Plus: 1,300 killed during Hajj in Saudi Arabia amid extereme temperatures
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From top left clockwise: A man is attended to after fainting in the heat outside the Supreme Court in Washington; A pharmacy in Italy shows temperature at 41C; A man affected by the scorching heat is helped by a member of Saudi security forces in Mecca (Credit: AFP via Getty Images) |
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Over the weekend, more than 100 million people in the US experienced heat warnings as temperatures soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) in numerous locations.
Palm Springs, California, saw highs of 112F (44C) on Sunday, while Las Vegas recorded temperatures of 109F (43C).
Death Valley, a remote part of the California desert that is 282 feet (86 meters) below sea level and often records the nation's highest temperature, reached 121F (49C) on Sunday.
Although heat was expected to subside this week in the New York-Washington corridor, health advisories were still in effect throughout the country.
"Instead of cooler, it may be appropriate to say not quite as hot," said Rich Bann, a meteorologist with NWS's Weather Prediction Centre.
A study last week found the killer heatwaves that baked southern US and Mexico this summer were made 35 times more likely due to the man-made climate crisis.
Meanwhile, the UK is also under heat alerts as the Met Office predicts temperatures could soar over 30C.
All warnings came into place at 8am on Monday and will remain until 5pm on Thursday.
Heatwaves also gripped southern Europe as British tourists travelling to holiday hotspots across the Mediterranean were warned to brace for extreme weather conditions.
Greece, Italy, the Canary Islands, Spain, Turkey and Cyprus have already recorded temperatures above 40C, with Greece ravaged by a series of fires.
Heatwaves also continued to wreak havoc in Asia with the death toll among Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia above 1,300, according to official figures.
This year about 1.8 million pilgrims arrived in the holy city of Mecca and walked long distances amid a deadly heatwave with temperatures exceeding 51C (125F).
Among the 1,300 dead were a Maryland couple on their "lifelong dream" trip from which they never returned.
Alhaji Alieu Dausy, 71, and Haja Isatu Wurie, 65, saved money their whole lives to be able to go to Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage which is mandatory for those who practice Islam at least once.
Their daughter, Saida Wurie, told CNN they spent $23,000 on a travel package for the event.
"It was more than likely it was heat stroke for both of my parents," she said.
Meanwhile, a new study has found heatwaves are not just increasing the highest temperatures during the day but are also making night-time temperatures hotter, leaving people sleepless and weak.
In India, which has been suffering its longest ever heatwave, around 50-80 nights with unusual temperatures have been recorded in the last six years.
Globally, every person is spending almost five nights in unusually hotter temperatures every year.
More climate news this week from The Independent
Deadly floods continue to destroy Midwest towns as 50 million remain under heat warnings
Helicopters sent to rescue people amid heavy flooding in Iowa
Scenes of devastation emerge in New Mexico as 'dangerous' floods follow wildfires
Elon Musk's Starlink satellites could damage the environment for decades, study says
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"Cities turn into urban heat islands when buildings, roads, and other infrastructure absorb and re-emit heat, causing cities to be several degrees hotter than surrounding rural areas." |
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Life in the climate crisis |
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