ROME: Temperatures reached record highs on Monday as heatwaves lashed northern parts of the world, prompting health warnings and fueling wildfires in reminders of the consequences of global warming.
From North America to Europe and Asia, people sipped water and sought shelter from the scorching heat, with the mercury expected to reach new highs in several places in the next few days.
Europe, the world’s hottest continent, was expecting the hottest temperatures this week in the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia, which are forecast to reach 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit), according to the European Space Agency.
“We’re from Texas and it’s really hot there, we thought we could escape the heat but it’s really hot here,” Colman Peavy, 30, said while sipping a cappuccino outside between Rome and his wife Ana on the patio. the start of a two-week Italian vacation.
With June already on record for the world’s hottest month, according to the EU’s climate watchdog, Mother Nature seemed to want July to hold its own.
China reported a new high in mid-July in the northwest of the country, where temperatures reached 52.2C in the village of Sanbao in Xinjiang province, breaking the record of 50.6C six years ago.
In the nearby city of Turpan, where temperatures dipped below 80C in some places, authorities told workers and students to stay at home and ordered special trucks to spray water on major roads, the weather agency said.
In Cyprus, where temperatures are expected to remain above 40C until Thursday, a 90-year-old man died of heatstroke and three other adults were hospitalized, health officials said.
In Japan, heat wave alerts were issued in 32 of the country’s 47 regions, mostly in the central and southwestern regions.
At least 60 people in Japan were treated for heatstroke, local media said, including 51 who were taken to hospitals in Tokyo.
The heat was enough for one person to solve the problem of development in the city of Hamamatsu.
“Of course I can’t live without a parasol, although I have to admit it’s embarrassing,” he told national broadcaster NHK about the umbrella in his hand.
The highest temperature in Japan was 41.1C first recorded in the city of Kumagaya in 2018.
In the western and southern states of the US, which are used to extreme heat, more than 80 million people were advised that “spreading and suppressing” the heat burned the area.
California’s Death Valley, which is often among the hottest places in the world, reached 52C on Sunday afternoon.
In Arizona, the state capital of Phoenix recorded its 17th straight day above 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius), with temperatures hitting 113F (45C) on Sunday afternoon.
“We’re used to 110, 112 (degrees Fahrenheit) … But not blisters,” Nancy Leonard, a 64-year-old retiree from nearby Peoria, told AFP. “You just have to get used to it”.
Southern California was battling several wildfires, including one in Riverside County that has burned more than 7,500 acres (3,000 hectares) and prompted evacuations.
In Europe, Italians were warned to prepare for “the hottest summer and hottest ever,” with the health ministry issuing a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence.
Temperatures are expected to hit 42C-43C in Rome on Tuesday, breaking the record of 40.5C set in August 2007.
However, tourists flocked to visit hot spots such as the Colosseum and the Vatican.
“I’m from South Africa. We’re used to this heat,” said Jacob Vreunissen, 60, an architect from Cape Town. “You need to drink a lot of water, obviously put your hat on and that’s it.”
Greece rested on Monday, the temperature dropped slightly and the Acropolis in Athens resumed its opening hours after being closed for several hours three days ago. But new heat is expected from Thursday and meteorologists warned of an increased risk of wildfires amid strong winds from the Aegean Sea.
In Romania, temperatures are expected to reach 39C on Monday across the region.
A slight rebound is forecast in Spain, where meteorologists warned of “extreme” temperatures on Monday, including up to 44C in southern Andalusia which will be a new regional record.
Along with the heat, some parts of Asia have also been hit by typhoons.
South Korea’s president vowed on Monday to “rehabilitate” the country’s handling of bad weather, after at least 40 people were killed in floods and landslides during the typhoon, which is expected to continue on Wednesday.
In northern India, persistent thunderstorms have killed at least 90 people, following scorching temperatures.
Floods and landslides occur during monsoons in India, but experts say climate change is increasing their frequency and severity.
It may be difficult to attribute a particular climate problem to climate change, but many scientists insist that global warming is the cause of these extreme heat waves.
From North America to Europe and Asia, people sipped water and sought shelter from the scorching heat, with the mercury expected to reach new highs in several places in the next few days.
Europe, the world’s hottest continent, was expecting the hottest temperatures this week in the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia, which are forecast to reach 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit), according to the European Space Agency.
“We’re from Texas and it’s really hot there, we thought we could escape the heat but it’s really hot here,” Colman Peavy, 30, said while sipping a cappuccino outside between Rome and his wife Ana on the patio. the start of a two-week Italian vacation.
With June already on record for the world’s hottest month, according to the EU’s climate watchdog, Mother Nature seemed to want July to hold its own.
China reported a new high in mid-July in the northwest of the country, where temperatures reached 52.2C in the village of Sanbao in Xinjiang province, breaking the record of 50.6C six years ago.
In the nearby city of Turpan, where temperatures dipped below 80C in some places, authorities told workers and students to stay at home and ordered special trucks to spray water on major roads, the weather agency said.
In Cyprus, where temperatures are expected to remain above 40C until Thursday, a 90-year-old man died of heatstroke and three other adults were hospitalized, health officials said.
In Japan, heat wave alerts were issued in 32 of the country’s 47 regions, mostly in the central and southwestern regions.
At least 60 people in Japan were treated for heatstroke, local media said, including 51 who were taken to hospitals in Tokyo.
The heat was enough for one person to solve the problem of development in the city of Hamamatsu.
“Of course I can’t live without a parasol, although I have to admit it’s embarrassing,” he told national broadcaster NHK about the umbrella in his hand.
The highest temperature in Japan was 41.1C first recorded in the city of Kumagaya in 2018.
In the western and southern states of the US, which are used to extreme heat, more than 80 million people were advised that “spreading and suppressing” the heat burned the area.
California’s Death Valley, which is often among the hottest places in the world, reached 52C on Sunday afternoon.
In Arizona, the state capital of Phoenix recorded its 17th straight day above 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius), with temperatures hitting 113F (45C) on Sunday afternoon.
“We’re used to 110, 112 (degrees Fahrenheit) … But not blisters,” Nancy Leonard, a 64-year-old retiree from nearby Peoria, told AFP. “You just have to get used to it”.
Southern California was battling several wildfires, including one in Riverside County that has burned more than 7,500 acres (3,000 hectares) and prompted evacuations.
In Europe, Italians were warned to prepare for “the hottest summer and hottest ever,” with the health ministry issuing a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence.
Temperatures are expected to hit 42C-43C in Rome on Tuesday, breaking the record of 40.5C set in August 2007.
However, tourists flocked to visit hot spots such as the Colosseum and the Vatican.
“I’m from South Africa. We’re used to this heat,” said Jacob Vreunissen, 60, an architect from Cape Town. “You need to drink a lot of water, obviously put your hat on and that’s it.”
Greece rested on Monday, the temperature dropped slightly and the Acropolis in Athens resumed its opening hours after being closed for several hours three days ago. But new heat is expected from Thursday and meteorologists warned of an increased risk of wildfires amid strong winds from the Aegean Sea.
In Romania, temperatures are expected to reach 39C on Monday across the region.
A slight rebound is forecast in Spain, where meteorologists warned of “extreme” temperatures on Monday, including up to 44C in southern Andalusia which will be a new regional record.
Along with the heat, some parts of Asia have also been hit by typhoons.
South Korea’s president vowed on Monday to “rehabilitate” the country’s handling of bad weather, after at least 40 people were killed in floods and landslides during the typhoon, which is expected to continue on Wednesday.
In northern India, persistent thunderstorms have killed at least 90 people, following scorching temperatures.
Floods and landslides occur during monsoons in India, but experts say climate change is increasing their frequency and severity.
It may be difficult to attribute a particular climate problem to climate change, but many scientists insist that global warming is the cause of these extreme heat waves.