Heat Waves

Earth records hottest year ever in 2024, big jump breached key threshold

Earth recorded its hottest year ever in 2024, with such a big jump that the planet temporarily passed a major climate threshold, several weather monitoring agencies announced Friday. Last year's global average temperature easily passed 2023's record heat and kept pushing even higher. It surpassed the long-term warming limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit ) since the late 1800s that was called for by the 2015 Paris climate pact, according to the European Commission's Copernicus Climate Service, the United Kingdom's Meteorology Office and Japan's weather agency. The European team calculated 1.6 degrees Celsius (2.89 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming. Japan found 1.57 degrees Celsius (2.83 degrees Fahrenheit) and the British 1.53 degrees Celsius (2.75 degrees Fahrenheit) in releases of data coordinated to early Friday morning European time. American monitoring teams NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the private Berkeley Earth were to release .

Climate change led to 41 additional days of extreme heat in 2024: Report

The world experienced an average of 41 more days of extreme heat in 2024 due to climate change, a new report said on Friday. According to the European climate agency Copernicus, 2024 is set to end as the warmest year on record and the first year with a global average temperature 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. A yearly review report by two groups of climate scientists -- World Weather Attribution (WWA) and Climate Central -- said the world saw an average of 41 more days of dangerous heat in 2024. Small island developing states were hit the hardest, with their people experiencing over 130 additional hot days. The scientists identified 219 extreme weather events in 2024 and studied 29 of them. They found that climate change contributed to at least 3,700 deaths and displaced millions in 26 extreme weather events. "It is likely the total number of people killed in extreme weather events intensified by climate change this year is in the tens or hundreds of thousands,"

Man accused of starting California wildfire by throwing firework from car

A 26-year-old man has been accused of igniting a destructive California wildfire in early July by throwing a firework from a car window during hot, dry and windy weather. Spencer Grant Anderson, of Oroville, was charged Monday after weeks of continuous surveillance by investigators, the Butte County District Attorney's Office said. The Thompson fire scorched nearly 6 square miles (15.5 square kilometres), destroyed 13 homes and damaged others in the Oroville area of the northern Sacramento Valley. Anderson was jailed on a no-bail hold after appearing in court to face charges including arson of an inhabited structure, arson of forest land, and arson causing multiple structures to burn, the prosecutor's office said in a statement. Anderson will return to court Wednesday to set further dates to enter a plea and for pretrial hearings, the office said. It was a long investigation, there was a lot moving parts to it, Larry Pilgrim, Anderson's attorney, told The New York Times. He is jus

Spandana Sphoorty stops onboarding customers with no prior credit history

Heat wave, Lok Sabha polls hit collections, asset quality in Q1

UN urges nations to better prepare as extreme heat breaks records

After three of Earth's hottest days ever measured, the United Nations called for a flurry of efforts to try to reduce the human toll from soaring and searing temperatures, calling it an extreme heat epidemic. If there is one thing that unites our divided world, it's that we're all increasingly feeling the heat, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday at a news conference where he highlighted that Monday was the hottest day on record, surpassing the mark set just a day earlier. Earth is becoming hotter and more dangerous for everyone, everywhere. Nearly half a million people a year die worldwide from heat related deaths, far more than other weather extremes such as hurricanes, and this is likely an underestimate, a new report by 10 U.N. agencies said. Billions of people are facing an extreme heat epidemic -- wilting under increasingly deadly heat waves, with temperatures topping 50 degrees Celsius around the world," Guterres said. "That's 122 degrees Fahrenhei

Delhi records minimum temp of 32.4 deg C, heatwave conditions to persist

The national capital on Saturday recorded a minimum temperature of 32.4 degree Celsius, four notches above the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department. The weather department has predicted mainly clear sky and heat wave conditions with strong surface winds during the day. The humidity was 38 per cent at 8.30 am. The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 44 degrees Celsius, it stated. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital was recorded in the "moderate" category with a reading of 185 at 9 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".

Curtains to ventilation: How to protect your home in extreme heat

Furnishing and wall colours will add to the comfort of living in summers

India's May heatwave peaks 1.5 degree celcius above previous record

Heatwaves similar to those experienced in May in India are almost 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than the warmest heat waves previously observed in the country, according to a new rapid attribution study by an independent group of climate scientists and researchers. The analysts at ClimaMeter said the intense and prolonged heat wave India endured in May was a result of the naturally occurring El Nino phenomenon -- unusual warming of the ocean surface in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean -- and the rapidly increasing concentration of greenhouse gases -- primarily carbon dioxide and methane -- in the atmosphere. The researchers analyzed how events similar to the high temperature in India's May heatwave changed in the present (20012023) compared to what they would have looked like if they had occurred in the past (19792001). "The temperature changes show that similar events produce temperatures in the present climate at least 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than what they would hav

AC sales may touch new record of 14 mn units by end of 2024: CEAMA

The blistering heatwave this year has skyrocketed the demand for room air-conditioners across the country, expecting a record annual sale of around 14 million units, according to the Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association. The industry had "record-breaking figures" for sales of air-conditioners in May and expects a surge of 30 to 40 per cent in volume growth in summers alone, Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) President Sunil Vachani told PTI. Soaring temperatures and heat waves have now made AC a "quintessential requirement" for households across urban areas, he said. The Indian AC market is also evolving helped by energy-efficient models that are suitable across income brackets and by investment by the companies in indigenous manufacturing units of components. "As the market evolves, we expect annual sales volumes to be around 14 million units, highlighting the sector's robust expansion," Vachani said. The Indian resident

15 succumb to suspected heatstroke in Bihar, Odisha over 24 hours

The Odisha government has prohibited outdoor activities for its employees between 11 am and 3 pm when temperatures peak

Min temp settles at 30.6 degrees in Delhi on polling day, no heat wave

The minimum temperature in Delhi settled four notches above normal at 30.6 degrees Celsius on Saturday as Delhiites stepped out to vote in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The national capital is under a 'yellow' alert, according to the Met department. An India Meteorological Department (IMD) official told PTI, "No heat wave is forecast for the city. Isolated areas such as Najafgarh and Pusa might experience heatwave conditions." The official, however, cautioned that temperatures are expected to rise after Saturday. At 8.30 am, the humidity was recorded at 54 per cent. The IMD has predicted mainly clear skies with surface winds reaching speeds of 25 to 35 kilometres per hour during the day. It has also predicted a warm night at isolated places. The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 44 degrees Celsius. Earlier this week, maximum temperatures in the national capital soared to about 45 degrees Celsius, prompting the Met office to issue 'red' and 'orange' war

Delhi sees hottest day of season at 42.5 deg Celsius; IMD sounds red alert

The national capital on Saturday recorded the this season's hottest day so far with the mercury reaching 43.7 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said and issued a 'red alert' predicting severe heat in many parts of the city over the next two days. Mungeshpur recorded the highest maximum temperature in they city at 46.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Najafgarh noting 46.7 degrees Celsius, Pitampura 46.2 degrees Celsius, Pusa 46 degrees Celsius, Aya Nagar 45.2 degrees Celsius, and Palam 44.2 degrees Celsius. Delhi's base weather station at Safdarjung recorded a high of 43.7 degrees Celsius, which was more than three notches above the season's normal and the highest maximum temperature this season so far. The weather office predicted heat wave conditions in many parts of Delhi and sounded a red alert. The department has also forecast a partly cloudy sky with strong surface winds at a speed of 25 to 35 kmph. Mentioned the impact of the heat wave in its seven-day .

Climate change likely to intensify India heat wave, says scientists

Night-time temperatures are unlikely to fall below 34 degree celcius for the period, making this event 'particularly alarming'

Rising temperatures drive up electricity consumption in Rajasthan

The last fortnight recorded an increase of 300 lakh units in the electricity demand, which is continuously rising, sources in the energy department said

Indians prepare for summer travel despite heat waves, soaring fares: Report

IMD expects May 2024 to record a higher than normal number of heat wave days in various parts of the country

Here are the hottest cities in India right now. Is yours on the list?

The India Meteorological Department has issued warnings of severe heat waves across multiple regions till May 5 as temperatures soar across the country

Northern plains, central India to have high number of heat wave days: IMD

Above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May and a significantly high number of heat wave days are expected over northern plains, central region and adjoining areas of peninsular India, IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said on Wednesday. Around 8-11 heat wave days are likely over south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada and Gujarat region in May, India Meteorological Department's Director General Mohapatra told a press conference. The remaining parts of Rajasthan, east Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, north interior Karnataka and Telangana may record five-seven heat wave days in the month, he said. Normally, northern plains, central India and adjoining areas of peninsular India experience around three days of heat wave in May. Above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May,

Rising heat drives up sales of ACs in India; increase in installation times

Installation times of air-conditioners are stretching to two weeks in certain areas, as sales have surged up to three times compared to the previous year

Odisha declares summer vacation for schools as heatwave grips states

IMD predicts heatwave conditions in Odisha, Bengal, and Jharkhand, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh until April 26; possibility of light rainfall in eastern states

Extreme heat in East Asia, Pacific putting millions of children at risk: UN

Warnings over more intense and frequent heat waves this summer are especially worrying in the region, as high humidity levels make it more difficult for the body to cool down naturally