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Tag: Heatwave

Unstoppable Heatwaves, Deadly Avalanches, and Global Negligence: How Climate Change is Pushing the World to the Edge

Unstoppable Heatwaves, Deadly Avalanches, and Global Negligence: How Climate Change is Pushing the World to the Edge

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check
As temperatures continue to soar across the country, climate experts warn that 2025 could be even hotter than the record-breaking 2024, pushing the world deeper into an environmental crisis. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has already issued heatwave warnings for multiple states, including Odisha, Kerala, and Maharashtra, while Bengaluru is expected to be hotter than Delhi this year. The rising heat is not just an inconvenience—it is claiming lives. In Mana, Uttarakhand, a devastating avalanche buried around 55 soldiers and workers at a border base camp, with many tragically losing their lives. Experts point to climate change as the root cause of these disasters. The western disturbances, which normally bring snowfall around December and January, have shifted to February and ...
Somalia Unites Experts to Confront Drought and Extreme Heat Threats in 2025 Gu Season

Somalia Unites Experts to Confront Drought and Extreme Heat Threats in 2025 Gu Season

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
Somalia has taken a crucial step toward tackling the looming threat of drought and extreme heat by hosting its Sixth National Climate Outlook Forum (NCOF6) in Mogadishu on March 4–5. The gathering brought together climate experts, government officials, and humanitarian agencies to assess the anticipated climate conditions for the Gu season (March-May 2025) and devise urgent mitigation strategies to protect communities from severe environmental challenges. The forum, organized by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), delivered a stark warning about the s...
Extreme Heat in Eastern Africa Climate Change Worsens Crisis in South Sudan

Extreme Heat in Eastern Africa Climate Change Worsens Crisis in South Sudan

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
A severe heatwave has gripped Eastern Africa since mid-February, with South Sudan facing extreme daytime temperatures that have devastated vulnerable communities. Schools have been shut nationwide after dozens of children collapsed from heatstroke in Juba, while outdoor workers and those in poor housing conditions struggle to cope with the relentless heat. The heatwave has exacerbated existing hardships in South Sudan, where a third of Juba’s population lacks access to clean water, and only 1% of the city offers green spaces for respite. Houses, often built with iron roofs and no cooling systems, trap heat, making indoor conditions nearly unbearable. Women and girls face disproportionate risks as they spend hours working in agriculture, collecting water, and cooking in extreme temperatu...
Oceans in Crisis Marine Heatwaves Surge by 240% in Just Two Years

Oceans in Crisis Marine Heatwaves Surge by 240% in Just Two Years

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
The world’s oceans are heating up at an alarming rate, with marine heatwaves (MHWs) surging by 240% over the last two years according to a new study published in Nature Climate Change. From 2023 to 2024 nearly 10% of the world’s oceans recorded their highest-ever sea surface temperatures (SST), reaching levels four times higher than historical averages. Scientists attribute this rapid warming to human-induced climate change, El Niño, and record-low global cloud cover. The impact of prolonged MHWs has been devastating. The rising ocean temperatures contributed to heatwaves in the UK, North America, and Japan, as well as severe flooding in Ecuador, Libya, and Australia. These heatwaves also supercharged hurricanes, including Cyclone Gabrielle, which caused $14 billion in damages in New...
Marine Heat Waves Surge by 240% Threatening Ocean Life and Climate Stability

Marine Heat Waves Surge by 240% Threatening Ocean Life and Climate Stability

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
New Delhi: Scientists have raised alarms over a dramatic rise in marine heat waves with recent studies revealing a 240% surge in their frequency over the past year. These prolonged temperature spikes are wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems, intensifying storms and disrupting the delicate balance of oceanic life. Unprecedented Rise in Ocean Temperatures A study published in Nature Climate Change highlights how vast regions of the world’s oceans are now experiencing sustained heat waves at levels never seen before. Researchers from Australia and the U.K. warn that such extreme warming accelerates evaporation, leading to more intense weather events. The devastating Cyclone Gabrielle, which struck New Zealand in 2023, has been directly linked to this oceanic warming, underscoring the far...
India Warns of Monsoon  Cyclone Forecast Risks as US Climate Cuts Shake Global Weather Tracking

India Warns of Monsoon Cyclone Forecast Risks as US Climate Cuts Shake Global Weather Tracking

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Opinions
Indian scientists have raised alarms over job cuts at the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, warning that reduced climate observations could disrupt India’s monsoon forecasts and cyclone tracking. The layoffs, part of the Donald Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce, have affected hundreds of meteorologists and climate experts responsible for weather monitoring and forecasting. Union Ministry of Earth Sciences Secretary M Ravichandran expressed concerns about the potential impact on weather predictions. He explained that fewer ocean observations mean less data for forecast models, ultimately reducing predictability. Climate scientist Roxy Mathew Koll from the Indian Institute for Tropical Meteorology called the NOAA layoffs a global ...
Global Heatwave Breaks Records Sparks Wildfires and Water Crises Canada

Global Heatwave Breaks Records Sparks Wildfires and Water Crises Canada

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
A historic heatwave is sweeping across the Northern Hemisphere, breaking temperature records and triggering widespread wildfires, droughts, and power outages. With multiple countries facing extreme weather conditions, scientists warn that the crisis is a direct consequence of accelerating climate change. Records Shattered Across Continents The heatwave has gripped vast regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, pushing temperatures to unprecedented levels. In Phoenix, Arizona, thermometers hit 53°C (127°F), making it the hottest day in the city’s history. Across the Atlantic, Paris, France, recorded 45.9°C (114.6°F), forcing the government to issue emergency health warnings. In India’s capital, New Delhi, the mercury soared past 50°C (122°F) for the first time ever, causing mass hos...
Arctic Marine Mammals Facing High Mortality, Low Reproduction Due to Marine Heatwaves

Arctic Marine Mammals Facing High Mortality, Low Reproduction Due to Marine Heatwaves

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
Marine mammals in the Arctic and Subarctic are suffering from increased mortality, reduced reproduction rates, and heightened vulnerability to disease due to marine heatwaves (MHWs), according to a new study. MHWs are periods of significantly elevated sea temperatures lasting from days to years, and the Arctic Ocean is predicted to be a future hotspot for such events. These temperature spikes can cover vast areas, ranging from a few kilometers to thousands. The study analyzed MHWs in the Bering and Barents Seas key pathways to the Arctic Ocean focusing on the 2017-2019 MHWs in the Bering and Chukchi Seas and the infamous 2014-2016 "Blob" in the northeast Pacific. Marine mammals like whales and sea lions often show delayed responses to MHWs due to their higher mobility and blubber ...
Record January Heat Shows La Niña Struggling to Cool a Warming World

Record January Heat Shows La Niña Struggling to Cool a Warming World

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
January 2025 has shattered temperature records, marking the hottest start to a year ever recorded 1.7°C above pre-industrial levels. Many climate watchers expected a cooling effect due to the natural La Niña phenomenon, but global warming appears to be overpowering it. Scientists now warn that human-driven ocean warming is beginning to overwhelm natural climate patterns, making temporary cooling phases like La Niña less effective. La Niña is part of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a climate pattern that influences global temperatures by shifting ocean heat between basins. While El Niño causes warming, La Niña typically brings cooler global temperatures by shifting heat away from the eastern Pacific. Historically, La Niña has helped suppress temperature spikes, but this year, ev...
Kerala Faces Early Heatwave as Munnar Remains a Chilly Haven

Kerala Faces Early Heatwave as Munnar Remains a Chilly Haven

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
Kerala is experiencing an unexpected surge in temperatures, months before summer officially begins. With the lingering effects of El Niño and the Uttarayan shift intensifying the heat, several districts are already witnessing scorching conditions, raising concerns about climate patterns and their impact on daily life. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has linked this rise in temperature to the sun’s northward movement, which brings it directly over the Tropic of Cancer. While most of Kerala struggles with unseasonal heat, Munnar the picturesque hill town in Idukki stands apart, recording freezing temperatures as low as zero degrees Celsius. Heatwave-Like Conditions Arrive Early January and February, usually mild months, have seen temperatures climb to alarming levels. Kann...