Page 4 - Heatwaves

Earth ends 13-month streak of record heat: Here's what to expect next

Global warming has consistently toppled records for warm global average temperatures in recent decades

Europe reported 50,000 heat-related deaths in 2023 amid record temperatures

As climate change continues to raise temperatures, Europeans are exposed to increasingly significant health risks as they reside on the fastest-warming continent

Record-breaking wildfires scorch more than 1.4 million acres in Oregon

Wildfires in Oregon have burned more acres of land in 2024 than in any year since reliable records began, authorities said Friday, with the mid-August peak of fire season still on the horizon. Blazes have scorched more than 1.4 million acres, or nearly 2,200 square miles (5,700 square kilometers), Northwest Interagency Coordination Center spokesperson Carol Connolly said. That's more than any other year since 1992, when reliable records began to be kept, she said, and surpasses the previous record set in 2020. Connolly said 71 large fires have burned the vast majority of the land this year. Large fires are defined as those that consume more than 100 acres (40 hectares) of timber or more than 300 acres (120 hectares) of grass or brush. Thirty-two homes in the state have been lost to the fires, she said, which have been fueled by high temperatures, dry weather and low humidity. They have prompted evacuation notices across the state and largely torched rural and mountain areas, althou

Investors grow concerned with India's heatwaves as they hit earnings

The heatwave featured no fewer than 80 times in earnings calls for the quarter ended June

84% of Indian districts at risk of heatwaves, 70% prone to extreme rainfall

Over 84 per cent of Indian districts are prone to extreme heat waves and 70 per cent of those are witnessing increased frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events, a study by IPE-Global and GIS company Esri India said on Tuesday. The study projects that eight out of 10 Indians will be exposed to extreme events by 2036. IPE Global, Climate Change and Sustainability Practice, Head Abinash Mohanty, said that the current trend of catastrophic extreme heat and rainfall events is a result of 0.6 degree Celcius temperature rise in the last century. Recent Kerala landslides triggered by incessant and erratic rainfall episodes and the cities getting paralysed with sudden and abrupt downpour is a testament that climate is changed. Our analysis suggests that 8 out of 10 Indians will be highly exposed to extreme events by 2036, Mohanty said. According to the study, the frequency, intensity, and unpredictability of these extreme heat and rainfall events have also risen in recent ...

Blue Star Q1 results: PAT jumps 102.6% to Rs 169 cr, revenue up 28.7%

Blue Star's consolidated net profit rose 102.6 per cent to Rs 169 crore ($20.14 million) for the three months ended June 30, surpassing analysts' expectations of Rs 141 crore

Record temperatures scorch eastern China, driving up power demand

In the east and northwest of China, temperatures as high as 43.9 degrees Celsius

Godrej Agrovet Q1 results: PAT up 28.3% at Rs 135 cr, total revenue falls

Godrej Agrovet's total revenue from operations fell 6.4 per cent to Rs 2,351 crore while total expenses fell nearly 8 per cent, led by a fall in the cost of materials consumed

World marks full year of average temperatures exceeding 1.5C target

The average for the year through June 2024 was 1.64C higher than the era from 1850 to 1900

2024 may be world's hottest year ever as June breaks records, says EU

Data suggest 2024 could outrank 2023 as the hottest year since records began after human-caused climate change and the El Nino natural weather phenomenon both pushed temperatures to record high

Northern California wildfire doesn't grow, winds, heat whip up flames

Crews made steady progress overnight against a Northern California wildfire that has thousands of people under evacuation orders, but wind gusts and continued hot temperatures Thursday could pose problems on a searing hot July Fourth, officials said. The Thompson Fire near the city of Oroville in Butte County stayed roughly the same size and containment was still 7 per cent, which was the same as Wednesday night, said Kevin Colburn, information officer for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. There are 26,000 people under evacuation orders or warnings, but numbers could drop as crews make fresh assessments. We're going to evaluate and see if we can open up some areas, Colburn said. The Thompson Fire broke out before noon on Tuesday, about 70 miles (110 kilometres) north of Sacramento. It sent up a huge plume of smoke that could be seen from space as it grew to more than 5.5 square miles (14 square kilometres). An Associated Press photographer saw

Retailers advance sales as customers stayed indoors in May to avoid heat

The mid-year end-of-season sales start typically mid-June and go on till the end of July. A few pieces go on heavy discounts towards the Independence Day weekend

More than 1,300 died during Hajj, many after walking in intense heat

More than 1,300 people died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia as the faithful faced extreme high temperatures at Islamic holy sites in the desert kingdom, Saudi authorities announced Sunday. Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel said that 83% of the 1,301 fatalities were unauthorized pilgrims who walked long distances in soaring temperatures to perform the Hajj rituals in and around the holy city of Mecca. Speaking with the state-owned Al Ekhbariya TV, the minister said 95 pilgrims were being treated in hospitals, some of whom were airlifted for treatment in the capital, Riyadh. He said the identification process was delayed because there were no identification documents with many of the dead pilgrims. He said the dead were buried in Mecca, without giving a breakdown. The fatalities included more than 660 Egyptians. All but 31 of them were unauthorized pilgrims, according to two officials in Cairo. Egypt has revoked the licenses of 16 travel agencie

Millions in US brace for more heat as floods inundate parts of Midwest

Millions of Americans prepared to sweat through yet another scorching day, with the potential for rolling storms later Sunday to bring relief from the sweltering heat for at least some. Floodwaters inundated parts of the Midwest, including a town in Iowa evacuated after being submerged up to the rooftops. Across the country in California, daily highs in the state's Central Valley were expected to stay in the triple digits (over 37 Celsius) into Monday. From the mid-Atlantic to Maine, across much of the Midwest and throughout inland California, public officials cautioned residents sweating through the heat and humidity. In Oklahoma, the heat index what the temperature feels like to the human body was expected to reach 107 degrees (41 degrees Celsius) on Sunday. It's more important for people who are going to be outside to stay hydrated, because heat, humidity and low winds, even if you're in good shape and not really acclimated to it, it could be a danger, said Bruce Thoren, a ...

Flooding forces people from homes in Iowa as much of US broils in heat

Floodwaters forced people out of their homes in parts of Iowa, the result of weeks of rain, while much of the United States longed for relief Saturday from yet another round of extraordinary heat. Sirens blared at 2 a.m. in Rock Valley, Iowa, population 4,200, where people in hundreds of homes were told to get out as the Rock River could no longer take rain that has slammed the region. The city lacked running water because wells were unusable. Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo said a state helicopter was on its way to help but was called off when boats were able to reach stranded residents. We've had so much rain here, he said. We had 4 inches last night in an hour and a half time. Our ground just cannot take anymore. Gov. Kim Reynolds declared a disaster for 21 counties in northern Iowa, including Sioux County, which includes Rock Valley. In drone video posted by the local sheriff, no streets were visible, just roofs and treetops poking above the water. Elsewhere in the U.S., the miserabl

Intense heatwave: Three hospitals in Delhi record 45 heat-related deaths

The national capital has recorded at least 45 deaths due to suspected heat-related illnesses at Ram Manohar Lohia, Safdarjung and LNJP hospitals here, officials said on Thursday. Delhi has been battling searing heatwave conditions over the last few days. It got some relief on Thursday morning due to light rain. Hospitals in the city have seen a rise in the number of casualties and patients owing to heat stroke. Dr Ajay Chauhan, Professor of Medicine at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, said that between May 27 and 9 am of June 19, the Centre-run hospital got 47 cases of heatstroke. In the next 24 hours, 26 heatstroke patients were brought to the hospital, the doctor said. He also said that between May 27 and 9 am of June 19, the hospital recorded 11 suspected deaths of heatstroke and in the next 24 hours seven such suspected deaths were reported. Presently 32 patients with heat-related illnesses are admitted at RML hospitals out of which 26 are either very sick or on ventilators, he ...

110 heatwave deaths, over 40K cases of heatstroke reported in India

The unrelenting heatwave sweeping large parts of the country has claimed at least 110 lives and left over 40,000 people grappling with suspected heatstroke between March 1 and June 18 this year, Health ministry sources said on Thursday. Uttar Pradesh is the worst-affected having reported 36 deaths followed by Bihar, Rajasthan and Odisha, according to the data compiled under the National Heat-Related Illness and Death Surveillance by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). "The data visible may not be final submission from states. So the numbers are expected to be higher than this," an official source said. According to the data, on June 18 alone there have been six deaths due to heatstroke. Swathes of northern and eastern India have been in the grip of a long heat wave, increasing heat stroke casualties and prompting the Centre to issue advisory to hospitals to set up special units to cater to such patients. Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Wednesday directed that specia

Most heatstroke deaths in Delhi involved comorbidities: Health minister

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday said of the 14 heat stroke patients who died here, almost all had comorbidities which exacerbated their condition. Bharadwaj inspected Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital, where he evaluated the treatment facilities and interacted with heat stroke patients. He also interacted with doctors, stressing the importance of preventive measures against heat-related illnesses and directed them to ensure the availability of all necessary amenities. "According to the information I received, about 310 heat stroke patients were admitted to the hospital in the recent past, out of which 112 patients have recovered and returned to their homes," the health minister said during the inspection, in a statement. "Of the 14 heat stroke patients who died, almost all of them already had some serious diseases like cancer or kidney disease, due to which their condition worsened and they died," he added. Bharadwaj said the Delhi government is keeping a close watc

Delhi's heatwave claims 192 homeless lives in nine days, crisis escalates

Amid scorching heat gripping the national capital, the past 48 hours have seen 14 fatalities and 380 individuals hospitalised in government facilities due to severe heat conditions

Monsoon advances, set to bring relief from heatwave in northern plains

The monsoon is expected to advance swiftly from next week and bring down temperatures in northern India