, a tourist in his 70s, was pulled from the water, with the team performing CPR as well as using the AED [automated external defibrillator].”The man could not be resuscitated despite efforts by lifeguards, paramedics and an air ambulance crewUKNEWSINPICTURESMoments later they were “backed up by paramedics, coastguards, the air ambulance and the police. The team and emergency services worked on the casualty for approximately 40 minutes, before he was declared dead at the scene. Our sincerest condolences go out to the gentleman’s family and friends.”The man’s death follows the rescue of two boys, aged 12 and 14, after they got into trouble while swimming in the sea at Blackpool yesterday.RNLI Blackpool said on Facebook that volunteers were called out at 5.50pm “to reports of two teenagers in difficulty in the sea at Central Pier”. The lifeboat “was just about to launch, when members of the public managed to get the two back to the safety of the beach”.Lasr night a 14-year-old boy was believed to have drowned after getting into difficulty in the River Thames at Richmond, southwest London.Police were called at 4.43pm to reports that a child had been seen to enter the water at Tagg’s Island in Hampton but he could not be found. The island is used for the mooring of luxury houseboats.People cool off in the River Dove in Dovedale, Derbyshire. Emergency services have urged caution around water during the heatwaveCARL RECINE/REUTERSSuperintendent Richard Smith, from the South West Command Unit, said: “It might look appealing to jump in and cool off in rivers, reservoirs, lakes or other open water.“Please don’t. The dangers are real and this evening in Richmond we have seen the terrible consequences of what happens when it goes wrong.”Network Rail said its tracks reached 62C yesterday as it fears widespread disruption today (Ben Clatworthy writes).Rail operators are urging passengers to travel only if absolutely essential. A speed restriction of 60mph is in place across the entire network in England and Wales and many services have been cancelled.Network Rail tweeted: “Our hottest rail recorded yesterday was 62C, in Suffolk. Rail temperature can be about 20C higher than air temperature, causing it to expand, bend and break.”High temperatures can cause rails to bend, Network Rail said, which recorded its highest rail temperature of 62C yesterdayThere were widespread incidents across the network yesterday with rails buckling and overhead power cables sagging in the searing heat.The east coast main line will be closed today between London King’s Cross and York and Leeds because of the extreme weather. The closure will be in place from midday until 8pm with a skeleton service running this morning.Rail bosses said temperatures well in excess of those for which the infrastructure is designed has led to this decision. Network Rail, which manages 20,000 miles of track, also paints some localised sections of steel white in advance of high temperatures. The process can reduce the heat in a rail by 5-10C, increasing the stability of the steel.Operators are urging people not to use rail services to visit the country’s beaches as they fear that tracks could buckle later in the day leaving tens of thousands of people stuck at the coast with no way home.Yesterday Govia Thameslink, which runs services from London to Brighton, issued a plea to sunseekers after its trains were packed with people travelling to beauty spots.Rail network ‘cannot cope’ Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, conceded that the UK’s transport network cannot cope with the extreme heat.He told people to “apply common sense” and “depending on the nature of your journey and reason for it you might want to consider rearranging your day around it”.He told BBC Breakfast: “We’ve seen a considerable amount of travel disruption, we’re probably going to see the hottest day ever in the UK recorded today and infrastructure, much of it built in Victorian times, just wasn’t built to withstand this type of temperature — and it will be many years before we can replace infrastructure with the kind of infrastructure that could, because the temperatures are so extreme.”Asked if the transport system could cope with the weather, he said: “The simple answer at the moment is no.“Where those tracks are 40 degrees in the air, on the ground that could be 50, 60, 70C and more. So you get a severe danger of tracks buckling, what we can’t have is trains running over those and a terrible derailing.“We’ve got to be very cautious and conscious of that, which is why there’s reduced speeds on large parts of the network.”Last night was the warmest night on record, according to the Met Office.The organisation said in a tweet: “Temperatures didn’t fall below 25C in places, exceeding the previous highest daily minimum record of 23.9C.”A graphic accompanying the tweet showed the highest overnight minimum temperatures recorded were 24.5C in Aberporth, west Wales, 25.8C in Kenley, in the London borough of Croydon, and 25.9C in Emley Moor, near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.A warning of the conditions for drivers on the M3ANGELA LUBRANOTrain chaos latest: what you need to know this morningThameslink has warned passengers of “major disruption” on all of its routes, “with no services north of London today”.There will be no Great Northern trains running in any location north of the capital, from London Blackfriars via St Pancras, or from London King’s Cross or London Moorgate.Merseyrail has said the number of trains running and journey times will be “seriously affected”, with some routes closed completely.LNER will run no trains from south of York and south of Leeds to London King’s Cross. Southern, South Eastern, South Western Railway and Great Western Railway are among the dozens of train companies running significantly reduced services across the country.• London heatwave: how to stay cool in the cityTransport for London (TfL) said London’s rail network would also be running a reduced service today due to safety restrictions put into place to deal with the heat.Records could fall on day two of extreme heatGood morning and welcome to The Times’s live weather coverage, as Britain faces record-breaking temperatures. Travel warnings are in place for several parts of the country and people have been urged to stay hydrated and aware of the dangers of the extreme heat. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
A general view shows Tianjin Port, in northern China February 23, 2017. REUTERS/Jason LeeRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comBEIJING, July 5 (Reuters) - Heatwaves are predicted to sweep through northern China in the next two weeks, with more than 250 million people expected to grapple with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some regions.For four to six days, the regions of Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Ningxia, and the provinces of Hebei, Henan, Gansu and Shaanxi, will see temperatures of more than 40°C, said Fang Xiang, deputy head of the National Meteorological Center (NMC).As of 5:40 p.m. (0940 GMT), the meteorological centre had issued 184 heatwave alerts across northern, northwestern and southwestern China.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comChina has faced extreme weather contrasts this summer, with heatwaves in the north and heavy rain and floods in the south. The government has blamed climate change, which it says will increasingly affect the economy and society. read more In June, heatwaves affected nearly half of China's population. Part of northern China's power grid load saw new highs last month, affecting energy supply, Fang said."The lasting high temperatures will cause a marked impact on production and life, such as increased pressure on power supply," Fang said.The risk of forest fires and harm to the stable growth of crops such as rice, cotton, and corn can also be expected, he told a news conference.Drought-like conditions are expected to affect crops in Shandong, Anhui, Henan, Shaanxi and Gansu, Fang warned.In June, China's average temperature was the highest since 1961, Wang Yawei, a weather official, said.It was also 0.9 degree Celsius higher compared with the same period in previous years, he said.Last month, the provinces of Henan and Jiangsu, which have a combined population of more than 180 million, set new daily power usage records. read more "It'd take magic to defeat magic - only a big storm can break the 40-degree spell of warm weather," wrote a netizen from Zhengzhou, provincial capital of Henan.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Albee Zhang, Ella Cao and Ryan Woo, Editing by Gerry Doyle and Angus MacSwanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
U.S. August 4, 2022 / 10:52 AM / CBS News "Mega-drought" threatens Western water supply Lake Mead's low water level prompts feds to consider declaration of Colorado River water shortage 04:33 Millions of people in the Western U.S. are at risk of seeing reduced access to both water and power as two of the nation's biggest reservoirs continue to dry up inch by inch. The United Nations issued a warning on Tuesday that the water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell are at their lowest ever and are getting perilously close to reaching "dead pool status." Such a status means that the water levels are so low that water can't flow downstream to power hydroelectric stations. At Lake Mead, located in Nevada and Arizona, the country's largest artificial body of water, levels have gotten so low that it's essentially become a graveyard – human remains, dried-out fish and a sunken boat dating back to World War II have so far been revealed from underneath the now shallow waters. The walls of the lake are divided by two contrasting colors that reveal the line at which the water once sat. At maximum capacity, the lake should reach an elevation of 1,220 feet, according to NASA's Earth Observatory. On this day in 2020, Lake Mead sat at 1,084 feet above the mean sea level. Today, it's at 1,040. NASA has said this could be the worst drought in the region in 12 centuries and that water levels must stay above 1,000 feet to continue providing hydropower at normal levels. This composition shows the difference in water levels at Lake Mead from July 6, 2000 to July 3, 2022. NASA Earth Observatory Lake Powell, which sits in Utah and Arizona, is the nation's second-largest artificial reservoir and is seeing a similar situation. The last time the lake was full was in 1999, but the water is dozens of feet lower than it was just last year. As of Thursday, it was only a quarter full. Both lakes provide water and electricity to tens of millions of people across seven states, as well as irrigation water for agriculture. United Nations Environment Programme ecosystems expert Lis Mullin Bernhardt said that the conditions "have been so dry for more than 20 years that we're no longer speaking of a drought." The climate crisis and overconsumption of water are to blame, the U.N. says."We refer to is as 'aridification' – a new very dry normal," they said in a statement. And even if water cuts are introduced to try and ration the supply, it might not be enough. "Climate change is the heart of the issue," UNEP's North America ecosystems officer Maria Morgado said. "In the long term we need to address the root causes of climate change as well as water demands." Those water demands are only compounded by the climate crisis, the U.N. said, as much of the country faces a brutal circumstance of more frequent and intense droughts and extreme heat. "These conditions are alarming," Bernhardt said, "and particularly in the Lake Powell and Lake Mead region, it is the perfect storm."The U.S. is one of 23 countries that have faced drought emergencies between 2020 and 2022, according to a drought report by the U.N. earlier this year. Water stress is "relatively high" in the nation, as nearly three-quarters of available renewable water supplies get used every year. Along with a public health and infrastructure burden, this also creates a financial one — in 2020, California lost between $10-20 billion from wildfires and droughts. While droughts only make up about 15% of natural disasters, they cause 60% of the extreme weather deaths worldwide. In less than 30 years, scientists predict that more than three-quarters of the world's population will be impacted. In: Lake Mead Li Cohen Li Cohen is a social media producer and trending reporter for CBS News, focusing on social justice issues. Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
The scale of the flooding crisis unfolding around Sydney is on another level.Not only is the city being hit with almost non-stop rain, some suburbs have had multiple floods this year already.
It's taking a toll on the community.Barbara Mascoll has lived in the town of Windsor in Sydney for 35 years. Speaking to us on her front lawn, she said it's hard to reach the shops because she needs a boat to get out. Image: Barbara Mascoll has been hit by the flooding "I was up all night, I haven't had any sleep yet so I'm still in my dressing gown," she told us. We saw a local charity delivering food to Ms Mascoll and her neighbours.
Every day they're handing out hundreds of bags of supplies to flood-stricken families. More on Australia Tennis star Nick Kyrgios charged with assault of former girlfriend, report says Dozens rescued from Sydney floods overnight as 50,000 people face evacuation amid extreme weather Sydney floods: Tens of thousands told to evacuate "We're a resilient community but I think everybody's a bit flood weary," Linda Strickland, chief executive of Hawkesbury's Helping Hands says."Right now it's about saving lives and making sure people have food on their tables."That includes the wildlife too.It's not every day you see a kangaroo on a kayak being saved by a rescuer.But Josh Robinson, founder of Crisis Animal Response & Evacuation (C.A.R.E) in New South Wales, and Harley Stewart have been taking their boat and kayak out to save farm animals, pets and wildlife stranded in the floods. Image: Josh Robinson (left) and Harley Stewart have been rescuing animals stranded in the floods "We're out every single day rescuing animals from situations because people have had to get out so quickly they've just left them behind," he said.In another area of Windsor some homeowners are staying put despite the floodwaters sweeping through the ground floor of their two-storey home.Sarah Kennedy bought her riverfront property a year ago. Since then she's experienced flood after flood.The family also own a turf farm now entirely under water, costing the business more than £1m. Despite the hardship Ms Kennedy says she wouldn't live anywhere else - but admits the floods are nervewracking."It's not a great feeling, you're nervous it is going to come in. This is the first time it's ever been in the house."The New South Wales (NSW) government has declared 23 regions as natural disaster zones, anticipating a long road back to normality. Image: Blacktown Council representative Moninder Singh Read more: Australia floods: Inside the flooded property of a NSW homeownerDozens rescued from Sydney floods overnight as 50,000 people face evacuation amid extreme weatherBlacktown Council representative Moninder Singh says his community is "shattered"."The highway is totally blocked. That means no one can come to the town, or go out," he says. "There are no services available at this stage."Australia is regarded as a country on the frontline of the climate emergency.You only have to drive 45 minutes from the centre of downtown Sydney to see this global crisis turn the lives of tens of thousands of people into a disaster. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
By Reality Check teamBBC NewsImage source, Getty ImagesPeople on social media have been comparing the high temperatures in much of the UK with the heatwave of 1976, suggesting that the severity of the current hot weather is being exaggerated. So, what does the evidence show? How hot was the summer of 1976?The peak that year was 35.9C. That has already been beaten by the current temperatures and on Tuesday it could go as high as 41C. The heatwave of 1976 started in June and lasted for two months. There was a lack of rainfall and a significant drought, with the government enforcing water rationing. The heatwave was rare for that decade. The average maximum temperature in July in the 1970s was 18.7C. In the 2010s, it was more than 20C.The UK has been slowly getting warmer since the 19th Century, and this has sped up. In the past three decades the country has become 0.9C warmer on average, according to the UK State of the Climate report in 2020. Nine out of ten of the hottest days ever recorded in the UK have been since 1990, according to the Met Office. 1976 ranks 12th in the list of the hottest UK days on record (some of these, not shown in the chart above, have occurred in the same year)."1976 was indeed a heatwave and we have had heatwaves before, but the point is they're happening more often and they're becoming more intense," says Prof Hannah Cloke, a climate scientist at the University of Reading.There is also the scale of the heatwaves to consider, when comparing temperatures with those in 1976.That summer, the UK and France were among a handful of countries experiencing high temperatures. But if you look at the heat maps (produced by NASA) for June 2022, it shows many more countries affected."We can easily see how much warmer the global climate has become - with very few areas actually colder than normal," says BBC Weather presenter, Matt Taylor.Who's spreading the misleading comparison?Suggestions that there is nothing unusual about this heatwave appear to have found a willing audience among climate change sceptics.Hundreds of people have shared their experiences of the 1976 heatwave on social media, with some making the misleading suggestion that the current heatwave is "no different".Others have accused the Met Office and the media of spreading "alarmism" and "hysteria". Some have suggested people need to "toughen up", describing those complaining about the heat as "snowflakes".But even in the 1976 heatwave - which saw lower temperatures - excess deaths in parts of the country were up 30%. Last week, the UK Health Security Agency issued its highest level four heat alert, warning illness and death could occur "among the fit and healthy".The comparison with the 1976 heatwave has also proven popular among users sharing conspiracy theories - including unfounded claims that a "climate lockdown" is about to be imposed. How is the current heatwave linked to climate change?The Met Office estimates that this heatwave has been made ten times more likely because of climate change.The overwhelming majority of scientists agree greenhouse gases - which trap the sun's heat - are causing a rise in global temperatures and climate change. This has brought more extreme weather. Periods of intense heat do occur within natural weather patterns, but they are becoming more frequent around the world, more intense and are lasting longer as a result of global warming."We should expect more and longer heatwaves in the future," says Prof Nigel Arnell, a climate scientist at Reading University. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
From the normally chilly Russian Arctic to the traditionally sweltering American South, big swaths of the Northern Hemisphere continued to sizzle with extreme heat as the start of summer more resembled the dog days of August with parts of China and Japan setting all-time heat records Friday.
In the United States a heat dome of triple digit temperatures in many places combined with high humidity oscillated from west to east. On Thursday, at least 15 states hit 100 degrees (37.8 degrees Celsius) and at least 21 high temperature marks were set or broken, according to the National Weather Service, which held 30 million Americans under some kind of heat advisory.
READ MORE: Extreme heat can be deadly for people who are homeless
The extreme discomfort of Thursday came after 12 states broke the 100-degree mark on Wednesday and 21 records were tied or broken. Since June 15, at least 113 automated weather stations have tied or broken hot-temperature records. Scientists say this early baking has all the hallmarks of climate change.
In China’s northern Henan province Friday, Xuchang hit 107.8 degrees (42.1 degrees Celsius) and Dengfeng hit 106.9 degrees (41.6 degrees Celsius) for their hottest days on record, according to global extreme weather tracker Maximiliano Herrera. And in Japan Friday, Tokamachi and Tsunan set all-time heat records while several cities broke monthly marks, he said
“It’s easy to look at these figures and forget the immense misery they represent. People who can’t afford air conditioning and people who work outdoors have only one option, to suffer,” said Texas A&M climate scientist Andrew Dessler, who was in College Station, where the temperature tied a record at 102 degrees (38.9 degrees Celsius) Thursday. “Those of us with air conditioning may not physically suffer, but we are prisoners of the indoors.”
After three deaths, Chicago has changed its cooling rules.
In Macon, Georgia, the temperature swept from 64 degrees (17.8 degrees Celsius) to 105 (40.6 degrees Celsius) in just nine hours Wednesday. Then on Thursday the temperature peaked at 104 (40 degrees Celsius), a record for the day. Even Minneapolis hit 100 on Monday.
Probably only the Pacific Northwest and Northeast have been spared the heat wave, said National Weather Service meteorologist Marc Chenard at the Weather Prediction Center. On Thursday, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Arizona, South Carolina, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota, Colorado, Nevada and California all hit at least 100. Houston, Dallas, Austin, New Orleans and Orlando all tied high record marks on Thursday.
“It’s persistent,” Chenard said. “It’s been over a week and it’s going to continue in some aspects.”
It’s not just the U.S.
The Russian city of Norilsk, above the Arctic circle, hit 89.6 degrees (32 degrees Celsius) Thursday for its hottest June day on record and tied for its hottest day in any month on record, according to Herrera. Saragt in Turkmenistan rose to 114.6 degrees (45.9 degrees Celsius) but Herrera said in the next days it can get even worse.
READ MORE: Record-breaking heat wave in 2021 is an example of climate change’s impact in North America
Herrera said tracking heat records is so overwhelming that he doesn’t have time to eat or sleep.
A European heat wave has also caused problems with fires in Germany and Spain.
Northern Illinois University meteorology professor Victor Gensini said what’s happening with this early heat wave is “very consistent with what we’d expect in a continually warming world.”
“These temperatures are occurring with only 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius) of global warming and we are on track for 4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 degrees Celsius) more warming over this century,” Dessler said. “I literally cannot imagine how bad that will be.”
In Raleigh, North Carolina, it hit 100 on Wednesday and usually the city only gets one 100-degree day a year, but it comes much later than this, said state climatologist Kathie Dello.
“In the southeastern U.S. many lack access to sufficient or stable cooling or cannot afford to use their home cooling systems. Heat morbidity and mortality is among our greatest public health risks in a changing climate.”
There may be some cooling by the weekend or Monday in some places, including the north central part of the country, Chenard said. But above normal temperatures are forecast for “at least into the first part of July” and he added it’s likely the entire summer will be hotter than normal. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Council leaders have urged swimmers and dog-walkers to stay out of Lake Windermere because of the potentially toxic algae covering the water's surface - after experts warned that fish in the lake are choking to death and rivers and canals across 'Tinderbox Britain' turned green during the heatwave. Aerial photos show the beloved UNESCO-protected holiday spot in the Lake District in Cumbria blanketed with blue-green algae - which can be potentially harmful to dogs - transforming the water's appearance from crystal blue into a slimy pale green colour. Have you fallen ill after swimming in Lake Windermere? Contact [email protected] Video posted by environmental campaigners appear to show fish swimming in circles at the water's surface amid fears they are 'distressed' and 'struggling for life'.An online petition to clean up Windermere has now garnered more than 100,000 signatures - meaning it has to be debated by MPs when they return from their holidays.Algae begins to multiply when the weather is warm and once the numbers are high they are likely to persist and dominate a waterway throughout the season. They can produce toxins that can cause skin rashes, vomiting, stomach pains, a fever and headaches. Though not all blue-green algae are toxic, it is not possible to tell from appearance alone.South Lakeland District Council, which owns the lake bed, has told families on holiday to keep themselves and their pets away from potentially toxic blue-green algae. Director of the Aquatic Veterinarian Dr Bryony Chetwynd-Glover said: 'Looking at the video, the fish is displaying very abnormal, uncoordinated swimming movements at the surface of the water, indicating a severe level of neurological impairment. 'This is likely due to the direct toxic effects of the algae or the indirect depletion of oxygen from the water which occurs during algal blooms. So 'choking' from a lack of oxygen in the water is possible!''It's advisory that people shouldn't go swimming in Windermere or let their dogs go for a swim.'It comes as experts warn that England's largest lake is on the brink of ecological disaster owing to algae blooms as well as sewage work pollution, local agriculture and the near 2,000 private septic tanks that line the historic site.Data showed that raw sewage was pumped into the lake for 1,719 hours in 2020 - while an interactive map from the River Trust shows at least seven points where waste was discharged into the water last year. A spokesman for SLDC: 'Blue-green algae can potentially make people feel quite ill if swallowed or even by just swimming in it.'We want the public to be aware of the affects and are asking people to be extra careful and vigilant when using the lake for recreational purposes during the summer months.'Farmers and pet owners should also prevent livestock and animals coming into contact or drinking the affected water, as it can sometimes prove fatal for animals.'People should observe any notices near affected areas and avoid contact or drinking water from areas identified.'Many standing waters are vulnerable to problems with blue-green algae, typically between June and November.All blue-green algae blooms should be assumed to be toxic and the blooms vary in colour from discoloured green, blue-green, greenish brown, or reddish brown. The blooms do subside and this is a temporary situation. LAKE WINDERMERE: Aerial shots show how Lake Windermere, Cumbria, has been swamped with blue-green algae over the last few days due to the hot and sunny weather Aerial footage showed the iconic Lake District site overwhelmed with toxic blue-green algae after it continued to multiply in the hot and sunny weather What are algal blooms and when are they harmful? What is a harmful algal bloom? Algae are microscopic organisms that live in aquatic environments and use photosynthesis to produce energy from sunlight, just like plants. A harmful algal bloom occurs when algae grow excessively in a body of water.The algal bloom becomes visible to the naked eye and can be green, blue-green, red, or brown, depending on the type of algae.Why do harmful algal blooms occur? Algae are always present in natural bodies of water like oceans, lakes, and rivers, but only a few types can produce toxins. In these algae, toxin production can be stimulated by environmental factors such as light, temperature, and nutrient levels. As climate change gradually warms the Earth's , scientists expect harmful algal blooms to become more frequent, wide-ranging, and severe.What are the dangers to humans and pets?Harmful algal blooms can produce potent toxins that can result in a range of health effects in people and animals. Effects on people coming into contact with toxic scums include skin rashes, eye irritations, vomiting and diarrhoea, fever and pains in muscles and joints. Harmful algal blooms have also caused the deaths of dogs, horses, cattle, birds and fish across the UK.How do harmful algal blooms affect ecosystems? In addition to health concerns, harmful algal blooms can damage the environment by depleting oxygen in the water, which can kill fish as well as organisms deeper in the water. It comes as waterways in London, Manchester, Berkshire and elsewhere are coated by algae as the country is scorched by searing 30C temperatures.Water extracted from areas showing blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, may contain high nitrates which can cause stomach cancer and blue baby syndrome. It is not known whether the algae covering Lake Windermere is toxic. In Slough, Berkshire, algae can be seen completely covering the Jubilee River as temperatures soared and surpassed 30C once again - and in Bedford day trippers have been warned about the algae at a local beauty spot which can cause skin rashes and lead to serious illness if consumed. Barges and canal boats in Greater London were seen ploughing through pea-green soup algae which is covering the city's canals, and where specialised boats have been called out on a daily basis to clean and clear the algae away. Another image shows a horse drinking in a Hampshire lake while a swan in Bedford was seen trudging through the thick green mush. A warning sign was put up by local authorities at the Priory Country Park in Bedford which strongly advised children, adults and their pets to stay away from the lake there. The blue-green algae at Priory Country Park, which produces an unpleasant odor, was seen swarming with flies and insects. Snapshots of Sale Water Park, which is on the outskirts the Manchester, found swans and other birds navigating their way through the clusters of brown algae lying on top of the water. An Environment Agency spokesperson said: 'Hot, sunny weather can result in algal blooms forming and removing dissolved oxygen from our waters, which fish need to survive. 'Environment Agency officers are out on the ground ensuring our fisheries are supported, deploying aeration pumps to restore oxygen levels and, when necessary, performing a fish rescue.' SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE: The Jubilee River was almost covered in lime-green coloured algae on Thursday 11 August as temperatures soared and surpassed 30C once again SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE: Last week algae smothered parts of the Jubilee River as temperatures continue to increase across the country BEDFORD: Visitors have been told to stay away from a natural beauty spot in Bedford on 11 August after a wave of poisonous blue-green algae blossomed BEDFORD: A warning post at popular Country Park, Priory Country Park, was put up to inform visitors of the dangers of blue-green algae which is toxic and poisonous MANCHESTER: Algae floating in the water on 11 August at Middlewood Locks, Salford, and blocking the natural sunlight for plants or other organisms at the bottom BEDFORD: Blue-green algae flourish and have a competitive advantage over other plants in temperatures which are 25C or higher REGENT'S CANAL: 'Pea soup' algae has begun to cover London's canals, particularly in Regents Canal (pictured above); the water on Wednesday 10 August looks as like thick green paint MANCHESTER: Photos from Sale Water Park, which is on the outskirts of Manchester, on the 11 August showed swans and birds navigating their way around the thick clumps of brown algae BEDFORD: Blue-green algae, a toxic type which can be harmful for humans and other animals, covered a popular country park in Bedford on Thursday - pictured from above SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE: As the dry weather continues there is still no forecast for rain for the foreseeable future, more algae can be expected. Pictured: Algae and weed forming on the Jubilee River in Slough on 4 August HAMPSHIRE: A pony foal drinks and cools down in Janesmoore pond in the New Forest, Hampshire as temperatures soar and surpass 30C, 9 August LONDON: A swan swims and trudges through thick green lumps in the Diana Fountain pond at Bushy Park in South West London on 11 August LONDON: Due to the extreme hot weather algae has begun to cover London's canals, the picture was taken on 10 August LONDON: A narrowboat makes its way down a London canal in the extreme weather: the tracks are the only parts of the water which are not covered in algae LONDON: Although the pea soup algae has begun to cover London's waters, a group of small people are making their way through Regent Canal while protecting themselves from the sun with large umbrellas Algal blooms usually develop in the summer months and occur due to higher temperatures, an abundance of sunlight and more nutrients. Once they have multiplied the water becomes less clear and can appear as thick green paint, discoloured small clumps or brown paste. Some such as blue-green algae can be poisonous and produce toxins which can make humans and animals very ill. If they cover the whole water surface they can block much needed sunlight for plants at the bottom of Britain's waterways. As the temperature increases the level of oxygen in water decreases, which directly affects fish in rivers, canals and still waters.Algae exacerbates this as it sucks up even more air which can lead to creatures and wildlife suffocating. Algal blooms cause levels of oxygen to widely fluctuate over a 24-hour period placing additional stress on sea creatures. Dogs fall ill and hospital anaesthetist contracts disease 'after swimming' in iconic Lake District beauty spot A zoologist who is campaigning to prevent sewage being dumped in Lake Windemere has warned of an impending environmental disaster after claiming his beloved dog fell seriously ill while swimming in England's largest lake.Matt Staniek, a 26-year-old conservationist, launched a campaign that is nearing 100,000 signatures calling for an end to the polluting of the UNESCO protected Lake Windemere, Cumbria.Walking last month by the lakeside accompanied by his black Labrador Bo, Mr Staniek's pet was struck down with vomiting, diarrhoea and tiredness.After rushing her to a vet, the expert confirmed Bo had contracted campylobacter, a bacterial disease that can transmitted from animals to humans. Mr Staniek claims at least five dogs who regularly go on walks around Lake Windermere have also been struck down with a bacterial illness.His claims have been supported by wildwater swimmer Peter Semple, a 62-year-old hospital anaesthetist, who says he was forced to take time off work after catching campylobacter when he swallowed water while swimming in Windermere.Mr Semple says he was left with crippling abdominal pain and diarrhoea, which led him to send a stool sample to his GP that confirmed he had the infectious bacteria.'I had to take two weeks off work. It is a notifiable disease so the GP told the local environmental health people', Mr Semple added.'They just sent me leaflets telling me to cook meat properly. But we are all vegetarians. Neither my partner nor daughter were ill. We all ate the same things, but they didn't go swimming.'It was definitely swimming that caused it. It has put me right off swimming in the lakes, even though we still love going there.'Matt Staniek, a 26-year-old conservationist, claims his black Labrador Bo fell ill after swimming in the UNESCO protected Lake Windermere Water safety campaigners say this large fish washed up dead by the path at Lake Windermere due to the increased presence of 'toxic' blue-green algae blooms | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
The risk of fires from tinderbox dry conditions across parts of England and Wales has been raised to "exceptional" - the highest it can be - as a four-day amber weather warning comes into force.The top level on the Fire Severity Index applies to much of southern England, and reaches as far west as Abergavenny in Wales, for this coming Sunday.
The Met Office has issued an amber heat warning running between Thursday and Sunday, which could see temperatures peak at 36C across this stretch.South East, Southern and Welsh Water have all announced hosepipe bans for customers in areas they supply.And Thames Water has signalled it will also introduce a ban in the coming weeks as the hot, parched summer continues to take its toll. Image: A number of buildings were engulfed by a blaze in Wennington, east London in one of the busiest periods on record for the capital's fire service There have also been repeated warnings about the impact on agriculture, rivers and wildlife.
Read more: What are the rules on hosepipe bans, what are the exemptions and what do they mean? More on Extreme Weather Hosepipe bans: What are the rules, what are the exemptions and what do they mean? Hundreds stranded in Death Valley after record rainfall triggers flash floods People told to grass on neighbours who flout hosepipe ban Amber warning, what to expect: Adverse health effects are likely to be experienced by those vulnerable to extreme heat The wider population is likely to experience some adverse health effects including sunburn or heat exhaustion (dehydration, nausea, fatigue) and other heat related illnesses Some changes in working practices and daily routines, likely to be required An increased chance that some heat-sensitive systems and equipment may fail More people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes, rivers and other beauty spots, leading to an increased risk of water safety and fire-related incidents Some delays to road, rail and air travel are possible, with potential for welfare issues for those who experience prolonged delays Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said: "The risk (of fires) is very high across much of central, southern and eastern England."Going into Friday and the weekend, it starts to increase further, going into the highest category of exceptional risk." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The UK braces for the next stifling few days Worst summer for fires in three decadesMark Hardingham, the chairman of the National Fire Chiefs Council, told The Telegraph he "can't remember a summer like this" in his entire 32-year career.He said: "We're not going to see temperatures as hot as we saw three weeks ago, but that doesn't matter because the ground couldn't get any drier than it already is." SHARE WITH SKY NEWS You can share your story, pictures or video with us using our app, private messaging or email. :: Your Report on Sky News apps :: WhatsApp :: Email By sending us your video footage/ photographs/ audio you agree we can broadcast, publish and edit the material. There is also a heat health alert in place from the UK Health Security Agency, with experts advising people to look out for those who are older or with existing health conditions, as well as young children.The latest analysis from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology has warned low or even exceptionally low river flows and groundwater levels are likely to continue for the next three months in southern England and Wales. Image: A man stands in the basin of Grafham Water near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, where water is severely receding Rain relief?But, Mr Petagna said rain could be on the horizon early next week."There are signs that we could get some rain next week, but details at the moment are uncertain," he said.He added the UK needs "a few weeks" of light rain to water the ground."What we really need is a few weeks of light rain to soak into the ground," he said."Thunderstorms are more likely to cause some flooding issues because the ground is hard, the water can't sink in." | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
As the country struggles to cool down in ever hotter summers, the communities that will be hardest hit and/or least able to cope have been identified by new research. Birmingham has by far the most communities that urgently need help to cope with hotter weather, according to analysis from Manchester University and campaigners Friends of the Earth (FoE).
The city's followed by the London boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets and Hackney - with Nottingham also making the list. Image: Local authorities in England with the most vulnerable neighborhoods The number of people exposed to extreme heat "grows very rapidly as the planet warms up", which shows the "real human consequence" of failing to cut emissions, FoE's head of science, policy and research Mike Childs told Sky News.The research sends "a very strong signal to politicians that we need to double down on cutting our carbon emissions, unlike some of the candidates to be our next prime minister... who are suggesting perhaps we could dial back on climate action", he said. Climate change has already warmed Britain by 0.9C. About 800 extra people die due to heat each year.
The researchers identified neighbourhoods that are prone to hot weather, and then assessed more than 40 factors that would make those communities vulnerable. Age is one of them - with risks to the elderly and toddlers well known. More on Climate Change Extreme weather: Roads close, 'frightening' fires break out and drought sets in as Portugal's temperatures climb towards 46C Is insulation making your house hotter in summer - and how can you cool it down? Blistering heat scorches Europe as Portugal wildfire injures 29 and officials warn of hotter, changing climate There are also lesser-discussed risks such as crime levels, with high crime rates deterring people from opening windows.Landscape also plays a big role, as concrete heavy areas absorb a lot of heat, whereas street trees and green space have a cooling effect and provide shelter, and high-rise buildings are particularly susceptible to overheating.Birmingham is not only urban, but also has a large stock of privately rented accommodation in poor condition.Mr Childs said these areas should be targeted for greater support - such as by planting more trees along streets, installing air conditioning in community centres, or retrofitting homes to be warmer in winter and cooler in summer.Mr Childs called it a "fairness" and "race" issue, with all worst-affected communities having a below-average carbon footprint, and ethnically diverse people four times more likely to live in a vulnerable community than white people. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Why heatwaves are getting worse FoE wants the government to prioritise the 3,000 most vulnerable neighbourhoods for publicly funded adaptation projects, as well as double down on cutting emissions to avoid further warming.A government spokesperson said the UK has already cut emissions faster than any other G7 nation and has made "significant" £1.2bn funding available for councils to take local action.It is also working on plans for regulations to reduce the risk of overheating in new residential buildings - though existing housing stock remains a problem.The Local Government Association was unavailable to comment. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Is it getting hotter more often? Professor Robert Lowe, who specialises in energy resilience and built environments at University College London, said that while climate change was dangerous, the current "unravelling of global supply chains, and the likelihood that the energy crisis will be followed by a food crisis and general impoverishment of populations " made the demands "unrealistic".The researchers first focused on England, which has the greatest risk and largest population.A similar project looking at Wales is ongoing.The analysis comes as the government's climate advisers warn of the dangers of "locking in" the dangerous impacts of climate change to our homes.Watch the Daily Climate Show at 3.30pm Monday to Friday, and The Climate Show with Tom Heap on Saturday and Sunday at 3.30pm and 7.30pm. All on Sky News, on the Sky News website and app, on YouTube and Twitter.The show investigates how global warming is changing our landscape and highlights solutions to the crisis. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
BEIJING (AP) — Flash floods in southwest and northwest China have left at least a dozen dead and put thousands of others in harm’s way, state media reported Sunday.In the southwestern province of Sichuan, at least six people have died and another 12 are missing after torrential rain triggered flash floods, state-owned news outlet CGTN reported.Some 1,300 people had been evacuated as of Saturday, the report said.Meanwhile, in Longnan city in the northwestern province of Gansu, another six deaths were reported and 3,000 people have been evacuated, state broadcaster CCTV said. Rainfall in 1 1/2 day was as much as 3.9 inches in the worst-affected areas, almost double the July average.The rains come amid a heat wave in parts of the country including eastern Zhejiang province and the city of Shanghai, with temperatures soaring as high as 107 F last week.Experts say such extreme weather events are becoming more likely because of climate change. Warmer air can store more water, leading to bigger cloudbursts when it’s released.The flooding adds to economic woes brought on partly by stringent “zero-COVID” measures restricting travel and disrupting supply chains.China is not the only country experiencing extreme weather this summer. In Germany, low water levels in the Rhine due to droughts have disrupted the supply chain for commodities into the country. Heat waves have also hit the southern part of the US, with temperatures expected to soar over 100 F in coming days. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
LOST CREEK, Kentucky — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden on Monday witnessed the damage from deadly and devastating storms that have resulted in the worst flooding in Kentucky’s history, as they visited the state to meet with families and first responders.At least 37 people have died since last month’s deluge, which dropped 8 to 10 1/2 inches of rain in only 48 hours. Gov. Andy Beshear told Biden that authorities expect to add at least one other death to the total. The National Weather Service said Sunday that flooding remains a threat, warning of more thunderstorms through Thursday.The Bidens were greeted warmly by Beshear and his wife, Britainy, when they arrived in eastern Kentucky. They immediately drove to see devastation from the storms in Breathitt County, stopping at the site of where a school bus, carried by floodwaters, was crashed into a partially collapsed building.Beshear said the flooding was “unlike anything we’ve ever seen” in the state and credited Biden with swiftly approving federal assistance.He praised responders who “have moved heaven and earth to get where we are what about nine days from when this hit,” he said.Attending a briefing on the flooding’s impact with first responders and recovery specialists at Marie Roberts Elementary School in Lost Creek, Biden pledged the continued support of the federal government.“We’re not leaving, as long as it takes, we’re going to be here,” he said.Biden emphasized that politics have no place in disaster response, noting his frequent political battles with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. “We battle all the times on issues,” Biden said, but in helping Kentuckians rebuild, “we’re all one team.”The Bidens were later scheduled to tour another hard-hit community in the state and meet directly with those affected.Monday’s visit is Biden’s second to the state since taking office last year. He previously visited in December after tornadoes whipped through Kentucky, killing 77 people and leaving a trail of destruction.“I wish I could tell you why we keep getting hit here in Kentucky,” Beshear said recently. “I wish I could tell you why areas where people may not have much continue to get hit and lose everything. I can’t give you the why, but I know what we do in response to it. And the answer is everything we can. These are our people. Let’s make sure we help them out.”Biden has expanded federal disaster assistance to Kentucky, ensuring the federal government will cover the full cost of debris removal and other emergency measures.Jean-Pierre said the Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided more than $3.1 million in relief funds, and hundreds of rescue personnel have been deployed to help.“The floods in Kentucky and extreme weather all around the country are yet another reminder of the intensifying and accelerating impacts of climate change and the urgent need to invest in making our communities more resilient to it,” she said.The flooding came just one month after Beshear visited Mayfield to celebrate the completion of the first houses to be fully constructed since a tornado nearly wiped out the town. Three families were handed keys to their new homes that day, and the governor in his remarks hearkened back to a visit he had made in the immediate aftermath.“I pledged on that day that while we had been knocked down, we were not knocked out,” Beshear said. “That we would get back up again and we would move forward. And six months to the day, we’re not just up, we’re not just standing on our feet, we are moving forward.”Now more disasters are testing the state. Beshear has been to eastern Kentucky as many times as weather permitted since the flooding began. He’s had daily news conferences stretching an hour to provide details including a full range of assistance for victims. Much like after the tornadoes, Beshear opened relief funds going directly to people in the beleaguered regions.A Democrat, Beshear narrowly defeated a Republican incumbent in 2019, and he’s seeking a second term in 2023.Polling has consistently shown him with strong approval ratings from Kentuckians. But several prominent Republicans have entered the governor’s race, taking turns pounding the governor for his aggressive pandemic response and trying to tie him to Biden and rising inflation.Beshear comments frequently about the toll surging inflation is taking in eating at Kentuckians’ budgets. He avoids blaming Biden, instead pointing to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and supply chain bottlenecks as contributors to rising consumer costs.Schreiner reported from Frankfort, Kentucky and Megerian reported from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Britain recorded its highest ever temperature on Tuesday as 39.1C was provisionally recorded at Charlwood in Surrey.Met Office forecasters predicted 41C later in the day which would further surpass 2019’s 38.7C record.After the hottest night on record and the highest minimum temperature (25.8C in Kenley in London in the 24 hours to 10am Tuesday), the heat rose rapidly in the morning.By 10am on Tuesday the highest UK temperature was already 35.1C at Kew Gardens in London – well up on the 28C recorded at the same time on Monday.The provisional records came as firefighters battled a blaze at a beauty spot in the West Midlands, households in the south-east were told to save water by switching off washing machines and the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, admitted it would take decades to make road and rail infrastructure resilient enough for the heating climate.Climate experts described the record as a harbinger of rising risks to lives and livelihoods for at least the next 30 years.“It’s going to get worse over the next few years,” said Nigel Arnell, a professor of climate system science at the University of Reading who called for urgent updates to the UK’s emergency plans so they are ready for next year. “Similar events in the future will last longer and cover larger areas.”He said planning needed to start now to “upgrade our infrastructure and buildings to cope with changing conditions, so that over the next few years we become more resilient”.Overnight firefighters battled a blaze at Lickey Hills country park near Redditch in the West Midlands, with pictures posted online showing scorched earth and skeletal trees after it spread across 50,000 sq metres. Fifteen people were evacuated.A 14-year old boy was believed to be the fifth person to die since Saturday after getting into trouble in water. Scotland Yard said the boy was seen going into the Thames at Hampton in south-west London and went missing, presumed drowned. It follows the deaths of a 16-year-old boy in Bray lake in Berkshire on Monday; Robert Hattersley, 13, in a river near Ovingham, Northumberland on Sunday; a 16-year-old boy in Salford Quays, and a 50-year-old man in a reservoir near Leeds on Saturday.As the east coast mainline closed from Yorkshire to London because of heat, Shapps said it would take decades to make the UK’s roads and railways fit for the high temperatures seen this week.“There’s a long process of replacing it and upgrading it to withstand temperatures, either very hot or sometimes much colder than we’ve been used to, and these are the impacts of global warming.”Network Rail said the temperature on a rail in Suffolk was recorded as 62C on Monday. No trains were running into or out of London King’s Cross on Tuesday, and no Thameslink or Great Northern services were planned to run north of London all day.East Midlands railway services will stop completely between lunchtime and 7pm, services were disrupted on the west coast mainline, on West Midlands railway and on Chiltern railways.“The increase in the frequency and intensity of heatwaves and other extreme weather events is the result of climate change, and these impacts will continue to grow until the world reaches net zero emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases,” said Bob Ward, policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. “Going weak on net zero now would mean far more suffering later.”Road congestion was again down in the major cities as millions of people worked from home and some schools remained closed until tomorrow. The supreme court in London, which was only refurbished 13 years ago, closed to visitors on Tuesday because of the heat and an air-conditioning fault.But amid signs that days of public health warnings may have worked, London ambulance service (LAS) said it had only received a slight increase in 999 calls for fainting and heat exposure on Monday and ambulances were not waiting outside hospitals any longer than usual.“We really hope that’s because the public really have listened to the messages about how they can look after themselves,” said Brian Jordan the LAS director of 999 operations.As demand for water surges, households in parts of Surrey, Kent, Essex and Hertfordshire face low water pressure. Affinity Water told customers around Harlow and Bishop’s Stortford to only use water for drinking, washing and cooking and to avoid using washing machines, dishwashers and hosepipes.Two villages in Kent, Challock and Molash, have been without water since Saturday because of high demand and power outage at a water treatment station and South East Water has set up a bottled water station.“Water companies are seeing unprecedented peak demand for water during this extreme hot weather event,” said a spokesperson for Water UK. “We are urging everyone to carefully consider the amount of water they are using at this time.”It has asked people to only water plants with watering cans, let lawns go brown and stop washing cars.Farmers said crops which would not normally demand irrigation now needed it, while reservoirs were running low.“The lack of rain has severely hampered grass growth which could hit feed supplies for the winter, adding additional costs to livestock farming,” said Tom Bradshaw, the deputy president of the National Farmers’ Union. “Sugar beet growers who have the infrastructure are looking to irrigate and we are now in the peak water demand period for field veg.” | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
The UK could hit its highest-ever temperature today or tomorrow, surpassing the current record of 38.7C (101F) which was set in Cambridge in 2019.The mercury may soar above 38C (100F), 39C (102F) or even 40C (104F) in some parts of the country, with the current heatwave due to peak on Tuesday, before cooler conditions push in from the Atlantic, rather than hot weather coming from southern Europe.
The Met Office issued its first red warning for extreme heat, covering a swathe of England from London to Manchester and York, and weather experts said the high temperatures could put lives at risk.Also, the UK Health Security Agency increased its heat health warning from level three to level four - a "national emergency". Level four is reached "when a heatwave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend outside the health and social care system... At this level, illness and death may occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups (such as the elderly)". Scientists say climate change is increasing the likelihood of exceptional heatwaves in Britain, a country unaccustomed to such high temperatures.
So, how much are these kind of extreme heatwaves down to climate change? More on Climate Change Red alert: UK set to roast in 'ferocious heat' as temperatures could hit 40C and bring widespread disruption Heatwave: Melting roads, buckling tracks, productivity loss - Britain needs to adapt to more soaring temperatures French firefighters battle huge forest blaze and pilot dies in crash in Portugal as wildfires rage across Europe Alex Deakin from the Met Office is in no doubt.The meteorologist told Sky News: "We've had hot spells in the past. But what is absolutely clear is that these hot spells, these heatwaves are becoming more intense, more frequent. The science is absolutely clear that climate change has its fingerprints all over this current hot spell."He added: "What we know is that 40C is now 10 times more likely in the UK than it would be under a naturally-varying climate - so one that humans haven't influenced."So we are going to experience these kind of heatwaves more and more frequently."He went on: "Heatwaves are getting more severe, getting more ferocious, they are lasting longer and temperatures are rising and that's all part of climate change." Image: The Met Office has issued a red alert for Monday and Tuesday Jim Dale, senior meteorologist at British Weather Services, said the UK is at a "crossroads" in terms of the "most indisputable change sign that we've ever seen"."Data has been one-way traffic for the last decade and more. The global records have all been in the last decade in terms of the heat and the CO2 levels."It's no longer denial - man-made climate change - it's here."He added: "It's not just about heat. It's about other aspects as well that we'll see into the future - storms, floods - these aspects that climate change brings." How ready is the UK to deal with such high temperatures?Mr Deakin said the infrastructure in the UK is not ready to cope with such levels but it must increasingly prepare for them, including by the government.He called them "unprecedented values", adding: "When you go on holiday your body is prepared for it and the infrastructure in those countries (such as southern Europe) is set up. You have air conditioning."Mr Deakin warned: "It's the night-time temperatures, as well as the daytime temperatures, that are going to cause the problems (in the UK) as people won't be able to sleep as well, and if your body does not get that rest then it really struggles to cope in the high temperatures."Read more:What is a national heatwave emergency and what could it mean for the UK?Schools close, hospitals cancel appointments and events are scrappedMet Office chief executive Penny Endersby said people can find it hard to know what to expect when "climate change has driven such unprecedented severe weather events"."Here in the UK we're used to treating a hot spell as a chance to go and play in the sun," she added."This is not that sort of weather."What should the UK do?Nigel Arnell, a professor of climate system science at the University of Reading, said Britain needs to prepare for more hot weather in the future, retrofitting buildings to cope with extreme weather and planting more greenery in cities.Adaptation and resilience need to become a political priority, he said."We can't keep on dealing with extremes in crisis mode," Mr Arnell said.Susan Scholefield - a former director of the Cabinet Office's Civil Contingencies Secretariat - said people should make their homes more fuel efficient.In the immediate situation, she said people should adapt their behaviour."Close curtains during the day and open them up during the night," she suggested.London mayor Sadiq Khan has urged Londoners to only travel on Monday and Tuesday if it is essential and to prepare for disruption because speed restrictions will be in place on rail and Tube networks. And fire brigades, including South Wales Fire And Rescue Service, Scottish Fire And Rescue and London Fire Brigade, have issued safety warnings, urging people to act responsibly.They warn people to dispose of barbecues, lit cigarettes and glass bottles responsibly, to not burn any rubbish such as garden waste and use local authority services instead.And that barbecues should not be used on balconies or near sheds, fences, trees, shrubs and garden waste to avoid anything catching alight.They also urge people who are cooling off in waterways to be aware of cold-water shock. What is the evidence from the Met Office linking climate change to UK heatwaves?The Met Office looked at the summer of 2018, the joint warmest on record.It found the chance of such a hot summer in a natural climate was just 0.5%. But because of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, that had increased to 12%.In other words, a record summer is almost 30 times more likely now as a result of climate change.The warming trend will accelerate. By mid-century, the Met Office predicts a summer as hot as 2018 will happen every other year.And if greenhouse gas emissions continue to climb as predicted, by the end of the century UK temperatures will peak at 40C (104F) or more once every three to four years. How many heatwave-related deaths are there annually in the UK?Such sweltering heat is life-threatening - particularly for the young and old - when temperatures remain high for several days.Heatwave deaths currently average around 2,000 a year. By 2050, they're predicted to reach 7,000."Even as a climate scientist who studies this stuff, this is scary," said Professor Hannah Cloke, a natural hazards researcher at the University of Reading, about the current situation."This feels real. At the start of the week I was worried about my goldfish getting too hot. Now I'm worried about the survival of my family and my neighbours."What will weather experts learn from this latest heatwave?Sky weather producer Kirsty McCabe said scientists wait until after the event, once we see how hot it actually got, before they can attribute it to climate change.She said: "They compare what temperatures we would expect in different scenarios (ie different amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere). With the extreme temperatures linked to higher emissions."She added: "Current research says heatwaves will happen more frequently, last longer and be more intense, unless we curb global warming. If not, 40C in the UK could occur every few years in the future."Watch the Daily Climate Show at 3.30pm Monday to Friday, and The Climate Show with Tom Heap on Saturday and Sunday at 3.30pm and 7.30pm.All on Sky News, on the Sky News website and app, on YouTube and Twitter.The show investigates how global warming is changing our landscape and highlights solutions to the crisis. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
A cyclist rides through Richmond Park at sunrise during a heatwave in London, Britain, July 18, 2022.REUTERS/Hannah McKayRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comLONDON, July 18 (Reuters) - Britain was on course for its hottest day on record on Monday with temperatures forecast to hit 40C for the first time, forcing train companies to cancel services and health authorities to put more ambulances on standby.Much of Europe is baking in a heat-wave that has pushed temperatures into the mid-40s Celsius in some regions, with wildfires raging across tinder-dry countryside in Portugal, Spain and France. read more Britain's government triggered a "national emergency" alert as temperatures were forecast to surpass the 38.7C (102 Fahrenheit) recorded in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden in 2019 on Monday and Tuesday.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com"We've got a difficult 48 hours coming," Kit Malthouse, a minister in charge of government coordination, told the BBC.London's Underground metro network imposed temporary speed restrictions on the network for Monday and Tuesday, meaning it would run a reduced service with journeys taking longer than normal. It urged commuters to only travel if essential.The national rail network also urged passengers to stay at home, and said some services - including a key route between northeastern England and London - would not run during parts of Tuesday.Jake Kelly from Network Rail said he hoped normal operations would resume on Wednesday, when temperatures are forecast to fall, but that would depend on "the damage that the weather does to the infrastructure over the next couple of days".Some schools were due to close earlier than usual on Monday.The Health Security Agency (UKHSA) raised the heat health warning to Level 4 for England for Monday and Tuesday.Britain' Meteorological Office defines a Level 4 alert as a national emergency, and is used when a heat-wave "is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend outside the health and social care system. At this level, illness and death may occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups."The Met Office said "substantial" changes in working practices and daily routines would be required and there was a high risk of failure of heat-sensitive systems and equipment, potentially leading to localised loss of power, water or mobile phone services.Malthouse said the government was prepared for the extreme weather and would seek to learn lessons from it."We definitely need to adapt the way we build buildings, the way we operate and look at some of our infrastructure in the light of what seems to be an increasing frequency of these kinds of events," he told BBC Radio.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Kate Holton
Editing by William SchombergOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAug 22 (Reuters) - Flooding and heavy rains hit the Dallas, Texas area on Monday, leaving at least one person dead after their vehicle was swept away by rising water, authorities said.The body of a 60-year-old woman, who has not been identified, was recovered from her car after floodwaters receded Monday afternoon in an area of east Dallas, according to Clay Jenkins, the top elected official in Dallas County.Rainfall over a 24-hour period ending Monday night exceeded forecasts, with one area in east Dallas experiencing more than 15 inches (38cm) of rain, according to Dallas water utility's floodway operations.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe National Weather Service (NWS) said flood warnings in some parts of Dallas were in effect until at least Wednesday morning, with risks of thunderstorms and brief periods of heavy rainfall possible for Tuesday and Wednesday.The heavy rains in the Dallas area and across the Southern Plains were the latest example of extreme weather to hit the United States as a result of climate change, which has recently caused dangerous flooding, tornadoes, wildfires and heat waves.Rescue personnel wade through floodwaters after heavy flooding in the Dallas metro area submerged roads and entire neighborhoods, in Dallas County, Texas, U.S., August 22, 2022, in this still image taken from video. WFAA TV via ABC via REUTERS
Video footage from local media showed motorists getting out of their submerged vehicles and swimming for safety in the dark overnight Monday. After daybreak, a video from a local ABC affiliate showed firefighters slowly walking a resident away from a flooded home in a strong downpour."There is literally no meeting or place to be that is worth risking your life or anyone else on the road. Please STAY HOME if at all possible," Dallas Councilmen Adam Bazaldua wrote on Twitter.Numerous roads remained closed on Monday afternoon due to flooding, the Dallas Police Department said on Twitter, warning motorists to avoid driving in high waters.The NWS also issued flood advisories for parts of Southern Oklahoma, Northern Louisiana and Central Mississippi until Tuesday night."A multi-day heavy rainfall event is in progress over parts of the southern Plains that may produce instances of flash flooding in urban areas and places with poor drainage," the weather service said.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago and Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Bernadette Baum and Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
The Southwest's dangerous flooding Monday overwhelmed the Old West town of Duncan, Arizona, prompting "mass evacuation" and a local state of emergency.The Duncan Valley Rural Fire District declared the "mass evacuation of flood prone areas in Duncan" early Monday, listing more than a dozen streets in the 712-person town as subject to the order.Mayor Anne Thurman declared the state of emergency shortly after noon. She cited rainfall since Aug. 15, dangerous flooding and "extreme peril to life and property," according to the declaration.Thurman formally asked the state for first responder resources.People drive over a bridge in Duncan, Ariz., following a flooding. (Stan Ellis)In an afternoon update, the town said new concerns about the integrity of a century-old river levee that had been breached earlier Monday means evacuees should continue to stay away.The Gila River, which runs through town on its journey from Gila National Forest in New Mexico to the Colorado River in Yuma, crested after 7 a.m. at 2.5 feet above what's considered its flood state, federal forecasters said.Images obtained by NBC News showed the river encroaching on the town as floodwaters took over some streets and a gas station, where the ground was covered in a shallow layer of still water. No injuries have been reported.Flash flooding isn’t unusual in the Southwest at this time of year, when summer heat rapidly sends evaporated humidity into thunderous, towering clouds. They return the favor with rain and monsoonal weather that can feel almost tropical. Brief, powerful showers cover desert floors, create brief moments of pooling and revive the driest creeks.Monday's weather was different.It sent sustained precipitation from north of Duncan into major waterways like the Gila, which will remain overflowing for hours, if not days, as floodwaters continue to swell its tributaries.The railroad town, officially placed on the U.S. Postal Service map in 1883, when it was called Purdy, is 5 miles from New Mexico and inseparable from the river."Duncan belongs to the Gila," the town's website says.Rob Howlett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Tucson office, said the Duncan area hasn't seen flooding like this for more than 15 years."There’s been a lot of rainfall at the headwaters of the Gila River in New Mexico," he said. "It's coming downstream in our area."Although the worst might be behind it, the Gila could display higher, wider waters along its path for days, he said, as thunderstorm activity was forecast for the area anew.A warning from the National Weather Service said moderate flooding was likely for the Gila through Duncan overnight."Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas," the agency said. "Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks."A front that stalled over Texas was typical of the weather that has produced a torrent of rain in Dallas, where nearly 8 inches fell in three hours overnight, Howlett said.Authorities at Zion National Park in Utah, just north of the Arizona state line, continued to search for missing visitor Jetal Agnihotri of Tucson after flash flooding swept some park-goers off their feet Friday. All were accounted for except Agnihotri, last seen near the Virgin River Narrows.Climate change hasn't been blamed for the specific events in Dallas, Duncan and elsewhere in the Southwest, but the extreme weather is consistent with earth scientists' contention that a warming planet will bring more frequent and more intense storm activity.Showers will continue on and off for the next few days from eastern Arizona to Texas and beyond, federal forecasters said.The remnants of a tropical storm system in northern Mexico moved into the Gulf of California and supplied the Southwest with a spigot of precipitation, Howlett said.Thunderstorms continued to develop over Duncan on Monday afternoon. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
The forecast is “absolutely unprecedented,” a senior British meteorologist said. “Our lifestyles and infrastructure are not adapted to what is coming.”July 18, 2022, 11:24 AM UTC / Updated July 18, 2022, 3:48 PM UTCLONDON — Residents told not to venture outside. Salt trucks spraying sand on roads to stop them melting. Doctors pausing medical operations. Rail authorities warning tracks could buckle. Experts saying hundreds or thousands could die in the heat.This is not the intro to a dystopian sci-fi novel but present-day Britain. The country descended into a dangerous heatwave Monday, with forecasts of 105 degrees that would make it hotter than 98% of the planet's surface.Meanwhile, wildfires continued to rage across continental Europe, with authorities battling to control blazes across France, Greece, Italy and elsewhere. In Spain and Portugal, more than 1,000 deaths have been attributed to their brutal, week-long heatwave.The Met Office, Britain's national weather service, issued an extreme heat warning for the very first time this week. Met OfficeWhile these fires have become depressingly familiar in some parts of the world, most of Britain is just waking up to the reality of extreme weather that’s exacerbated by manmade climate change.The Meteorological Office, the United Kingdom’s national weather service, has issued its first ever “Red Warning” for extreme heat, urging people to avoid exercise, travel or even going outside if possible. There was a 50% chance the U.K. could record its hottest temperature to date, currently 101.6 Fahrenheit in July 2019, it said.If it does hit 105, that would make it hotter than all but 2% of the world, including some areas of the American Plains, the Middle East and China, according to NBC News meteorologist Kathryn Prociv.Meanwhile, the U.K. Health Security Agency announced its first “Level 4” heat warning — the highest possible — which it describes as a “national emergency.” Government ministers discussed contingency plans at a special interdepartmental meeting last week.“The extreme heat we are forecasting right now is absolutely unprecedented,” Met Office boss Penny Endersby said in a rare public service broadcast last week. “Here in the U.K., we are used to treating a hot spell as a chance to go and play in the sun — this is not that sort of weather. Our lifestyles and infrastructure are not adapted to what is coming.”A man uses a newspaper as a fan whilst travelling on the Bakerloo line in central London on Monday.Yui Mok / PA via Getty ImagesThe U.K. has had warm weather before, but scientists say these blistering temperatures are becoming more common because of greenhouse gases humans are pumping into the atmosphere.These aren't uncommon levels of heat in other parts of the world — including the United States where 50 million people were expected to experience 100 degrees or above Monday. But Britain is simply not materially, culturally or psychologically equipped to cope.Many houses were built in the 1800s and have thick brick walls that soak up heat in the day and retain it at night. Air conditioning is uncommon outside of offices and other public spaces. And rarely does the temperature reach 90 degrees on this grey and drizzly north Atlantic rock, whose most southern mainland point is on the same latitude as Winnipeg, Canada.A police officer givers water to a British soldier wearing a traditional bearskin hat, on guard duty outside Buckingham Palace on Monday. Matt Dunham / APSome public health experts have predicted that hundreds if not thousands of people could die in the U.K. before temperatures cool into the high 70s Wednesday. During a heatwave in 2003, some 2,000 people died from heat in the U.K. and 15,000 in France."I'm afraid the excess deaths on Monday and Tuesday have got to be anticipated" in the range of "thousands of deaths," Sir David King, the British government's former chief scientist told LBC radio. He said this could be "up to 10,000" deaths.“Even as a climate scientist who studies this stuff, this is scary,” Professor Hannah Cloke, a natural hazards researcher at the University of Reading, told NBC News’ British partner Sky News on Monday. “This feels real. At the start of the week I was worried about my goldfish getting too hot. Now I’m worried about the survival of my family and my neighbors.” The publicly funded National Health Service, already under strain with Covid-19 and longstanding capacity issues, is reporting that some operating theaters have paused surgery until the temperature is under control, Miriam Deakin, deputy chief executive of the membership organization NHS Providers, told Sky News.The extreme heat meant that “the NHS is planning for, and is seeing, increased demand for urgent and emergency care services to make room for that,” Deakin said.In an attempt to avoid mass casualties, the government has advised people to stay indoors, close windows and curtains, and look out for elderly or vulnerable neighbors. Newspapers published "heatwave hacks," which told people to cover their windows in tin foil and put ice by their cooling fans.The soaring temperatures are already having an impact on travel, with London’s Luton Airport saying Monday it has suspended flights after the brutal conditions affected its runway.“Following today’s high temperatures, a surface defect was identified on the runway," the airport said in a statement. "Engineers were called immediately to site and repair works are currently in progress to resume operations as soon as possible."And authorities are urging drivers to stay off the roads in the middle of the day, with some local governments are deploying salt trucks to spray sand on the asphalt to try to stop it melting.Strong winds and hot, dry weather are frustrating firefighters' efforts to contain a huge wildfire in the France's Bordeaux region.APNetwork Rail, which manages the country’s train infrastructure, asked people not to travel, warning the heat could buckle the tracks and announcing that speed restrictions were in place.Elsewhere, utilities companies said they were monitoring for potential blackouts and water shortages.Some schools will close early, and children will be allowed a day off from their starchy, buttoned-up uniforms that are common here.Meanwhile France's southwestern region of Gironde is among a litany of European regions currently on fire. The wildfires there have spread to 27,000 acres — more than half the size of Washington, D.C. — and 14,000 people have fled their homes.“This is not ‘just summer,’ French senator Mélanie Vogel tweeted. It is “just hell” and will pretty soon become ‘just the end of human life’ if we continue with our climate inaction.”In Portugal, another place where wildfires are raging, more than 650 people died as temperature topped 116 degrees.Fire officials in Greece said Saturday that 71 fires had broken out in the past 24 hours.A study published in June in the journal "Environmental Research: Climate" concluded it was highly probable that climate change was making heatwaves worse, according to Reuters.Alexander Smith is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital based in London.Reuters contributed. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
The UN is appealing for $160m (£136m) in emergency funding to help Pakistan deal with devastating floods.More than 1,150 people have been killed and nearly half a million displaced in the disaster.
"Pakistan is awash in suffering," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a video message for the launch of the appeal."The Pakistani people are facing a monsoon on steroids… people's hopes and dreams have washed away."The floods have affected more than 33 million people, or one in seven Pakistanis.
Pakistani authorities, supported by the military, rescuers and volunteers, have been battling the aftermath of the floods.Although rainfall stopped three days ago and floodwater in some areas has receded, large areas remain underwater. More on Pakistan Pakistan minister says West has 'responsibility' to help with floods as it's caused climate change Why Pakistan is at 'ground zero' of the climate crisis after suffering deadly flooding Pakistan flooding: Pictures reveal devastation caused after monsoon rains Rescue workers were evacuating stranded people to safer ground, including makeshift tent camps that have sprung up along motorways, villages, and towns.According to initial estimates by the government, the devastation has caused $10m (£8.5m) of damage to the economy, however, the planning minister, Ahsan Iqbal, said this was a preliminary estimate and the actual cost will be "far greater". Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Why is Pakistan flooding? More than $1bn in aid releasedOn Monday, the International Monetary Fund's executive board approved the release of $1.17bn (£1bn), as part of a bailout accord the IMF and Pakistan signed in 2019.But the release of a $1.17bn tranche had been put on hold this year after the IMF raised concerns about Pakistan's compliance with the deal's terms under Imran Khan's government.Last week, the UN allocation $3m (£2.5m) for aid agencies and their partners to respond to the floods, with the money used for health, nutrition, food security, water, and sanitation services.Pakistan's climate minister, Sherry Rehman said on Monday that new monsoons were expected in September.While monsoons are common at this time of year in the region, they hit earlier than usual in Pakistan, according to officials. Image: The whole of Pakistan has been impacted by the latest flooding Why are these floods particularly devastating?The massive rainfall last week affected nearly the whole country.Pakistan is used to monsoon rains and flooding, Ms Rehman said, but not like this.The flooding has the hallmarks of a natural disaster fuelled by climate change, but it is too early to assign blame on global warming, experts said."This year, Pakistan has received the highest rainfall in at least three decades. So far this year the rain is running at more than 780% above average levels," said Abid Qaiyum Suleri, executive director of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute and a member of Pakistan's Climate Change Council."Extreme weather patterns are turning more frequent in the region, and Pakistan is not an exception."Read more:Why Pakistan is at 'ground zero' of the climate crisisPictures reveal devastating impact of Pakistan's floodsQueen and PM send messages to Pakistan Image: A man swims in floodwaters while heading for a higher ground in Charsadda Poorer nations paying the price of climate changePakistan saw similar flooding and devastation in 2010 that killed nearly 2,000 people, but the government did not implement plans to prevent future flooding by preventing construction and homes in flood-prone areas and river beds, said Mr Suleri.Floods and monsoon rains have damaged one million houses and affected 33 million people and reflects how poorer nations can often pay the price for climate change largely caused by more industrialised nations.Since 1959, Pakistan has been responsible for only 0.4% of the world's historic CO2 emissions, while the US is responsible for 21.5%, China for 16.5% and the EU 15%.According to the National Disaster Management Authority, at least 498,000 people in the country of 220 million are in relief camps after being displaced.Many more displaced victims are believed to be living with relatives, friends, or out in the open, without shelter. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Antonio Guterres issued an appeal for $116m Pakistan started receiving international aid this week, and more planes carrying aid from Turkey and the United Arab Emirates landed at an airport near Islamabad on Tuesday, according to a statement released by the military.It said Chinese planes carrying aid will arrive later on Tuesday and 6,500 Pakistani military personnel have been deployed to help authorities in rescue and relief operations. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Tables are prepared for a religious service performed for rain to end the drought, in a field near Draganesti-Vlasca, Teleorman county, Romania, July 24, 2022. Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea via REUTERS Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comDRAGANESTI-VLASCA, Romania, July 24 (Reuters) - Iulia Coleasa, an 81-year-old who relies on her small plot for food, travelled 15 km in searing heat to a monastery in southern Romania on Sunday to join a service praying for rain.Temperatures have spiked above 40 Celsius (104 F) in the country this week and the drought has left hundreds of Romanian villages with rationed water. Crops are being decimated in the country which is an exporter of grains.Romania's Orthodox Church has asked clerics to perform traditional rain prayers. At the Pantocrator monastery in the southern Romanian county of Giurgiu, Culeasa joined roughly 100 people in prayer.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comShe said the weather had never been this bad."I haven't seen drought like this until now," she said."We have children, we have cattle. We make an effort to plant tomatoes in the garden and they dry out and we have nothing to eat. God, give us rain, don't abandon us."More than 40% of Romania's population of 20 million live in the countryside and many rely on subsistence agriculture on small plots of land. The country has massive investment needs in infrastructure, including roads, running water and irrigation.Romania's weather agency issued temperature warnings for Sunday, adding torrential storms would follow, although it said temperatures would remain abnormally high. Water levels on the river Danube were three times lower than usual."The drought period is fairly cruel, not just for this place, but for the entire country," said Father Justinian, one of several priests who held the service at the Pantocrator. The priests prayed in a field of harvested wheat across from the monastery, with sunflower and maize fields withering nearby.The scorching heat is part of a global pattern of rising temperatures, attributed by scientists to human activity. Pope Francis earlier this month called on world leaders to heed the Earth's "chorus of cries of anguish" stemming from climate change, extreme weather and loss of biodiversity. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Octav Ganea and Luiza Ilie; Editing by Alexandra HudsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
The extreme heatwave, set to make the UK hotter than the Sahara and India, is expected to come to an end on Wednesday as heavy rain will cool the country down after record-breaking highsVideo LoadingVideo UnavailableHeatwave: How to cope in extreme temperatures The scorching 40C heatwave will come to an abrupt end this week as heavy rain is set to fall across much of the UK, according to weather forecasters. The Met Office have said the blistering heat will cool down dramatically on Wednesday as the scorching weather is set to disappear, with downpours predicted across the country. Temperatures are expected to drop to a more normal level for this time of year from the middle of the week, as cooler air pushes across the country from the west. The exceptionally hot weather will cool rapidly on Tuesday night and into Wednesday as the forecasters said there was a "low chance" of storms after the heatwave. The rise in temperature is "entirely consistent" with climate change according to the Met Office (
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AFP via Getty Images) According to the Met Office, scattered showers for central London are expected anytime from 10am to 7pm on Wednesday with risks of rain from 1pm to 4pm in central parts of England. The Met Office added: “It is likely much of the UK will see temperatures gradually decrease to average or slightly above average through the week, though occasional thundery showers are possible in the south and southwest." However, there are still some locations in the East of England which could still meet heatwave criteria - with temperatures as high as 30C expected. The Met Office said: "Although temperatures will fall on Wednesday there will still be some locations in the East of England that could still meet heatwave criteria on Wednesday with, 28-30C still possible. The extreme weather will see the exceptionally high temperatures officially come down on Tuesday (
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PA) "With the less hot air moving in from the West there is no specific time the heatwave will end as it will depend on where you are in the UK." With some parts of the country set to reach temperatures of 40C, the UK is due to be hotter than Tamanrasset in the Sahara (35C) and New Delhi in India (37C). And in London last night, the temperature recorded at 1am was around 30C - which smashed the current night time record of 23.9C in Brighton, August 1990. The official end of the heatwave will come as a relief after the intense heat is set to disrupt the UK today and tomorrow as the UK Health Security Agency have issued a level 4 heat health alert. The Met Office also issued a red warning running from Monday to Wednesday as the heatwave was set to hit record temperatures in the UK. Public transport is running a slower service due to the heatwave (
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AFP via Getty Images) This has resulted in train companies putting on a reduced service due as Cabinet Office Minister Kit Malthouse warned transport services face "significant disruption" due to the heatwave - urging people not to travel unless absolutely necessary. Sweaty travellers are already reporting delays this morning - with several London Underground lines experiencing severe delay as millions are expected to stay home as the heatwave forces hospitals to cancel appointments and some schools close. Water companies have also warned urgent action is needed to conserve supplies in parts of the UK after the rise in temperatures has forced customers to use more water. Thames Water Andrew Tucker has urged customers to use water carefully, particularly in their back gardens, as the heatwave has led to demand being "at near record level". Although the company are not currently considering any water restrictions, that could change if there is little rainfall in the coming months. Read More Read More | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
World June 21, 2022 / 11:57 AM / CBS News New Delhi — At least 114 people have been killed by floods, lightning strikes and landslides in Bangladesh and northeastern India in the past week as heavy monsoon rains have flooded dozens of districts in the two countries.The deadly flooding, one of the worst to hit the region in several decades, comes nearly two years after similar floods killed more than 1,000 people in the two countries.The deluge has brought down mobile phone towers and power lines and washed away roads and bridges, making relief and rescue work difficult. "We have evacuated more than 300,000 people who were marooned," said Mosharraf Hossain, a government official in the Sylhet region. "Many of them have lost their houses made of tin and bamboo."The death toll in the Indian northeastern state of Assam increased to 82, with 11 more deaths on Tuesday. Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, the number of deaths has risen to 32. At least 4.8 million people have been affected by the floods across the mountainous state of Assam's 32 districts. Teams of military, federal and state disaster management authorities have evacuated more than 231,000 people from the low-lying areas and put them up in over 1,000 makeshift relief camps.The cost of the floods is similar in Bangladesh, where flooding has affected nearly 6 million people, according to local media reports. Sylhet, Sunamganj, and Netrokona districts in the north of the country are the hardest-hit where roads and highways are submerged, cutting them off almost entirely from the rest of the country. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas and asked her administration to drop food packets in inaccessible areas.Weather forecasters have warned of more heavy rainfall in the Himalayan region that could further overflow the rivers in the region, exacerbating the flooding.UNICEF is seeking $2.5 million fund to respond to the emergency in Bangladesh, saying in a statement that, "four million people, including 1.6 million children, stranded by flash floods … are in urgent need of help." "UNICEF has already dispatched 400,000 water purification tablets that can support 80,000 households with clean water for a week," the statement read. Floods are common in northeastern India and parts of Bangladesh — situated at the foothills of Himalayas — where monsoons bring heavy rains between June and October, swelling rivers that often burst their banks.But environmentalists say climate change is making extreme weather events like flooding and heat waves across South Asia, more frequent, intense and unpredictable.Just last month, while a huge swath of India reeled under a record-breaking heatwave, north-eastern parts of the country — Assam and Arunachal Pradesh — witnessed floods and mudslides that killed dozens and damaged fields of crops. And the monsoon had not even arrived.Experts say there is a strong link between climate change and the early monsoon. A warmer climate has influenced the weather patterns and increased the timing and amount of rainfall."Studies have shown that the Himalayan region's rainfall patterns have been changing, leading to unpredictable weather," Anjal Prakash, a climate scientist and lead researcher with the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, told CBS News. "Due to climate change, a wetter climate has been predicted for the region." In: india Bangledesh Flooding Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Homeowners have told how they were forced to grab their beloved pets and flee for their lives as their properties were decimated by a fire thought to have been sparked by a compost heap which spontaneously combusted. Two rows of terraced houses, four other homes, 12 stables and five cars were destroyed by the inferno in Wennington, near the Dartford Crossing east of London. Local councillor Ray Morgon today said as many as 19 houses may have been destroyed.Terrified residents were ordered out as 100 firefighters tried to halt a lethal wall of flame spreading from home to home, fanned by warm winds. One firefighter at the scene branded it 'absolute hell'. One of the worst scenes aside from Wennington was in Dagenham, east London, where video shows an almost post-apocalyptic scene following a blaze which has destroyed a number of properties.One person filming the devastation, which looks similar to the types of images taken from bombed out villages in Ukraine, described the blackened area as looking 'like a warzone'. Horrific fires swept through homes last night as Britain recorded the hottest day in its history, with the 40C (104F) barrier broken for the first time. The London fire brigade said Tuesday was their busiest day since the end of the Second World War, with at least 110 fire trucks sent to blazes across the capital.At least 16 London firefighters were injured, including two taken to hospital with heat-exhaustion, according to officials. A further four firefighters taken to hospital as they tackled a series of incidents in South Yorkshire. They have since made a full recovery. Extremely dry ground and searing temperatures created the perfect 'tinderbox' conditions for blazes to break out across the country with major incidents declared in London, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, South Yorkshire and Leicestershire. Scotland and Wales also saw fires.A wildfire operations expert last night claimed that the severity of yesterday's fires was 'rare or possibly unprecedented', but said due to climate change they were likely to happen 'more and more' in the future.As firefighters battled numerous blazes, parts of the UK saw some relief from the blazing heat last night with showers and thunderstorms, particularly in the north of England and south of Scotland. The Met Office is warning of potential flooding with a yellow warning for thunderstorms in place for London and parts of the south east later today.Amid the scramble to evacuate in Wennington, one woman said her uncle was trapped – and was 'digging a trench' around his house to thwart the flames. Police later rescued him.With its Norman church, Wennington features in the Domesday Book, and it seemed an apt description last night amid the smouldering ruins of charred homes. Local councillor Susan Ospreay had been 'devastated'.The inferno appears to have been sparked by a burning compost heap around 1pm in parched grassland adjacent to Wennington fire station – which meant firefighters were immediately on the scene.But they fought in vain to stop it rapidly spreading on to tinder dry scrubland and incinerating back gardens. As homes were gutted, residents said they could hear the sound of panicked horses whinnying in a surrounding field.The heartbreaking village blaze was the most dramatic example of how the country was struggling to cope as the mercury reached unprecedented levels. One resident described the wrecked village as looking like 'a scene from the Blitz'. Around 100 firefighters were called to an inferno in Wennington, Essex, alone, which one emergency worker described as 'absolute hell.' (Pictured: Row of destroyed homes in Wennington following Tuesday's inferno) DAGENHAM: Firefighters at the scene of a blaze in Dagenham, east London, which destroyed a number of properties and vehiclesOne of the worst scenes aside from Wennington was in Dagenham, east London, where video shows an almost post-apocalyptic scene following a blaze which has destroyed a number of properties. One person filming the devastation described it as 'like a warzone' Residents and emergency services are assessing the damage this morning after Britain's hottest day on record sparked a string of devastating wild fires which destroyed dozens of homes and businesses. (Pictured: Aftermath in Wennington, Essex) Burned out cars are among the wreckage left by a fierce wildfire in Wennington, Essex, sparked by record-breaking temperatures on Tuesday Firefighters are pictured dampening the flames in Wennington early on Wednesday morning, as warnings for fires remained in place due to the dry conditions A woman is given water and comforted close to the blaze in the village of Wennington, east London, where 100 firefighters tackled a fire on Tuesday Burnt grass surrounds St Mary and St Peter's Church in the village of Wennington, as historic place of worship miraculously remains largely untouched by the inferno Two rows of terraced houses, four other homes, 12 stables and five cars were destroyed by the inferno in Wennington, near the Dartford Crossing east of London. Pictured: A sliding image showing the devastation after the fire (left) and the village before the fire (right) DAGENHAM: Pictures show an almost post-apocalyptic scene with a number of properties and vehicles destroyed in a blaze in Dagenham, east London A row of burnt out houses and gardens is seen in the village of Wennington east of London after yesterday's record temperatures. Pictured: Slide across to see a satellite image of the properties before the blaze A compost heap on the edge of Wennington village is believed by some to be the source of the inferno after it reportedly burst into flames before spreading to nearby grass and undergrowth and eventually reaching homes (destroyed properties pictured) The fire took place near to a fire station. Firefighters battled to contain the inferno is it swept across the village, and towards the fire station itself The chard remains of homes in the village of Wennington following the devastating fire which swept through yesterday as Britain hit 40C for the first time A Union flag remains undamaged amid the devastation following the huge wildfire which ripped through the village of Wennington in east LondonThe charred remains of a house in Wennington, Greater London, following a devastating wildfire which ripped through the village on Tuesday The inferno appears to have been sparked by a burning compost heap around 1pm in parched grassland adjacent to Wennington fire station – which meant firefighters were immediately on the scene Firefighters fought in vain to stop the fire rapidly spreading on to tinder dry scrubland and incinerating back gardens. As homes were gutted, residents said they could hear the sound of panicked horses whinnying in a surrounding fieldResident John Bishop claims he saw the fire from his back window as it started to spread. He told the Telegraph: 'I saw a compost heap which went up in flames and I'm wondering if that was the source of this fire.'The fire became an inferno incredibly quickly. I really don't know about my home, I've been keeping an eye on it on the news via the helicopter pictures.' How London Fire Brigade had resources stretched by multiple fires in yesterday's record-breaking 40C heatwave Yesterday London Fire Brigade declared a 'major emergency' after a number of fires broke out across the Greater London area.Among the largest incidents in the capital, there were: Thirty fire engines dealing with a grass fire on Pea Lane in Upminster.Fifteen fire engines tackling a fire on The Green in Wennington.Twelve fire engines tackling a fire involving garden fencing and trees on Uxbridge Road in Pinner.Ten fire engines tackling a restaurant fire on Green Lanes in Southgate.Eight fire engines tackling a grass fire on Oaks Road in Croydon.Eight fire engines tackling a grass fire on Ballards Road in Dagenham.Eight fire engines tackling a fire on The Broadway in Wembley.Six fire engines tackling a grass fire on Sunningfields Crescent in Hendon.Four fire engines tackling a grass fire on Chapel View in Croydon.Four fire engines tackling a fire on Sidcup Road in Eltham.Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said that Tuesday was the busiest day for London Fire Brigade since the Second World War, with the service experiencing more than seven times the usual volume of calls.He told old Sky News: 'Yesterday was the busiest day for the fire service in London since the Second World War.'On a normal day the fire service receives - roughly speaking - 350 calls, and on a busy day 500 calls.'Yesterday they received more than 2,600 calls - more than a dozen simultaneous fires requiring 30 engines, a couple requiring 15, and some requiring 12.'I'm afraid the bad news is 41 properties were destroyed in London.'He added that on Wednesday fire engines are expected to arrive at properties on average around six minutes after a call is made, but yesterday it took firefighters 20 minutes due to the increased demand.Another local, Ray Smith, 55, told the Sun: 'I've never seen anything like it before in my life. I got in my car and got out of there. People were scared. It's heartbreaking. I think I've lost everything.' Tim Stock, whose own house was destroyed, said he and his son saw the fire in his neighbour's garden but had been unable to stop it spreading.The 66-year-old, who works as the village gravedigger and church warden, managed to escape with his family, two dogs and a tortoise.He said: 'I lost everything. The house, the garden, we had two beehives, there was no going back. My son took some stuff and went round to his mate's house but about 10 minutes later that burnt down so he has got nothing either.'I've been a gravedigger for 50 years. My truck has blown up, that belonged to the council. I didn't have time to get it out. 'Last night I stayed in Thurrock Hotel. The council was trying to put us up in people's houses but we've got two dogs and my tortoise Malty.' Speaking about how the fire started, he said: 'The fire started across the cornfield, at one point I got stuck behind the cordon and the field was burning so I couldn't get out that way.'We opened up the church because I have the keys, we got everyone in, people were covered in soot, they were having a drink of water, but then that started filling up with smoke so we had to get everyone out again. I'm surprised it didn't burn down as well to be honest. 'Describing the scene after yesterday's blaze, he replied: 'It was like a warzone. Down the actual main road, all the windows had exploded out, all the roofs have caved, it was like a scene from the Blitz really.'It's heartbreaking really. I mean, I've been there 41 years but my granddad was there before me, so we've been there 60-odd years, he told BBC Radio 5 Live.'And to see it all fall apart yesterday, it's really sad. But as I said, we'll get the site cleared, fit up a kind of mobile home there, and we'll start again.'Another resident, Carole Stopp, 69, who has lived in Wennington Green for more than 35 years, also rescued her tortoise Cleo - who is 60 years old in human years - from the blaze.She told the Telegraph: 'Thick black smoke started rising at about 1pm. 'I said: 'Oh my god' and looked out the window. Our neighbour Tim's front garden was on fire. We rang to see if he was ok. Tim was trying to put the fire out himself with a hose.'Then we heard some large bangs - we think it must have been windows imploding because of the heat. We just grabbed the tortoise and left.'Meanwhile, Gary Ruel, 63, a lorry driver who also was evacuated from his home, told the paper: 'I'm really worried about my house. I might have lost three cats, I got the dog out, but didn't have time for the cats.'Neighbour Kia Meadows described how quickly things went ablaze. She told BBC's Radio 4 Today programme: 'I was sunbathing in my garden when a massive black cloud's come across, I looked up and that side of Wennington was on fire and within an hour it had spread to our house. 'A lot of this land is built on a lot of rubbish and as soon as the heat comes, this area goes on fire straight away but never did I believe it would come that close.'Animal carers were among volunteers dealing with the Wenning wildfire.Leandra Winch, 36, who lives locally, works for the animal rescue organisation Pippa's Army.She said: 'We are waiting for the wildlife police officer to let us in. He has just taken a tortoise to Essex Wildlife Hospital that was suffering from smoke inhalation. Wennington resident says she fled her home with just a photo album, her cat and her dead father's ashesA woman fled her burning home in scorched Wennington with just her photo album, a cat and her dead father's ashes, it emerged today.Two of her cats are still missing following the massive fire which she said might have started in a compost bin next door to her.The story emerged as a friend, who would not give his name, returned to the village to look for her cats.He said he was looking after two people who had lost their homes.He said: 'I just came down to look for the cats of two friends who are staying at mine in Upminster.'I heard the scrapyard was looking after pets but I haven't seen the cats and the police aren't letting anyone through.'The fire, it was next door to their house, and she seems to think it came from a compost bin. She said it enveloped the treeline.'She tried to get her cats out, one jumped out of her hand, the other she got in a box and the other ran off.'It scratched her hand it was so frightened.'She was evacuated to the Windmill pub but luckily I'm local so I phoned them up when I heard and they came to stay with me in Upminster.'They are more concerned about the cats than the rest of it. They're in shock but there are little bits coming back to them.'She lost her father last year and she picked up her photo albums on the way out and his ashes.'Otherwise it's all gone, everything. They've got two vehicles and they are not even letting them go in to get them, a van on The Green and a Porsche outside someone's house.'At least if they get them they are mobile.''There are quite a few pets that could have perished or could be still there.'We have already helped people with tortoises, parrots, dogs, small animals and we know there are cats.'The dogs aren't too bad; if you call they come, but the cats get scared and hide.'There were a lot of small animals and horses taken to the scrapyard because the Fire Brigade were collecting them when they found them, but they have been taken back to their owners now.'Harrow Lodge was where a lot of people were taken last night with donations of food, clothes, stuff like that.'She said that they are looking specifically for a white Staffordshire bull terrier called Daisy.Ms Winch addeed: 'The owner lost his wife from Covid last year and another family member a week ago and now his home and dog.'They are also looking for a small grey kitten and a sausage dog called Jupis.She added: 'We get a lot of heartbreak with the rescue and see a lot of horrible things but this is different.'We have dealt with house fires but nothing like this. People aren't used to it, this is not a country that has natural disasters.'Wennington is still cordoned off as emergency services remain on site to assess the damage. At least 40 hectares of grassland and farm buildings were affected and many houses and 12 stables were destroyed, while at least 90 properties were evacuated. While the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, a number of residents reported seeing a fire start in someone's garden. Warnings are still in place across the country today due to the very dry ground but temperatures are expected to drop significantly while some showers are predicted.Elsewhere in the country hundreds of fire crews battled raging infernos in Wales, Scotland and the rest of England as 'tinderbox' dry conditions in the UK caused wildfires to threaten homes, animals and people and a children's nursery was destroyed along with most of a street in Yorkshire amid police fears some of the fires could have been deliberate. Officers and fire chiefs also think deliberate blazes were set on scrubland, trees, fields, rubbish, buildings on a residential street and at a nature reserve during the heatwave, which began on Saturday. Yesterday, temperature records were shattered as sweltering Britons turned to beaches lakes and even fountains in Trafalgar Square in a desperate bid to cool off. Heathrow was first to reach the 40C barrier – breaking the old record of 38.7C (102F) measured in Cambridge in 2019. But hottest of all yesterday was Coningsby in Lincolnshire, which recorded 40.3C (104.5F). At least 34 parts of the country broke the UK's previous national record of 38.7C, the Met Office said stretching from West Yorkshire to Surrey. Staggeringly, meteorologists calculated that Britain was hotter than 98.9 per cent of the Earth's surface yesterday.Scotland also recorded its hottest day ever as temperatures climbed to 34.8C (94.64) at Charterhall and Wales set its record yesterday of 37.1C in Hawarden, Flintshire.But a band of thunderstorms moving across England and Wales from the Isles of Scilly spelt the end of the punishing temperatures for some.The 'extreme heat' also led to almost 15,000 homes in the North East being left without power at about 2pm as electrical equipment overheated during the record temperatures. Roads were also closed as fires broke out alongside major motorways including the M25 and M1.Emergency call centres were hit with tens of thousands of pleas for help. A major incident was declared due to a fire surge near Twickenham Golf Course between Feltham, Teddington, Richmond and Hounslow in West London on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. Police arrived, along with London Fire Brigades, arrived at the scene and started evacuating residents. Temperatures reached more than 40C for the first time This pictures show how the dramatic fire in the village of Wennington engulfed a row of homes as the blaze spread from the grass A row of houses on fire in the village of Wennington in East London yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar again tod Families now homeless in Wennington, where the worst of the wildfires has been seen, were at first sent to a Premier Inn before that lost power and they were directed to go to Hornchurch Sport Centre to sleep on air mattresses as their 'worst nightmare' came true Maggie Stock, Tim Stock, Vicky Schafer and Alfie Stock who have lost everything after the fire started next door to them in Wennington The chard remains the Stocks's home in the village of Wennington, following yesterday's blaze which started amid yesterday's 40C heatwave Shocking pictures show a huge bush fire raging on the Dartford marshes, Kent on Tuesday Geographic information system software Esri shows on this map where wildfires have broken out and in red where there has been strong thermal hotspots for serious blazes. In this picture you can see most are in England and the south with a few in the very north of England In this aerial view, smoke from fires in a residential area being fought by fire services are seen on Tuesday in Wennington Hundreds of fire crews battled raging infernos in Wales, Scotland and the rest of England as 'tinderbox' dry conditions in the UK caused wildfires to threaten homes, animals and people and a children's nursery was destroyed along with most of a street in Yorkshire. Pictured: A fire at Hatch End on Tuesday afternoon. A fire burns the Kiddi Caru nursery in the Walnut Tree area of Milton Keynes down to the ground as blazes take hold of areas across England The fire at Wennington is shown yesterday (left) and the area is also pictured before the blaze (right, file picture) This picture shows homes on fire as a huge heath fire ravaged at least three houses near Rotherham, South Yorkshire Fires sparked by lightning at Zennor Head, West Cornwall pictured burning on Tuesday evening Around 100 firefighters tackled blaze in the village of Wennington in East London yesterday amid the 40C heatwave People remove gas canisters from Lennards pub as firefighters tackle a blaze in the village of Wennington yesterday afternoon A huge black smoke cloud erupts during a blaze in the village of Wennington yesterday afternoon Around 100 firefighters tackled a blaze in the village of Wennington in East London yesterday that destroyed a number of homes A man attempts to damp down the smouldering field with a hose pipe as fire services tackle a large blaze in WenningtonThe remains of a fire near Dartford Heath on the A2 coastbound, Crayford is seen as smoke spreads throughout the area Firefighters attend a gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall yesterday afternoon Firefighters attend a blaze on Dartford Marshes in Kent after temperatures reached 40C for the first time on record Residents of Yorkshire queued for more than two hours to gain entry into Ilkley Lido The Dartford fire is seen raging yesterday as firefighters rushed to tackle the flames A thunderstorm is seen to rage in Thanet, Kent (left) while a major incident has been declared due to a fire surge near Twickenham Golf Course (right) between Feltham, Teddington, Richmond and Hounslow in West London Firefighters attend a gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall yesterday afternoon A firefighter tackles a grass fire in a park in New Brighton in Merseyside yesterday afternoon amid the heatwave Firefighters attend a gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall yesterday afternoon Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service issued this picture of firefighters attend to a grass fire in Rixton, Warrington The area surrounding Twickenham Golf Course was filled full of smoke as a fire raged and creeped closer to a Shell garage A gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall yesterday afternoon amid the very high temperatures The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, yesterday morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes Firefighters rest as they attend a gorse bush fire during a heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall yesterday afternoon The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, yesterday morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes Drone footage of the aftermath of a field fire by Cheshunt Park in Hertfordshire pictured yesterday A gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall yesterday afternoon amid the very high temperatures The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, yesterday morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes A wild fire in Upminster, Essex, yesterday, seen from the M25 motorway, as the temperature hit 40C amid a series of extreme weather warnings The burnt out remains of Lickey Hills parkland in Birmingham yesterday morning where fire crews are still on the sceneGreater Manchester Police said four fires were deliberate on moorland at Dovestone Reservoir near Oldham. Superintendent Phil Hutchinson said: 'This is being as arson which, following conviction, can result in a lengthy prison sentence.' Tinderbox Britain: Where did fires break out during Britain's hottest day on record? GREATER LONDONPea Lane, Upminster Uxbridge Road, PinnerGreen Lanes, SouthgateOaks Road, CroydonBallards Road, DagenhamThe Broadway, Wembley Sunningfields Crescent, HendonChapel View, CroydonSidcup Road, Eltham Western Avenue, Uxbridge Staines Road, Twickenham ENGLAND Joyce Green, Dartford Nare Head, Zennor New Brighton, MerseysideGroby, LeicestershireWalnut Tree, Milton KeynesWales village, Rotherham, South YorkshireHamels Lane, Buntingford M1 in Hertfordshire Rushden, Hertfordshire Hemel Hempstead, HertfordshireCodicote, Hertfordshire Bradgate Park, LeicestershireField Road, DenhamWhitehouse Lane, WycombeWoodland Avenue, BarnsleyNewton Arms pub, Sprotbrough Road, Doncaster Strauss Crescent, MaltbyKiverton Park, Clayton London Road, BostonSCOTLAND Hadden Farm, KelsoWALES Llanishen park, Cardiff The UK is also being warned these temperatures could soon be the 'new normal' as Britain starts to see wildfires, extreme heat and pressure on the water supply which has long plagued Europe.One expert, a specialist in wildfire operations, last night told the Telegraph that the severity of fires seen yesterday was 'rare, or possibly unprecedented' in the UK. Steve Gibson said: 'It's difficult to find a previous time when so much of the country has been affected.' Families now homeless in Wennington, where the worst of the wildfires has been seen, were at first sent to a Premier Inn before that lost power and they were directed to go to Hornchurch Sport Centre to sleep on air mattresses as their 'worst nightmare' came true. Amid the scramble to evacuate people from Wennington yesterday, one woman said her uncle was trapped – and was 'digging a trench' around his house to thwart the flames. Police later rescued him.With its Norman church, Wennington features in the Domesday Book, and it seemed an apt description last night amid the smouldering ruins of charred homes.Local councillor Susan Ospreay said: 'Wennington Village has been completely devastated by fire.' The inferno appears to have been sparked by a burning compost heap around 1pm in parched grassland adjacent to Wennington fire station – which meant firefighters were immediately on the scene.But they fought in vain to stop it rapidly spreading on to tinder dry scrubland and incinerating back gardens. As homes were gutted, residents said they could hear the sound of panicked horses whinnying in a surrounding field.Lorry driver Gary Rouel, 64, told how he raced back from work after a phone call from his wife Debbie, 64, saying: 'She just said, 'The house has gone up in flames.'Mrs Rouel, a dinner lady, tried to round up the couple's three cats and their dog as firefighters ordered her to evacuate.Mr Rouel said: 'It's terrible. I've just finished paying off the mortgage two months ago. It's heartbreaking. My wife has [the lung condition] COPD and the fireman was just telling her 'Get out, get out!'.'The couple's son William, 33, who lives in Halstead, Essex said: 'My mum sent me a picture of the fire outside the home from the bathroom. She was still in there when it was coming up to the house.'It started in the field, then came into the garden, then it was up to the decking and the conservatory. We think the neighbour's house has gone too. It's awful, I watched on TV as the house went up in flames.' Distressed residents could be seen carrying buckets of water to the Lennards Arms pub where the community had gathered. Others were hurriedly removing gas canisters from the pub.Others were hurriedly removing gas canisters from the pub. As the blaze drew nearer, police evacuated the building. Landlord Walter Martin, 60, said: 'I've never seen anything like it. It's awful. People are devastated.' Pensioner Lynn Sabberton said: 'The police came to our house and told us to get what we could.' Brian Brazier, 75, added: 'The fire has burnt my stables out. It started as a little fire around the back of the houses and if someone had been there to put it out we wouldn't have had all this trouble.' Resident Janet Hickey, 70, who has terminal pancreatic cancer, said she was forced to leave all her cancer drugs behind as they were evacuated. She said: 'I've got all my cancer drugs in the fridge.' As buildings surrounding the Grade II-listed medieval St Mary and St Peter's Church caught fire, vicar Rev Elise Peterson called for people to pray for the community. UK begins third day of travel chaos with NO trains from King's Cross and disruption across UK - amid warning storms will cause more mayhem Rail passengers faced mass disruption across Britain today as all trains out of London King's Cross were cancelled and there were no direct services between Euston and Scotland following the UK's hottest day on record.Operators including LNER and Thameslink issued 'do not travel' warnings again, almost every train out of London St Pancras was axed and Eurostar passengers faced delays of more than an hour due to a power failure in Lille.The line between King's Cross and Peterborough was shut after a major fire spread onto the tracks at Sandy in Bedfordshire, causing damage to signalling equipment and a level crossing which both require complex repairs.The fire at Sandy also meant a planned inspection of more than 250 miles of track on the southern end of the East Coast Main Line to see whether any other equipment was damaged in the heat has not yet taken place.And there could be further disruption this afternoon when thunderstorms hit, with the Met Office issuing a warning from 1pm until 9pm saying flooding and lightning strikes could result in 'delays and some cancellations'.Most services on the Transport for London network were back up and running normally again today after two days of disruption, but there were severe delays on the Jubilee line after signal failure in the North Greenwich area.There were also minor delays reported on the Central, Circle and District lines - and on the Elizabeth line between Paddington and Heathrow and Reading because of late-finishing engineering work in the Ealing Broadway area.Meanwhile, a firefighter at the scene, asked by the PA news agency what conditions were like, replied: 'absolute hell', while those affected by the blaze said it had been spreading 'fast'.Lizzie Pittman, from Aveley in Essex, who works at some stables by the roundabout, said she was looking after the five horses who had been removed from their stables in Wennington, which had burnt down. Ms Pittman said: 'This is your worst nightmare. You can see it getting closer and closer.'People are losing their houses but that's bricks and mortar. People are losing their livestock.'Elsewhere, black smoke billowed across traffic on the A2 near Dartford, Kent, as bone dry heathland next to the busy route led to a series of fierce blazes. Flames up to 30ft high spread to create a half-mile-long sheet of fire, which came within yards of Spirits Rest, a horse and animal sanctuary. Owner Christine Bates, 63, said: 'I was just terrified for the animals. We got the horses into the back field, and local residents have now got chickens in their gardens and other people are looking after our kittens. The fire brigade were here so quickly and fought it back maybe four times – but it just kept springing up again.' A huge blaze also broke out on heathland just across the Thames near a housing estate in Dartford. Kent Fire and Rescue Service said 12 fire engines and 100 firefighters were called in to battle the inferno near a housing development on the site of the former Joyce Green Hospital. A technical rescue unit were in attendance, and crews were working to extinguish the flames. There have been no reports of any damage to property in this incident. Smoke also drifted over the M25 as almost 200 firefighters and 30 fire engines tried to extinguish a corn field blaze in Upminster.One blaze at Lickey Hills Country Park near Birmingham spread to 50,000 square metres and forced 15 people to flee their homes. Meanwhile, people were seen being carried out by police as a golf course in Twickenham caught fire in the latest wildfire which firefighters were called to at 7.23pm.Two hectares of trees and undergrowth are alight, the London Fire Brigade confirmed while residents reported that they were evacuated from their homes.MP Munira Wilson tweeted: 'Very concerned to see reports of big fire in Twickenham at the golf course near David Lloyd. My thanks to all those from [the fire service] working hard to bring it under control. Please stay away from the area.' Two people were also taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation following a fire in Dagenham. London Fire Brigade (LFB) declared a major incident due to 'a huge surge' in blazes across the capital. London's Labour mayor Sadiq Khan yesterday tweeted that the situation was 'critical' – but he was criticised for using the day's events as a way to promote his controversial car control measures, the ULEZ low-emission zone. South Yorkshire firefighters in Maltby after a fire started on scrubland before spreading to outbuildings, fences and homesGrasses to ashes: Fire erupts as if from nowhere and rips through fencing and part of TV actress Faye McKeever's back gardenHouses on fire in the Kingstone area of Barnsley in Yorkshire at around 4pm yesterday. Police evacuated residents and closed roads to tackle the fire Garden furniture and the inside of homes were gutted in the blaze in Maltby A fire on Dartford Heath next to the A2 in Kent yesterday afternoon, with smoke | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Who says the end of the world has to be a bad thing?
The makers of the new Netflix documentary series Life On Our Planet have a surprisingly objective view of the violent, grueling, and sometimes slow-motion cataclysms that have wiped out most of the living things on Earth over the eons. The series, out Oct. 25th, uses state-of-the-art visual effects to dramatize the history of evolution. The most critical parts of that journey are the five times that Mother Nature turned off life, then turned it back on again.
“It's really important to say that extinction events shouldn't necessarily be considered as disasters. They are clearly disasters for those animals who go extinct in the process, but in the history of evolution of life, there are winners and losers," says producer Alastair Fothergill, a veteran nature documentarian best known for the 2001 ocean-exploring series The Blue Planet.
Human beings are the current winners, thanks mainly to an incident known as the K-T extinction that took place about 66 million years ago—when an asteroid slammed into the area presently known as the Gulf of Mexico, scouring dinosaurs off the face of the planet. “Obviously, that was massive,” Fothergill says. “I think anything larger than a cat was wiped out. Luckily, the early mammals were all smaller than a cat, so the death of the dinosaurs actually led to the rise of the mammals and—ultimately—us. Without the K-T extinction, we never would've had the opportunity we've had.”
In the field of evolutionary biology, that's called “looking on the bright side.”
When Hollywood began perfecting digital visual effects in the 1990s, the high-water mark was Jurassic Park, which brought dinosaurs back to life. In Life on Our Planet, the latest iteration of that technology is used to kill them off again. Fittingly, Steven Spielberg is one of the executive producers of the series, while Morgan Freeman, who narrated the hit 2005 nature doc March of the Penguins, provides the voiceover for the show.
In this exclusive preview for Vanity Fair, Fothergill and fellow producer Dan Tapster walk through the show's depiction of five global extinction events, and explain how they relate to the current climate-change phenomenon.
Vanity Fair: We've seen a lot of disaster movies that end the world in spectacular ways, but your series uses VFX to depict how past apocalypses have actually happened.
Dan Tapster: When we started Life On Our Planet in 2017, we thought, what a positive series to be working on: The story of life! The greatest story of nature! Little did we know that actually, the flip side to the story of life is the story of extinction. It's the thing that allows evolution to work because it knocks out all of these other species. Suddenly, there are all these gaps for other animals, other creatures, to evolve into and take over.
Much of the show depicts how species gradually adapt to tiny things in their environments through mutation that gives them an advantage. These extinction events are massive changes that reset everything.
Tapster: It became a crucially important part of our storytelling. As filmmakers, we really wanted this story to play out like a drama. The extinction events absolutely facilitated that because they gave us a chance to build up these epic moments and these cliffhangers. “What's going to make it through this time?” From a narrative point of view, they were hugely useful for us.
Is it a spoiler that we survived?
Tapster: Everyone knows what happened because life didn't go extinct. One of the particular challenges of extinction was, how do you make a story powerful and emotional when the audience knows the answer? I think one of the ways we did that, and taking a play out of the Hollywood book, was through our use of character. In episode two, the audience learns to curiously love the weird fish that looks a bit like E.T., Arandaspis, and then we're delighted that he makes it through. Conversely, they're in awe of Dunkleosteus and then saddened when you see that he didn't. It's perhaps the most amazing fish there has ever been, and you see him lolling about in the murky soup of the Devonian extinction.
Likewise, Lystrosaurus when he walks out on his own into this empty world, not quite knowing that the future of life is dependent on his survival. All of this was using that emotion through character to get the audience to really understand.
How do you divide up the extinction events in the series?
Tapster: Chapter two features two of them, the Ordovician extinction, which was about 440 million years ago, which caused the world to freeze. A change in the level of carbon dioxide, in this instance, the level lowering, meant that the world froze over. At the time, life was almost exclusively in the sea. When ice expands, sea levels fall, so all the coastal, shallow sea environments where life was thriving disappeared and the only survivors were things that could go down into the deep.
The second one that happens is the Devonian extinction, about 370 million years ago. It's a curious double-edged sword. At this time, some life was beginning to emerge onto land, in particular, plants. Plants had conquered land. In doing so, they'd created the first soils, they'd broken down rocks, and suddenly all of these nutrients started going into the sea. All of the plankton that lived in the sea were like, “This is brilliant. Suddenly, we've got all this nutrition that we're not used to.”
That sounds like a positive for living things, but somehow it backfired.
Tapster: All of those plankton skyrocketed. Plankton numbers went crazy. But eventually, they used up all the nutrients. Suddenly, there wasn't anything for them to live off, so the plankton died. Bacteria fed on the dead plankton, and those bacteria used up all of the oxygen in the ocean—so everything that relied on oxygen died out. Again, this weird thing happened: Plants, by venturing onto land, the new frontier, ultimately caused this really awful extinction in the sea.
Is that hard to dramatize? I can't think of anything harder to make exciting than plankton.
Tapster: We've been nervous about plankton. The beginning of that film is set 1.8 billion years ago, in real deep time before complex life. There was a missing ingredient for life to evolve, and that was oxygen. The planet was a completely different looking place, but it didn't have oxygen. The thing that provided it was plankton. Plankton evolved photosynthesis. A byproduct of that is oxygen. At the start of the film, plankton is the hero. We're only here because of plankton. Then at the end, they have this sting…
Ah, plankton goes from hero to villain.
Fothergill: If you photograph them, plankton are really, really beautiful. There's some amazing images of plankton in the series. We like plankton.
But how much are you photographing and how much are you generating with visual effects for the series?
Tapster: That's a good question. For each episode, about 25% to 30% is VFX. That's typically used in two ways: to bring extinct creatures back to life and to provide the scenic drama of, for instance, some of the extinction events we've been talking about. Plankton was interesting because we had a choice of shooting plankton, but modern day plankton, or VFXing it. In a way, the easier option was to film it. But because we wanted to be scientifically rigorous and only have plankton that was 1.8 billion years old and later in the show, 370 million years old, we did actually VFX our plankton. Just for accuracy purposes.
Fothergill: We want the audience to be permanently in the narrative. We [used CGI] for the animals that were the big storytellers in the history. Clearly, you had to recreate the first animal to fly, you had to create the first animal that came out of the water, the key animals that were in the story.
So, we've covered two extinction events in the show. What's the third?
Tapster: Extinctions three and four are similar to each other. They are both caused by an uptick in volcanic activity, and that's where we are closest to seeing that in action today. In the Permian extinction, which is 252 million years ago, there was a massive upsurge in volcanic activity. It ended with an area the size of Russi, erupting for about a hundred thousand years. CO2 soared, temperatures skyrocketed, and you get the chaos that severe climate change brings with it: weather events, wildfires, acid rain, ocean acidification, all of that stuff.
There is a very similar one at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary, about 201 million years ago. This is a time where Earth was one super continent. All land coalesced into one continent. At the Triassic-Jurassic junction, that continent starts ripping apart. It gets the Superman S going through it. So again, massive uptick in volcanic activity.
Can you explain what you mean by the Superman S?
Tapster: As the continent starts to rip apart, you get this molten fissure that runs across the entire thing. It was a red S shape as it was ripping apart. Both of those two extinction events were entirely about off-the-scale global warming.
That brings us to the fifth extinction, which is the one everyone knows.
Tapster: The fifth one is the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs, which we do quite a number on because we know so much about it. It was actually a real challenge, because there was a risk of moving into fact-overload. The most amazing thing about the asteroid is the fact that it was like winning the lottery every day for the rest of your life.
You mean it was that unlikely?
Tapster: That asteroid started life in the asteroid belt. It got thrown out of it about 100 million years ago, and it was going to fly off nowhere into space, but the gravitational pull of Jupiter put it on this collision course with Earth. It took 35 million years going around space before it hit. The most amazing thing about it is, it only killed the dinosaurs because of exactly where it hit. If it had entered the atmosphere in a different place, or even 10 minutes earlier or later, it would've hit a different place, and dinosaurs wouldn't have died. It traveled through space for 30 million years and a window of 10 minutes affected whether the dinosaurs lived or died. It's amazing.
Are there aspects that all of these evolutionary turning points have in common?
Fothergill: If you look at every one of these extinctions, there's one thing that unites all of them: The dominant species going in never gets through.
Why is that?
Tapster: Usually by being dominant, you live a long time, you are probably large, you probably have a high metabolic rate, you live a demanding lifestyle. All of these attributes are what make you dominant, but when you need to survive something, you are basically not a prepper. The things that survive are the small things that can sneak underground, that can hibernate, that can eat roots or fungi. They are the bunker equivalent of the natural world.
Fothergill: Bear in mind, we are in the middle of the sixth extinction, and rather inconveniently, we are the dominant species. I think that's quite a powerful lesson for mankind.
Also, if you look at all four before the K-T extinction, they were all related to the quantity of CO2 in the atmosphere—too much or too little. At the end of the series, you realize that the history of extinctions is telling us an awful lot about what's going on today. If you think that climate change isn't an extinction event, well, just look back at what's happened four times already on our planet with levels of CO2.
Tapster: In a weird way, even the asteroid is being mirrored because the one thing that we have in common with the asteroid is the speed at which change is happening right now. Obviously, the asteroid did most of its work in a day, but the rate of change that is currently happening to our planet is much, much closer to the asteroid and its rate of change than anything else.
The comedian George Carlin had a routine about the destruction human beings were doing to the environment: “The planet's not going anywhere,” he said. “We are. The planet will shake us off like a bad case of fleas.”
Fothergill: I suppose our key message is, extinctions are not disaster movies necessarily. They are opportunities for the few, disasters for the majority.
Tapster: There is always going to be that tiny little life that will then expand into all the niches that extinction has resulted in. So, life will find a way. But I don't think we are going to.
This interview has been edited, with some questions added or expanded to provide context. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
'Frightening': What it's like in Portugal as temperatures hit 43C by Hannah Thomas-Peter, climate change and energy correspondent in PortugalStanding in the forested hills north of Lisbon feels like standing in an oven.Our thermometer showed 43C (109.4F) at around midday as a hot, bone dry wind whipped ash into our faces.We had followed a team of firefighters as they scrambled to dampen down flames burning through the drought-parched trees and scrub.The heat must have been unbearable for them in their heavy suits, lumbering up and down steep and rocky hillsides.Stoic residents looked on, as dogs yapped in cages and a beautiful white horse paced nervously in its enclosure.The past few days have been awful for the people who live in the small communities that dot this area.Local homeowner Feliciano Liberal told me he has three properties that have only just escaped being burnt down.He said: "We opened the gate and we saw everything burning."I used a tractor with water in it to extinguish the flames."He shrugs, looking tired, and adds: "I'm sad."What can we do? Nothing. It's the third time this has happened."Like other locals, he says the fire season is getting longer and more severe.Much of the country is experiencing drought, turning the vegetation into kindling for the fires being fuelled by soaring temperatures.As emergency services battled to stay in control on Tuesday, evacuations were ordered, a major motorway was shut down, and significant festivals were cancelled.Portugal's prime minister had already issued a grim warning that things are likely to get worse in the coming days, as temperatures climb towards 46C (114.8F) in some parts of the country.Manuel Santos, who is second in command of the firefighting operation in the region north of Lisbon, said: "There is an extensive area that is already burned."The temperature is rising and we are worried."We are working to try to minimise the pain of the people."Commander Santos blames climate change for making things worse.Scientists agree that as our world warms it is driving increasingly frequent, increasingly severe weather events.For some that means unusual rain or storms, but in Europe, particularly in the south, it seems to mean punishing, extended periods of almost unliveable heat.People will adapt as they always do, but it is deeply unpleasant, and in Portugal today, it was frightening. Red alerts issued as China bakes in record high temperatures Several Chinese cities broke new records for high temperatures yesterday as scorching heat and contrasting relentless rains wreaked havoc during extreme weather that is expected to linger for days.Red alerts, the highest in a three-tier warning system, were issued throughout the country and cities took measures to protect people from the scorching heat, which broke records for the month of July in parts of eastern Jiangsu province and the neighbouring city of Shanghai.Temperatures in the city of Yixing in Jiangsu rose as high as 41.3C, a new historic peak, the China Meteorological Administration said on Wednesday.The hashtag #Heatstroke was trending on social media with 2.45 million views on the Weibo social platform of discussions ranging from people being admitted to hospital and the detrimental effects of long-term heat exposure."This year's weather is really hot and abnormal, it has been more than 30 degrees Celsius for two months!" wrote one Weibo user.Experts blame global climate change for the unusual weather.As temperatures approached 42C in some areas, heavy rain battered parts of Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Shandong, Hebei, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang provinces and Inner Mongolia region.Forecasters expect the intense heat and rain to continue for the next several days. London swelters during 'tropical' night The many people struggling to sleep in the capital last night should apparently not be surprised.According to the Met Office, the temperature did not dip below 20C in the capital - meaning it can officially be classed as a "tropical night". Forecaster identifies which day record UK temperature is most likely While it had suggested that a potential record high UK temperature was most likely over the weekend, meteorologists now suggest that is not the case.Forecaster Matthew Box said: "As we get into Sunday it looks like we could see temperatures rise into the high 20s and into the low 30s as well but potentially a few spots getting 34C or 35C by Sunday and probably the same again on Monday."We could see by Monday temperatures getting towards the mid or high 30s and there's about a 30% chance we could see the UK record broken, most likely on Monday at the moment."High temperatures may also last into Tuesday, he said."It's looking like things are going to become hot or very hot as we go through the weekend and into next week," Mr Box added.He explained the heatwave was caused by hot air flowing to the UK from the continent.He said: "What happens as we get into the weekend, the high pressure becomes centred to the east of the UK and that allow a southerly flow of air to drag up, the very warm air that's over France at the moment, and drag it northwards to the UK over the weekend, perhaps more so on Sunday and into Monday." Weather to cool slightly before widespread disruption expected as temperatures soar again Britons are being warned of widespread disruption as temperatures look set to surge to a dangerously high peak over the coming days.Forecasters say there is a 30% chance the mercury could surpass the current UK record of 38.7C, set in Cambridge in 2019, as temperatures continue to climb over the weekend and into next week.An "amber" extreme heat warning covering much of England and Wales on Sunday and Monday indicates there could be a danger to life or potential serious illness, with adverse health effects not just limited to the most vulnerable.And there are fears of road closures, and delays and cancellations to rail and air travel, while ambulance services in England are on the highest level of alert as difficulties with the hot weather combine with COVID absences among staff and ongoing delays handing patients over to A&E.Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are expected to bring some rain in the North of the UK and highs of 27C or 28C - slightly cooler than Tuesday, when 31C was recorded in parts of South East England.But temperatures are expected to soar again into the mid 30s through the weekend before hitting a peak on Monday, with southeastern areas of the UK seeing them climb in excess of 35C, and locally into the high 30s. Good morning and welcome to today's live weather coverage The latest heatwave images MPs call for maximum working temperature to protect employees Ministers must introduce a maximum working temperature to help protect employees from tiredness, infections, heat stroke and death, MPs have urged.They are calling for a limit of 30C in most workplaces or 27C for those doing strenuous work guaranteed in law.Employers would have a legal duty to introduce "effective control measures", such as installing ventilation or moving staff away from windows and sources of heat, under the proposals.A total of 37 MPs have signed a motion, tabled in the House of Commons by Labour's Ian Mearns (Gateshead), in support of the plan. Ambulance services in England on highest alert during hot weather All ambulance services in England are on the highest level of alert with hot weather among the challenges putting them under "extreme pressure", trusts are confirming.COVID absences among staff and ongoing delays in handing over patients to A&E are also contributing factors. Several ambulance services confirmed to the PA news agency they were on the highest level of alert after the Health Service Journal (HSJ) reported this was the case for all 10 in England. West Midlands Ambulance Service said it had been on the highest level of alert - known as REAP 4 - for a few months, while South Central Ambulance Service said it was also at REAP 4, which means trusts are under "extreme pressure".South Central added that it had also declared a critical incident "due to current pressures on our services".It said in a statement: "We are experiencing an increasing number of 999 calls into our service, combined with patients calling back if there is a delay in our response to them. As a result, our capacity to take calls is being severely challenged."This is combined with the challenges of handing patients over to busy hospitals across our region and a rise in COVID infections, as well as other respiratory illnesses, among both staff and in our communities."This week we are also faced with high temperatures across our region which we know will lead to an increase in demand on our service. All of these issues combined are impacting on our ability to respond to patients." Beware of flip flops and oversized hats - injury claims company warns People have been told to be careful when wearing flip flops, sunglasses and oversized hats because of the potential dangers they pose in the hot weather.Personal injury claims specialists National Claims has created a list of top tips to help people stay safe as they get dressed for summer. Flip flopsFlip flops pose one of the biggest threats and are responsible for more than 200,000 accidents a year in the UK, according to National Claims.The company said: "We love a flip flop as much as the next person but we advise wearing them in suitable environments, such as the beach or around the pool. "They are not suitable for long walks on uneven surfaces and terrain as they offer no protection for anything which might fall on your foot."SunglassesSunglasses are a must-have when the sun is shining but National Claims has warned of frames that might block or jar your vision, especially when driving.The company said: "Seek professional help from your optician and always ensure your vision is never impaired regardless of whether you're driving or a pedestrian."High-heeled sandalsLove Island has redefined how we wear heels in the summer - paired with a bikini or swimsuit it seems! For most, heels can lengthen the look of your legs and offer extra height. However, personal injury specialists warn of the damage wearing high-heeled sandals and shoes can have, especially if you're wearing them on uneven surfaces such as decking, which can traditionally be found near or around the beach.National Claims says: "Heels are great but to ensure your safety whilst wearing them, we recommend you ensure you have a nice even surface."Oversized hatsNational Claims says some oversized hats can block your vision and stop you seeing potential hazards and risks.The personal injury company says: "The sun can kill so always protect your skin. If you do choose a large hat, ensure you can see properly when you're wearing it and that you can see your surroundings to be aware of anything which could cause you personal injury. " | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSummaryHomes and campsites evacuated, livelihoods threatenedFlames tear down hillside near Portugal's PombalBlaze rages near tallest sand dune in EuropeEurope is a 'heatwave hotspot', says scientistLEIRIA, Portugal/RASLINA, Croatia, July 14 (Reuters) - Wildfires raged across tinder-dry country in Portugal, Spain, France and Croatia on Thursday, burning homes and threatening livelihoods, as much of Europe baked in a heatwave that has pushed temperatures into the mid-40Cs in some parts.Nations across southern Europe - experiencing the second heatwave in as many months - have been hit by a series of wildfires over the last few weeks.In Portugal's central Leiria district, tired firefighters battled to control blazes that have been fanned by strong winds. Footage from the area on Wednesday showed smoke darkening the sky and billowing across a highway, while flames licked around the roofs of houses in one small village.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com"Yesterday was a very tough day," Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said as he attended a briefing with the national meteorological institute IPMA."It is absolutely crucial we avoid new events because it leads to the exhaustion of firefighters and all others ... who are doing their best to control the situation."The most concerning blaze was near the town of Pombal, where on Thursday aircraft and helicopters dropped water on flames that were tearing down a hillside lined with highly flammable pine and eucalyptus trees."When it gets to the eucalyptus it's like an explosion," Antonio, an elderly resident of the nearby village of Gesteira, said as he anxiously watched the approaching flames.Across the border in western Spain, a fire that started in the Extremadura region on Tuesday swept into Salamanca province in the region of Castile and Leon, forcing the evacuation of 49 children from a summer camp on Thursday.Regional authorities said more than 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) of land had been burned.Spain's meteorological agency AEMET expected the heatwave to reach its peak later on Thursday, with temperatures likely to exceed 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) in large parts of southern Spain.THOUSANDS EVACUATEDOn Croatia's Adriatic Coast, firefighting planes swooped low to dump water over burning forests, and troops were called in to help firefighters battling to contain three major wildfires around Zadar and Sibenek.Arndt Dreste, 55, had moved to the village of Raslina, near Sibenik, this year, after selling his property in Germany. His house was severely damaged by the fire.A fire fighting helicopter works to contain a wildfire in Leiria, Portugal July 13, 2022. REUTERS/Rodrigo Antunes"I bought this house in January ... I (am) cut off from Germany and this is my life here ... it was here," Dreste told Reuters, showing the charred walls of his home.In southwestern France, about 1,000 firefighters, supported by six water-bombing planes, were battling two wildfires that started on Tuesday."The fires are still not under control," the local authority for the Gironde department said.The biggest of the two Gironde fires was around the town of Landiras, south of Bordeaux, where roads have been closed and 500 residents evacuated.The other blaze was along the Atlantic Coast, close to the "Dune du Pilat" - the tallest sand dune in Europe - in the Arcachon Bay area, above which heavy clouds of dark smoke were seen rising into the sky.Around 6,000 people were evacuated from surrounding campsites on Wednesday, and another 4,000 people early on Thursday.'HEATWAVE HOTSPOT'Thousands of people were also evacuated from homes on Turkey's southwestern Datca peninsula, as a fire that started on Wednesday was fanned by strong winds overnight and threatened residential areas.The forestry minister said the fire had been brought under control on Thursday after seven firefighting aircraft and 14 helicopters were deployed to contain it. read more Scientists blame human-caused climate change for the increased frequency of extreme weather such as heatwaves, which have also hit parts of China and the United States in recent days.A study in the journal Nature last week found the number of heatwaves in Europe has increased three-to-four times faster than in the rest of the northern mid-latitudes, such as the United States and Canada, due in large part to the jet stream air current splitting into two parts for longer periods."Europe is very much affected by changes in atmospheric circulation," co-author Kai Kornhuber, a climate scientist at Columbia University, told Reuters. It's a heatwave hotspot."Some Europeans welcomed the heat, however. In Catania, on the east coast of Italy's Sicily, tourists and locals thronged cafes to eat granita, a frozen dessert, and jumped into the sea to cool off."The heat here is a bit tiring, but I think it's the least tiring thing we face this year, I put up with it gladly," said Catania resident Pierpaola.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAdditional reporting by Emma Pinedo in Madrid, Benoit Van Overstraeten in Paris, Gloria Dickie in London, Ali Kucukgocmen and Yesim Dikmen in Istanbul, Oriana Boselli in Rome and Reuters TV; Writing by Alex Richardson; Editing by Janet LawrenceOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
A cancer patient receives chemotherapy outside the Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Silchar after floods hit India's Assam state in June. Photo: Dr. Poulome MukherjeeHospital workers surrounded by murky floodwaters lift the woman on a stretcher and put her on a makeshift raft, made of wooden planks and inflatable tubes, to be ferried from the hospital’s deluged entrance to dry land after receiving cancer treatment.This is the new normal outside a cancer hospital in Silchar city, in India’s northeastern state of Assam, which is reeling from its worst flooding in recent history.In the past few weeks, unprecedented levels of rainfall have devastated Assam and neighbouring Bangladesh. More than 130 people have been killed and millions have been displaced. The catastrophic floods have taken a toll on the most vulnerable members of local communities, such as cancer patients.“Every week the treatment is disrupted and the disease is growing, your chances of beating it keep coming down,” Dr. Poulome Mukherjee, senior oncologist at the flooded Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, told VICE World News. Dr. Mukherjee and her team have been working tirelessly to continue treating patients despite numerous challenges brought on by the floods, which swept through Assam from June 17. Despite minimal fuel reserves, frequent power outages and medicine shortages, the 150-bed hospital is currently providing radiation, chemotherapy and a limited number of emergency surgeries to patients.Almost 300 metres of the road leading up to the hospital is entirely waterlogged, and patients have had to be transported across impromptu rafts to reach its gates or to leave. In one instance, a patient who fell sick and could not be moved was provided chemotherapy on the streetside. In the recent flooding in Assam, houses, schools and hospitals have been submerged or have had their access cut off. Hundreds of relief camps set up across the state by the government and charities are providing displaced populations with shelter and aid. Eighty-five patients at the institute’s radiation therapy wards have been housed on site. However, many in the city’s surrounding districts including terminal patients have been cut off from essential care. “I’m really worried about the patients who are not able to reach us in these circumstances. Our home-care support through the local network and through phone lines has been disrupted, so they are almost on their own,” Mukherjee said.In recent decades, climatic shifts caused by global warming have disrupted monsoon patterns over India’s northeast region, resulting in long dry periods with intermittent short spells of heavy rains. This makes extreme weather events even more destructive for flood-prone Assam, which sits on vast floodplains and is surrounded by hills on all sides.“A response to rising global temperatures is the overall increase in moisture levels in the atmosphere. This is because warmer air holds more moisture and for a longer time,” Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, told VICE World News.“Hence, it does not rain for a long time, but when it rains, it dumps all that moisture in a few hours to a few days. So, we get a month’s rain in a day or two.”The average Indian emits a fraction of carbon dioxide that people in developing countries do, but the country’s northeast, like low-lying Bangladesh, is feeling the brunt of global warming.A recent report by the Indian government’s science and technology department found that more than half of Assam is highly vulnerable to climate change, placing the state of 36 million residents, including the cancer patients in Silchar, at the front line of the climate crisis.Follow Rimal Farrukh on Twitter.ORIGINAL REPORTING ON EVERYTHING THAT MATTERS IN YOUR INBOX.By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
The UN secretary general, António Guterres, has warned that Pakistan is facing a “monsoon on steroids” as the government issued more flood warnings for the next 24 hours.Heavy rains over two months have caused the worst flooding in more than a decade and damaged more than 1m homes.Guterres said on Tuesday that south Asia was a hotspot for the climate crisis and that the catastrophic flooding in Pakistan that has left tens of millions needing help was a warning to every nation of the destruction wreaked by human-caused global heating.“The Pakistani people are facing a monsoon on steroids – the relentless impact of epochal levels of rain and flooding,” he said. “It breaks my heart to see these generous people suffering so much.” The UN has issued an urgent appeal for $160m (£136m) to provide help.“People living in these [climate crisis] hotspots are 15 times more likely to die from climate impacts,” Guterres said. “As we continue to see more and more extreme weather events around the world, it is outrageous that climate action is being put on the back burner, putting all of us, everywhere, in growing danger.”In Pakistan, Balochistan and Sindh provinces have had more than four times the average rainfall of the last three decades.Majid Ali Bughio, 30, left his home town in Sindh with 20 extended family members in the early morning on Monday after they heard of breaches in a nearby embankment.Bughio said by telephone that he had asked his family members to go towards Karachi, as many parts of Dadu and Badin districts were under water. “We need ration, food, medicines and emergency help from the Sindh government and the government must help us to vacate. We have been left on our own,” he said. “More than 70% of the population in the [wider city of Khairpur Nathan Shah] have left. The shops and all bazaars are deserted and many villages are underwater.”Flash floods fuelled by the climate crisis have affected more than 33 million people, officials have said. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDA) said on Monday the death toll from the monsoon rains and floods in Pakistan had reached 1,136 – with 75 killed in the last 24 hours.The NDMA said that more than 1m houses had been damaged.In an immediate warning issued on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) said that over the next 24 hours a very high level of flooding was likely to continue in the Kabul River, which flows into Pakistan’s Indus River.The Indus highway, in Sindh, was submerged under two feet of water. The highway connects Sindh with Punjab and Balochistan provinces.A video shared by residents showed a coach that had slipped on the highway while water was flowing and authorities were involved in the rescue of passengers. Local people say there were no casualties.The local media reported that there was a rise in waterborne diseases in Sindh and other parts of Pakistan. In some parts of Sindh, there has been a 100% increase in diseases.The flash flood triggered by an abnormal monsoon has washed away bridges, roads, houses, livestock and people across the country.Gul Hasan, 38, in Khairpur Nathan Shah, had sent his three children and wife to upper parts of Sindh, while he stayed in his home town. He said: “I did not leave because after some of my neighbours had left yesterday, people barged into their houses and stole their belongings.“This is so sad at this hour of calamity we are witnessing such issues. I will leave my home town after I leave the luggage and other stuff on the rooftop and water comes to the city completely and I know that now no one can steal our decades of savings.” | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
A man looks at the carcasses of animals that died due to the El Nino-related drought in Marodijeex town of southern Hargeysa, in northern Somalia's semi-autonomous Somaliland region, April 7, 2016. Picture taken April 7, 2016. REUTERS/Feisal Omar/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comGENEVA, June 23 (Reuters) - A newly appointed U.N. expert on climate change and human rights said he will fight for legal protection for people driven across international borders by extreme weather, drought and rising sea levels, he said on Thursday.Ian Fry, a former negotiator for the tiny low-lying Pacific nation of Tuvalu which risks sinking due to rising sea levels, started last month as the U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights and climate change."We are faced with an intolerable tide of people moving from their homes due to the impacts of climate change," he said on Thursday, presenting his priorities to the U.N Human Rights Council in Geneva which created the new mandate.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comFry, who fought for least developed countries at the 2015 Paris climate conference, added that so-called climate refugees would be one of six priorities for his new mandate over the next three years.Aid agencies say millions of people have been forced from their homes by climate change. However they are not covered by a 1951 Convention on refugees, meaning they have no grounds for seeking asylum under international law."Hopefully we can highlight gaps in the legal protection for people and try to initiate some sort of action to get some legal approach to protecting people in that situation whether through international law or regional agreements," he told Reuters on the sidelines of the session.Fry said that changing the convention would likely face resistance but said he would explore other legal avenues, without giving specifics.Separately, he also told the Geneva-based Council he planned to visit countries in the so-called "Central America dry corridor" suffering from drought.Another priority for Fry's mandate will be the issue of "loss and damage" including the idea of a new damages fund sought by vulnerable nations but not agreed on at the U.N. Glasgow Climate talks in 2021. The issue will be raised again at the COP27 talks in Egypt later this year.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Emma Farge;
Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
The extreme rainfall and flash flooding that killed at least 37 people in Eastern Kentucky this week, washing away houses and cars and turning streets into raging rivers, is one more example of how climate change is poised to overwhelm infrastructure across the United States in the years to come."We have dozens of bridges that are out — making it hard to get to people, making it hard to supply people with water," Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said on Sunday. "We have entire water systems down that we are working hard to get up."With the electricity knocked out in many areas that set rainfall records, residents who survived the flooding were left to swelter without air conditioning amid the latest heat wave to hit the area this summer.Janey Camp, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Vanderbilt University, told Yahoo News that the combination of climate change and the nation's aging and neglected infrastructure are putting millions of people at risk of severe flooding.“Nobody’s immune. I think Kentucky shows us that. It doesn’t matter if you’re in an urban area like Nashville or if you’re in rural Appalachia," Camp said, adding, "We’re seeing more of these intense precipitation events, where there’s a lot of water dumped on an area in a short amount of time. And the infrastructure wasn’t designed to handle that amount of precipitation."On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris announced that the Biden administration would make just over $1 billion in grants available for states to harden infrastructure against threats like flooding and extreme heat.Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at an event on funding climate resilience in Miami on Monday. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)“In recent days, deadly floods have swept through Missouri and Kentucky, washing away entire neighborhoods, leaving at least 35 dead, including babies, children," Harris said of the still-rising death toll. "As has been reported, four children from one family. So, the devastation is real. The harm is real. The impact is real.”Camp said that action, the funding of which came from the 2021 bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was overdue."We have a lot of aging infrastructure, especially when you think about storm water. A lot of communities don’t even have their own department for managing storm water, it kind of falls to public works or the water department," Camp said. "Only in recent years, the past decade or so, have we really started thinking more about storm water. Now we’re being hit with these extreme storm events where the stormwater infrastructure, or any infrastructure put in place to help convey water away from an area, is being exceeded.”Climate scientists have shown that for every degree Celsius of warming, the Earth's atmosphere holds 7% more moisture. When conditions are right, that moisture can unload in the form of extreme precipitation events like the ones that dumped 12 inches of rain in Eastern Kentucky last week and another foot of rain days later in Illinois. In fact, three so-called 1,000-year rain events hit the nation's midsection in a matter of days this past week.“It’s almost as if you need to be hit by something, unfortunately, before the community wakes up and starts doing things differently,” Camp said, adding, "We can look at trends. We can look at the down-scale climate data and say, ‘Hey, some of these things are starting to happen more.’ What we are seeing in a lot of areas, especially in the Southeast, is more precipitation. We’re starting to see these extreme weather events happen now. A lot of people want to say, ‘Well, it’s a one-in-1,000 year event, it’s an anomaly, but we’re seeing these happen more frequently.”A car destroyed by flooding in Central Appalachia in Kentucky on July 30, 2022. (Wang Changzheng/Xinhua via Getty Images)Cities and towns across the country are required by FEMA to formulate hazard mitigation plans, and many do so using Hazus, the department's computer tool, which is described as providing "data for estimating risk from earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, and hurricanes."While that's a good start at assessing risk, Camp said, the problem is that many communities don't examine the worst-case models that climate change is making much more commonplace.“In all reality, nobody’s running a 1,000-year event in their analysis. They’re running a 100-year event and maybe a 500-year event, to check the box and meet FEMA regulations for their hazard mitigation plan," Camp said. “We need to quit looking at the past and start looking to the future. And that’s challenging in a lot of communities, because they don’t have a lot of resources or expertise to do that.”Indeed, communities like the ones ravaged in Appalachia didn't have the budget to upgrade infrastructure to meet the threat of climate change. But if the Biden administration's allocation of $1 billion in grant funding for infrastructure upgrades sounds like too much money, experts say far more money will be needed. As if to bolster that point, initial damage estimates for the recent flooding in Kentucky have been quoted at $1 billion. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Millions of people in Britain stayed home or sought shade Monday during the country's first-ever extreme heat warning, as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moved north, disrupting travel, health care and schools.
The red heat alert covers a big chunk of England and is due to last through Tuesday, when temperatures may reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time, posing a risk of serious illness and even death among healthy people, according to the Met Office, Britain's weather service.
The highest temperature ever recorded in Britain is 38.7 C (101.7 F), a record set in 2019. The country is not at all prepared to handle such heat — most homes, schools and small businesses in Britain do not have air-conditioning.
London's Kew Gardens hit 37.5 C (99.5 F) by 3 p.m. and Wales provisionally recorded its highest-ever temperature, the Met Office said, a recording of 35.3 C (95.5 F) at Gogerddan on the west coast.
At least four people were reported to have drowned across the U.K. in rivers, lakes and reservoirs while trying to cool off.
While Monday may bring record highs to southeastern England, temperatures are expected to rise further as the warm air moves north on Tuesday, Met Office CEO Penelope Endersby said. The extreme heat warning stretches from London in the south to Manchester and Leeds in the north.
"So it's tomorrow that we're really seeing the higher chance of 40 degrees and temperatures above that,'' Endersby told the BBC. "Forty-one isn't off the cards. We've even got some 43s in the model, but we're hoping it won't be as high as that."
Hot weather has gripped southern Europe since last week, triggering wildfires in Spain, Portugal and France. Almost 600 heat-related deaths have been reported in Spain and Portugal, where temperatures reached 47 C (117 F) last week.
Climate experts warn that global warming has increased the frequency of extreme weather events, with studies showing that the likelihood of temperatures in the U.K. reaching 40C is now 10 times higher than in the pre-industrial era. Drought and heat waves tied to climate change have also made wildfires harder to fight.
Officials in southern France's Gironde region announced plans to evacuate an additional 3,500 people from towns threatened by the raging flames. More than 1,500 firefighters and water-bombing planes are trying to douse the flames in the region's tinder-dry pine forests.
In Britain, train operators asked customers not to travel unless absolutely necessary, saying the heat was likely to warp rails and disrupt power supplies, leading to severe delays. Some routes were running at reduced speed or shutting down entirely from mid-afternoon, when temperatures were expected to peak.
Some medical appointments were canceled to relieve strains on the health service. Some schools closed, and others set up wading pools and water sprays to help children cool off. Most British schools have not yet closed for the summer.
The extreme heat even led Parliament to loosen its strict dress code. The Speaker of the House of Commons said male lawmakers could dispense with jackets and ties for the week.
The high temperatures are even more of a shock since Britain usually has very moderate summer temperatures. Across the U.K., average July temperatures range from a daily high of 21 C (70 F) to a low of 12 C (53 F).
But nightfall on Monday will bring little relief from the heat, with the Met Office forecasting temperatures of 29 C (84 F) at midnight in London. Monday night will be "very oppressive" and it will be difficult to sleep, Chief Meteorologist Paul Davies said.
"Tomorrow is the day where we are really concerned about a good chance now of hitting 40 or 41C, and with that all the health conditions that come with those higher temperatures," he said. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Vermont farmer Brian Kemp is used to seeing the pastures at Mountain Meadows Farm grow slower in the hot, late summer, but this year the grass is at a standstill.
That’s “very nerve-wracking” when you’re grazing 600 to 700 cattle, said Kemp, who manages an organic beef farm in Sudbury. He describes the weather lately as inconsistent and impactful, which he attributes to a changing climate.
“I don’t think there is any normal anymore,” Kemp said.
The impacts of climate change have been felt throughout the Northeastern U.S. with rising sea levels, heavy precipitation and storm surges causing flooding and coastal erosion. But this summer has brought another extreme: a severe drought that is making lawns crispy and has farmers begging for steady rain. The heavy, short rainfall brought by the occasional thunderstorm tends to run off, not soak into the ground.
READ MORE: How the climate deal could help farmers aid the environment
Water supplies are low or dry, and many communities are restricting nonessential outdoor water use. Fire departments are combatting more brush fires and crops are growing poorly.
Providence, Rhode Island had less than half an inch of rainfall in the third driest July on record, and Boston had six-tenths of an inch in the fourth driest July on record, according to the National Weather Service office in Norton, Massachusetts. Rhode Island’s governor issued a statewide drought advisory Tuesday with recommendations to reduce water use. The north end of the Hoppin Hill Reservoir in Massachusetts is dry, forcing local water restrictions.
Officials in Maine said drought conditions really began there in 2020, with occasional improvements in areas since. In Auburn, Maine, local firefighters helped a dairy farmer fill a water tank for his cows when his well went too low in late July and temperatures hit 90. About 50 dry wells have been reported to the state since 2021, according to the state’s dry well survey.
The continuing trend toward drier summers in the Northeast can certainly be attributed to the impact of climate change, since warmer temperatures lead to greater evaporation and drying of soils, climate scientist Michael Mann said. But, he said, the dry weather can be punctuated by extreme rainfall events since a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture — when conditions are conducive to rainfall, there’s more of it in short bursts.
Mann said there’s evidence shown by his research at Penn State University that climate change is leading to a “stuck jet stream” pattern. That means huge meanders of the jet stream, or air current, get stuck in place, locking in extreme weather events that can alternately be associated with extreme heat and drought in one location and extreme rainfall in another, a pattern that has played out this summer with the heat and drought in the Northeast and extreme flooding in parts of the Midwest, Mann added.
Most of New England is experiencing drought. The U.S. Drought Monitor issued a new map Thursday that shows areas of eastern Massachusetts outside Cape Cod and much of southern and eastern Rhode Island now in extreme, instead of severe, drought.
New England has experienced severe summer droughts before, but experts say it is unusual to have droughts in fairly quick succession since 2016. Massachusetts experienced droughts in 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2022, which is very likely due to climate change, said Vandana Rao, director of water policy in Massachusetts.
“We hope this is maybe one period of peaking of drought and we get back to many more years of normal precipitation,” she said. “But it could just be the beginning of a longer trend.”
Rao and other water experts in New England expect the current drought to last for several more months.
“I think we’re probably going to be in this for a while and it’s going to take a lot,” said Ted Diers, assistant director of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services water division. “What we really are hoping for is a wet fall followed by a very snowy winter to really recharge the aquifers and the groundwater.”
READ MORE: Drought-stricken Western states face deadline to cut water use from Colorado River
Rhode Island’s principal forest ranger, Ben Arnold, is worried about the drought extending into the fall. That’s when people do more yardwork, burn brush, use fireplaces and spend time in the woods, increasing the risk of forest fires. The fires this summer have been relatively small, but it takes a lot of time and effort to extinguish them because they are burning into the dry ground, Arnold said.
Hay farmer Milan Adams said one of the fields he’s tilling in Exeter, Rhode Island, is powder a foot down. In prior years it rained in the spring. This year, he said, the dryness started in March, and April was so dry he was nervous about his first cut of hay.
“The height of the hay was there, but there was no volume to it. From there, we got a little bit of rain in the beginning of May that kind of shot it up,” he said. “We haven’t seen anything since.”
Farmers are fighting more than the drought — inflation is driving up the cost of everything, from diesel and equipment parts to fertilizer and pesticides, Adams added.
“It’s all through the roof right now,” he said. “This is just throwing salt on a wound.”
The yield and quality of hay is down in Vermont too, which means there won’t be as much for cows in the winter, said Vermont Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts. The state has roughly 600 dairy farms, a $2 billion per year industry. Like Adams, Tebbetts said inflation is driving up prices, which will hurt the farmers who will have to buy feed.
Kemp, the president of the Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition, is thankful to have supplemental feed from last year, but he knows other farmers who don’t have land to put together a reserve and aren’t well-stocked. The coalition is trying to help farmers evolve and learn new practices. They added “climate-smart farming” to their mission statement in the spring.
“Farming is challenging,” Kemp said, “and it’s becoming even more challenging as climate change takes place.” | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
By Matt TaylorBBC WeatherImage source, AFPPeople around the globe are experiencing dramatic heatwaves, deadly floods and wildfires as a result of climate change.The UK and parts of Europe have seen temperatures of above 40C this month, leading to transport disruption and water shortages.Emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels have been trapping heat in the atmosphere since the start of the industrial era. This extra heat isn't evenly distributed across the globe, and bursts out extreme weather events. Unless global emissions are cut, this cycle will continue.Here are four ways climate change is changing the weather.1. Hotter, longer heatwavesTo understand the impact of small changes to average temperatures, think of them as a bell curve with extreme cold and hot at either end, and the bulk of temperatures in the middle. A small shift in the centre means more of the curve touches the extremes - and so heatwaves become more frequent and extreme.The Met Office estimates that the extreme heat seen during the most recent heatwave is ten times more likely now because of climate change. And things could worsen. "In a few decades this might actually be a quite a cool summer," says Professor Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London.The Met Office has also pointed out that heatwaves are not just hotter: They're also lasting longer. Warm spells have more than doubled in length in the past 50 years.Heatwaves can be made longer and more intense by another weather phenomenon - a heat dome.In an area of high pressure, hot air is pushed down and trapped in place, causing temperatures to soar over an entire continent. When a storm distorts the jet stream, which is made of currents of fast-flowing air, it is a bit like yanking a skipping rope at one end and seeing the ripples move along it. These waves cause everything to slow drastically and weather systems can become stuck over the same areas for days on end - as was seen in India earlier this year. India and Pakistan have already faced five successive heatwaves this year, with Jacobabad, in Pakistan, registering 49C at one point in May.In the Southern Hemisphere, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil all saw an historic heatwave in January - many areas reported their hottest day on record. In the same month, Onslow in Western Australia hit 50.7C, the joint-highest temperature ever reliably recorded in the Southern Hemisphere.Last year, North America was also hit by long heatwaves. The western Canadian town of Lytton burnt down when temperatures hit 49.6C, breaking the previous record by almost 5C. Such an intense heatwave would have been virtually impossible without climate change, says the World Weather Attribution network, a collaboration between international climate scientists. One theory suggests higher temperatures in the Arctic are causing the jet stream to slow, increasing the likelihood of heat domes.2. More persistent droughts As heatwaves become more intense and longer, droughts can also worsen. Less rain falls between heatwaves, so ground moisture and water supplies run dry more quickly. This means the ground takes less time to heat up, warming the air above and leading to more intense heat.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Drought in Somalia - the country has suffered three failed rainy seasons in a rowDemand for water from humans and farming puts even more stress on water supply, adding to shortages. 3. More fuel for wildfiresWildfires can be sparked by direct human involvement - but natural factors can also play a huge part. The cycle of extreme and long-lasting heat caused by climate change draws more and more moisture out of the ground and vegetation. These tinder-dry conditions provide fuel for fires, which can spread at an incredible speed. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, A firefighting aircraft tackling a wildfire in Slovenia in MarchThe Northern Hemisphere's wildfire season begun early in some areas, due to lack of rainfall and unseasonable warmth, and has worsened through July.Most recently severe wildfires have been reported in France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia and Albania - with thousands of residents evacuated and several hundreds reported to have died. Image source, AFP/Getty ImagesImage caption, More than 10,000 residents and tourists have been evacuated in France since the start of JulyIn Canada last summer, heatwaves led to fires which developed so rapidly and explosively that they created their own weather system, forming pyrocumulonimbus clouds. These colossal clouds then produced lightning, igniting more fires. The frequency of large wildfires has increased dramatically in recent decades. Compared with the 1970s, fires larger than 10,000 acres (40 sq km) are now seven times more common in western America, according to Climate Central, an independent organisation of scientists and journalists.4. More extreme rainfall eventsIn the usual weather cycle, hot weather creates moisture and water vapour in the air, which turns into droplets to create rain. The warmer it becomes, however, the more vapour there is in the atmosphere. This results in more droplets and heavier rainfall, sometimes in a shorter space of time and over a smaller area.Already this year, floods have hit Spain and also parts of eastern Australia. In a period of just six days Brisbane saw almost 80% of its annual rainfall, while Sydney recorded more than its average annual rainfall in little over three months.Media caption, Watch: Record-breaking floods hit Spain’s east coastThese rainfall events are connected to the effects of climate change elsewhere, according to Peter Gleick, a water specialist from the US National Academy of Sciences."When areas of drought grow, like in Siberia and western US, that water falls elsewhere, in a smaller area, worsening flooding," he says.The weather across the globe will always be highly variable - but climate change is making those variations more extreme. And the challenge now is not only limiting the further impact people have on the atmosphere but also adapting to and tackling the extremes we are already facing. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
The Luton Airport runway was closed because of a 'surface defect' in the heat today as Wales recorded its hottest day on record with England set to follow later after fires broke out, trains were cancelled and schools closed.Flights were diverted from the airport, which told MailOnline: 'Following today's high temperatures, a surface defect was identified on the runway. Engineers were called immediately to site and repair works are currently in progress to resume operations as soon as possible. We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused.'The Met Office confirmed Hawarden in Flintshire had reached 37.1C (98.8F) this afternoon, exceeding the previous all-time high in Wales of 35.2C (95.4F) in the same location on August 2, 1990. And it was Cornwall's hottest day on record today, with 34.2C (93.6F) observed in Bude - beating the previous all-time high of 33.9C (93F) in June 1976.In England, the hotspot by 4pm today was Cambridge with 38C (100.4F) - closing in on the all-time UK record of 38.7C (101.7F), set in the same city in July 2019. It was also the UK's hottest day of the year so far by some distance - beating the previous 2022 high of 33C (91F) set in Hawarden only yesterday. London was at 37.5C (99.5F) today.Wildfires continued to burn today after weeks of very dry conditions - including across fields near Chesterfield in Derbyshire - while a vehicle dramatically set on fire in a car park near the beauty spot of Durdle Door in Dorset.Elsewhere, rail tracks buckled in London's Vauxhall in the heat - resulting in a safety inspection on the line that caused disruption between Waterloo and Clapham Junction. And operator Great Northern said a buckled rail at Watlington in Norfolk meant services could not run between Cambridge and Kings Lynn. And all flights in and out of RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire were halted because the 'runway has melted', according to a military source. In London, a judge at Wood Green Crown Court was forced to halt a murder trial after an air conditioning unit broke down – saying he had 'no choice' but to adjourn proceedings and move the case to the Old Bailey.With the UK set to be hotter than the Sahara Desert, transport links in the capital were already grinding to a halt due to train cancellations - while roads could melt and bosses have urged employees to work from home.Health chiefs told patients to stay away unless it is an emergency amid fears hospitals will be overwhelmed, while emergency services urged swimmers to stay away from lakes and rivers in case they face difficulties.Some schools in Nottinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire have shut while others will close early - and water providers have also warned of shortages, while a burst water main caused chaos in Kingston upon Thames.Some 53 schools in Buckinghamshire have closed and reverted to remote learning. Elsewhere, Northwood Community Primary School in Kirkby, Merseyside, said that sports day had been axed today; while King Charles I School, a secondary school in Worcestershire, has cancelled all on-site detentions both today and tomorrow.Professor Endersby told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning: 'We think today we may well see the hottest day in the UK in history, with the hottest temperatures in the South East, but actually the highest temperatures we expect tomorrow, and those temperatures will be further north as that warm air pushes north. 'It's tomorrow that we're really seeing the higher chance of 40C and temperatures above that. Even possibly above that... 41C isn't off the cards. We've even got some 43Cs in the model but we're hoping it won't be as high as that.'One GP surgery in Hertfordshire had to close a site today because it has no air conditioning; others in London have texted patients to warn them of reduced services with limited clinic rooms in operation; and Milton Keynes University Hospital said it was 'standing down routine outpatient appointments and surgery' today and tomorrow. In Cardiff, a children's hospital's cancer ward at Noah's Ark Children's Hospital was left without air conditioning after the unit failed in hot weather. Engineers were working to fix the fault affecting the chemotherapy area - and health chiefs said that if the problem cannot be solved, patients will be moved to a different ward to keep cool. Meanwhile Royal Mail warned of disruption to deliveries, saying today: 'In areas where temperatures rise to potentially dangerous levels during the day, our staff have been advised to return to the office with any mail they have been unable to deliver and not put themselves under any risk of falling ill due to the extreme heat.' At Buckingham Palace, the Changing of the Guard was scaled down to protect the soldiers. The marching and ceremonial parade was made shorter to prevent the Queen's Guard from being too long in the midday sun.But Guardsman were still required to stand to attention and march outside the Palace in their Canadian bearskins and full uniform. And one standing guard was seen being given water to drink as he stood in the direct sunshine.As health officials declared a 'national emergency', rail chaos was already affecting parts of London this morning - with the Overground suspended between Willesden Junction and Richmond, and Romford and Upminster.On the Underground, the District, Central, Bakerloo and Jubilee lines all had severe delays while the Hammersmith & City Line was completely axed due to 'heat related restrictions' and there was no Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate. Transport for London told all passengers in the capital to avoid non-essential travel.The scorching heat means the UK will be warmer than Nassau in the Bahamas (32C), Kingston in Jamaica (33C), Malaga in Spain (28C), Athens in Greece (35C), Albufeira in Portugal (28C) and Dakhla in the Western Sahara (24C).Temperatures had already hit 34C (93F) in London by midday today. As Britons camped overnight at Bournemouth beach for the best spot today amid what forecasters called an 'exceptional hot spell':The Met Office urged people to do 'as little as possible' to avoid dire health risks as the 'red warning' began;Rail passengers were urged to travel only if 'necessary' and gritters were sent out to stop roads melting;Wildfires swept through parched grassland after days of dry and roasting conditions in 'tinderbox' Britain;There is now a 90 per cent chance of the all-time UK temperature record being broken today or tomorrow;Water providers including Affinity, Anglian and South East reported supply issues due to the hot weather.The hot weather also caused a significant drop in footfall in London, with a drop of 10 per cent across high streets, retail parks and shopping centres today compared to last week. The figure across all UK shopping destinations was down 3 per cent overall - but footfall on high streets in coastal towns was up 9 per cent. This map from Netweather shows how 41C highs are expected in parts of central England tomorrow - and 40C in the South Fire crews fight grass and field fires near Chesterfield in Derbyshire today as temperatures soar across Britain A member of the Queen's Guard receives water to drink during the hot weather outside Buckingham Palace in London today A vehicle dramatically set on fire in a car park near the beauty spot of Durdle Door in Dorset this afternoon A very busy Brighton beach in East Sussex at lunchtime today as visitors flock to the seaside A major grass fire in Newgale, Pembrokeshire, today with multiple crews at the scene trying to keep it under control Two women play in the sea off Bournemouth beach today on the hottest day of the year so far Firefighters tackle a huge blaze at a recycling centre near Braintree in Essex today amid fears it may spread to a nearby forest People jump into the tidal pool and swim during hot weather at Perranporth Beach in Cornwall today Network Rail engineers have found a kink in the rail at Vauxhall in London today due to the extreme heat The kink in the tracks was spotted near Vauxhall in London today, with trains re-routed to avoid the affected section A man uses a newspaper as a fan whilst travelling on the Bakerloo line in central London during the heatwave today Sunbathers on the sand at Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, today as the very hot weather continues People out enjoying the hot weather at Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside today as temperatures rise all over the UK Lara Cahill, Olivia Murtagh and Caoimhe Clynch sunbathe on Portobello beach in Edinburgh todayPeople flock to Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as they make the most of the extreme temperaturesTanisha Randell, 19, takes a stroll along Bournemouth beach today during a day trip from Southampton People swim at Hampstead Heath in North West London today as they enjoy the very hot weather Commuters cross London Bridge today as the Shard reflects the sun in the early morning heat People relax on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning as the heatwave continues People flock to Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as they make the most of the extreme temperatures People preparing to enter the water in Penzance, Cornwall, today Scorching temperatures in Battersea Park in South West London today as people cool off inside the fountainCommuters on London Bridge feel the heat at 8.30am this morning amid the extreme weather conditions A young girl rides her inflatable pelican in the sea at Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, this afternoon A woman uses a fan to cool herself down as commuters cross London Bridge today in extreme temperaturesA woman keeping cool in the River Thames near Chertsey in Surrey today (left) and another on Bournemouth beach (right)The Met Office's Professor Endersby said today that such extreme temperatures are not expected beyond tomorrow, but that meteorologists will then be monitoring the possibility of drought in the coming months. 'Well, we certainly don't see these very hot temperatures persisting past Tuesday, so we're expecting a big drop in temperature, mercifully, overnight into Wednesday - down 10 or 12 degrees on what it has been the days before. Millions more people work from home to avoid severe travel disruptionMillions more people are working from home to avoid severe disruption to transport networks caused by soaring temperatures.Road traffic and public transport usage dropped on Monday after people were urged to avoid unnecessary travel.Network Rail said the number of passengers using major stations across Britain on Monday was around 20% down on a week ago.Location technology firm TomTom said road congestion at 9am was lower in most UK cities than at the same time last week. In London, congestion levels fell from 53% on July 11 to 42% on Monday.In Birmingham they were down from 46% to 43%, in Manchester they decreased from 45% to 37%, and in Glasgow they dropped from 17% to 12%. The figures reflect the proportion of additional time required for journeys compared with free-flow conditions.Transport for London (TfL), which advised people to 'only travel if essential', said around 1.06 million entries and exits were made by London Underground passengers up to 10am on Monday. This is down 18% compared with the same period last Monday.Some 1.07 million bus journeys were made up to 10am, a 10% decrease week on week.TfL said: 'Ridership on Monday is typically lower than other days of the week on public transport and is therefore likely to be a good indication of where people are working from home. Typically, TfL also sees a small reduction in ridership at this time of year as schools enter their last week of term and people begin to go on holiday.'However, the recent high temperatures have led to more of a reduction than would have been expected before our travel advice was issued to only make essential journeys during this extreme hot weather.'Temperatures were expected to soar into the high 30s on Monday. Train speed restrictions imposed by Network Rail to reduce the chances of tracks buckling in the heatwave caused delays and cancellations.Many operators are running a heavily reduced timetable on Monday and Tuesday, including Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Great Northern and Thameslink. LNER will run no trains from south of York and south of Leeds to London King's Cross on Tuesday.Kevin Groves, chief spokesman for Network Rail, said journeys which typically take two hours could take 'more than four hours' as emergency measures have been brought in to prevent trains derailing.He told Sky News: 'Certainly later on today that (buckling) is a strong possibility, which is why, from about midday today through till 8pm tonight, there will be large swathes of England and Wales that will have emergency heat-related speed restrictions placed on the rail network.'Jake Kelly, also from Network Rail, warned of travel disruption across the country. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the return of normal services on Wednesday 'will depend on the damage that the weather does to the infrastructure'.Council gritters were on stand-by to spread light dustings of sand on melting roads.The RAC anticipated that the number of vehicle breakdowns on Monday and Tuesday could be up to a fifth higher than normal. Spokesman Rod Dennis said the increase in callouts will 'put pressure on all breakdown services' as he advised drivers to carry an 'emergency kit' such as water, non-perishable food, sun protection and any medication required.'We are still seeing hotter than average in our three-month outlook and also very dry, and our attention is turning, once we're past these two days, to drought and when we might see any rain, and we're not seeing any significant rain coming up.'She also said that the public should take Met Office heat warnings as seriously as those about other significant weather events such as snow or wind, as the extreme heat could cause thousands of excess deaths.Professor Endersby added: 'Our warnings are always impact-based, so, when we put out warnings, if they're red, that means there's a danger to life and we're expecting major infrastructure impacts, and that's true, whether it's snow, wind, rain, and it's true of this heat warning. 'We're certainly seeing people reacting a little bit differently to the heat warnings as though they think that maybe we shouldn't be telling them to worry about heat the way we tell them to worry about storm or wind.'These temperatures are unprecedented in the UK and we're not used to dealing with them. And heat undoubtedly causes many hundreds, thousands of excess deaths in heatwaves, so people do need to take care and follow the advice we've been putting out about keeping in the shade, keeping cool, keeping hydrated, and so on.'She also said that, while extreme temperatures remain 'rare', by 2100 temperatures like those expected this week could be seen in the UK as frequently as once in every three years as a result of climate change.'These temperatures are unattainable in the UK without climate change, they just don't appear in the ensembles at all. They're still rare in today's 1.1 - 1.2-degree warmed climate, but by 2100, we're expecting them to be anywhere between one in 15 and one in three years, depending on the emissions pathways we take between now and then.'She added: 'We will certainly need to make changes to our infrastructure, transport, hospitals, care, homes, all those sorts of things, as well as to our domestic building designs. So yes, we need to make short-term changes for things like cooling centres and then longer-term changes, as well as assuming the very good progress we've already made as a nation towards net zero.'It comes after the Met Office revealed the deep red colour showing the high temperatures on weather maps was part of a redesign in autumn 2021 that was actually intended for parts of the Middle East and North Africa. Chief meteorologist at the Met Office Paul Davies warned that tonight will be very hot and it will be hard to sleep in the heat. He told Sky News: 'Tonight will be very oppressive, I mean it's actually difficult sleeping conditions.'And tomorrow is the day where we are really concerned about a good chance now of hitting 40C or 41C, and with that all the health conditions that come with those higher temperatures.'He also claimed that the rise in temperature is 'entirely consistent' with climate change and said the 'brutality' of the heat could become commonplace by the end of the century.Mr Davies told Sky News the weather charts he had seen today were 'astounding' and unlike any he had observed throughout his 30-year career.'This is entirely consistent with climate change. To get 40 degrees in the UK we need that additional boost from human-induced climate,' he said. 'Well, I've been a meteorologist for about 30 years and I've never seen the charts I've seen today. 'And the speed at which we are seeing these exceptionally high temperatures is broadly in line with what we were saying but to be honest, as a meteorologist, to see the brutality of the heat we're expecting tomorrow, is quite astounding. And it does worry me a lot and my colleagues here at the Met Office that this sort of unprecedented heat could become a regular occurrence by the end of the century.'And Mr Davies said that even colleagues in hot countries like Spain and Portugal had described the scenes in the UK as 'exceptional'.The top forecaster said a 'plume' of heat pushing across Europe was affecting Britain differently. A combination of that plume and human activity generating its own heat is contributing to the high temperatures, he said. A family paddle at the fountains of Trafalgar Square in London this afternoon A packed Brighton beach today after the UK's first ever red extreme heat warning was issued A group of friends jump into the pool as people enjoy the hot weather at Jesus Green Lido in Cambridge today Sunbathers take to the sea at Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, today amid the extreme heat A busy Bournemouth Beach this morning as the country endures very hot weather Jerome Yates and Orla Tagg make use of the shade in London's Regents Park during the heatwave today A man enjoys the heat as he contemplates going into Dovestone reservoir in Greater Manchester today People out in the sun at Trafalgar Square in London today as the UK endures the hottest day of the year so far Sunbathers on Bournemouth beach this morning as the UK heatwave continues A young woman stands under a water sprinkler outside Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London this afternoon People go for a dip at Hampstead swimming ponds in North West London during the heatwave today People out enjoying the hot weather at Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside this morning A busy Bournemouth Beach this morning as the country endures very hot weather People out enjoying the hot weather at Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside this morning Richard and Laura Frostman from the US under an umbrella in London's Regents Park during the heatwave today A very busy Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon on the hottest day of the year so far Two women in the sea off Bournemouth Beach this morning as the country endures very hot weather Two women enjoy sunbathing at Hampstead Heath in North West London during the heatwave today A busy Bournemouth Beach this morning as the country is hit by extreme temperaturesTwo women sunbathe at Clapham Common in South West London today amid the extreme conditions A woman stays hydrated while commuting on the Jubilee line in London this morning as people travel to work People shelter from the sun underneath a map during the hot weather outside Buckingham Palace in London today A person sunbathing outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster this afternoon A woman enjoys a dip in the sea off Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning as people flock to the seaside Eddie, a four year old golden retriever, travels on a District Line train in central London during the heatwave today A very busy Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon on the hottest day of the year so far Charles relaxes as he enjoys the hot weather at Jesus Green Lido in Cambridge today A near empty Dowry Reservoir near Oldham today as the heatwave in the UK continues A man sunbathes at Clapham Common in South West London today amid the extreme conditions A group of people on Bournemouth Beach this morning as the country endures very hot weather A woman sunbathing in London's Regents Park during the heatwave this afternoon A man uses a stand-up paddleboard on the River Thames during the hot weather at Shepperton near Windsor today Commuters use umbrellas on London Bridge today as they feel the heat this morning amid the extreme weather conditions A very busy Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon on the hottest day of the year so far People sunbathe at Clapham Common in South West London today amid the extreme conditions A group of men walk along Bournemouth beach today as people flock to the seaside to enjoy the very hot weather Commuters wait for a Jubilee line train at London Bridge station this morning as they travel to work Sunseekers enjoy the sea off Bournemouth beach today as people flock to the seaside to enjoy the very hot weather A person sits on the bank of near empty Dowry Reservoir close to Oldham this afternoon Commuters cross London Bridge this morning amid the extreme temperatures affecting the capital today People swim and relax in a dinghy on the River Thames during the hot weather at Shepperton near Windsor today A very busy Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon on the hottest day of the year so far'I was talking to my colleagues in Spain, Portugal and France over the weekend and they described this heat as exceptional too, and they've seen and observed amazing temperatures and, as I say, the brutality of that impact. Burst water main floods London streets A burst water main has flooded streets in south-west London as temperatures soared across the UK.Around 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines responded to the scene on Galsworthy Road in Kingston upon Thames this morning, alongside the police.Footage shared on social media shows flooding on several roads which have been closed nearby. Around 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines responded to the scene of a burst water main in Kingston upon Thames todayThames Water has said the broken 30-inch pipe does not supply homes so water should not be affected, adding that the conduit is a trunk main and not a sewage pipe as some witnesses claimed.'Our engineers are tackling a large burst pipe on Kingston Hill. They're working to shut down the flow of water from the damaged section,' it said in a statement.'We'll be doing all we can to repair it and get things back to normal as soon as we can, particularly in the current heatwave. The burst pipe doesn't directly supply local properties, but we'll be working hard to limit any impact. We'll need to carry out a major repair, so there's likely to be a need for a road closure. We're sorry for any inconvenience this causes.'The flooding also limited access to Kingston Hospital.'Due to the water works incident on Kingston Hill, access to Kingston Hospital is currently limited,' Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust tweeted. 'Patients who need to come in can still enter the hospital site through the main car park entrance, via Coombe (road).'London Fire Brigade said: 'Firefighters are dealing with a large burst water main and is causing a number of road closures. Please avoid the area if possible.''In terms of the UK, the heat which has been affecting Spain, Portugal and France is different towards us. So it's the activity of that plume, and also us generating our own heat that's causing the particular problems for tomorrow.'Mr Davies also said temperatures will ease from next Wednesday onwards but warned another heatwave later in summer could not be ruled out.Mr Davies told Sky News: 'When we look to the future in terms of the next week, there is an easier time because in fact the temperatures start to ease back to what we describe as slightly above normal from about Wednesday onwards. 'But as we move into all this, you just can't rule out another plume.'He added that holiday-goers should also check the weather overseas because the heat is likely to be 'sustainable and pretty intense' over the course of the month.And London Mayor Sadiq Khan told Sky News today: 'We aren't ready for these temperatures, we aren't prepared. We're not used to them and that's why people should be careful. 'You're not on holiday now, you're in this country. These temperatures are excessive, please be careful.'He also said Boris Johnson is treating the British public with 'contempt' following his absence from Cobra meetings over the summer heatwave, and called for him to immediately step down as Prime Minister.Mr Johnson has been criticised for choosing not to chair the security meetings with Cabinet ministers as parts of the country face temperatures of up to 40C (104F) on Monday and Tuesday, while still finding time to ride in a Typhoon fighter jet during a demonstration at RAF Coningsby last week.Mr Khan said Mr Johnson should be making better use of his time, and declared he should hand over power to Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab while the Conservative Party chooses its next leader.He said: 'The Met Office for the first time ever have issued a level 4 red alert warning, the chief medical officer is advising everybody to be careful as a consequence of this extreme weather, the Prime Minister is hosting a lavish party at Chequers and obviously going on a joyride on a Typhoon plane.'That's not what a Prime Minister should be doing. And if the Prime Minister wants to go on a jolly, he should leave Number 10 Downing Street, he should resign and allow the Deputy Prime Minister to be a caretaker prime minister until the Conservatives have chosen their leader.'He added: 'This idea of a Prime Minister, who has been voted out by his party, having a jolly for six months is treating the British public with contempt, he should go now.'Sir Keir Starmer said the Government's lack of planning for the heatwave would leave people distressed and disappointed. The Labour was asked whether businesses and schools should be open, after he spoke to young entrepreneurs at a central London bank.He told reporters: 'Yes, schools should be open and most schools are managing perfectly well. Obviously there's been changes to uniforms and what people are wearing, children are wearing to school and some of the schools have flexible times when they can go home. People gather during hot weather on Perranporth Beach in Cornwall today Visitors to Cambridge take to the River Cam to enjoy punt rides as temperatures in the city soar People enjoy the conditions at Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, today as the very hot weather continues A very busy Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon on the hottest day of the year so far Scorching temperatures in Battersea Park in South West London today as people cool off inside the fountain Lara Cahill, Olivia Murtagh and Caoimhe Clynch sunbathe on Portobello beach in Edinburgh today Commuters travel on the London Underground's Central line during a heatwave in the capital today People gather during hot weather on Perranporth Beach in Cornwall today A paddleboarder off Bournemouth beach in Dorset today on the hottest day of the year so far A man sunbathes close to the water in Mousehole, Cornwall, today during the UK's first red extreme heat warning People enjoy the conditions at Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, today as the very hot weather continues Rush-hour commuters on London Bridge this morning as the extreme red weather warning beginsRush-hour commuters on London Bridge this morning amid the very hot weather conditions A very busy Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon on the hottest day of the year so far Swimmers enjoy an early morning swim in the cool water of Jesus Green lido in Cambridge today People enjoy the conditions at Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, today as the very hot weather continues A homeowner prepares for the record high temperatures by covering the front facing windows and his vehicles with large sheets to block out the sun at Henley on Thames in Oxfordshire today People swim in the tidal pool during hot weather at Perranporth Beach in Cornwall today A woman walks along Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon on the hottest day of the year so far Scorching temperatures in Battersea Park in South West London today as people cool off inside the fountain People surf a wave during hot weather at Perranporth Beach in Cornwall today Members of the Household Cavalry in the midday heat during the Changing Of the Guard ceremony in Westminster todayA member of the Household Cavalry in the midday heat during the Changing Of the Guard ceremony in Westminster today People enjoy the conditions at Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, today as the very hot weather continues People gather during hot weather on Perranporth Beach in Cornwall today A person surfs a wave during hot weather at Perranporth Beach in Cornwall today Visitors to Cambridge take to the River Cam to enjoy punt rides as temperatures in the city soar Two dogs wait for a ball to be thrown at Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, today as the very hot weather continues A woman drinks water as she travels on the London Underground during a heatwave in the capital today Swimmers enjoy an early morning swim in the cool water of Jesus Green lido in Cambridge today Scorching temperatures in Battersea Park in South West London today as people cool off inside the fountain Visitors to Cambridge take to the River Cam to enjoy punt rides as temperatures in the city soar People out enjoying the hot weather at Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside today as temperatures rise all over the UK Visitors to Cambridge take to the River Cam to enjoy punt rides as temperatures in the city soar Commuters travel on the London Underground during a heatwave in the capital today People gather during hot weather on Perranporth Beach in Cornwall today Visitors to Cambridge take to the River Cam to enjoy punt rides as temperatures in the city soar People gather during hot weather on Perranporth Beach in Cornwall today Visitors to Cambridge take to the River Cam to enjoy punt rides as temperatures in the city soar People sit on a bench on the cliff top during hot weather at Perranporth Beach in Cornwall today Scorching temperatures in Battersea Park in South West London today as people cool off inside the fountain Swimmers enjoy an early morning swim in the cool water of Jesus Green lido in Cambridge today A person lies down on the cliff top during hot weather at Perranporth Beach in Cornwall today Low water levels at Dovestone Reservoir in Greater Manchester today as the hot and dry weather continues'We need to work through this but I think most people say we need a Government that's on our side, that's got a strategy, that's planned for events like this. Disruption on Transport for London services this afternoon'But we're left again with a Government that's not done that basic planning and I think that's going to be very distressing, very disappointing to millions of people across the country'.Asked whether there should be a maximum workplace temperature, Sir Keir said people are entitled to a safe place of work.'That can be achieved in a number of ways - I think more flexibility will be needed, breaks, etc. But what we really need is that (Government) resilience strategy'.And the chief executive of the NHS Confederation said the 'crumbling' NHS estate is full of buildings that cannot adapt to the challenges of the heatwave.While the majority of GP surgeries remained open, one known to have closed today was the Knebworth Surgery in Hertfordshire which shut a site in Stevenage because it has no air conditioning. Matthew Taylor told Sky News the health service will 'pull out all the stops' to keep running over the coming days but warned that ongoing 'capacity issues' will make it harder to bounce back.'We've been given advice in the NHS, we'll do all that we can, but the problem is this is about resilience, isn't it?'And the NHS has more than 2,000 vacancies, it's got an estate that is crumbling, so many are not the kind of buildings that have got the adaptability to these kinds of challenges.'We'll do our best but, as we learned during Covid, what's really important is that we have resilient public services that have the capacity to respond to problems like this, and the NHS will absolutely pull out all the stops and will do all it can, but to | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
As climate change makes droughts more frequent and severe, major population centers across the world are suffering through droughts this summer.According to the National Weather Service, 36% of the New York City metropolitan area — the most populous metropolitan region in the United States, with more than 20 million residents — is in a “severe” or “extreme” drought.On Thursday, the U.S. Drought Monitor, — a joint project of two federal agencies and the University of Nebraska — released its latest report which listed the south shore of Long Island and a chunk of north-central New Jersey as being in "severe drought.” The New York City borough of Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn are also in a severe drought. For Brooklyn, which has 2.5 million residents, this is its first severe drought in 20 years. Manhattan’s Central Park averages 10.7 inches of rain from June 1 to Aug. 11, but this year it received just over 8 inches in that period, leaving many plants shriveled and lawns brown.New Yorkers sunbathing in Central Park in July. (John Smith/VIEWpress)A local TV channel, WNBC Channel 4, reported last week that local farms are being affected.“Crops in New Jersey are noticeably smaller than before, or the plants themselves simply not growing nearly as high, due to the dry conditions,” the outlet reported on its website. “Corn fields are withering on their stalks, with corn cobs barely fit for consumption. Apples much smaller than normal by this time of year.”Some local governments have instituted restrictions on water usage. The east end of Long Island, home to the famed beachfront mansions of the Hamptons and the vineyards of the North Fork, is in a "stage one water emergency.” Residents with irrigated lawns and gardens have been asked to stop irrigation between midnight and 7 a.m., to preserve water pressure for firefighting. An area resident told Yahoo News that non-irrigated lawns have turned visibly brown from the hot weather and a lack of rain.The New York City area is just one of many across the United States undergoing a drought. Parts of eastern Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are in severe drought. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont on Thursday announced a stage 3 drought level, corresponding to a moderate drought, for Middlesex, New London and Windham counties, each of which have received roughly 60% to 65% of normal precipitation thus far this year.Climate change is the culprit, say local government officials, because warmer air causes more water evaporation and makes the water cycle more prone to extreme swings.Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. (Brad Horrigan/Hartford Courant/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)“Droughts are cyclical, typically occurring in New England every 10 years,” the Providence Journal reported last Thursday. “What [Ken Ayars, an official with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management] has noticed, however, is the droughts are coming every two years.”“The intervals between droughts are shorter,” Ayars told the newspaper. “Compared to 2020, this is much more significant because it’s following the previous drought.”The Northeast’s drought is comparatively minor, though, relative to a two decades-long megadrought across the western U.S. Extreme drought conditions are currently found in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Utah, Nevada, California, New Mexico and Oregon, among other states. Water usage restrictions are already in effect in a number of jurisdictions, including parts of California. Earlier this month, the United Nations warned that the two largest reservoirs in the U.S. — Lake Mead and Lake Powell, both created by dams on the Colorado River — are at “dangerously low levels.”The surge in summertime droughts is not limited to the United States. In China, a nationwide drought alert was issued on Friday. Record-breaking droughts in the country have caused some rivers to run dry, causing significant economic damages. The Yangtze, the world’s third-longest river, has reached record-low water levels this summer.Low water levels along the Yangtze River in China. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)As a result, hydropower plants are operating at reduced capacity and shipping has been interrupted. The province of Sichuan has suspended or limited power supply to factories causing firms including Toyota and Tesla to suspend production. The provincial disaster committee said last Saturday 116,000 acres of crops have been lost and 1.1 million acres have been damaged by the drought and a heatwave baking southwestern China.Rivers are also going dry in Europe, where a summer of climate disruption has seen record-setting heat waves across the continent, leading to thousands of deaths and wildfires on pace to be the worst year on record. France’s Loire River is currently barely navigable due to drought."The Loire's tributaries are completely dried up. It is unprecedented," Eric Sauquet, head of hydrology at France's National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment, told Reuters last Wednesday.“Looking to the future, as the frequency of extreme weather events looks set to grow, the future could be even more bleak,” Bernice Lee, chair of the advisory board at the Chatham House sustainability accelerator in London told the Guardian on Monday.A dried up pond on a farm during a heatwave in outside, Smithville, Texas, US, on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. (Sergio Flores/Bloomberg via Getty Images)In addition to the fact that warmer temperatures increase evaporation and dry out soil and plants, climate change increases drought risk and intensity in other ways. For example, many places depend on water from melting winter snowpacks to help sustain plant and animal life. However, the average global temperature has increased 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit) since the mid-19th Century. That means less precipitation will fall as snow and more as rain in the winter, and that rain will be long gone by summer. Warmer temperatures in the spring also mean snowpack will melt earlier and more quickly.Attributing specific droughts to climate change is complicated, but scientists are increasingly developing the tools to do so. A 2020 study in the journal Science looked at changes in temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation between 1901 and 2018 in the western U.S. and found that climate change is responsible for 46% of the current megadrought’s severity.Global warming also exacerbates droughts by increasing the demand for water, since animals and plants require more water in hotter weather.“The loss of water from our reservoirs evaporating off is higher,” noted Peter Gleick, the co-founder of the Pacific Institute in Oakland, Calif., in an interview with Yahoo News last year. “The demand for water from agricultural crops is greater. And so the warnings that the climate cycle and the water cycle are changing, and that those impacts are going to be increasingly severe, are now coming true."_____Global temperatures are on the rise and have been for decades. Step inside the data and see the magnitude of climate change. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
The harm and distress caused by floods in Pakistan are difficult – if not impossible – to quantify, as a crisis of vast proportions keeps unfolding. They have killed around 1,000 people so far this summer, with at least 119 losing their lives in one 24-hour period last week. The number of those who have lost their homes, or been evacuated, is in the millions, with 300,000 dwellings destroyed. More than 33 million people are affected – around one in seven of the population. The country’s climate change minister, Sherry Rehman, says the floods – caused by torrential monsoon rains and melting glaciers – are the worst in living memory. Around a third of Pakistan is under water. Vitally important agricultural land will take months to drain.Hunger, homelessness and the spread of water-borne diseases are among the most immediate problems, and humanitarian aid must be urgently ramped up if further suffering is to be prevented. Supplies have begun to arrive from Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, but Pakistan’s government is right to expect more – especially from the rich western nations that bear the greatest responsibility for global heating. Pakistan has more glaciers – 7,532 – than anywhere on Earth outside the polar regions, and is thus one of the countries most endangered by fossil fuel use and the temperature rises and other extreme weather that it causes.Earlier this year, scientists reported their finding that human-made climate change made the deadly heatwave then afflicting Pakistan and India 30 times more likely. (Another study found that the deadly heatwave in 2010 had been made 100 times more likely.) Studies seeking to establish and quantify the precise contribution of greenhouse gases to this catastrophic monsoon have yet to appear. The complexity of weather systems means it can never be stated categorically that global heating was the single cause of a given event.What is beyond question is that a human-made climate emergency is upon us. The floods in Pakistan, like recent heatwaves, droughts and fires, are but a glimpse of the destruction ahead. Pakistan’s government knows this. Rehman described the floods as a “climate catastrophe”. The foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said: “We are devastated by climate disasters such as these time and time again.”The International Monetary Fund will decide this week whether to release $1.2bn in payments tied to Pakistan’s bailout programme, and surely will not refuse. Rightly, critics including local journalists have pointed to the need for Pakistan’s authorities to update planning rules and policies to reflect current risks. Undoubtedly, the impact of the floods was made worse by a lack of preparedness. One man spoke of having built a house on the understanding that flood defences would soon be in place – only to see it washed away. In Pakistan, as elsewhere, people must adapt to survive.But far from being a get-out clause for western governments and institutions, the necessity of adaptation in these worst-hit parts of the world makes it all the more imperative that they are helped. Climate finance, as this form of support is known, was among the unfinished business of the Cop26 summit last year. The principle underlying it goes beyond disaster relief or aid. Instead, the transfer of wealth built up over centuries of fossil fuel extraction is meant to enable a global transition away from carbon and towards a sustainable way of life. Pakistan’s devastation is a grim reminder of what is at stake. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
LONDON (AP) — The U.K. weather office says Britain has shattered its record for highest temperature ever registered, with a provisional reading of 39.1 degree Celsius (102.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in Charlwood, England.The highest temperature previously recorded in Britain was 38.7 C (101.7 F), a record set in 2019.The high Tuesday came as the country sweltered in heat wave that also scorched mainland Europe for the past week. Travel, health care and schools were disrupted in a country not prepared for such extremes.Parts of England are under a “red” alert, a warning for extreme heat that poses a risk of serious illness and even death among healthy people.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.LONDON (AP) — Millions of people in Britain woke from the country’s warmest-ever night on Tuesday and braced for a day when temperatures could break records, as a heat wave scorching Europe walloped a country not built for such extremes.Unusually hot, dry weather has gripped large swaths of the continent since last week, triggering wildfires from Portugal to the Balkans and leading to hundreds of heat-related deaths. Images of flames racing toward a French beach and Britons sweltering — even at the seaside — have driven home concerns about climate change.Britain’s Supreme Court closed to visitors after a problem with the air conditioning forced it to move hearings online. The British Museum planned to close early. Many public buildings, including hospitals don’t have air conditioning, a reflection of how unusual such extreme heat is in the country better known for rain and mild temperatures.The U.K.’s Met Office weather agency said provisional figures showed the temperature remained above 25 C (77 F) overnight in parts of the country for the first time. Met Office forecaster Rachel Ayers said Tuesday’s highs would be “unprecedented.”“The temperature will be very hot throughout the day, before rising as high as 40 C, maybe even 41 C in isolated spots across England during the afternoon,” she said.That would break the record of 38.7 C (101.7 F), set in 2019. The temperature Monday almost got there: 38.1 C (100.6 F) at Santon Downham in eastern England.A huge chunk of England, from London in the south to Manchester and Leeds in the north, remained under the country’s first warning of “extreme” heat Tuesday, meaning there is danger of death even for healthy people.Many people coped with the heat wave by staying put. Road traffic was down from its usual levels on Monday. Trains ran at low speed out of concern rails could buckle, or did not run at all. London’s Kings Cross Station, one of the country’s busiest rail hubs, was empty on Tuesday, with no trains on the busy east coast line connecting the capital to the north and Scotland. London’s Luton Airport had to close its runway because of heat damage.Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Britain’s transport infrastructure, some of it dating from Victorian times, “just wasn’t built to withstand this type of temperature — and it will be many years before we can replace infrastructure with the kind of infrastructure that could.”At least five people were reported to have drowned across the U.K. in rivers, lakes and reservoirs while trying to cool off.Climate experts warn that global warming has increased the frequency of extreme weather events, with studies showing that the likelihood of temperatures in the U.K. reaching 40 C (104 F) is now 10 times higher than in the pre-industrial era. Drought and heat waves tied to climate change have also made wildfires harder to fight.The dangers of extreme heat were on display in southern Europe. At least 748 heat-related deaths have been reported in the heat wave in Spain and neighboring Portugal, where temperatures reached 47 C (117 F) earlier this month.In the Gironde region of southwestern France, ferocious wildfires continued to spread through tinder-dry pines forests, frustrating firefighting efforts by more than 2,000 firefighters and water-bombing planes.More than 37,000 people have been evacuated from homes and summer vacation spots since the fires broke out July 12 and burned through 190 square kilometers (more than 70 square miles) of forests and vegetation, Gironde authorities said.A smaller third fire broke out late Monday in the Medoc wine region north of Bordeaux, further taxing firefighting resources. Five camping sites went up in flames in the Atlantic coast beach zone where blazes raged, around the Arcachon maritime basin famous for its oysters and resorts.But weather forecasts offered some consolation, with heat-wave temperatures expected to ease along the Atlantic seaboard Tuesday and the possibility of rains rolling in late in the day.___Associated Press Writer John Leicester in Le Pecq, France contributed to this story. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Last week's record-breaking heatwave in the UK was made at least 10 times more likely by climate change, according to a new study.Hundreds of people are expected to have died during the record temperatures, though official figures are yet to emerge, the rapid analysis by the World Weather Attribution group (WWA) said.
There have been estimates of more than 840 extra deaths in England and Wales on 18 and 19 July.The extreme weather caused widespread disruption to transport networks and hundreds of fires, including devastating blazes that destroyed homes.During the heatwave, a new record temperature for the country of 40.3C was set at Coningsby, Lincolnshire, on 19 July - 1.6C hotter than the previous mark set just three years ago. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Couple return to burnt-out house The impacts of heatwaves are often "very unequally distributed across demographics", with poorer neighbourhoods frequently lacking green space, shade, and water, said Emmanuel Raju, from Copenhagen University's Copenhagen Centre for Disaster Research.
The heatwave swept across much of Europe this month. More on Climate Change Nearly 50 people killed by lightning in a week amid India's monsoon season Moving closer to parks improves children's lungs - and it's not just down to air pollution Drought 'very likely' for south of England and Wales after driest eight month period since 1976 But the group chose the UK for their latest analysis because the country is "particularly unaccustomed to very high temperatures as the ones that we have seen last week," added Friederike Otto, senior climate science lecturer at Imperial College London.Of the places the group analysed, temperatures recorded at two of them would have been "statistically impossible" if the world hadn't warmed by about 1.2C since the late 1800s, the paper said.The international network is at the forefront of the science of quickly quantifying the role of climate change in recent extreme weather events.The 21 researchers involved in this study compared the global climate as it is today, after 1.2C of warming, with analysis of historical weather records.While the computer simulations suggest climate change had increased temperatures in the heatwave by 2C, analysis of historical records indicated it would be around 4C cooler in pre-industrial times, before global warming started to drive up temperatures.The 10-fold increase in the chances of such extreme heat hitting the UK due to climate change is a "conservative estimate", because "extreme temperatures" have climbed more than climate models estimate, the authors said. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Drought 'very likely' for parts of UK This also suggests the consequences of the climate crisis for heatwaves could be even worse than previously thought."There must be something in the climate system that has a stronger influence here... that is just not captured in the models," for western Europe yet, Dr Otto explained.Two years ago, Met Office scientists found the chance of seeing 40C in the UK was now one in 100 in any given year, up from one in 1,000 in an unchanged climate."It's been sobering to see such an event happen so soon after that study, to see the raw data coming back from our weather stations," said Fraser Lott, attribution scientist at the Met Office Hadley Centre, who also worked on the paper.Professor Tim Palmer, Royal Society Research Professor at Oxford University, said the group should have included error margins on their estimates, given the challenges of current climate models.Watch the Daily Climate Show at 3.30pm Monday to Friday, and The Climate Show with Tom Heap on Saturday and Sunday at 3.30pm and 7.30pm. All on Sky News, on the Sky News website and app, on YouTube and Twitter.The show investigates how global warming is changing our landscape and highlights solutions to the crisis. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
LONDON (AP) — The U.K. weather office says Britain has shattered its record for highest temperature ever registered, with a provisional reading of 39.1 degree Celsius (102.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in Charlwood, England.The highest temperature previously recorded in Britain was 38.7 C (101.7 F), a record set in 2019.The high Tuesday came as the country sweltered in heat wave that also scorched mainland Europe for the past week. Travel, health care and schools were disrupted in a country not prepared for such extremes.Parts of England are under a “red” alert, a warning for extreme heat that poses a risk of serious illness and even death among healthy people.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.LONDON (AP) — Millions of people in Britain woke from the country’s warmest-ever night on Tuesday and braced for a day when temperatures could break records, as a heat wave scorching Europe walloped a country not built for such extremes.Unusually hot, dry weather has gripped large swaths of the continent since last week, triggering wildfires from Portugal to the Balkans and leading to hundreds of heat-related deaths. Images of flames racing toward a French beach and Britons sweltering — even at the seaside — have driven home concerns about climate change.Britain’s Supreme Court closed to visitors after a problem with the air conditioning forced it to move hearings online. The British Museum planned to close early. Many public buildings, including hospitals don’t have air conditioning, a reflection of how unusual such extreme heat is in the country better known for rain and mild temperatures.The U.K.’s Met Office weather agency said provisional figures showed the temperature remained above 25 C (77 F) overnight in parts of the country for the first time. Met Office forecaster Rachel Ayers said Tuesday’s highs would be “unprecedented.”“The temperature will be very hot throughout the day, before rising as high as 40 C, maybe even 41 C in isolated spots across England during the afternoon,” she said.That would break the record of 38.7 C (101.7 F), set in 2019. The temperature Monday almost got there: 38.1 C (100.6 F) at Santon Downham in eastern England.A huge chunk of England, from London in the south to Manchester and Leeds in the north, remained under the country’s first warning of “extreme” heat Tuesday, meaning there is danger of death even for healthy people.Many people coped with the heat wave by staying put. Road traffic was down from its usual levels on Monday. Trains ran at low speed out of concern rails could buckle, or did not run at all. London’s Kings Cross Station, one of the country’s busiest rail hubs, was empty on Tuesday, with no trains on the busy east coast line connecting the capital to the north and Scotland. London’s Luton Airport had to close its runway because of heat damage.Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Britain’s transport infrastructure, some of it dating from Victorian times, “just wasn’t built to withstand this type of temperature — and it will be many years before we can replace infrastructure with the kind of infrastructure that could.”At least five people were reported to have drowned across the U.K. in rivers, lakes and reservoirs while trying to cool off.Climate experts warn that global warming has increased the frequency of extreme weather events, with studies showing that the likelihood of temperatures in the U.K. reaching 40 C (104 F) is now 10 times higher than in the pre-industrial era. Drought and heat waves tied to climate change have also made wildfires harder to fight.The dangers of extreme heat were on display in southern Europe. At least 748 heat-related deaths have been reported in the heat wave in Spain and neighboring Portugal, where temperatures reached 47 C (117 F) earlier this month. In the Gironde region of southwestern France, ferocious wildfires continued to spread through tinder-dry pines forests, frustrating firefighting efforts by more than 2,000 firefighters and water-bombing planes.More than 37,000 people have been evacuated from homes and summer vacation spots since the fires broke out July 12 and burned through 190 square kilometers (more than 70 square miles) of forests and vegetation, Gironde authorities said.A smaller third fire broke out late Monday in the Medoc wine region north of Bordeaux, further taxing firefighting resources. Five camping sites went up in flames in the Atlantic coast beach zone where blazes raged, around the Arcachon maritime basin famous for its oysters and resorts.But weather forecasts offered some consolation, with heat-wave temperatures expected to ease along the Atlantic seaboard Tuesday and the possibility of rains rolling in late in the day.___Associated Press Writer John Leicester in Le Pecq, France contributed to this story.___Follow AP’s climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
The dried bed of the drought-affected Doubs River is seen in Arcon, France, August 8, 2022. REUTERS/Denis BalibouseRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comVILLERS-LE-LAC, France, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Business for Francoise Droz-Bartholet has reduced to a trickle, just like stretches of the Doubs River straddling the French-Swiss border that her cruise boats usually ply.Water levels in rivers, lakes and reservoirs across western Europe are running low, or even dry, amid the severest drought in decades which is putting stress on drinking water supplies, hampering river freight and tourism and threatening crop yields.The Doubs river should coarse through a forested canyon and cascade over waterfalls before spilling out into Brenets Lake, a draw for tourists in eastern France's Jura region. After months without meaningful rain, the river water has receded up the canyon and sluggishly reaches the lake in a narrow channel.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com"We hope this drought is an exception to the rule," said Droz-Bartholet, whose bookings are 20% lower than usual for the time of year.She now has to bus clients along the gorge to a starting point further upstream to a point in the river where there is enough water for her cruise boats to navigate.Asked how his boat tour had gone, holidaymaker Alain Foubert said simply: "It was a lot shorter than normal."Conditions have deteriorated across Europe as multiple heatwaves roll across the continent.In Spain, farmers in the south fear a harsh drought may reduce olive oil output by nearly a third in the world's largest producer. In France, which like Spain has had to contend with recent wildfires, trucks are delivering water to dozens of villages without water. read more In Germany, cargo vessels cannot sail fully loaded along the Rhine, a major artery for freight, and along Italy's longest river, the Po, large sandbanks now bake in the sun as water levels recede sharply. In July, Italy declared a state of emergency for areas surrounding the Po, which accounts for more than a third of the country's agricultural production.As France contends with a fourth heatwave this week, many scientists say the blistering temperatures so far this summer are line with the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather episodes in Europe.Britain's weather service on Tuesday issued an amber "Extreme Heat" warning for parts of England and Wales, with no respite in sight from hot dry conditions that have sparked fires, broken temperature records and strained the nation's infrastructure. read more On the Doubs River, fewer boat tourists means fewer meals to serve for restaurateur Christophe Vallier - a painful blow just as he hoped to recover from the COVID-19 downturn. And he sees little cause for hope in the future."All the Doubs experts say the river is getting drier and drier," Vallier lamented.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Denis Balibouse; Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.Denis BalibouseThomson ReutersAward winning photographer based in Switzerland with over 30 years of experience in coverage of local and international news and sports events including Olympic Games. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
A dried olive is seen on a branch, as Tuscany's famed wine and olive oil industry suffers from a heatwave and drought, in Greve in Chianti, Italy, July 29, 2022. REUTERS/Jennifer LorenziniRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSAN CASCIANO IN VAL DI PESA, Italy, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Farmers in Tuscany, the heart of Italy's prized wine and olive oil industry, are battling to salvage as much as they can of this year's crop from the ravages of drought and heatwave.A lack of rainfall since spring has affected even plants that traditionally thrive in hot and dry conditions.In San Casciano in Val di Pesa, near Florence, olive trees dot the picture-book hillsides, but the soil parched by the scorching sun is not producing enough fruit.
"Climatic issues had a decisive influence," said olive grower Filippo Legnaioli.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com"We had a very dry spring with practically no rainfall from March to today and this happened at a crucial time during the transition from flower to fruit," added Legnaioli, president of the local "Frantoio Grevepese" cooperative.Without water, many flowers fall to the ground before they can bear fruit. And with few olives on the branches, even the sparse harvest becomes an economic headache.
According to Legnaioli, this year's oil production could be reduced by 50-60%.SPECIAL REMEDIESOther olive growers have decided to change their methods of cultivation, opting for a supplementary irrigation system that can offset the effect of drought and scorching heat.
"This year we use a, let's say, 'rescue' irrigation to protect the production of olives on the plants while on traditional olive trees, unfortunately, high temperatures and drought lead to the loss of many olives," farmer Luigi Calonaci explained.The system works through a black tube that has been set up beneath the trees and that spurts out small amounts of water.
The Calonaci farm has also opted to use white netting to protect the plants from olive fruit flies whose larvae feed on the fruit of the trees, a problem which is not directly related to the drought but can cause a big loss in yield.The effects of climate change not only impact production and plants but are even changing the geography and rhythms of the Italian farming landscape.
A few years ago, olive groves were mainly the preserve of historically hot and arid areas such as Sicily. Now regions such as Val d'Aosta in the far north of Italy, famous for its ski resorts and mountains, can produce their own oil.EARLY HARVESTNot only heat and lack of rain, but climate change also affects timings and the properties of wine.
In Castellina in Chianti, September is normally the month of the grape harvest, as it is throughout the country.
But with extreme and prolonged high temperatures, the bunches of grapes are ripening earlier than expected."We have smaller grapes, and we expect the number of grapes to be lower than the average of the last few years, probably in line with last year's", the vice-president of "Chianti Classico" Consortium, Sergio Zingarelli, told Reuters.
In the Chianti region, one of the most famous for wine production, in addition to a reduction in grapes, wine growers also have to deal with extreme weather events that do not quench the thirst of the soil but damage the crops.
"Extreme weather phenomena are getting stronger and stronger," said Paolo Cianferoni, the owner of "Caparsa" wine estate."A couple of weeks ago, a hailstorm destroyed 40% of grapes here. Luckily the quality of the grapes has not been affected, so we'll see what happens."Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Matteo Berlenga, Writing by Fabiano Franchitti
Editing by Emily Roe, Keith Weir and Jane MerrimanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Dozens of people have been rescued overnight in the Sydney area, with about 50,000 residents facing evacuation amid severe flooding in Australia. Thousands more residents were ordered to leave their homes on the east coast on Tuesday after rivers swiftly rose past danger levels.
The latest wild storm cell brought a year's worth of rain in three days to some areas of the country.Torrential rain has caused dams to overflow and waterways to break their banks, bringing a fourth flood emergency in 16 months to parts of the city of five million people.Footage on social media showed submerged roads and bridges, while emergency crews rescued stranded people from partially submerged vehicles that became stuck in rising waters. Emergency response teams made 100 rescues overnight of people trapped in cars on flooded roads or in inundated homes in the Sydney area, state emergency service manager Ashley Sullivan said.
New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said evacuation orders and warnings to prepare to abandon homes were given to 50,000 people, up from 32,000 on Monday. More on Australia Tennis star Nick Kyrgios charged with assault of former girlfriend, report says Sydney floods: Tens of thousands told to evacuate Australian offshore processing designed 'to dehumanise', says artist who spent eight years in detention, as UK's Rwanda scheme faces criticism He added that "this event is far from over" and warned drivers to be careful as there are still "substantial risks for flash flooding".Although the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said the storm cell is likely to ease in Sydney from Tuesday, the risk of flooding could remain throughout the week.Some regions have received 800mm (31.5 inches) of rain since Saturday, eclipsing Australia's annual average rainfall of around 500mm (20 inches). Experts say the severe rainfall in the country has been worsened by climate change.The federal government has declared the floods a natural disaster, helping flood-hit residents receive emergency funding support.Emergency crews also continued rescue operations battling rough seas to tow a bulk carrier ship that lost power off Sydney's coast after tow lines broke in severe weather, officials said. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player A man paddles a kangaroo to safety in Windsor in New South Wales Officials previously warned that the floods could be worse than the others that have hit the city's suburbs in the last 18 months.In recent years Australia has seen more extreme weather with droughts, bushfires, and floods becoming more common and intense as global weather patterns change. Watch the Daily Climate Show at 3.30pm Monday to Friday, and The Climate Show with Tom Heap on Saturday and Sunday at 3.30pm and 7.30pm. All on Sky News, on the Sky News website and app, on YouTube and Twitter.The show investigates how global warming is changing our landscape and highlights solutions to the crisis. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Some of the most extreme weather globally is currently happening in the UK, which is in the middle of an exceptional and unprecedented heatwave. The UK’s highest observed temperature previously stood at 38.7C (101.7F), which was set in Cambridge in July 2019.The UK maximum temperature record is expected to be broken again on Tuesday but at numerous weather stations across central and eastern England. The widespread nature of this heat is staggering. Another notable feature of the current heatwave is the very high overnight temperatures forecast on Monday night. Many places are expected to record a “tropical night” where the temperature does not drop below 20C.England, Scotland and Wales are also all expected to set new individual nation records on the same day, and potentially by a large amount. Wales has the potential for its previous high of 35.2C in Hawarden, Flintshire, to be completely smashed, with the possibility that north-east Wales will reach about 37C-38C.Similarly, the 32.9C recorded in Greycrook in the Scottish Borders in 2003 should be comfortably beaten, with about 35C expected on Monday. Finally, the peak temperatures on Monday are likely to be in the 40C-41C range in central and eastern England – beating the 2019 English and UK record by about 2C.A cold front will spread in from the west during the next 24 hours, bringing the potential for thunderstorms. This will introduce much cooler air to all parts by Wednesday and will bring an end to the heatwave for the UK. Nevertheless, southern Europe will continue to experience above-average temperatures, in what is turning into an extremely hot summer for many parts of the continent.Meanwhile, much of northern and central Russia as well as Alaska are experiencing temperatures close to 10C below normal. High pressure to the north of Russia is helping pull cold air in from the north-east, while this relatively cold air is being wrapped within an area of low pressure across Alaska, keeping it relatively cold and also wet across southern and western areas in particular. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Mississippi’s governor, Tate Reeves, declared a state of emergency on Saturday as the state braces itself for massive flooding that was predicted for Monday.“If predictions prove accurate, the Pearl River is expected to crest on Monday, August 29th, at 36 feet,” several feet over what is considered a major flood stage, Reeves said. “This is 24 hours sooner than originally predicted.”Usually, a flood stage is considered “major” at 26ft, CNN reports. However, the state’s current flood warnings estimate floods to reach 34ft in certain areas, while others are likely to see 35.8ft of water, threatening homes and businesses in areas that were damaged by severe flooding in 2020 as the global climate crisis continues fueling extreme weather.“If your home flooded in 2020, there is a high probab[ility] it will happen again,” Reeves said. The governor added: “I want to strongly encourage everyone to remain calm. Be aware, but don’t panic. I encourage individuals in the flood zones to be cautious, take appropriate precautions and evacuate if necessary.”So far, the state has deployed 126,000 sandbags and put search and rescue teams on standby. Additionally, the Mississippi emergency management agency has drones in the air to assess water levels along the Pearl River.The mayor of Mississippi’s capitol of Jackson, Chokwe Antar Lumumba, has urged residents in flood zones to pack enough belongings to get them through an evacuation that is several days long. He said law enforcement officers will increase patrols to protect property.“Don’t allow that to be an impediment for you saving your life and saving the lives of those other individuals in your home,” Lumumba said during a news conference Friday.Suzannah Thames, who owns a rental home in Jackson that was filled with dirty, snake-infested flood water when the Pearl River overflowed its banks in 2020, spoke with the Associated Press.Thames on Friday pointed to a column on the front porch to show how deep the water was then – about up to her waist. She’s now getting ready for another inundation, days after storms dumped torrential rainfall in Mississippi and other parts of the deep south.Hydrologists predict the Pearl River near Jackson will crest – or reach its peak level before subsiding – by Tuesday somewhat short of the levels it reached two years ago. But emergency officials are telling people in low-lying areas to prepare for homes and businesses to be flooded after river levels increased dramatically as a result of those torrential rains.Thames hired a crew to move furniture, appliances and other belongings out of the three-bedroom home that she now rents to a newly married couple – a medical student and engineer who plans to stay in a short-term vacation rental.“We’re fortunate that we have two trailers,” Thames said as she oversaw the move. “There’s people who don’t have anything. There’s people who are going to lose everything.”Second-year medical student Emily Davis and her husband, engineer Andrew Bain, rent the white-brick home from Thames in north-east Jackson. Davis said the couple knew they were moving into a flood zone, but this is the first time she’s ever had to prepare for high water.“I’ve felt really stressed because there’s so much to do – so much more than I realized,” Davis said as workers hoisted items into moving vans.Thames said the rental home is covered by flood insurance, and she lives in an elevated house nearby. She said her house is built 4ft (1.2 meters) above the line of a massive 1979 flood.Thames said she wants officials to move forward with a long-discussed plan to build another lake near Jackson to control flooding in the capital city’s metro area. The project has stalled amid funding problems and opposition from people downstream along the Pearl River.The Mississippi floods come amid a summer of extreme weather events that occurred across the country. Over a dozen people died in Kentucky last month as historic floods in the eastern parts of the state left behind a trail of devastation. Record flooding and mudslides in June forced Yellowstone national park – which spans parts of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho – to close as numerous roads and bridges were washed out.Meanwhile, a triple-digit heatwave in the Pacific north-west last month caused at least four deaths as climate change continues to fuel longer heat spells in a region where such occurrences are rare. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a red flag warning for counties in north and central parts of Texas as ongoing extreme weather conditions have elevated the risk for wildfires in the area.The warning will go into effect at 10 a.m. Tuesday and last until midnight Wednesday, the weather service said.Critical fire danger expected Tuesday as winds increase and hot temps and low humidity continue. Be careful with activities that can start fires! Please do our local fire fighters a favor. They'd rather spend the afternoon with A/C. #dfwwx #ctxwx pic.twitter.com/7IJ84moiQL— NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) July 19, 2022 The weather service said any activities that could start a wildfire should be avoided and burning of any kind is strongly discouraged. Many counties in North Texas have burn bans in effect.The counties under the red flag warning include Montague, Cooke, Grayson, Fannin, Lamar, Young, Jack, Wise, Denton, Collin, Hunt, Delta, Hopkins, Stephens, Palo Pinto, Parker, Tarrant, Dallas, Rockwall, Kaufman, Van Zandt, Rains, Eastland, Erath, Hood, Somervell, Johnson, Ellis, Henderson, Comanche, Mills, Hamilton, Bosque, Hill, Navarro, Freestone, Anderson, Lampasas, Coryell, Bell, McLennan-Falls, Limestone, Leon, Milam and Robertson.A red flag warning is issued when extreme fire conditions are either occurring now or will shortly happen, the weather service said. Strong winds, low relative humidity and dry vegetation can lead to extreme fire.Winds are expected to be about 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph, the weather service said. Relative humidity will be as low as 14%, and temperatures will range from 103 to 112 degrees across central and north Texas, the weather service said.Outside burning and welding should be avoided during the warning, the weather service said, and lit cigarette butts should not be tossed outside.On Monday, a wildfire near Possum Kingdom Lake burned through nearly 300 acres of land, forcing evacuations of dozens of homes.Monday was also the hottest day of the year in Dallas-Fort Worth, according to the weather service. The temperature at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport reached 109 degrees.How to prevent wildfiresIn addition to checking with local burn bans, the weather service said residents should avoid:tossing lit cigarettes on the grounddragging tow chains on the groundparking or driving over tall grassleaving a campfire unattendedburning unnecessarilyAny wildfires should be reported to authorities, the weather service said.Nataly Keomoungkhoun, Engagement/Breaking News reporter. Nataly is the lead writer on Curious Texas and a breaking news reporter. She is a D-FW native with a B.A. in emerging media and communication from the University of Texas at Dallas and an M.S. in journalism from the University of Southern California. [email protected] @natalykeo | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
At least 24 people have died and more than 5,600 people have been displaced by flash flooding in eastern Uganda.Two rivers burst their banks after heavy rainfall swept through the city of Mbale over the weekend, submerging homes, shops and roads, and uprooting water pipes. About 400,000 people have been left without clean water, and more than 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) of crops have been destroyed.Rescue efforts have been hampered by rainfall, with a number of areas still inaccessible.“The situation is very serious,” said Edward Simiyu, of Mercy Corps Uganda. “A lot of medical teams are needed on the ground. Dead bodies are being recovered, and more and more people are injured.”Three health centres in Mbale were damaged and many people have had to travel up to 60 miles (100km) to find the closest hospital.Students in Mbale dry books and papers on the roof of their school. Photograph: Badru Katumba/AFP/Getty ImagesThe government has deployed emergency supplies and is working with humanitarian aid agencies to provide temporary shelters, but teams on the ground said they were stretched.“Many have lost everything and have had barely anything to eat over the last few days. There are small children who don’t have a change of clothes and many families are still looking for their loved ones,” said Joseph Ssenkumba, of the Association of Ambulance Professionals Uganda.Simiyu said the flooding was unprecedented. “We believe that this is being fuelled by climate change because we’ve had heavy rains before but not to this scale,” he said.Hundreds of people have lost their lives or livelihoods to floods in the hilly area of Mbale over the past five years. The impact of extreme weather events has been worsened by the clearing of land for farms and homes.The Uganda National Meteorological Authority has predicted more rain in east Uganda over the next month. Authorities have advised people to evacuate the Mbale area and have been working to relocate those from areas around Mount Elgon. Only about 2,500 people out of a target of 100,000 have so far been relocated.The head of communications at the office of the prime minister, Julius Mucunguzi, said: “The long-term solution is to protect the environment, stay clear of wetlands, riverbanks and avoid destroying river pathways. Climate change is evident. You can no longer predict when the rains will come and how intense they will be.”About 300km north of Mbale, the Karamoja region has experienced severe drought over the last few months.A World Bank report predicts that at least 86 million Africans will migrate within their own countries by 2050 as a result of climate change. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
Climate hazards such as flooding, heat waves and drought have worsened more than half of the hundreds of known infectious diseases in people, including malaria, hantavirus, cholera and anthrax, a study says.Researchers looked through the medical literature of established cases of illnesses and found that 218 out of the known 375 human infectious diseases, or 58%, seemed to be made worse by one of 10 types of extreme weather connected to climate change, according to a study in Monday’s journal Nature Climate Change.The study mapped out 1,006 pathways from the climate hazards to sick people. In some cases, downpours and flooding sicken people through disease-carrying mosquitos, rats and deer. There are warming oceans and heat waves that taint seafood and other things we eat and droughts that bring bats carrying viral infections to people.Doctors, going back to Hippocrates, have long connected disease to weather, but this study shows how widespread the influence of climate is on human health.“If climate is changing, the risk of these diseases are changing,” said study co-author Dr. Jonathan Patz, director of the Global Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.Doctors, such as Patz, said they need to think of the diseases as symptoms of a sick Earth.“The findings of this study are terrifying and illustrate well the enormous consequences of climate change on human pathogens,” said Dr. Carlos del Rio, an Emory University infectious disease specialist, who was not part of the study. “Those of us in infectious diseases and microbiology need to make climate change one of our priorities, and we need to all work together to prevent what will be without doubt a catastrophe as a result of climate change.”In addition to looking at infectious diseases, the researchers expanded their search to look at all type of human illnesses, including non-infectious sicknesses such as asthma, allergies and even animal bites to see how many maladies they could connect to climate hazards in some way, including infectious diseases. They found a total of 286 unique sicknesses and of those 223 of them seemed to be worsened by climate hazards, nine were diminished by climate hazards and 54 had cases of both aggravated and minimized, the study found.The new study doesn’t do the calculations to attribute specific disease changes, odds or magnitude to climate change, but finds cases where extreme weather was a likely factor among many.Study lead author Camilo Mora, a climate data analyst at the University of Hawaii, said what is important to note is that the study isn’t about predicting future cases.“There is no speculation here whatsoever,” Mora said. "These are things that have already happened.”One example Mora knows firsthand. About five years ago, Mora’s home in rural Colombia was flooded — for the first time in his memory water was in his living room, creating an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes — and Mora contracted Chikungunya, a nasty virus spread by mosquito bites. And even though he survived, he still feels joint pain years later.Sometimes climate change acts in odd ways. Mora includes the 2016 case in Siberia when a decades-old reindeer carcass, dead from anthrax, was unearthed when the permafrost thawed from warming. A child touched it, got anthrax and started an outbreak.Mora originally wanted to search medical cases to see how COVID-19 intersected with climate hazards, if at all. He found cases where extreme weather both exacerbated and diminished chances of COVID-19. In some cases, extreme heat in poor areas had people congregate together to cool off and get exposed to the disease, but in other situations, heavy downpours reduced COVID spread because people stayed home and indoors, away from others.Longtime climate and public health expert Kristie Ebi at the University of Washington cautioned that she had concerns with how the conclusions were drawn and some of the methods in the study. It is an established fact that the burning of coal, oil and natural gas has led to more frequent and intense extreme weather, and research has shown that weather patterns are associated with many health issues, she said.“However, correlation is not causation,” Ebi said in an email. “The authors did not discuss the extent to which the climate hazards reviewed changed over the time period of the study and the extent to which any changes have been attributed to climate change.”But Dr. Aaron Bernstein, interim director of the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at Harvard School of Public Health, Emory’s del Rio and three other outside experts said the study is a good warning about climate and health for now and the future. Especially as global warming and habitat loss push animals and their diseases closer to humans, Bernstein said.“This study underscores how climate change may load the dice to favor unwelcome infectious surprises,” Bernstein said in an email. “But of course it only reports on what we already know and what’s yet unknown about pathogens may be yet more compelling about how preventing further climate change may prevent future disasters like COVID-19.”___Follow AP’s climate and environment coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment___Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears___Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
1 min agoHere's why the Supreme Court ruling on the EPA is so devastating for the climate crisisFrom CNN's Angela FritzAt the heart of Thursday's Supreme Court ruling was a question over the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate planet-warming emissions from power plants, which are a huge contributor to the climate crisis.Around 25% of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions around the globe and in the US come from generating electricity, according to the EPA. And coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, powers about 20% of US electricity.Emissions from power production rose last year for the first time since 2014, an increase that was mainly driven by coal use.The surge in fossil fuel use is worrying not only for Biden’s climate goals – the President in his first months in office pledged to slash US emissions in half by 2030 – but also the planet.Scientists have become increasingly urgent in their warnings: to make headway on the climate crisis, emissions not only need to be reduced going forward, but the world needs to develop ways to also remove the greenhouse gas that’s been pumped into the atmosphere in decades past.In a landmark report last year, scientists reported that the planet is warming faster than they had previously imagined it would. As it does, they said, extreme weather will become more deadly; water crises will develop and worsen; food insecurity will grow and disease will spread.To avoid the worst consequences, the world must limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (it’s already passed 1.1 degrees), and the only way to do that is to keep the vast majority of the Earth’s remaining fossil fuel stores in the ground.3 min agoSupreme Court ruling on EPA challenges future of US climate actionFrom CNN’s Ella NilsenThursday’s Supreme Court ruling on curbing the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to fight climate change calls into question the future of federal-level climate action in the US, and puts even more pressure on Congress to act to reduce planet-warming emissions.But broad action from Congress is unlikely. Democrats in Congress have been embroiled in difficult negotiations on a climate and clean energy bill with their main holdout, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia for months, with no clear end in sight.It’s unclear whether those negotiations on a package of clean energy tax credits and other emissions-cutting programs will yield a result.And without both major investments on clean energy and strong regulations cutting emissions by the EPA, Biden has very little hope of meeting his climate goal, independent analysis has showed.In a statement Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday's Supreme Court decision makes it "all the more imperative that Democrats soon pass meaningful legislation to address the climate crisis."5 min ago"I cannot think of many things more frightening," Kagan says on curbing EPA's ability to fight climate changeFrom CNN's Ariane de VogueSteam billows from a coal-fired power plant in Craig, Colorado, in 2021. (Rick Bowmer/AP/File)Justice Elena Kagan, writing for the dissenters, sounded the alarm about global warming after the Supreme Court issued a ruling curbing the EPA’s ability to broadly regulate carbon emissions from existing power plants. “Today, the Court strips the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the power Congress gave it to respond to ‘the most pressing environmental challenge of our time,’” she wrote. She criticized the majority’s holding that Congress did not authorize the agency to act. “That is just what Congress did when it broadly authorized” the agency to select the best system of emission reduction for power plants, she said. “The Clean Power Plan falls within EPA’s wheelhouse, and it fits perfectly,” she said. “The Court appoints itself — instead of Congress or the expert agency — the decision-maker on climate policy,” Kagan said. “I cannot think of many things more frightening,” she concluded. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that “our precedent counsels skepticism toward EPA’s claim” that the law “empowers it to devise carbon emissions caps based on a generation shifting approach.” Roberts said that capping carbon dioxide emissions at a level that will force a nationwide transition away from the use of coal may be a “sensible” solution to the “crisis of the day.” “But it is not plausible that Congress gave EPA the authority to adopt on its own such a regulatory scheme” under the law in question, he wrote. “A decision of such magnitude and consequence rests with Congress itself, or an agency acting pursuant to a clear delegation from that representative body.” Writing separately, Justice Neil Gorsuch emphasized the court’s move to limit agency power, which he considers unaccountable to the public. “While we all agree that administrative agencies have important roles to play in a modern nation, surely none of us wishes to abandon our Republic’s promise that the people and their representatives should have a meaningful say in the laws that govern them,” Gorsuch wrote.16 min agoWest Virginia governor applauds SCOTUS EPA rulingFrom CNN’s Amanda WattsWest Virginia Governor Jim Justice celebrated Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling that curbed the EPA’s ability to broadly regulate carbon emissions from existing power plants.“I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision today in West Virginia v. EPA," Justice said in a statement. “This ruling in favor of West Virginia will stop unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. from being able to unilaterally decarbonize our economy just because they feel like it.""Instead, members of Congress who have been duly elected to represent the will of the people across all of America will be allowed to have a rightful say when it comes to balancing our desire for a clean environment with our need for energy and the security it provides us,” he added.Justice noted that his state is one of a few in the nation “where all agency regulations must be approved by a vote of the state legislature before they take effect,” and is happy to see the federal government following a similar model.“This ruling will have a positive impact on our country for generations to come and I’m proud that West Virginia was the state leading the way in this landmark case,” he said.16 min agoSupreme Court ruling curbing EPA's authority could also limit the regulatory power of all federal agencies From CNN's Ariane de Vogue (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)The Supreme Court on Thursday curbed the EPA’s ability to broadly regulate carbon emissions from existing power plants, a defeat for the Biden administration’s attempts to slash emissions at a moment when scientists are sounding alarms about the accelerating pace of global warming.In addition, the court cut back the agency's authority in general, invoking the so-called “major questions” doctrine – a ruling that could impact the authority of all federal agencies to regulate in other areas of policy, as well as regulation of the internet and worker safety.“Under our precedents, this is a major questions case,” said Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote the majority opinion. “There is little reason to think Congress assigned such decisions to the Agency.”The decision will send shock waves across other agencies, threatening agency action that comes without clear congressional authorization.“This ruling could be cataclysmic for modern administrative law,” said Steve Vladeck, CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor at the University of Texas School of Law. “For a century, the federal government has functioned on the assumption that Congress can broadly delegate regulatory power to executive branch agencies. Today’s ruling opens the door to endless challenges to those delegations – on everything from climate change to food safety standards – on the ground that Congress wasn’t specific enough in giving the agency the power to regulate such ‘major’ issues.”“It would be one thing if Congress could be expected to respond to this ruling by updating all of those delegations to make them more specific, but we – and the Court – know that it won’t, which will almost surely lead to significant deregulation across a wide swath of federal authority,” Vladeck added.14 min agoHere's what Chief Justice Roberts wrote in the opinion limiting EPA's ability to regulate power plantsFrom CNN's Ariane de Vogue (Erin Schaff/Pool/The New York Times/AP/File)The Supreme Court curbed the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to broadly regulate carbon emissions from existing power plants. The ruling was 6-3. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion for the conservative majority, with the three liberal justices dissenting. Roberts said that "our precedent counsels skepticism toward EPA's claim" that the law "empowers it to devise carbon emissions caps based on a generation shifting approach.""Under our precedents, this is a major questions case," Roberts wrote, adding that "there is little reason to think Congress assigned such decisions to the Agency."Roberts wrote that capping carbon dioxide emissions at a level that will force a nationwide transition away from the use of coal may be a "sensible" solution."But it is not plausible that Congress gave EPA the authority to adopt on its own such a regulatory scheme" under the law in question."A decision of such magnitude and consequence rests with Congress itself, or an agency acting pursuant to a clear delegation from that representative body," he wrote.23 min agoSupreme Court rules Biden can end Trump-era "Remain in Mexico" immigration policyFrom CNN's Tierney SneedActivists demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court in April. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images)The Supreme Court on Thursday gave President Biden the green light to end the controversial “Remain in Mexico” immigration policy that originated under the Trump administration. Since the beginning of his administration, Biden has tried to wind down the policy, which sends certain non-Mexican citizens who entered the US back to Mexico — instead of detaining them or releasing them into the United States — while their immigration proceedings played out.Biden's bid to terminate the program had been challenged in court by a coalition of red states led by Texas that argued that ending it ran afoul of immigration law. They also argued that administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act — which requires that agencies take certain procedural steps when implementing policy — in how it went about unwinding the program, formally known as Migrant Protection Protocols.The program, which was first implemented in 2019 under then-President Donald Trump, has been criticized by immigrant-rights advocates, who argue that it's inhumane and that it exposes asylum seekers with credible claims to dangerous and squalid conditions in Mexico.Before the Trump administration put the "Remain in Mexico" program in place, no other administration had embraced such an approach toward non-Mexican asylum-seekers that required them to stay in Mexico over the course of their immigration court proceedings in the United States. Biden campaigned on ending the policy and has said it "goes against everything we stand for as a nation of immigrants."Biden has grappled with a growing number of border crossings over the course of his administration amid mass migration in the Western hemisphere. Since October, border authorities have encountered migrants more than a million times along the US-Mexico border, though many have been turned away under a separate pandemic-emergency rule. The Department of Homeland Security, though, has maintained that the "Remain in Mexico" policy comes at a steep human cost and is not an effective use of resources.Read more about the ruling here. 33 min agoSupreme Court curbs EPA’s ability to fight climate changeFrom CNN's Ariane de VogueEmissions rise from the smokestacks of a coal-fired power plant in Castle Dale, Utah. (George Frey/Getty Images/File)The Supreme Court curbed the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to broadly regulate carbon emissions from existing power plants, a major defeat for the Biden administration's attempts to slash emissions at a moment when scientists are sounding alarms about the accelerating pace of global warming.In addition, the court cut back the agency's authority in general invoking the so-called "major questions" doctrine — a ruling that will impact the federal government's authority to regulate in other areas of climate policy, as well as regulation of the internet and worker safety. The ruling was 6-3. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion for the conservative majority, with the three liberal justices dissenting.The decision is one of the most consequential cases for climate change and clean air in decades.1 hr 2 min agoHere are the two big remaining cases the Supreme Court is expected to rule on today From CNN's Ariane de Vogue (Patrick Semansky/AP)Although the Supreme Court issued the two most important opinions of the term last week, upending near 50-year-old precedent on abortion and expanding gun rights for the first time in a decade, this blockbuster term is not over.Still to be decided are two cases, here's a look at what remains:Immigration: Remain in Mexico The justices are considering whether the Biden administration can terminate a Trump-era border policy known as "Remain in Mexico." Lower courts have so far blocked Biden from ending the policy.Under the unprecedented program launched in 2019, the Department of Homeland Security can send certain-non Mexican citizens who entered the United States back to Mexico — instead of detaining them or releasing them into the United States — while their immigration proceedings play out.Critics call the policy inhumane and say it exposes asylum seekers with credible claims to dangerous and squalid conditions. The case raises questions not only regarding immigration law, but also a president's control over policy and his diplomatic relationships with neighboring countries.Climate Change: EPA authority to regulate emissions from power plants The justices will decide a case concerning the EPA's authority to regulate carbon emissions from existing power plants, in a dispute that could harm the Biden administration's attempts to slash emissions. It comes at a moment when scientists are sounding alarms about the accelerating pace of global warming.The court's decision to step in and hear the case concerned environmentalists because there is no rule currently in place. A lower court wiped away a Trump-era rule in 2021 and the Biden administration's EPA is currently working on a new rule.But the fact that there were enough votes to take up the issue now, struck some as an aggressive grant, signaling the court wants to limit the scope of the EPA's authority even before a new rule is on the books. | Extreme Weather and Cataclysms |
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