Alpine Glaciers in Full Retreat as Global Warming Speeds Melting
Welcome to Weather Watch, our weekly newsletter on how the planet's ever wilder weather patterns are impacting the global economy. Got feedback and forecasts? Write us at weatherteam@bloomberg.net. And sign up here if you're not on the list already.
Extreme heat this summer could signal the death knell of some Alpine glaciers, after winter snowfall was less than half the norm in some regions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
30 minutes ago
- New York Times
Enzo Maresca says Chelsea training ‘impossible' in extreme heat ahead of Esperance match
Enzo Maresca admits it is 'impossible' for his Chelsea players to train properly in the extreme Philadelphia heat as they prepare for their final FIFA Club World Cup group match against Esperance de Tunis on Tuesday. Chelsea deployed huge industrial fans by the side of the pitch at their training base in Subaru Park on Monday and utilised cooling sprays to try to mitigate the effects of temperatures expected to peak at 37 degrees celsius (98.6 degrees fahrenheit) in Philadelphia ahead of the game, which is scheduled to kick off at 9pm local time. Advertisement An extreme heat warning has been issued with the public warned to avoid strenuous activities outside, but Chelsea have no choice but to push hard against Esperance after Friday's 3-1 defeat against Flamengo left their hopes of advancing from Group D in the balance. The Athletic reported this morning on the concerns of players, club executives and fans about conditions at the tournament with experts suggesting FIFA takes proactive moves to ensure safety. 'It's almost impossible to train, or to make a session because of the weather now,' Maresca said in his pre-match press conference. 'We are trying just to save energy for the game. This morning's session was very very very short, and it has just been about tomorrow's game plan and that's it, no more than that. Because as you can see it's not easy with these conditions, with this temperature, but we are going to try to do our best. 'I always try to avoid excuses, but I try to be honest: it's not about excuses, it's about reality. It is an excuse when it is not hot and we say that it is hot. That is an excuse. But if it's hot, it's hot. And it is difficult to work with this temperature. But we are here, we are trying to do our best and we are going to try to win again. This is the only thing that we can say and we can do.' Chelsea captain Reece James sat out Monday's open training session due to illness, and Maresca also explained why Nicolas Jackson was not involved as he prepares to serve a one-match suspension for being sent off against Flamengo. 'Nico was not in the session this morning because it's the day before the game,' Maresca said of Jackson. 'We just used the ones that we're going to prepare for the game (with) and because he's not in the game tomorrow, he was not with us. We used only the ones that are available for tomorrow.' (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
CBS News
41 minutes ago
- CBS News
Cooling centers open across Pittsburgh area in response to extreme heat
With extreme heat remaining in place across the Pittsburgh region through at least Wednesday, several cooling centers have opened to give residents a place to escape the dangerous temperatures. While the heat is here, residents are encouraged to check on neighbors, friends, and family, especially those who are older or medically vulnerable. Heat is the leading weather-related cause of death nationwide, surpassing the fatalities caused by floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and lightning. Tips to keep yourself safe during extreme heat include drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated, even if you are not thirsty; keeping cool by using wet towels, putting feet in cool water, and taking cool showers; spend as much time as possible in cool or air-conditioned buildings; staying out of the sun during the hottest part of the day; wear sunscreen and hats with other loose-fitting clothing; and never leave pets or children in vehicles. Cooling centers opening Unless otherwise noted, cooling centers will operate from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday through Wednesday. A list of operational cooling centers is below. Beechview Healthy Active Living Community Center 1555 Broadway Avenue Pittsburgh, Pa. 15216 Brighton Heights Healthy Active Living Community Center 3515 McClure Avenue Pittsburgh, Pa. 15212 First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood Open Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 120 E. Swissvale Avenue Edgewood, Pa. 15218 Greenfield Healthy Active Living Community Center 745 Greenfield Avenue Pittsburgh, Pa. 15217 Homewood Healthy Active Living Community Center 7321 Frankstown Road Pittsburgh, Pa. 15208 Shaler North Hills Library 1822 Mount Royal Boulevard Glenshaw, Pa. 15116 Sheraden Healthy Active Living Community Center 720 Sherwood Avenue Pittsburgh, Pa. 15204 South Side Healthy Active Living Community Center 12th and Bingham Streets Pittsburgh, Pa. 15203
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
What's Your Retirement Forecast? Heat, Hurricanes, And Wildfires Ahead
Extreme heat, hurricanes, and wildfires have become a new variable in retirement planning. June 22 marked the start of summer, but in the Northeast, it felt less like a solstice and more like a furnace. Cities from St. Louis to Boston reported heat indices above 105°F. New York's governor declared a state of emergency. Cooling centers opened. Outdoor sporting events paused for player safety. In Massachusetts, playgrounds emptied by noon. And across the country, over 190 million Americans were under heat alerts. This wasn't just a hot summer weekend. A heat dome—a stagnant, high-pressure system—parked over the eastern United States, locking in humidity and dangerously high temperatures. These aren't outlier events anymore. They're part of a new normal that retirees—and those planning for retirement—can't ignore. Extreme weather is no longer a seasonal event—it's a retirement risk. Retirement planning has traditionally focused on predictable variables, including savings, Social Security, health insurance, and even the range of possible market fluctuations. But a new and unpredictable variable is emerging: the weather. And not just whether it rains on your pickleball game—but whether where you have chosen to live is a healthy choice in older age. Your zip code in retirement may matter more than your portfolio, compelling many of us to ask, 'What's your retirement weather forecast?' Retiring Into the Heat Despite record-breaking temperatures, retirees are still moving—or staying put—in America's hottest and most weather-vulnerable regions. Florida remains the #1 retirement destination. Arizona, Texas, the Carolinas, and parts of Nevada continue to grow their retiree populations. Meanwhile, even in regions prone to hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, older adults are overwhelmingly choosing to age-in-place. Why? Well, there's a clear reason many people choose to live in weather-vulnerable areas: these regions are often simply beautiful. Additionally, many retirees are attached to their homes, communities, or preferred climate. Others don't move because it's too expensive, too complicated, or too emotionally demanding. According to a study published in Science Advances, older adults are increasingly concentrated in counties that are most vulnerable to extreme heat. Boston University researchers, publishing in the journal Nature, estimate that nearly one in four (23%) people over 69 years old worldwide will live where the daily maximum temperature exceeds 99.5 degrees, compared to 14% today. In other words, older adults are either aging-in-place or retiring into places that are becoming dramatically more challenging to their health and safety. Extreme Weather and the Vulnerabilities of Older Age Heat, in particular, is not just uncomfortable. For older adults, it can be lethal. People over the age of 65 account for the majority of heat-related deaths in the United States. As we age, our ability to regulate body temperature declines. Many older adults are also managing chronic conditions—like heart disease or diabetes—that are worsened by heat. Medications common in later life, such as diuretics and beta-blockers, can impair sweating and hydration. Combine that with reduced mobility, social isolation, or a reluctance to use air conditioning for cost reasons, and extreme heat becomes a public health crisis. But it's not just heat. TOPSHOT - Teresa Rust (L) brings supplies to her neighbor, 94-year-old Barbara Sams, who is powering ... More her oxygen supply with a generator, in Bills Creek, North Carolina, October 2, 2024, after the passage of Hurricane Helene. (Photo by Allison Joyce / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images) Hurricanes and floods disproportionately affect those with mobility impairments or without evacuation support from family, friends, or community services. Wildfires pose respiratory risks that escalate with age. Power outages—increasingly common after storms—can be catastrophic for those reliant on home oxygen, refrigerated medications, or powered mobility devices. Disasters disrupt more than comfort—they undermine independence, threaten health, and challenge the systems retirees rely on to age safely at home. 3 Ways To Factor Weather Into Your Retirement And Longevity Planning Traditionally, retirement planning often involved downsizing, relocating to a warmer climate, or staying in the family home. Weather rarely entered the conversation beyond 'I want to escape the snow.' We now need to evaluate places not just by temperature or taxes, but by resilience. Here are three ways to begin factoring the weather into your retirement and longevity planning: 1. Think Climate Resilience, Not Just Climate Comfort Warm winters may feel good, but they increasingly come with a cost. States like Florida, Texas, and Arizona are seeing rising insurance premiums due to flood, fire, and storm risk. California, once a haven for retirees, now experiences rolling blackouts and skyrocketing home insurance rates in wildfire zones. When choosing where to live in retirement, ask: 2. Evaluate Your Home as a Safe Health Haven The home has evolved from shelter to service platform. In retirement, your home must also be your healthy climate bunker. Ask yourself: 3. Integrate Weather into Your Longevity Planning Conversations Most retirees meet with a lawyer, financial advisor, or estate planner. Fewer meet with an HVAC specialist. While we don't expect anyone to consult with a meteorologist, it's time to broaden the conversation to identify local services that may be needed in a climate emergency. These include identifying the degree of readiness of first responders to address the often unique and complex needs of older adults, the capacity of local hospitals to address multiple health conditions in an emergency, the availability of shelter facilities with health support and able to accept pets, and ease of access to evacuation routes and transportation alternatives. Consider the following: And yes, ask your doctor: How do the health conditions you are managing, along with the medications you are taking, interact with extreme heat or dehydration? It's not a niche question—it's a potentially life-saving one. Weather: A New Variable in Retirement Planning We don't think twice about including inflation in our financial projections or factoring in potential healthcare costs. Weather introduces a significant cost of living variable as well as critical health and safety considerations. The heat dome over the United States is a metaphor made real. It presses down on our infrastructure, our healthcare system, and those most vulnerable. However, it also presses down on an outdated vision of retirement—one that still views weather as only an amenity rather than a potential risk to budgets and well-being. The next time you review your retirement plan, or help someone else think about plans for life after work, don't just ask about income or investments. Ask: What will your retirement weather be like in 10 years? And will I still want to live there when it arrives?
