Heatwaves

Heat that hit Europe exceptionally early and hard this year appears to have led to a spike in deaths, with well over 10,000 more people dying at the height of the heat wave than would normally have been expected, according to figures that are still emerging across the continent. Measures of what researchers call "excess mortality" - the difference between the normally expected number of deaths and the actual number - spiked in late June, when parts of Europe experienced record temperatures. Experts caution that it takes a while for a full picture to emerge, and that many heat-related deaths will never formally be recorded as such. For example, a heart attack, which can be triggered by extreme heat exposure, especially in people who are older or have underlying health issues, may be listed on a death certificate simply as a heart attack. It's an alarming start to the summer. Several heat waves have killed thousands of people in the past few years in Europe. Still, 2003 stands as the

A widespread and dangerous heat wave was building across the US on Saturday, with triple-digit highs expected in the Southwest and Great Plains this weekend before spreading eastward under a dome of high pressure that meteorologists say could trap oppressive temperatures for a week or more. Forecasters advised people to stay hydrated and find places to cool off, warning of temperatures 15 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit (8 to 14 degrees Celsius) warmer than normal in many areas, including at night - especially bad for people's health because their bodies won't have a chance to recover. The heat dome was expected to affect as much as two-thirds of the continental United States. "The heat doesn't necessarily stop when it's dark out," said Josh Adam, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Bismarck, North Dakota, where temperatures will surpass 100 F (37 C) until Tuesday, a dramatic spike for a state where summer temperatures are typically in the 80s. Tynika Smith of Bloomington,

Workers in agriculture and construction sectors in India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Nigeria are already losing 20 working days or more every year to heat stress, leading to loss of income especially for families already struggling to make ends meet, according to a new report. The report based on an analysis by adelphi global is the first of its kind to trace a direct link between the physical health tolls of climate change and the resulting strain on already strained family budgets and national economies. Spanning eight diverse economies - Bangladesh, Brazil, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Nigeria, and South Africa - the research bridges the gap between climate science, public health, and economic analysis. Extreme heat is being made more frequent and intense by climate change, primarily driven by the burning of fossil fuels like oil, coal, and gas. This year has already seen some of the worst heatwaves ever recorded, some virtually impossible without the influence of climate ...

India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Ghana together host the largest number of cities at risk of extreme heat, with major tourist destinations including Jaipur and international business hubs in the top 50, according to an analysis that has ranked 205 of the world's largest cities. More than 95 per cent of the most at-risk cities are in South and Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Iraq's city of Al Basrah is the world's most at-risk, followed by Ahmedabad in Gujarat, the study published in the journal Sustainable Cities and Society says, identifying places where people are most in danger as the planet continues to warm. Fourteen Indian cities that featured in the top 50 at-risk locations included Nagpur and Pune in Maharashtra, Madurai and Chennai in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka's Bengaluru and Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur and Lucknow. Lead author, Nethmi Jayaratne Kariyawasam, a researcher at the UK's Oxford University, said, "It isn't just exposure to hot temperatures that matters for risk. Our .

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Eastern Europe is bracing for record temperatures and red alerts after a deadly heat wave that claimed lives in western Europe moved eastward

Delhi felt much hotter than the actual temperature on Saturday, with the heat index, or 'feels like' temperature, touching a scorching 48.4 degrees Celsius even as the maximum temperature settled at 41.3 degrees Celsius. Safdarjung, the city's base weather station, recorded a minimum temperature of 30.8 degrees Celsius, 2.9 degrees above normal and 2.1 degrees higher than the previous day. The maximum temperature was 41.3 degrees Celsius, 4.1 degrees above normal and 0.2 degree lower than Friday's. Other weather stations also recorded a rise in the minimum temperature. Palam recorded a minimum of 28.4 degrees Celsius, 0.9 degree higher than the previous day, while Lodhi Road recorded 29.8 degrees Celsius, up by 2.4 degrees. Ridge and Ayanagar recorded minimum temperatures of 26.8 degrees Celsius and 29.3 degrees Celsius, respectively. Maximum temperatures remained largely unchanged across most stations. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), trace rainfall was ...

The heat wave is spreading north from mainland Europe, where it's plagued France for nearly a week

France is putting emergency services and military forces on wildfire alert, restricting public alcohol consumption and cancelling some outdoor sports events to cope with a heat wave unfurling across parts of Europe. About a third of France is under the national weather service's heat red alert Sunday and temperatures are high nationwide, expected to reach 40 C on Sunday in some areas, in a country where air-conditioning isn't widespread. The forecast for Monday is even hotter. The Eiffel Tower and other Paris venues set up misting stations to cool crowds, among a raft of measures announced by national and local authorities to minimize risks. More than 200,000 people across Europe died from heat-related causes over the last four years, and most of the fatalities were preventable, the World Health Organisation's Europe office said this month. More above-average temperatures are expected this summer, which can cause heat exhaustion and life-threatening heat stroke. WHO's Europe office

An analysis of more than 22,000 health records found rising signs of dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and kidney stress among healthy adults during peak summer months

A record peak demand of 271 GW in May underscores the growing impact of heatwaves, urbanisation and electrification, while raising fresh questions about grid resilience and energy planning

World Environment Day 2026 calls for a new environmentalism that links sustainable growth with inclusion, climate resilience and stronger governance

IMD forecasts widespread rainfall across several regions as the monsoon advances, while heatwave conditions continue to persist in parts of north and central India

Relentless night-time heat puts billions at risk in growing megacities

AI is moving beyond heatwave forecasts into urban planning, healthcare and power management, but experts warn gaps in data, governance and access still remain