Millions of people in the United States, Europe and Asia are enduring the wrath of extreme heat waves as scorching temperatures persist across the globe.
The European Union’s climate monitoring service has reported that June 2023 was the hottest June on record, underscoring the urgent need to address climate change.
Millions scorching across the United States
Nearly a third of Americans – about 113 million people – are currently under heat advisories, from Florida to California and up to Washington state. A powerful heat wave stretching from California to Texas was forecasted to reach its peak over the weekend. The National Weather Service had on Friday issued warnings of an “extremely hot and dangerous weekend.”
GLOBAL CLIMATE REPORT: See the June 2023 Global Significant Climate Events Map and learn more about worldwide climate conditions: https://t.co/41PUknEE2i #StateOfClimate pic.twitter.com/4pyj0QhFmb
— NOAA NCEI (@NOAANCEI) July 14, 2023
The Southwest region was forecasted to experience daytime highs of 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. Arizona, in particular, is heavily impacted, with residents enduring relentless heat, including Phoenix, which has endured 16 consecutive days with temperatures surpassing 43 degrees Celsius (109F). Death Valley in California, one of the hottest places on Earth, was forecasted to witness temperatures as high as 54C (130F) over the weekend.
Europe could experience temperatures up to 48C
Europe is also bracing for historic highs, with Italy facing predictions of record-breaking temperatures. The health ministry in Italy issued a red alert for 16 cities, including Rome, Bologna, and Florence, as the country prepares for what is anticipated to be one of the most intense heat waves ever recorded. Rome is likely to hit 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) by Monday, potentially reaching 43C (109F) on Tuesday.
“I’m really struggling with the heat. I’ve bought a mini fan, an umbrella and bottles of water,” said Lilu Da Costa Rosa, a 48-year-old Brazilian salesperson visiting Rome on Sunday.
Mediterranean countries continue to bake in an intense heatwave, and temperature records may be broken. Heed the warnings and advice from national meteorologists to stay safe. Map via @CopernicusECMWF #StateOfClimate
— World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) July 17, 2023
🔗https://t.co/wHR6Vgg7UA pic.twitter.com/qvBrgSOfE0
The European Space Agency has warned that Sicily and Sardinia could experience scorching temperatures as high as 48C (118F), potentially setting a new record for Europe.
Extreme heat has gripped much of southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Weekly temperatures are up to 5° Celsius above the average in the Mediterranean, according to the Climate Monitoring node of the WMO’s Regional Climate Centre for Europe. Daily maximum temperatures are expected to reach frequently above 35–40 °C in many regions in the Middle East and southeastern Türkiye locally up to 45 °C.
Climate Change in Asia
Japan, besides dealing with extreme heat, has been battling relentless monsoon rains, resulting in severe flooding. The eastern parts of the country are anticipated to reach temperatures as high as 39C (102F) on Sunday and Monday, with the possibility of breaking previous records.
Meanwhile, in northwestern China, climate change poses a direct threat to the region’s ancient heritage sites. Unprecedented rainfall in Gansu province has jeopardized Unesco-listed world heritage sites, including cave monasteries dating back to the 4th century. The increase in precipitation, coupled with a decrease in rainy days but more intense rainfall, is putting these cultural treasures at risk.
China sees record-breaking 52.2°C – China recorded a record-breaking temperature of 52.2°C on July 16 (Sunday) in the remote northwest township of Sanbao in Xinjiang’s Turpan Depression, according to Xinjiang Daily.
China reports a temperature of 52.2°C (126°F), breaking the country's all-time high pic.twitter.com/pk8ztwjhhc
— BNO News (@BNONews) July 16, 2023
The frequency and intensity of heat waves are attributed to global warming, a consequence of the world’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Earth at its hottest in thousands of years
The Fourth of July marked the hottest day on Earth in potentially 125,000 years, breaking the record set the day before, as the return of the El Niño weather pattern collides with soaring summer temperatures.
The global average temperature reached 17.18 degrees Celsius (62.92 degrees Fahrenheit), the highest ever recorded on any day of any year. Excessive heat warnings affected approximately 57 million people in the United States. This extreme heat is attributed to the first El Niño pattern since 2018-19, which brings warmer sea surface temperatures and triggers intense heat on land.
Climate experts predict that El Niño will contribute to further record-breaking heat and accelerated global warming in the coming year. Early warnings and preparedness measures are crucial to mitigate the impact on lives and livelihoods
Heat wave last summer claimed 61,000 lives in Europe
A study published in Nature Medicine reveals that last summer’s record-breaking heat wave in Europe resulted in the deaths of over 61,000 individuals. This figure is slightly lower than the 70,000 excess deaths recorded during a similar extreme heat event in 2003. Despite the tragic consequences of the 2003 heat wave, the study suggests that Europe’s preparations for future heat waves and the protection of vulnerable populations have been inadequate.
The research, which analyzed data from 35 European countries, highlights the disproportionate impact on older individuals and women. Mediterranean countries, including Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece, experienced the highest mortality rates.
The study calls for urgent reevaluation and reinforcement of adaptation strategies given the increasing rate of warming and the need to protect populations from the impacts of climate change.