Heat Wave

Climate change drives sleep loss as temperatures increase at night

Eighth annual Lancet Countdown on health and climate change report, authored by 122 global experts, found that high temperatures, drought and heavy rainfall are increasingly impacting people's health

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 in 2080: Brace for warmer and drier summers, interactive map warns

An interactive map by the University of Maryland in US, titled 'Future Urban Planets', predicts that Mumbai summers will be 3.4 degrees Celsius warmer and 7.4 per cent wetter by 2080

June warmest on record, 12th month over 1.5 degrees C limit: EU agency

With millions of people across five continents experiencing scorching heat last month, the European Union's climate agency, Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), confirmed on Monday that June was the warmest on record. It also marked the 12th consecutive month of global temperatures reaching or breaking the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold. According to C3S ERA5 data, every month since June last year has been the warmest such month on record. In January, the world completed an entire year with the mean surface air temperature exceeding the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold. June was the 12th consecutive month with monthly average temperatures above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average. At the 2015 UN climate talks in Paris, world leaders committed to limiting the global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial period to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. However, a permanent breach of the 1.5-degree Celsius limit specified in the Paris Agreement .

Local beverages gain traction as consumer look to quench their thirst

Many regional brands were able to increase their penetration in existing markets and increase their market share

Indians tackle intense heat with 'mad rush' for air conditioners, beer

Quick delivery service Swiggy Instamart said it is seeing a sharp rise in orders for ice cream and cold beverages

Heatwave crisis in Pakistan: Over 450 lives lost as Karachi swelters

Pakistan is reeling from a deadly heatwave in Karachi and neighbouring regions, where over 450 deaths have strained healthcare and public infrastructure

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

Delhi records minimum temperature of 30 deg C, 2.4 notches above average

The national capital on Friday recorded a minimum temperature of 30 degrees Celsius, 2.4 notches above the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department. The weather department has predicted dust storm or thunderstorm during the day. The humidity at 8.30 am was at 42 per cent. The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 42 degrees Celsius, it stated. The national capital's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded in the "poor" category with a reading of 242 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".

Review availability of heatstroke rooms at health facilities: Govt

With many parts of the country in the grip of a heatwave, the Centre has asked states and Union territories to conduct follow-up reviews to ensure dedicated heat stroke rooms at all health facilities besides implementing critical fire and electrical safety measures. Dr Atul Goel, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Union Health Ministry conducted a virtual review meeting with states and UTs to assess the preparedness for heatwave conditions and fire safety measures adopted by various healthcare facilities across the country. State Health departments have been issued advisories and asked to implement guidelines on strengthening health systems preparedness for Heat-Related Illnesses (HRI) besides issuing a public health advisory with do's and don'ts. They have been urged to follow the guidelines on emergency cooling for severe heat-related illnesses and autopsy findings in heat related deaths. State health departments have been asked to adhere to the joint communication fr

Sweltering heat directs attention at 'disappearing' spring in country

Sweltering heatwave in north India that have caused scores of deaths, floods and landslides in the northeast that have affected lakhs of people, a spring season that suggests it could soon "disappear" from the calendar extreme weather events in the first five months of 2024 have got everyone questioning: where is all this headed? Despite having made predictions to this effect, climate scientists acknowledge that the temperatures this summer, including the outlier 52.9 degrees Celsius in Delhi, are "alarming, though not surprising". "This could be the worst summer in the last 120 years, at least for north India. Never have temperatures gone so high more than 45-47 degrees Celsius for such a vast region, which is also densely populated. This is a record in itself," Vimal Mishra, Vikram Sarabhai Chair Professor, Civil Engineering and Earth Sciences, IIT Gandhinagar, told PTI. The temperatures, "similar to those in Africa's Sahara desert," are "far beyond expectations" by at least ..

Delhi discoms relying on advanced tech transformers to ensure power supply

The power discoms operating in Delhi are relying on their advanced-technology transformers to ensure an uninterrupted supply of electricity, with the peak demand ranging around 8,000 MW amid a scorching heatwave in the city. The transformers used by the BSES are designed to operate at 40 degrees above the ambient (area) temperature, said a spokesperson of the company. "This basically means that the transformers can operate at up to 40 degrees more than the prevalent area temperature. For example, if the area temperature is 48 degrees Celsius, these can operate till 88 degrees Celsius without any external aid," he said. The BSES discoms (distribution companies) -- BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) -- supply electricity to most parts of the city except North Delhi. "Due to the modern design and technology, there is no need for any external aid like a fan to cool the transformer," the BSES spokesperson said. Transformers getting overheated and bu

Extreme temperatures across Asia push LNG imports to record highs

While China may still see lower demand compared with its record breaking shipments in 2021, demand from India and the rest of Asia has compensated for any drop-off, an expert said

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

Sweltering heat raises gas demand as idle power plants resume operations

India invoked an emergency provision to spur output at gas-fired power stations that had previously been idling

Heatwave crisis: How many Indians are succumbing to the high temperatures?

India is grappling with unusually high temperatures this summer, with IMD predicting 'heat wave to severe heat wave' conditions to persist in several regions

Blistering summer helps Varun Bev, Havells, Voltas, others improve earnings

Heat waves are accelerating the penetration of many cooling products like air conditioners and refrigerators, an industry expert said

Peak power demand hits season's new high of nearly 240 GW on Friday

India's peak power demand hit the season's new high of 239.96 GW on Friday, due to soaring mercury levels in various parts of the country, which compelled excessive use of cooling appliances like air conditioners and coolers. As per power ministry data, the peak power demand met or the highest supply in the day, was recorded at 239.96 GW on Friday, which is the maximum so far in the summer season this year. On Thursday, it was 236.59 GW, while on Wednesday, the peak power demand was at 235.06 GW, as per power ministry data. The all-time high peak power demand of 243.27 GW was recorded in September 2023. The record is expected to be broken during this summer season. Earlier this month, the power ministry projected a peak power demand of 235 GW during daytime and 225 GW during evening hours for May and 240 GW during daytime and 235 GW during evening hours for June 2024. Industry experts are of the view that power demand is already around 240 GW level in May, which was projected for

India heat waves linked to climate change cause massive food waste

India wastes more food than almost any other country partly because of spotty refrigeration. Climate change is making the problem worse

Heatwave persists in large parts of India, Barmer sizzles at 48.8 degrees C

Large parts of India sweltered under a heat wave for the seventh day on the trot on Thursday, with the mercury soaring to 48.8 degrees Celsius in Rajasthan's Barmer, the highest temperature recorded in the country this year so far. Official data showed that at least 16 places in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh recorded maximum temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius or above on Thursday. The brutal heat wave will continue for at least five more days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. In Rajasthan, Churu logged a high of 47.4 degrees Celsius, Phalodi 47.8 degrees, and Jaisalmer 47.2 degrees. Maximum temperatures settled at 46.6 degrees in Madhya Pradesh's Guna, 45.9 degrees in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, 45 degrees in Uttar Pradesh's Orai, 45.4 degrees each in Punjab's Bathinda and Haryana's Sirsa. However, in Delhi, the maximum temperature dipped slightly on Thursday but remained around a notch above the normal for this time of the year. Th