Latest news with #JasonNicholls
Irish Independent
26-07-2025
- Climate
- Irish Independent
Santa's in a sweat as Lapland's record heatwave hits 32C
After an unusually cold and rainy spring and early summer, the region, which lies inside the Arctic Circle, has been caught in an intense and persistent heatwave. The heatwave had stretched across 15 consecutive days by yesterday. Finland's official heatwave threshold is three days with highs over 25C. In Rovaniemi, the administrative capital of Lapland (and the hometown of Santa Claus), daily maximum temperatures jumped from just 11C in late June to 29C by mid-July. Elsewhere in Lapland, temperatures have climbed even higher. Weather stations in Ylitornio and Sodankyla recorded peaks of 32C earlier this week, around 10C above the seasonal average and among the highest temperatures ever measured. Several other locations across Lapland have also reported their longest heatwaves since records began. Going into next week, forecasters have said the heat will ease. Jason Nicholls, AccuWeather's lead international forecaster, told The Independent: 'The ridge of high pressure responsible for the heat over the region will push eastward this weekend, which should result in the heat easing this weekend and early next week.' Finnish Meteorological Institute's meteorologist Jaakko Savela said the last time Lapland experienced a heatwave like this was in 1972. 'But even that only lasted 12 to 14 days, depending on the exact location,' he told the BBC. 'Records are being broken.' The weather has sparked fresh concerns about the pace of climate change in the Arctic, which is heating up four to five times faster than the global average, according to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The panel has warned that heatwaves like this are becoming more frequent and intense due to human-driven climate change. Mr Savela said that this particular heatwave in Lapland was not directly caused by climate change. He told the BBC: 'Climate change has had an impact. Without it, temperatures over the last two weeks would have been lower'. Meanwhile, the region's long summer days, where it is still light outside at 11pm, are keeping temperatures high late into the night.
The Independent
25-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Home of Father Christmas sizzles in record heatwave
Lapland is facing a spell of extreme heat, with temperatures soaring far above seasonal averages. After an unusually cold and rainy spring and early summer, the region, which lies around 310 miles above the Arctic Circle, has been caught in an intense and persistent heatwave. In Rovaniemi, the Finnish capital of Lapland and the hometown of Santa Claus, daily maximum temperatures jumped from just 11C in late June to 29C by mid-July. The heatwave will have stretched across 15 consecutive days as of Friday. Finland 's official heatwave threshold is three days with highs over 25C. Elsewhere in Lapland, temperatures have climbed even higher. Weather stations in Ylitornio and Sodankylä recorded peaks of 32C earlier this week, around 10C above the seasonal average and among the highest ever measured. Several other locations across Lapland have also reported their longest heatwaves since records began. Going into next week, forecasters have said the heat will ease. Jason Nicholls, AccuWeather's lead international forecaster, told The Independent: 'The ridge of high pressure responsible for the heat over the region will push eastward this weekend, which should result in the heat easing this weekend and early next week.' 'AccuWeather forecasts a high of 31 degrees today in Pello. It will be very warm. It will not be as warm on Saturday with thick clouds and passing showers in the afternoon. AccuWeather forecasts a high of 25 degrees Saturday in Pello.' Finnish Meteorological Institute's meteorologist Jaakko Savela said the last time Lapland experienced a heatwave like this was in 1972. 'But even that only lasted 12 to 14 days, depending on the exact location,' he told the BBC. "Records are being broken." The weather has sparked fresh concerns about the pace of climate change in the Arctic, which is heating up four to five times faster than the global average, according to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The panel has warned that heatwaves like this are becoming more frequent and intense due to human-driven climate change. Mr Savela said that this particular heatwave in Lapland was not directly caused by climate change. But he told the BBC: "Climate change has had an impact: without it, temperatures over the last two weeks would have been lower". Lapland's iconic reindeer have been spotted fleeing to roads and villages to escape swarms of mosquitoes that thrive in hot weather. Meanwhile, the region's long summer days, where it is still light outside at 11pm, are keeping temperatures high late into the night. Toivo Koivu, a Rovaniemi resident, told news agency Reuters that he expected cooler weather after travelling through southern Europe. 'It was very hot there, and we thought that when we would come back to Finland it would be cooler, like normally, but no, it was the same weather as down south,' Mr Koivu said.
The Independent
30-06-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
What is a heat dome? Weather system explained as UK and Europe hit by sweltering temperatures
Large swathes of the UK and Europe are sweltering through a heatwave, with England's southeast set to hit temperatures of 35C and parts of Europe including Paris, Rome and Athens to near 40C. The extended period of above-average temperatures and tropical nights with minimum temperatures staying above 20C could be exacerbated by a heat dome. Below we look at how the weather event is sending temperatures soaring across Europe. What is a heat dome? A heat dome is created when a high pressure area stays over the same area for days or potentially weeks, trapping very warm air underneath it, like a lid on a saucepan. Because hot air expands, it creates a 'dome' that bulges out. This weather phenomenon causes temperatures to become hotter and hotter, building through the day and rise above what is considered normal, since warm air becomes compressed over a smaller region. The ground warms as well and moisture evaporates, the RMS says, making it easier for temperatures to continue to rise. These weather systems and their prolonged heat also increase the risk of wildfire and heat-related health problems, the Royal Meteorological Society (RMS) said. Often these pressure systems move east to west, the RMS explains. Sometimes they can be blocked when the jet stream of strong winds high in the atmosphere weakens. AccuWeather lead international forecaster Jason Nicholls said last week that a strong area of high pressure had built over western Europe from Morocco, bringing high temperatures. That system has extended up through Spain and Portugal into France, and spread across Germany and Italy over the weekend. Temperatures are expected to drop by the end of the week across much of Europe. What is the definition of a heatwave? A heatwave is simply a prolonged period of abnormally high temperatures. What is considered an abnormally high temperature varies from place to place. Several countries issued heatwave alerts ahead of the weekend including Spain, which experienced temperatures of up to 42C in parts. In France, the meteorological office has issued an orange heatwave alert for nearly the entire country with temperatures expected to reach 'scorching levels'. In Mediterranean cities and towns, the French meteorological office expects temperatures of up to 40C, while only regions near the English Channel and the border with Belgium will experience temperatures below 34C. Paris is forecast to reach 37C on Monday and Tuesday. Lisbon is forecast to reach 41C on Monday, while temperatures in Rome are expected to peak at 37C on Wednesday and Thursday. In the UK, temperatures could reach 35C in the southeast on Tuesday, Met Office forecaster Matthew Lenhert said. The June temperature record of 35.6C was last reached nearly 50 years ago, in 1976.
The Independent
27-06-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Extreme heatwave hits Europe as temperatures set to soar above 40C in holiday hotspots
Popular European destinations are facing extreme temperatures with the hot weather expected to soar well into the 40s in major holiday hotspots. Warnings are in place for cities including Paris and Rome over the weekend and into next week, while wildfires have erupted in Greece. Met Office spokesperson Stephen Dixon warned that southern and western Europe was experiencing a heatwave which was also extending into southeastern parts of the continent. 'Temperatures are expected to be 5-10C above normal fairly widely in Europe, with the potential for a few locations to reach around 40C in the southeast, and possibly even higher across parts of Iberia from Friday, likely challenging some June records,' he said. 'This excessive heat will extend north across other parts of western Europe early next week, and plays a role in the heatwave parts of the UK is expecting, though not with temperatures as high as those previously states,' added. AccuWeather lead international forecaster Jason Nicholls said similar to the 'burst of heat' earlier this month, a strong area of high pressure is going to build over western Europe from Morocco, bringing high temperatures. That system will extend ' upward through Spain, Portugal, into France, and eventually spreading out towards Germany and Italy as we get into the weekend', he said. Mr Nicholls added: 'Worst case scenario, people could be suffering from heat stroke or heat exhaustion, especially if they're outside during the prime heating part of the day, like midday/afternoon hours.' Spanish and Portuguese temperatures to exceed 40C Temperatures in Spain began to rise sharply on Friday, with heatwave conditions expected to continue until at least Tuesday with extremely high temperatures potentially reaching 42C in parts of the country, according to Spain's meteorological office. 'Very high and persistent temperatures are expected, both during the day and at night, which could pose a risk to exposed and/or vulnerable people,' the agency said. In the Canary Islands, temperatures could reach as high as 36C on Saturday, while inland Mallorca will occasionally reach 38C. Also on the Iberian peninsula, Portugal's weather forecaster has issued an orange warning for extreme high temperatures over the weekend. Temperatures in Lisbon and central Portugal are forecast to exceed 42C by Sunday and the high 30s in southern parts of the country. France issues orange alert for 'stifling' heatwave Paris is facing a heatwave from Monday, with temperatures peaking at 39C on Tuesday and forecasters urging caution for people who have to be outside for longer periods of time. Mr Nicholls said those temperatures at this time of year for Paris were not common, last occurring in 2022. In the south of France, temperatures are expected to reach 40C in some areas and authorities have issued a severe fire risk warning and an orange alert for extreme heat for nine departments across central- and south-east France by Saturday. In inland areas of those departments, temperatures could climb to 42C, Le Parisien reports. Meteo France warned that high surface temperatures on the Mediterranean Sea could also affect overnight minimum temperatures, 'making nights more stifling during the heatwave'. In Greece, summer wildfires force Athens evacuations In Greece's first heatwave of the summer temperatures approached 40C in Athens on Thursday, as a large wildfire broke out south of the city forcing authorities to issue evacuation orders. The fire, which reportedly broke out within a populated area, was fanned by strong winds that frequently changed direction, sending plumes of smoke fanning out across the sky. "We're telling people to leave their homes," local town councilor Apostolos Papadakis said on Greece's state-run ERT television. A work stoppage was declared for certain workers including delivery riders on Friday by the Ministry of Labor for Friday afternoon with temperatures set to reach 41C, Greek newspaper Ta Nea reported. Several popular tourist destinations in Italy are expected to swelter through prolonged stretches of temperatures in the high 30s. In Rome, daytime highs won't dip below 37C until Thursday, according to Il Meteo, while temperatures in Florence will alternate between 38C and 39C from Monday. Naples will also reach highs of 37C on Saturday and Monday, while in the northeast, Venice will reach 36C on Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures in other Italian destinations are forecast to be milder, reaching the mid-30s for Naples and high 20s for Bari in Puglia over the weekend. As the heatwave moves north through next week, weather experts warn temperatures in parts of Germany could near 40C by Wednesday. 'Up to 40 degrees Celsius is possible by the middle of next week,' Dr Karsten said. The forecasting site predicts the heat to remain above 30C for five days and above 35C for three during the upcoming German heatwave. Frankfurt is expected to reach 38C on Wednesday, while in Berlin temperatures will reach 35C.
Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Telegraph
‘X-oholic' harassed female police chief ‘for the thrill'
A man who harassed a female chief constable online told a court he was an 'X-oholic' because of his addiction to social media. Jason Nicholls was chasing the 'instant dopamine rush' of 'likes' on X, the social network, when he bombarded Jo Shiner of Sussex Police with abusive posts over two years, he said. Nicholls shared hundreds of posts, memes, mock-up images and satirical videos on X, formerly known as Twitter, criticising the chief constable's work. The 55 year-old started a 'Twitter soap' he called 'Shiner Street' which detailed the 'ups and downs' of her force, and created a wanted poster of her face which accused her of 'crimes against policing'. Admitting stalking, Nicholls claimed to be the UK's 'first registered X-oholic' and said his social media 'addiction' had dominated his life for over a decade While awaiting sentence at Portsmouth magistrates' court, Hants, Nicholls breached his bail conditions by sending emails to police. At sentencing, magistrates told Nicholls he showed a 'flagrant disregard' for Ms Shiner and a 'significant degree' of planning had gone into his mock-up images on social media. It was heard that Nicholls, from East Cowes, Isle of Wight, stalked Ms Shiner from October 2022 to August last year. As well as his social media posts, he contacted media outlets including BBC Radio Sussex, falsely telling them she had been 'arrested'. He also created a poster which joked that she was 'separated at birth' from Uncle Albert, the Only Fools and Horses character. Prosecutors said there were a large number of posts which were distressing to Ms Shiner and she was 'professionally embarrassed'. Nicholls admitted one count of stalking without fear and distress and two counts of breaching bail conditions. In a statement in court he said: 'I am an X-oholic – blind to risk or consequence, I have lost control of my online life, impulsively chasing the instant dopamine rush of likes, shares, and replies through an overwhelming flood of posts, memes, and satirical videos. 'Today, I've hit rock bottom, but I'm ready to take his [sic] first steps toward recovery.' Nicholls apologised to Ms Shiner and Sussex Police and asked for 'forgiveness and understanding' relating to the 'addiction that has dominated my life over the past decade'. 'Above all, I am here to ask the court for support in breaking free from this overwhelming compulsion,' he said. 'I may be the UK's first registered X-oholic, but I won't be the last.' Nicholls was jailed for 15 weeks, given a restraining order, and ordered to pay £239 in costs. Magistrates said 'the defendant has a flagrant disregard for court orders because the defendant has a flagrant disregard for people and their property'. They said his offending featured a 'persistent and prolonged course of action' and a 'significant degree of planning creating mock up pictures and Twitter accounts'.
