{"id":845,"date":"2023-08-28T09:52:39","date_gmt":"2023-08-28T09:52:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brhrd.be\/?p=845"},"modified":"2025-10-18T10:13:34","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T10:13:34","slug":"scorching-new-normal-as-world-buckles-under-extreme-heat-wmo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brhrd.be\/?p=845","title":{"rendered":"Scorching \u2018new normal\u2019 as world buckles under extreme heat: WMO"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Heatwaves sweeping large parts of the world offer yet another reminder that extreme weather events boosted by human-induced climate change have become \u201cthe new normal\u201d, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO<\/a>) warned on Friday.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Weather agency Spokesperson Clare Nullis said that heat warnings have been issued by many weather services across Europe this week, including in France, Germany, Poland and Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, parts of the Middle East were expected to see temperatures over 50 degrees Celsius in the coming days, and Japan was experiencing a \u201cprolonged\u201d heatwave which shattered temperature records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wildfires \u2018off the charts\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to reporters about the recent massive wildfires fuelled by the hot and dry conditions in Tenerife in Spain\u2019s Canary Islands, Ms. Nullis highlighted the \u201cmany evacuations and much devastation\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnfortunately, that is a picture with which we\u2019ve become all too familiar this summer,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The WMO<\/a> Spokesperson also noted that Canada\u2019s record-breaking season was continuing and that it was \u201ccompletely off the charts\u201d this year. As of 17 August, more than 600 wildfires across the country were out of control, she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even Canada\u2019s far north near the Arctic Circle had not been spared, as a mass evacuation order was in force in the town of Yellowknife in the Northern Territories due to an approaching blaze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, in the British Columbia town of Lytton, a record temperature of 42.2 degrees Celsius was reached this week, Ms. Nullis said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Massive rainfall via Hurricane Hilary<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

WMO also warned that Hurricane Hilary had intensified \u201cvery rapidly\u201d to a major category four hurricane off Mexico\u2019s Pacific Coast, \u201cfed by warm ocean surface temperatures\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sustained winds of up to 220 kilometres per hour were expected in Mexico\u2019s coastal areas over the weekend. Ms. Nullis noted that, as it was often the case with tropical cyclones, \u201cthe threat is not just from the wind but also from water\u201d, and rainfall of up to 152 millimetres was forecast in the affected areas in Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The usually arid southwest of the United States, including major cities such as San Diego, would also see \u201ca huge amount of rain in a short time\u201d, she said, with a high risk of flash flooding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WMO climate expert Alvaro Silva commented that \u201cthe frequency and intensity of many extremes, such as heatwaves and heavy precipitation, have increased in recent decades\u201d. He noted that it can be said with \u201chigh confidence\u201d that human induced climate change from greenhouse emissions is the main driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dramatic impacts for Pacific islands<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The southwest Pacific was another region hit hard by the impacts of a warming climate, WMO said, with weather-related disasters \u201cunravelling the fabric of society\u201d there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the UN agency\u2019s latest report<\/a>, sea level rise threatened the future of low-lying islands, while increasing ocean heat and acidification devastated vulnerable marine ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said that the El Ni\u00f1o climate pattern will have a major impact on the region this year, bringing higher temperatures, disruptive weather \u201cand more marine heatwaves and coral bleaching\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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