Intense heatwaves have set in across parts of Europe, China, and the United States, marking an early onset of potentially record-breaking summer temperatures. The stark temperature rise signals the impending threat of global warming, with over 100 million Americans and several European nations currently under extreme heat advisories.
Sweeping Heat Across the Globe
Areas under intense heat advisories include states like Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas, with Europe’s nations like France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Poland also feeling the heat. The European Space Agency anticipates record temperatures as high as 48 degrees Celsius on Sicily and Sardinia’s islands. North Africa and parts of China, including Beijing, also battle severe temperatures. This ongoing heatwave follows the hottest June on record, as NASA and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service stated.
Climate Change: The ‘New Normal
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Petteri Taalas warns that this extreme weather, a product of a warming climate, is, unfortunately, becoming the ‘new normal’. The WMO states that excessive heat is one of the deadliest meteorological events, attributing over 61,000 deaths to heat during Europe’s record-breaking summer last year. The El Nino climate pattern likely contributes to this year’s high temperatures. Climate scientists argue that global warming can cause heavier and more frequent rainfall, leading to severe flooding, as recently seen in Vermont, United States.
