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Business Standard
3 hours ago
- Climate
- Business Standard
Highways baking at 70 degrees C hint at scorching summer across China, US
By Brian K Sullivan, Joe Wertz and Mary Hui In northern China, road surfaces have soared to 158F (70C). In California's Central Valley, temperatures are reaching into the triple digits Fahrenheit. Across much of Spain, the mercury has risen so high that it's prompting warnings for tourists. Weeks before the official start of the Northern Hemisphere's summer, signs are emerging that the coming months will be blistering in North America, Europe and Asia. There's even a chance that the season could shatter global high-temperature records, said Daniel Swain, a climatologist at the University of California, Los Angeles. The scorching conditions threaten to tax power grids, wilt crops and send energy prices soaring across three continents. Hot, dry weather is also elevating the risk of wildfires, with blazes already erupting in Alberta, the epicenter of Canada's oil industry. The human and economic consequences are dire: Extreme heat is expected to inflict about $200 billion in annual losses in the US alone by 2030, a number that will more than double by 2050, according to one estimate. All three northern continents face sweltering temperatures fueled by climate change — particularly the western and central US and Canada, as well as western and northern Europe, Swain said. Because a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, these regions will also see areas of intense rain and flooding, he said. 'I'd expect to see further instances of extreme to record-shattering downpours and flood events in regions prone to heavy precipitation during the warm season,' Swain said. In the Atlantic, the heat is raising ocean temperatures, boosting the odds of an unusually active hurricane season. The absence of El Niño, a warming of the equatorial Pacific that can cause storm-wrecking wind conditions across the Atlantic, also means more hurricanes and tropical storms may develop and grow in the Atlantic and Caribbean, including oil- and gas-producing areas along the US Gulf Coast. Due to kinks in the summer jet stream, there is a rising chance of derechos – wide arcs of severe thunderstorms that can travel hundreds of miles and cause billions of dollars in damage — across the Midwest and northern Plains, said Paul Pastelok, lead US long-range forecaster at AccuWeather Inc. This turmoil across the continent may also leave the Gulf Coast, particularly Texas, vulnerable to more hurricane strikes. The sizzling weather will increase energy demand. About 89 million people across three grids spanning parts of the central US are at elevated risk of power supply shortfalls this summer, according to the North American Electric Reliability Corp. Power prices across the grid stretching from Chicago to the Mid-Atlantic are likely to rise with sustained heat because of low coal stockpiles, Bank of America analysts led by Francisco Blanch wrote in a note to clients. New England power is also vulnerable to spikes, the analysts said. US natural gas price gains have been muted so far despite the prospect of hot weather and rising exports of the power-plant fuel to Europe and Asia. But the chances of gas reaching $4.60 per million British thermal units this year — a jump of more than 30 per cent from current levels — are rising as the heat could limit stockpile increases, leaving the market primed for a rally before winter heating demand kicks in, according to analysts with RBC Capital markets led by Christopher Louney. Extreme heat also threatens to wither crops and shrivel rivers, raising food prices as the cost of goods and services remains elevated. Drought has been intensifying in areas of the US where soy, corn or wheat is grown. If the parched conditions persist, water levels on the Mississippi River could drop, roiling barge traffic that's crucial to transporting crops across the country. Dry Europe Across Europe, the world's fastest-warming continent, little rainfall and early drying has set the stage for intense heat waves, droughts and dangerous wildfire conditions, commercial meteorologists and government forecasters say. Forecast models favor high-pressure weather patterns emerging and enduring this summer, similar to ones that plagued the continent during the first few months of the year. Those patterns suppressed wind speeds and cloud cover, leading to low wind generation and record solar power in Europe — a scenario likely to repeat this summer, according to Atmospheric G2. The high pressure is also likely to block North Atlantic ocean moisture, boosting the risk of heat waves and worsening drought, said Andrew Pedrini, a meteorologist with the weather analytics firm. 'I personally fear that we will hear a lot about extremes this summer,' he said. In Portugal and Spain last week, one of the hottest air masses in more than three decades pushed in from Africa, sending temperatures above 100F. The heat comes after an April 28 blackout left the Iberian Peninsula without electricity for hours, hitting public transport, telecommunications systems and other services. With high pressure isolating regions from the cooling effect of moist westerly winds, temperatures in central and southern Europe could climb especially high. While that pattern is expected to reduce the chances of rain, rising heat could supercharge storms that do manage to form with torrential rain and damaging hail. Though water levels on the Rhine River have improved after rains in recent weeks, a recurrence of drought could upend a crucial trade route and send barge rates soaring. Long-term forecast models show conditions could support heavy rain in western Norway and the northern UK from June through August, according to data from Europe's Copernicus satellite program. Asia Outlook In Asia, Japan will likely have a warmer-than-normal summer, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Southeast Asia will also be hotter than average, the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre said. China, with the exception of some far northern areas, is expected to bake this June as well, the China Meteorological Administration said. Drought in the northern part of the country has hit the wheat crop during a key growth period, threatening output of a staple food grain just as Beijing remains entangled in a trade war with the US, a major agricultural products supplier. Though rains are forecast in the region, providing some relief to the parched farm fields, the quick swing from dry to wet raises the risk of floods, landslides and crop damage. Already, intense heat in parts of China has sent asphalt temperatures surging. The National Energy Administration expects peak electricity demand to be about 100 gigawatts higher this summer than last year, the equivalent of needing to turn on all the power plants in the UK at once. Across the Northern Hemisphere, the extreme heat is a reflection of how much warmer the Earth is compared with a few decades ago, Swain said. Since 1959, Europe in particular, but parts of the Pacific Northwest, northeastern Canada, as well as parts of Mexico, Africa and the Middle East have seen a marked increase in summer heat. 'An increase in heat extremes is the most obvious symptom of climate change,' said Karen McKinnon, a professor who studies the statistics behind climate change at UCLA. 'Even seemingly small changes in temperatures of a few degrees can make summers feel substantially more extreme.'
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Science
- New Indian Express
Odisha's drought hotspots moving north, west: Study
BHUBANESWAR: Climate change has pushed drought hotspots of Odisha in the west and northward direction with some periods experiencing shorter but sharper impact, a new study has found. In the early 20th century, the hotspots were concentrated in the eastern and southern districts of the state. The global study by 12 institutes and organisations, including six universities from India, UK, Japan, Brazil, UAE and Saudi Arabia and meteorological departments indicated that the westward shift in drought hotspots - from coastal and central Odisha in the early 20th century to northern and western regions in recent decades have been influenced by a combination of shifting monsoon patterns, climate variability and localised land-use changes. The study analysed 120 years of rainfall data to suggest that Odisha has experienced major droughts approximately every eight years since 1866 with recurring impacts noted almost annually in several regions. During the 1970s and 1980s, central and northern districts including Angul, Boudh, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Bargarh, and Mayurbhanj saw a noticeable increase in severe drought events. 'In later decades, particularly the 1990s and 2000s, southern districts such as Nabarangpur, Koraput, Kalahandi, and Nuapada were affected more. This shift appears closely linked to positive phases of the El Niño and negative phases of the southern oscillation index, both of which disrupted monsoon rainfall in the region,' said Prof Shreerup Goswami, head of Geology department, Utkal University.
GMA Network
6 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcos to NIA: Listen to farmers' needs
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has tasked the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to listen to the concerns of farmers and use wisely the farm machinery being provided by the government. ''Kaya po ang hiling ko sa lahat ng kawani ng NIA, ingatan, alagaan, at gamitin ninyo ang mga sasakyan at pasilidad nang wasto,'' Marcos said in his speech Monday. (My request to NIA employees is to take care and use properly the vehicles and facilities.) ''Saksi ako sa inyong sipag [sa] paglilingkod sa ating mga magsasaka. Ngunit, hiling ko sa inyo na paigtingin pa ang inyong pagsisilbi. Makinig sa kanilang mga hinaing,'' he added. (I'm a witness in your hard work when it comes to serving our farmers. I'm requesting that you strengthen your service. Listen to their needs.) Marcos told NIA to immediately address the needs of local farmers. The President led the ceremonial turnover of 229 newly procured operations and maintenance equipment and vehicles under the third tranche of the NIA's Re-fleeting Program at Barangay Wawa in Taguig City. This program supports the President's directive to fast-track irrigation project development as part of broader efforts to strengthen the agriculture sector. As the country faces the effects of climate change and extreme weather conditions, including the El Niño phenomenon, the enhanced fleet enables NIA to respond more effectively to the growing demands of irrigation service delivery. The said agency currently manages 257 National Irrigation Systems and 8,802 Communal Irrigation Systems. The NIA is responsible for the repair, operation and maintenance of major canals and irrigation infrastructure. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
The Hindu
18 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu among top heat-risk States in country; warmer nights put people at risk
Tamil Nadu is increasingly at risk from extreme heat events, as 2024 was the hottest year on record globally and India endured its longest heatwave since 2010. According to a recent study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), Tamil Nadu ranks fifth among Indian States with high to very high heat risk, with urban centres like Chennai experiencing significant challenges from rising temperatures. In fact, none of Tamil Nadu's districts falls under the very low or low heat risk categories. About 11% districts face moderate heat risk, while 43% are classified as high risk, and 46% districts fall into the very high heat risk category, indicating that the majority of the State is confronting severe and widespread heat vulnerability. As per the study, over the past decade, heatwaves in Tamil Nadu's districts have lengthened by over three days, which has intensified impacts on public health, agriculture, and energy infrastructure. Chennai has witnessed an increase of four additional 'very warm' nights per summer, driven largely by the urban heat island effect, where cities retain heat well into the night. Warming nights a rising concern According to the CEEW study, national data from 1981 to 2022 shows that the frequency of very warm nights is increasing faster than very hot days, particularly in the last decade. Both terms refer to temperatures exceeding the 95th percentile of historical records. This trend is influenced by natural climate cycles such as El Niño and La Niña. For example, during strong El Niño years like 1997 and 2016, very hot days and very warm nights were significantly more frequent. Experts highlight that rising nighttime temperatures are especially dangerous because they prevent the body from cooling and recovering after hot days, increasing health risks for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children. In Tamil Nadu, as in Punjab, West Bengal, Kerala, and Karnataka, vulnerability to heat is further exacerbated by the high prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. These conditions increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, placing additional strain on the State's healthcare system, the study points out. The study recommends that States, districts, and cities should move beyond a narrow focus on daytime temperatures while planning for heat risk and incorporate additional dimensions of warm nights, humidity, demographic patterns, and health vulnerabilities.
The Star
19 hours ago
- Climate
- The Star
Bomba to monitor heat, rain and strong winds during Southwest Monsoon
GEORGE TOWN: The Fire and Rescue Department will prioritise monitoring three key weather phenomena, namely heat, heavy rain and strong winds, all associated with natural disasters across the country during the Southwest Monsoon season, which lasts until September. Its director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said the department is preparing for prolonged dry spells causing high temperatures, intermittent heavy afternoon downpours, and strong winds sometimes accompanied by squalls or tropical storms. Forecasts from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) indicate no extreme El Niño this year, with temperatures expected to remain below average. Nevertheless, he stressed that these weather events remain closely tied to disaster risks. "We remain ready to respond not only to these three weather phenomena but also to any other emergencies that may arise during the monsoon period," he said. Speaking to reporters after officiating the closing ceremony of the 2025 JBPM 10-a-side Rugby Championship in George Town, Nor Hisham added that the department is on alert for open-fire incidents during dry spells, as well as for rescues related to flash floods and storm-driven winds. He also highlighted a significant decrease in open-fire reports so far this year, with nearly 3,000 emergency calls up to April, compared to over 9,000 during the same period last year. However, the department's current concern lies with heavy afternoon rains, particularly during school holidays when many people visit rivers, waterfalls and beaches. "The public is urged to stay vigilant and follow weather warnings closely. If heavy rain is forecast, leave picnic areas immediately and avoid swimming or water activities," Nor Hisham advised. Earlier, MetMalaysia had forecast that the Southwest Monsoon would begin on May 10 and would continue through September, bringing steady winds from the southwest. While humidity is generally low during this season and rainfall is reduced in many areas, heavy showers, strong winds, and thunder squalls remain possible, especially in western Peninsular Malaysia, northern Sarawak and western Sabah, often in the early mornings due to squall lines. Meanwhile, the three-day rugby tournament featured 63 teams competing across six categories, namely the firefighters, under-15 boys, under-17 boys, under-12 boys, under-16 girls and veterans. Sarawak's firefighters' team claimed the championship after defeating Selangor 10-0 in the final, with Negeri Sembilan finishing third following a 19-0 victory over Perak. - Bernama
