Heatwaves

Assam faces heatwave conditions, school timings changed in Dibrugarh

The order stated that school hours would start early and end accordingly and similar other guidelines

Earth sets new record for hottest summer, raising global heat concerns

Summer 2024 sweltered to Earth's hottest on record, making it even more likely that this year will end up as the warmest humanity has measured, European climate service Copernicus reported Friday. And if this sounds familiar, that's because the records the globe shattered were set just last year as human-caused climate change, with a temporary boost from an El Nino, keeps dialling up temperatures and extreme weather, scientists said. The northern meteorological summer June, July and August averaged 16.8 degrees Celsius (62.24 degrees Fahrenheit), according to Copernicus. That's 0.03 degrees Celsius (0.05 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the old record in 2023. Copernicus records go back to 1940, but American, British and Japanese records, which start in the mid-19th century, show the last decade has been the hottest since regular measurements were taken and likely in about 120,000 years, according to some scientists. The Augusts of both 2024 and 2023 tied for the hottest Augusts ..

Record heat in Iran raises global concern as heat index touches 82 degrees

If verified, these figures could set new records for the highest heat index and dew point ever documented on Earth

California faces summer of extremes, from heat waves and wildfires to snow

An unusually cold weather system from the Gulf of Alaska interrupted summer along the West Coast on Saturday, bringing snow to Washington state's Mount Rainier and a national park in Northern California, causing authorities to close part of a highway that runs through the park. Parts of Highway 89 through Lassen Volcanic National Park in California were closed Saturday after an estimated three inches of snow fell overnight, according to the National Weather Service. Photos posted by the National Weather Service and local authorities showed a white-covered peak from Rainier and a dusting of snow at Minaret Vista, a lookout point southeast of Yosemite National Park in California's Sierra Nevada. Madera County Deputy Sheriff Larry Rich said it was definitely unexpected to see snow at Minaret Vista in August. It's not every day you get to spend your birthday surrounded by a winter wonderland in the middle of summer, he said in a statement. It made for a day I won't soon forget, and a ..

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 ...