Many Asian countries are struggling with the scorching heat as temperatures soar. On July 16, some parts of Japan saw the highest temperature in more than 40 years, forcing the government to issue a warning about the risk of heatstroke. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the city of Kiryu in Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo, recorded a temperature of 39.7 degrees Celsius, while the satellite city of Hachioji, west of Tokyo, reached 38.9 degrees Celsius.
In northern India, after days of scorching heat, torrential rains caused floods and landslides that left at least 90 people dead. Massive floods and landslides occur during monsoons in India, but experts said climate change has been increasing the frequency and severity of disasters. Similarly in the Republic of Korea, heavy rains over the past few days caused landslides that have killed 37 people and left nine missing.
China activates a yellow alert as heat waves affect parts of the country. According to the China National Meteorological Centre, temperatures in the regions of Xinjiang, Hebei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong are likely to rise to around 37-39 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature in some areas of Xinjiang and Fujian can exceed 40C. The agency also advised people to limit outdoor activities in the afternoon and those who work in high-temperature conditions for several hours in the sun, to take care of themselves. In Iraq, the temperature in the capital city of Baghdad reached nearly 50 degrees Celsius and drought caused the water level of the Tigris River to gradually dry up.
Many European countries are also experiencing extremely hot weather. The Italian Ministry of Health has issued a red temperature warning for 16 cities, including Rome, Bologna and Florence. The Italian weather agency warned that the country is preparing to face the most intense heat wave of the summer, which is also one of the most intense heat waves ever. Accordingly, the temperature forecast in Rome may rise to 43 degrees Celsius on July 18, breaking the record of 40.5 degrees Celsius from August 2007. The islands of Sicily and Sardinia could see temperatures of up to 48 degrees Celsius, the highest ever recorded in Europe. In Greece, the Acropolis in Athens, one of the top destinations in the Mediterranean nation, was closed during the hottest days of the weekend.
The heat and drought are threatening the agricultural sector of France. According to France's National Weather Service, June was the second hottest month on record in the country. French authorities have issued heat warnings in some areas since July 18. The French Meteorological Agency warned of another heat wave from July 17-19, bringing temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius for the Canary Islands and the Andalusia region in the south.
The US National Weather Service (NWS) forecast that the heat wave in the area stretching from California to Texas will peak this weekend. Many parts of the western US will experience record-breaking heat, as an extreme heatwave continues to blanket the western and southern parts of the country, affecting tens of millions of locals. In California, the Death Valley area, one of the hottest places on Earth, could see a new record high of up to 54 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Phoenix, the capital city of the state of Arizona, recorded 16 consecutive days of temperatures above 43 degrees Celsius. The US authorities have issued a heat warning and advised people to limit outdoor activities during the day, to avoid heatstroke and dehydration. Due to extreme heat, the southern part of California has witnessed many wildfires.
Scientists believe that global warming is the cause of extreme heat waves with more frequency and intensity. Analysis of global temperatures by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), shows that June 2023 was the hottest June ever recorded in history. The current heat waves demonstrate the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
