Scorching weather gripped three continents on Sunday, whipping up wildfires and threatening to topple temperature records as the dire consequences of global warming take shape. Predictions of historic heat hung over swathes of Asia, Europe and the US.
In Japan, authorities issued heatstroke alerts to tens of millions of people in 20 of its 47 prefectures as near-record high temperatures scorched large areas and torrential rain pummelled other regions. National broadcaster NHK warned the heat was life-threatening, with the capital and other places recording nearly 40°C. Japan’s highest temperature ever — 41. 1°C first recorded in Kumagaya city, Saitama, in 2018 — could be beaten.
China issued several temperature alerts, warning of 40°-45°C in the partly desert region of Xinjiang, and 39°C in southern Guangxi region.
The US National Weather Service reported that a powerful heatwave stretching from California to Texas was expected to peak during an “extremely hot and dangerous weekend”. California’s Death Valley, often among the hottest places on Earth, is also likely to register new peaks, with mercury possibly surpassing 54°C. Southern California is fighting many wildfires, including one in Riverside County that has burned over 7,500 acres.
Further north, Canada said wildfires had burned a record 10 million hectares this year.
In Italy, predictions of historic highs in the coming days led the health ministry to sound a red alert for 16 cities. Temperatures are likely to hit 40°C in Rome by Monday and 42°C-43°C on Tuesday, smashing the record of 40. 5C set in August 2007. The Acropolis in Athens, one of Greece’s top tourist attractions, closed for a third day running during the hottest hours. On Spain’s La Palma island, a fire burned 5,000 hectares forcing the evacuation of 4,000 people.
In Japan, authorities issued heatstroke alerts to tens of millions of people in 20 of its 47 prefectures as near-record high temperatures scorched large areas and torrential rain pummelled other regions. National broadcaster NHK warned the heat was life-threatening, with the capital and other places recording nearly 40°C. Japan’s highest temperature ever — 41. 1°C first recorded in Kumagaya city, Saitama, in 2018 — could be beaten.
China issued several temperature alerts, warning of 40°-45°C in the partly desert region of Xinjiang, and 39°C in southern Guangxi region.
The US National Weather Service reported that a powerful heatwave stretching from California to Texas was expected to peak during an “extremely hot and dangerous weekend”. California’s Death Valley, often among the hottest places on Earth, is also likely to register new peaks, with mercury possibly surpassing 54°C. Southern California is fighting many wildfires, including one in Riverside County that has burned over 7,500 acres.
Further north, Canada said wildfires had burned a record 10 million hectares this year.
In Italy, predictions of historic highs in the coming days led the health ministry to sound a red alert for 16 cities. Temperatures are likely to hit 40°C in Rome by Monday and 42°C-43°C on Tuesday, smashing the record of 40. 5C set in August 2007. The Acropolis in Athens, one of Greece’s top tourist attractions, closed for a third day running during the hottest hours. On Spain’s La Palma island, a fire burned 5,000 hectares forcing the evacuation of 4,000 people.