The US National Weather Service (NWS) predicts that the heat wave in the area stretching from California to Texas will peak this weekend and pose a health risk.
In California, Death Valley, one of the hottest places on Earth, could see a new record high temperature on July 16, reaching 54 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Phoenix, the capital of Arizona, has recorded 16 consecutive days of temperatures above 43 degrees Celsius, with temperatures reaching 43.8 degrees Celsius on July 15.
US authorities have issued heat warnings and advised people to limit outdoor activities during the day to avoid heat stroke and dehydration.
Due to the extreme heat, many wildfires have broken out in Southern California, including the one in Riverside County that has so far burned more than 3,000 hectares and forced authorities to issue evacuation orders.
Canada, America’s northern neighbor, is also battling devastating wildfires that have burned 10 million hectares since the start of the year. Experts predict the fires will continue to rage and cause damage this summer.
In Europe, Italians are facing a record-breaking heat weekend. The country's health ministry has issued a red heat alert for 16 cities, including Rome, Bologna and Florence. The Italian weather agency has warned that the country is preparing for "the most intense heatwave of the summer and one of the most intense ever." Temperatures are expected to rise to 40 degrees Celsius in Rome on July 17 and 43 degrees Celsius on July 18, breaking the record of 40.5 degrees Celsius set in August 2007. The islands of Sicily and Sardinia could see temperatures reach 48 degrees Celsius, the highest ever recorded in Europe.
In Greece, the Acropolis in the capital Athens, one of the Mediterranean country's top tourist attractions, was closed during the hottest hours of the day for three days from July 14 to 16.
In France, heat and drought are threatening the agricultural sector. According to the French National Weather Service, June was the country's second-hottest month on record. Authorities have issued heat warnings in several areas since July 18. Meanwhile, the French Meteorological Service has warned that another heatwave from July 17 to 19 will bring temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius to the Canary Islands and the southern region of Andalusia.
In Asia, temperatures in eastern Japan are forecast to reach 38-39 degrees Celsius on July 16-17, breaking previous records. The Japanese government on July 16 issued a heatstroke warning as near-record high temperatures scorched parts of the country.
In northern India, days of scorching heat were followed by torrential rains that caused flooding and landslides that killed at least 90 people. Major floods and landslides are common during India's monsoon season, but experts say climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of such disasters. Similarly, in South Korea, heavy rains over the past several days have caused landslides that have killed at least 37 people and left nine missing.
Meanwhile, on July 16, Japan issued a heat warning in some areas, with temperatures reaching 40-45 degrees Celsius in Xinjiang and 39 degrees Celsius in Guangxi Province. In Iraq, temperatures in the capital Baghdad reached nearly 50 degrees Celsius and drought caused the water level of the Tigris River to gradually dry up.
In Morocco, the National Meteorological Service predicts above-average temperatures this weekend in some provinces of the North African country could reach 47 degrees Celsius, raising concerns about water shortages.
Scientists say global warming, largely caused by reliance on fossil fuels, is causing extreme heat waves to become more frequent and intense.
Source
Comment (0)