Extreme heat hits countries around the world

[Pelican Press 0]

Extreme heat hits countries around the world

Chris Fawkes looks at excessive heat around the globe

Many parts of the world are currently experiencing above-average temperatures, with meteorologists saying this is largely a result of global warming.

While some areas are seeing colder conditions, far more regions are enduring temperatures described as being quite a lot warmer than average. According to BBC Weather’s Chris Fawkes, these heatwaves are “the fingerprint of climate change”.

Extreme heat can be deadly – 30,000 people ***** in the 2003 ********* heatwave – but such high temperatures over a prolonged ******* can also increase the risk of wildfires which have already broken out in parts of California in the US.

Swathes of the globe including North America, southern and eastern Asia and south-eastern Europe are currently experiencing extreme temperatures.

North America

EPA

A shady canal bank offers some respite from the heat in Montreal, Canada

About one in five Americans – more than 70 million people – are currently subject to warnings about excessive temperatures as high pressure has formed a “heat dome” which traps warm air underneath.

There are also warnings in force across four ********* provinces – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec.

US weather officials

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.

While much of the continent struggles with the heat,

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of the North Atlantic hurricane season.

Three people ***** on the ******** coast while the US National Hurricane Centre has warned of “life-threatening” flooding and mudslides in north-eastern Mexico and southern Texas.

India

EPA

A cow had to be doused with water in New Delhi during the heatwave

Northern India

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, with temperatures of 44-45C (113F) recorded.

The prolonged heat has led to power consumption records being broken as Indians turn up fans and air conditioning, leading to power cuts in Delhi on Monday. Water supplies have also been affected in the city.

Dozens of people have ***** from the heat since India’s summer began in March, with 50 dying across a three-day ******* earlier this month in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.

Summers in India are usually hot and humid, but this year the heat has been exceptionally harsh with longer, more intense and frequent heatwaves.

Saudi Arabia

Reuters

Saudi officials have issued advice to pilgrims in Mecca

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is being blamed for the deaths a number of ******* pilgrims in Mecca.

According to reports by the AFP news agency, which the BBC has not confirmed, more than 1,000 people have ***** while undertaking the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

While there have been deaths at Hajj before due to crushes and fires, the Saudi national meteorological centre reported a high of 52C (125F) earlier this week at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, according to AFP.

Saudi officials have been distributing water to pilgrims and advising people to avoid being outdoors during the hottest hours of the day between 10:00 and 16:00.

Greece

EPA

Firefighters have been battling wildfires on the island of Lesvos

Greece has reported a number of deaths during the earliest heatwave recorded in the country.

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since the extreme heat began – including the British TV and radio presenter Michael Mosley.

Greek authorities have moved to close the Acropolis in Athens in recent days while schools have shut. Firefighters have also been tackling a wildfire on the island of Lesvos.

Although Greece is no stranger to excessive heat during the summer, meteorologists say winds from North ******* are pushing up the temperature.

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#Extreme #heat #hits #countries #world

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