Thursday, July 31News That Matters

Tag: extreme weather

La Niña Fails to Arrive Weather Models Miss the Mark

La Niña Fails to Arrive Weather Models Miss the Mark

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
BENGALURU: As 2024 edges closer to its end it is on track to become the warmest year ever recorded, surpassing 2016. Among the key factors driving this record-breaking warmth is the unexpected absence of La Niña, a climatic phenomenon that global weather models had predicted to emerge earlier this year. Despite repeated forecasts, La Niña has failed to materialize, leaving experts scrambling to understand what went wrong. La Niña, a cooling phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), typically brings colder sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, stronger trade winds, and increased rainfall in regions like India. This phase is part of a larger cycle that includes El Niño, a warming phase, and the neutral phase, characterized by average sea surface temper...
Mumbai Records Coldest Day in 8 Years at 16.5°C, Warmer Days Expected Ahead

Mumbai Records Coldest Day in 8 Years at 16.5°C, Warmer Days Expected Ahead

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
Mumbai experienced its coldest day in eight years on Friday, with the minimum temperature dipping to 16.5°C, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This was recorded by the Santacruz observatory, which monitors weather for the city’s suburbs. The Colaba observatory, representing the island city, registered a slightly warmer minimum temperature of 21.4°C. The last time Mumbai saw a colder November day was on November 11, 2016, when the temperature dropped to 16.3°C, IMD scientist Sushma Nair noted. No Cold Wave Alert Despite the drop in mercury, the IMD clarified that there is no cold wave alert for Mumbai or Maharashtra between November 30 and December 3. Temperatures are expected to rise after this period due to changes in weather systems over the Bay of Bengal. ...
Timor-Leste Fight Against Climate Disasters Blend of Technology and Community Action

Timor-Leste Fight Against Climate Disasters Blend of Technology and Community Action

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Tech
Timor-Leste, a small island nation in Southeast Asia, is on the frontlines of the climate crisis, grappling with the devastating impacts of extreme weather. However, a combination of local knowledge, cutting-edge technology, and support from the United Nations is helping its communities better prepare for disasters. In April 2021, catastrophic flash floods swept through Timor-Leste, killing over 30 people and destroying 4,000 homes. Orlalan, a remote village of nearly 6,000 people, was among the worst-hit areas. With limited disaster preparedness, residents were caught off guard as landslides and floodwaters surged. Today, community leaders like Armandina Valentina are driving grassroots efforts to ensure their neighbors are better equipped for the next disaster. She tirelessly educa...
Study Warns 70% of Global Population Will Face Extreme Weather by 2044

Study Warns 70% of Global Population Will Face Extreme Weather by 2044

Breaking News, Environment
A new study predicts that nearly 75% of the global population will face extreme weather events in the next two decades unless greenhouse gas emissions are drastically reduced. Led by climate scientists from the Center for International Climate Research (CICERO) in Norway, the research warns that even in the best-case scenario, 1.5 billion people will experience rapid and dangerous changes in weather patterns. Physicist Bjørn Samset from CICERO stresses that these extreme events, such as intense heatwaves, floods, and storms, are already locked in due to the current state of the climate. Samset explains, "The only way to deal with this is to prepare for a situation with a much higher likelihood of unprecedented extreme events, already in the next one to two decades." Recent climate da...
New Canadian Climate Tracker Highlights Soaring Costs of Climate Disasters, Calls for Proactive Adaptation

New Canadian Climate Tracker Highlights Soaring Costs of Climate Disasters, Calls for Proactive Adaptation

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
Attribution science has become increasingly precise in linking extreme weather events to climate change, and a new tracker from the Canadian Climate Institute (CCI) is emphasizing the urgent need for proactive measures to limit the damage caused by climate-fueled disasters. The online tool provides real-time data on the financial toll of wildfires, floods, and droughts across the country, using media reports to paint a stark picture of the growing costs. This summer alone, Toronto and Jasper, separated by 3,400 kilometers, faced significant climate-related losses. According to the Toronto Star, a single afternoon of heavy rain in Toronto on July 16 could result in damages exceeding C$1 billion. Meanwhile, as reported by CBC and confirmed by CCI’s tracker, the wildfire that ravaged Jaspe...
How Climate Change Escalating Risk of Extreme Heat stress Amid National Elections in India

How Climate Change Escalating Risk of Extreme Heat stress Amid National Elections in India

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Opinions, Thoughts & Talks
India is experiencing searing heat earlier than usual for the third consecutive summer, with extensive regions suffering from humid conditions. Scientists warn that climate change is increasing the frequency, duration, and severity of heatwaves, potentially endangering more than a billion lives. As national elections progress, the impact of this heatwave is more acute compared to 2023, the hottest year on record. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted an unusually high number of heatwave days from April to June. Defining Heatwaves and New Indices There is no global standard for defining heatwaves, but the IMD considers temperatures above 40°C in low-lying areas or 30°C in mountainous regions as heatwave conditions. The IMD has introduced a Heat Index that factors in ...
Alarming Surge in Extreme Weather Events in India Faces: Challenges and Impacts in year 2023

Alarming Surge in Extreme Weather Events in India Faces: Challenges and Impacts in year 2023

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
Climate Vulnerability and Increasing Frequency of Extreme Weather Events India has witnessed a staggering surge in extreme weather events, with almost daily occurrences in the first nine months of 2023, leading to nearly 3,000 deaths, according to a report released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Published on November 29, the report highlighted that the climate-vulnerable country experienced extreme weather on 86% of days from January to September, marking a concerning "new abnormal" in a warming world. The CSE's report, titled "India 2023: An Assessment of Extreme Weather Events," revealed alarming statistics, including 2,923 reported deaths, extensive crop damage covering almost two million hectares, destruction of 80,000 homes, and the loss of over 92,000 animals. H...