People, who are homeless, try to cool down with chilled water outside the Justa Center, a day center in downtown Phoenix, Arizona [Matt York/AP Photo]
Metropolis Desk-
In the most recent instance of the growing threat posed by global warming, record heat is predicted for the whole planet, from Europe to Japan to the United States, where tens of millions are currently facing dangerously high temperatures.
Italy is expected to see record-breaking temperatures this weekend, and the health ministry has issued a red alert for 16 towns, including Rome, Bologna, and Florence.
Italians should be prepared for “the most intense heatwave of the summer and one of the most intense ever,” the meteo center advised.
Rome’s temperature is predicted to reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) by Monday and even 43C (109F) on Tuesday, breaking the previous record of 40.5C (104.9F) established in August 2007.
The European Space Agency warned that “potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe”—48C (118F)—could cause the islands of Sicily and Sardinia to wilt.
The national weather agency EMY reports that high temperatures could reach 44C (111F) in several areas of the nation on Saturday. On Friday, Thebes’ capital city sweltered in temperatures of 44.2C (111.6F).
With temperatures predicted to reach 41C (106F) on Saturday during the warmest hours, the Acropolis, the city’s major tourist destination, closed for a second straight day.
Additionally, roasting in sweltering heat are parts of Poland, Germany, Spain, and France.
On Sunday and Monday, portions of eastern Japan are predicted to reach 38 to 39C (100 to 102F), with the meteorological agency issuing a record-breaking temperature alert.
According to Japan’s national broadcaster NHK, the northern city of Akita experienced more rain in a half-day than is customary for the entire month of July. In addition, one or more landslides caused by the downpours resulted in the evacuation of 9,000 people from their houses.
At least 11 people have died as a result of torrential rains that the meteorological office termed the “heaviest rain ever experienced” in southern Japan in recent weeks.
After the sweltering heat, relentless monsoon rains are said to have killed at least 90 people in northern India.
More than a meter over the flood top established in 1978, the Yamuna River, which flows through the nation’s capital New Delhi, has hit a record high of 208.66 meters (685 feet), endangering low-lying neighborhoods in the megacity of more than 20 million people.
During India’s monsoon season, severe flooding and landslides are not uncommon, but researchers claim that climate change is increasing both their frequency and severity.
A strong heatwave that is projected to reach its climax this weekend is being watched by Americans as it spreads from California to Texas.
Residents of Arizona, one of the worst-affected states, endure a daily endurance race against the sun. The National Weather Service predicted that the state’s capital Phoenix would experience its 15th consecutive day of temperatures above 43C (109F).
Low-income neighborhoods were most severely impacted by heatwaves, according to Hannah Safford, a White House climate policy adviser, who spoke to Al Jazeera. For some weeks now, the public has been dealing with record-breaking temperatures. Communities are being disproportionately impacted across the country, not just in one particular area, Safford claimed.
We are aware that the effects of heat are also being felt by low-income, most vulnerable Americans, who have historically borne the burden of climate change. We are giving particular attention to such neighborhoods since these are folks who must labor outside and may not always have air conditioning in their houses.
Authorities have issued warnings, telling residents to stay indoors throughout the day and to watch out for dehydration.
According to the Las Vegas weather service, adopting the attitude that excessive temperatures are just a part of the region’s desert climate is “a DANGEROUS mindset! This heat wave is unlike the usual heat of the desert. “Now the most intense period is beginning,” it continued, noting that Sunday’s potential record high temperatures were the weekend’s arrival.
The temperature in Death Valley, California, one of the hottest places on Earth, is expected to reach new highs on Sunday, possibly reaching 54C (130F).
Numerous wildfires are being fought in Southern California, including one in Riverside County that has scorched more than 3,000 acres (1,214 hectares) and forced residents to evacuate.
Although Morocco is accustomed to hot weather, this weekend’s highs were expected to be above average, reaching 47C (117F) in several provinces, which is more typical of August than July and raising concerns about water shortages, according to the meteorological office.
The heatwaves come after the EU’s climate monitoring service reported that June of last year was the world’s hottest on record.
According to University of Reading climate science professor Richard Allan, “Weather patterns are more severe than they would normally be due to the greenhouse gases we’ve been pumping into the atmosphere due to human activity.”
These weather extremes are being somewhat amplified by the additional heat. We must address the root of the problem, which is the rising levels of greenhouse gases that are warming our planet and intensifying heat waves as well as heavy rainfall and flooding.
Source- Al Jazeera
