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flood

Rescue Efforts Continue In Nepal As Death Toll Exceeds 1,000

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Rescue teams are continuing to search through debris, rocks, destroyed roads, and mud this week on the border of Nepal and China as thousands of people are still missing after devastating floods took over communities all throughout the region, with the UN now reporting that more than 1,000 have died from the disaster. 

It’s been reported that police in Kathmandu are burying dozens of bodies in trenches. Nepal’s disaster agency said that 1,003 deaths have been counted there with over 3,900 people missing, including 583 foreign nationals. In China’s most recent update, they reported 16 deaths with 546 people missing, including 261 foreigners. 

The disaster occurred on August 26th and devastated both nations due to how large it was. Extremely heavy flooding led to intense landslides that destroyed roads and buildings while isolating more remote areas, making rescue efforts difficult. 

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The unstable terrain and debris are making it even more difficult for rescue crews to find people, and many are worried that the death toll could become much higher than it is currently. 

One of the rescue efforts involves hundreds of workers who are trapped inside tunnels at hydropower projects in Nepal due to flooding. According to local authorities, around 900 workers are missing from 12 projects with about 500 believed to be trapped in the tunnels themselves. 

Nepal’s army spokesperson, Brigadier General Rajaram Basnet, stated that teams who are being assisted by foreign experts were working at several hydropower projects. 

In China, rescue crews are dealing with a lot of rescue missions in areas hit by mudslides, specifically around the Gyirong Port border crossing which was destroyed. 

Rescuers are utilizing search dogs to look among rocks and debris for signs of life, with other teams using heavy machinery to clear out areas to make way for more equipment, personnel, and supplies to reach the disaster zone, according to China’s state-run Global Times newspaper. 

In Kathmandu, police have also been dealing with heavy rain conditions this week as they continue to bury dozens of bodies in multiple tranches adjacent to forested areas. 

All throughout Nepal, authorities have been using temporary graves until the individuals can be identified. As a part of this effort they’re also preserving DNA samples, photographing distinguishing marks and facial features, and taking detailed records of each victim to ideally be able to swiftly give their loved ones some closure. 

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Authorities in Nepal reported that at least 11,814 people have been rescued so far, with emergency crews using helicopters and other aircrafts to reach communities that are stranded due to roads and bridges being destroyed from flooding and landslides. 

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, stated that efforts are being stepped up to help provide assistance to survivors in areas that have been cut off or damaged. He emphasized that a second batch of relief supplies was being sent to Nepal. Drones, DNA testing, and water purification equipment will be utilized. 

Bimal Sharma, a helicopter pilot who’s experienced in flying rescue and relief missions, told the media that he was shocked to see the devastation in Timure, the border town close to Tibet. 

“It felt like I was flying over an entirely different landscape. I can see the pain in [the survivors] eyes. It’s heartbreaking.”

Scientists who are studying satellite imagery of the disaster stated that it began in the Himalayas when a glacial collapse sent a large amount of rocks, ice , and meltwater into the valleys below, which triggered the major flooding. The rockfall alone was powerful enough to register as a magnitude 5.2 seismic event. 

Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah stated that the disaster shows just how much the world needs to take action to combat climate change. 

“This incident has indicated that the risks we face in the Himalayan region are increasing with climate change,” Shah said.

“Therefore, this region must be alert, and at the same time, it is time for us to strongly raise the issue of disasters caused by climate change before the international community.”

EPA

5 Dead in Louisiana After Contracting Flesh-Eating Vibrio Bacteria

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Five people in Louisiana have died this year after contracting Vibrio vulnificus, a potentially deadly bacterium found naturally in warm coastal and brackish waters, state health officials said.

Louisiana has reported nine cases of Vibrio vulnificus so far this year, with another four people hospitalized. Every case involved a wound that had been exposed to seawater, according to health officials, and all nine patients had underlying health conditions that can raise the risk of serious illness and complications.

Health officials are urging people with open wounds to avoid saltwater and brackish water and to thoroughly wash any wound with soap after possible exposure. Brackish water is a mixture of fresh and salt water, often found where rivers meet the ocean.

Vibrio bacteria can infect people in multiple ways. In addition to entering the body through an open wound exposed to contaminated water, the bacteria can be contracted by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters. Officials are also advising people to fully cook seafood and keep cooked seafood away from raw seafood and its juices.

Signs of a Vibrio wound infection can include fever, pain, redness, swelling, discoloration or fluid discharge around the affected area, according to the CDC.

The bacteria are most prevalent between May and October, when coastal waters are warmer. But scientists have increasingly detected Vibrio in areas where water temperatures were once considered too cold for the pathogen to thrive.

Researchers in New York, for example, said in April that they had detected Vibrio vulnificus in several bodies of water off the coast of Long Island. Previous cases have also been reported around Long Island Sound, a development scientists have linked, in part, to warming waters driven by climate change.

Farther south, Maryland health officials have also urged swimmers to use caution in the Chesapeake Bay after more than two dozen cases were confirmed in the state this year.

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Researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency have estimated that the number of Vibrio infections in the United States could increase by 50 percent by 2090 compared with 1995 levels as sea temperatures continue to rise.

Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, told CBS News the bacteria are appearing progressively farther north as the climate warms.

“With every year now, because of climate change, we’re seeing it higher and higher in more northerly latitudes.”

Louisiana is not the only state reporting infections this year. Florida has recorded 14 Vibrio vulnificus cases, including two deaths, according to the Florida Department of Health. One person died in Marion County in Central Florida, while another death was reported in Palm Beach.

Florida officials have also warned that hurricanes and other major storms can increase the risk of exposure by pushing brackish coastal water farther inland.

The state experienced an especially deadly year for Vibrio vulnificus in 2024, when Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck the region. Florida reported 19 deaths from the bacterium that year.

The dangers of wound exposure were illustrated by the case of Summerlin Skipworth, who told CBS News she injured her foot on rocks while visiting Orange Beach, Alabama, over Labor Day weekend last year and contracted the infection. Within several days, the pain became severe enough that she went to an emergency room, where she tested positive for Vibrio vulnificus.

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“It felt like somebody poured gasoline on my foot and lit it on fire.”

Skipworth underwent emergency surgery and was released shortly afterward. Doctors credited early detection with helping her recover. “An infection never crossed my mind,” she said. “I just knew I had pain in my foot.”

Vibrio vulnificus is among roughly a dozen Vibrio species capable of causing an illness known as vibriosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC estimates that approximately 80,000 cases of vibriosis occur in the United States each year.

Vibrio vulnificus infections can be particularly dangerous. About one in five people infected with the bacterium die, according to the CDC, sometimes within just one or two days after becoming sick.

Symptoms can include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever. In more severe cases, the infection can spread into the bloodstream, potentially causing low blood pressure and blistering skin lesions.

Hotez said people with underlying risk factors should be particularly careful about entering coastal waters with cuts or abrasions.

“If you have those risk factors, and if you have an open wound or abrasion in your skin, you do not want to go swimming in brackish waters along the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic Seaboard,” he said.

The growing geographic range of Vibrio has become a concern as ocean temperatures rise. Although the bacteria have long been associated with warmer coastal areas, infections and detections in places such as the Northeast suggest that the conditions favorable to Vibrio are expanding beyond their traditional range.

wildfires

Effects Of Europe And North America Wildfires Could Last For Years

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Wildfires across the globe have been rampant this summer, and are being fueled by the impact of climate change. These fires have forced thousands of individuals to flee their homes while they destroy forests, buildings, and dried out land. Experts are now looking at wildfires from years ago to prepare for the lasting effects of the blazes currently occurring throughout Europe and North America. 

This season, about 1,000 fires have been reported in the boreal forests of Canada, leading to a multitude of evacuations in both Canada and US cities as toxic smoke spreads in the air. 

The US is also experiencing a third major heatwave within a month that is causing parched land to dry, creating a perfect environment for wildfires to ignite and spread easily. Washington, eastern Oregon, and Idaho have been experiencing fires that are so intense, plumes of smoke have reached Florida, according to reports. 

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Europe has been experiencing major wildfires all throughout the UK, France, and Spain, causing mass evacuations for over 250,000 people. 

The continuous burning of fossil fuels throughout the past decades have made the climate crisis even worse, creating fire-prone conditions around the world. Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, emphasized the severity of these extreme weather events, pointing out how “the entire Iberian peninsula is suffering the effects of the climate emergency in a very specific way.”

Scientists have been consistently raising alarms about the consistent lingering impact of wildfire smoke, which can trigger severe respiratory and cardiac problems. In fact, according to a new study recently published in JACC Journals, it’s been shown that tiny particles carried in wildfire smoke can raise the risk of hospitalization specifically in older people who might even be hundreds of miles away from the actual fires. 

“The cardiovascular toll of wildfire smoke reaches well beyond the fire lines and well beyond the day the sky turns orange,” said Kai Chen, the study’s co-author and associate professor of epidemiology at Yale’s School of Public Health. 

The wildfires that have occurred and increased within the past few years are giving scientists the data they need to better determine long-term impacts on humanity, however, the information is fairly new. One of the biggest resources for this study, and other ongoing ones, has been looking at Maui, which suffered a devastating wildfire three years ago that killed over 100 people and destroyed several thousand buildings. 

The second largest island is still suffering from the aftermath three years later. There has been a major increase in health concerns like poor lung functioning, high blood pressure, and mental health challenges, according to the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study, led by researchers at the University of Hawaii and released on Monday.

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Alika Maunakea, co-director of Maui study and a professor at the school of medicine in the University of Hawaii, said that “the progress is real, and it should be recognized.”

“The biological, emotional, and social consequences of a disaster do not disappear on the same timeline as debris removal or reconstruction.”

The Maui study was conducted utilizing screenings of over 2,500 participants, and it reported that 50% of the adults experienced continuous depressive symptoms with about 20% reported experiencing post-traumatic stress. There was also severe depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms found in children and adolescents, as well as blood pressure readings and obesity levels. 

“Children may appear resilient while still carrying significant emotional and physical effects beneath the surface,” said Christopher Knightsbridge, a mental health therapist based in Lahaina, one of the towns that was widely destroyed by the fires.

“Supporting children means supporting the entire family, including their housing, food security, daily routines and access to trusted care.”

In another research paper published last year, scientists found that there was a 7% increase in mortality among older people in Southern California over a three-year period due to wildfire smoke exposure. Lara Schwarz, an environmental health scientist at UC Berkeley who led the research, recommended that “activation of public health measures such as clean air centers should not only depend on intensity of smoke, as the long-term effects can be harmful, even at low levels.” 

“As wildfires become more frequent and severe in the context of climate change, with California being at high risk, understanding how these harmful wildfires will affect us in the long term is critical to informing better public health action and response.”

wildfire

Europe’s Wildfire Weather Is Being Fueled By The Climate Crisis 

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Major wildfires have been spreading throughout Europe, specifically in Spain and France. According to a scientific analysis, the extreme heat and drought that is fueling these fires is only being exacerbated by the climate crisis. 

Experts from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) consortium calculated that global heating has made hot, dry, and windy weather 20 times more likely in Spain and twice as likely in France. Constant and increased burning of oil, gas, and coal has warmed the planet making extreme weather events such as wildfires much more common in recent years. 

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The end of June saw a major heatwave spread throughout Europe, and has caused an estimated 20,000 deaths. This heat, according to another WWA study, could not have accumulated without the extra heat that has been trapped in the atmosphere from climate change. 

Another study from the group also found that the climate crisis is causing soils to become extremely dry, leading to major drought throughout the continent as well. 

Between the heatwaves and dry lands, a perfect storm was created for wildfires. Studies performed last year also showed that the 2025 wildfires were fuelled by the climate crisis. 

Europe also experienced a wet winter and spring, which allowed extra vegetation to grow, and eventually dry out from the summer’s intense heat, and further allowing wildfires to spark and spread. 

Dr Clair Barnes, a research associate at Imperial College London and part of the WWA study team, said: 

“We’ve seen repeatedly how climate change increases hot, dry, flammable conditions that are extremely conducive to wildfires.”

“What’s unique about [the July fires in Spain and France] is that it’s still early in the season – and with another heatwave looming, these findings are extremely scary. What we’re seeing is a clear sign of the escalating impacts of [human-caused] warming.”

“What we are seeing now in Spain and France goes well beyond what we would expect from past events,” said the director of programs at Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center, Julie Arrighi. 

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Dr. Augustin Colette at the French National Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks stated: 

“The smoke increased particulate [pollution] peak levels up to 20 times above what is considered ‘fair air quality’, and extremely poor air quality was felt up to 400 km away from the fires.” 

Since early July, severe wildfires have been burning across Spain and France. More than 300,000 people were forced to leave their homes with thousands being destroyed. The WWA specifically analyzed the seven-day period in which the highest daily severity ratings for each country was recorded. 

They used weather records to establish statistical methods to estimate how much more likely a week of extremely high DSR is in today’s world when compared to the world before mass fossil-fuel burning raised the global temperature, according to the Guardian. 

The UN’s climate chief, Simon Stiell, said: 

“These European mega-fires show how fast climate-driven extreme heat and dry landscapes can turn wildfires into devastating national disasters.”

“Humanity continuing to burn colossal amounts of coal, oil and gas is making these conditions more dangerous, and these megafires more deadly and destructive. But the solutions are equally clear: all countries must move faster from fossil fuels to renewables and protect people from worsening climate impacts, from wildfires, to megastorms and floods, to droughts hitting food production.”

heat wave

Europe’s Worst Heatwave On Record Raises Debates Over Air Conditioning Culture 

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Europe is currently enduring its worst heatwave on record, and it’s bracing for it to get even hotter as the summer progresses. The continent’s lack of air conditioning has often been a major point of contention for travelers and residents alike during the summer months. Now, health experts are entering the conversation over the culture of air conditioning, especially for vulnerable groups. 

The head of the World Health Organization’s Europe office, Hans Kluge, said that “much of Europe’s investment has rightly gone into longer-term solutions like shade, insulation, and cooling centers, rather than mechanical cooling.”

The WHO office also recommends a “nuanced adoption” of air conditioning that specifically works to protect those at high risk, “both have a role,” Kluge said. 

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The Guardian recently reported on studies that suggest Europe’s efforts to adapt to modern cooling systems have decreased the death toll by 75% for the kind of heat that was considered to be extreme 20 years ago. However, it’s clear now that all over the world heatwaves and dangerously high temperatures have gotten even worse within the past two decades. 

The WHO estimates that over 200,000 people have died from the heat in Europe within the last four years. In June, record-breaking heat levels will likely “yield a death toll in the thousands, if not low tens of thousands,” the publication reported.

These numbers are also well above the levels that are experienced in the US, where historic heatwaves are also occurring, but air conditioning is used in 90% of homes. 

Although most political parties in Europe agree that hospitals, care homes, schools, and public transport should all have proper air conditioning, many mainstream parties are also blocking air conditioning services due to not viewing climate change as a serious concern. 

For example, this year, the day after Germany broke their heat record, Marc Bernhard, the construction spokesperson for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) stated that his party would stop people “being sacrificed on the altar of mainstream climate ideology. Climate hysteria is leading to more heat-related deaths due to ideological construction errors such as abstaining from air conditioning.”

In France, on the other hand, Marin Le Pen’s National Rally has been fighting against renovations to make buildings energy-efficient and even has tried to block wind turbines and solar panels. However, the rally has also made air conditioning a main focus while simultaneously going against policies to combat climate change. 

In some of the world’s richest nations, including the US, Australia, and Japan, air conditioning is normalized, however, only around 15% of the 3.5 billion people living in regions with some of the highest global temperatures own an AC unit. 

The demand for global cooling is expected to increase significantly within the next decade and beyond. For example, in south-east Asia, the International Energy Agency expects the number of air conditioners to “rise ninefold” between 2020 and 2040 if current policies remain. 

While air conditioning can impact climate change due to the fact that it expels hot air into surrounding streets and the energy use can increase the risk of blackouts, in Europe the risk of these detrimental effects is significantly lower than other urban areas around the world. 

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Additionally, although there are laws in some areas that make it difficult to install air conditioning in private buildings, there isn’t a lot of data to back up that this is the driving reason for the low amounts of air conditions adopted throughout the continent. 

Despite all of this, there are many citizens throughout Europe that are protecting themselves from the extreme heat and cooling their homes. Reports indicate that the share of households in Italy and Spain with air conditioning has grown to more than 50%, and in France it’s risen to 24%.

 On the opposite end, Germany has some of the lowest air conditioning installations in Europe. This is partially due to a large proportion of renters, but a lot of it has to do with homeowners not being able to justify the cost even with record-breaking temperatures and dangerous conditions. 

Gabriele Werner, a worker in the tourist information office of Neuzelle, said that they’d “consider getting air conditioning if the summers keep getting hotter, but when it’s just a few days [they] can bear it.”

The Guardian actually visited Neuzelle and their neighboring district of Neißemünde, where they reported that the response to the recent heat wasn’t met with any urgency or sympathy for those suffering. 

Reinhard Lang, a retired electrician who lives in a 150-year-old house, told the publication that “climate change is just a word that gets trumpeted. Back when I was a child, it was also warm. It just wasn’t played up.” 

Kluge stated that Europe’s strong emergency response to their recent heat has saved lives. 

“The priority now is ensuring AC reaches people for whom it’s a medical necessity, while continuing to build out the infrastructure – trees, green roofs, cooler buildings – that protects everyone, including people who simply can’t fit a unit in their home.”

Dr. Chloe Brimicombe, a climate scientist at Oxford University who focuses on extreme heat gave some of the other solutions that are being looked into as well. “We are currently focusing a lot of our energy and water resources during heatwaves on cooling data centers.”

“Lives are more valuable to us than AI – or at least they should be right?” 

solar

Solar Power Generating More Energy Than Coal In The US For The First Time 

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For the first time on record, solar power is generating more energy than coal and became the leading source of new power in the United States, despite President Donald Trump boosting coal use over clean energy. 

This week, global energy thinktank Ember, a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association, and analytics firm Wood Mackenzie released data that showed a continuous growth of solar power and a decline of coal in America, despite federal policies trying to lead the nation in the opposite direction. 

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Electricity in general is produced by converting sources of energy into electrical power. These sources of energy are generally fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewable resources. Burning coal, oil, and natural gases have long emitted carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which traps heat and warms the planet. 

On the other hand, solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and nuclear energy are carbon-free. 

The data showed that in May of this year, solar energy provided more of the country’s electricity than coal for the first time with 12.8%, according to Ember. Coal, on the other hand, supplied 12.2%, which is its fourth-lowest monthly share ever, the Guardian reported.

“For years solar power has risen in the US electricity mix,” said Nicolas Fulghum, senior energy and data analyst at Ember. 

“At the same time, coal power has lost its status, first as the largest source in the US mix, and then gradually over the years has fallen even further.”

Fulghum went on to explain that solar also became the third-largest source of electricity in the US in May, while coal hit an all-time monthly low in April, which is what allowed solar energy to overtake. 

Electricity demand has been constantly increasing within the 21st century. In the last few years especially, new technologies such as artificial intelligence, growth in domestic manufacturing, and electric transportation and heating have all contributed to the type of energy being consumed around the US. 

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Fulghum stated that he’s expecting more months of solar energy exceeding coal, and eventually, this will become an annual pattern.  

He added that this milestone shows that solar “has staying power” during a time period in the world where renewable energy isn’t being supported on a federal level. 

Ember gets its hourly and monthly data from the US Energy Information Administration. According to the International Energy Agency, globally, electricity from renewables is increasing quickly with renewables becoming the largest global energy source. It’s projected that renewable energy will be used for almost 45% of electricity by 2030. 

Last week Trump announced a plan to boost the struggling US coal industry by spending up to $700 million to support both coal-fired power plants and coal exports. 

Martin Pochtaruk, CEO and founder of Heliene, a solar panel manufacturer based in Canada, stated that regardless of Trump stating that coal is coming back, investors will invest their money in what the data shows is bringing the best return, and solar power is becoming the fastest-growing fuel, according to the Guardian. 

White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement: “The President has reversed the Left’s devastating policies, saved the American coal industry, prevented the retirement of more than 17 gigawatts of power, and saved lives during heightened demand periods.”

Seia said that while Trump is trying to bring back the coal industry to its original power, solar has been the top source for new power for five years. Both Seia and Wood Mackenzie stated that solar and battery storage were almost the only energy resources being built in the first quarter, and made up 91% of all new generating capacity.

heat

Extreme Heatwave In Europe Is ‘A Brutal Reminder’ Of Climate Crisis, UN Chief States 

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The United Nations climate chief recently stated that the extreme early heat events taking over parts of western Europe have become a “brutal reminder of the spiraling impacts of the climate crisis.” This month, both France and the United Kingdom set new temperature records on two consecutive days. 

Simon Stiell is the executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and this week he said that the “main culprit” of the climate crisis is humanity’s burning of oil, coal, and gas. 

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“The science is clear that human-induced climate change is making these heatwaves more frequent and extreme.”

France, Spain, and the UK have been reaching temperatures that are, on average, only seen in July and/or August.  

“Protecting human lives, businesses and economies from extreme heat and the many other soaring costs of climate change is core business for every nation, and it starts with kicking the fossil fuel addiction much faster.”

Other reports have shown that the war in the Middle East has greatly impacted the “soaring costs” of fossil fuels, and led to a need to move to cleaner sources of energy. Stiell also pointed out that India has experienced nearly 110 degrees Fahrenheit conditions which have led to deaths from heatstroke. 

The UK’s Met Office stated that Kew Gardens in London recorded a temperature of 92.2 degrees Fahrenheit, breaking the record for highest temperature in May, which was set the day before. The readings also surpassed a previous record of 91.04 degrees Fahrenheit which was set in 1922, and again in 1944. 

France experienced local highs of 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday, and recorded their hottest day in May ever on Tuesday when the national heat index, an average of 30 readings around the nation, hit 76.64 degrees Fahrenheit, according to reports from the Guardian. 

Météo-France, the national weather service, stated that a “heat dome,” which causes heat to be held in place by a high-pressure weather front, was producing temperatures up to 55.4 degrees higher than what is usual for this time of year. 

17 out of 96 of France’s administrative departments, including Paris, were placed on an orange high temperature alert for Thursday, the second highest level. This alert level requires the nation’s population to be “very vigilant and take precautions.” Another 29 were placed on the more moderate yellow warning. 

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Scientists have stated that as the world continues to warm, extreme heat events that are typically exclusive to the peak of summer are becoming both more frequent and intense, and are happening earlier and later into the year. 

Peter Thorne, the director of climate research at Maynooth University in Ireland, said: “We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that events such as this have been made more likely and more severe due to climate change arising from our emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases.”

“Nevertheless, many of the records being set, particularly in the UK and France, are mind-bogglingly crazy.”

This week, French authorities reported at least seven deaths that were directly and indirectly connected to the high temperatures. Five of these deaths were drownings, as many people were seeking out swimming spots to cool off. Authorities in Britain stated that four teenagers have also drowned in England since Sunday. 

Spain is reporting temperatures could hit 104 degrees Fahrenheit this week. These reports led to the Basque Country being placed on an orange weather alert.

Aemet, Spain’s state meteorological office, said that temperatures typically experienced in July have already been recorded across the country. Rubén del Campo, a spokesperson for Aemet, said that the heat was “more characteristic of the dog days, the hottest period of the year.”

“Both this episode and the atmospheric pattern that’s causing it are part and parcel of climate change and of what’s been observed in recent years.” 

heatwave

Europe’s Record-Breaking Spring Heat Wave Signals A Dangerous New Normal

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A blistering early-season heat wave has pushed parts of Europe into dangerous and record-breaking territory, with extreme temperatures arriving weeks before the continent typically sees its hottest weather.

The heat has already been linked to deaths, water shortages, wildfires and warnings from scientists that the event is another stark example of how climate change is reshaping normal weather patterns.

France has been among the countries hit hardest. Its national weather service, Météo-France, described the conditions as “unprecedented” for this time of year, with Monday becoming the country’s hottest May day ever recorded. Temperatures were breaking May records across the country, with readings climbing above 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) in many areas and expected to continue throughout the week.

There have been “seven deaths directly or indirectly linked to the heat, including at least five from drowning, as well as deaths related to extreme heat during sports events,” stated Maud Bregeon, a French government spokesperson, according to CNN.

On Sunday, a 53-year-old man died while taking part in a running event in Paris, while a woman died during a Hyrox sports event in Lyon, the Associated Press reported.

Le Parisien reported that the Paris runner suffered a heart attack during the race in the city’s 20th arrondissement and could not be revived by firefighters. Temperatures in Paris reached around 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) that afternoon.

Authorities have not yet confirmed whether those deaths were caused by the heat. But France’s Minister of Sports, Marina Ferrari, appeared to connect the incidents to the extreme temperatures, saying the deaths were “a stark reminder that practicing sports in extreme heat requires absolute vigilance.” Ferrari also posted condolences online to the runner’s loved ones and said her thoughts were with others who had been treated by emergency services.

At the French Open in Paris, the heat was also felt on the court and in the stands, with players competing in stifling conditions as spectators tried to cool down under misting sprays.

The United Kingdom has also seen extraordinary temperatures. On Monday, the country recorded its hottest May day on record, with temperatures reaching 94.6 degrees Fahrenheit (34.8 degrees Celsius) at Kew Gardens in London. The reading broke the previous May record by 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, or 2 degrees Celsius. The previous record, 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit (32.8 degrees Celsius), was set in 1922 and matched again in 1944.

The same reading also provisionally marked the hottest temperature ever recorded in the UK during meteorological spring, which runs from March through May.

That record did not last long. On Tuesday, temperatures rose further to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius). By comparison, the average high temperature in London in late May is around 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius).

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Across the UK, average May highs are closer to 59 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius), underscoring how far outside normal spring conditions the heat has been.

The heat also offered little relief overnight. The UK experienced a “tropical night,” meaning temperatures did not drop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius).

While these numbers may seem moderate compared with those in hotter parts of the world, they can be deeply uncomfortable and dangerous in the UK. Most homes are not designed to withstand intense heat, and only about 5% have air conditioning. A report released last week by the UK’s Climate Change Committee warned that the country was “built for a climate that no longer exists.”

The timing has also raised concerns for schools, which are currently on midterm break. If the heat continues, some schools may have to consider measures such as relaxing uniform rules or moving exams into cooler rooms.

The UK Health Security Agency also issued its first amber heat-health alert of the year, warning that deaths could rise, especially among older people, during the hottest parts of the day. The agency said the second-highest alert level could bring significant strain across health and social care services. People with chronic conditions, including hypertension and kidney disease, are considered especially vulnerable during extreme heat.

As temperatures surged on Monday, a wildfire broke out near Arthur’s Seat, a hill in Edinburgh, Scotland. In southeast England, hundreds of properties were left without water after a spike in demand.

Across the UK, residents and tourists sought relief in parks, on beaches, and anywhere they could find shade as the heat coincided with a holiday.

Climate change is making it more likely that May temperature records will be broken, Stephen Dixon, a Met Office spokesperson, told CNN.

“While we do occasionally have warm spells in May, what we’re seeing now is unprecedented. What was around a 1-in-100-year event is now around a 1-in-33-year event.”

The same heat system is affecting much of Western Europe, where temperatures this week are running 18 to 27 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 15 degrees Celsius) above normal.

Spain is also seeing “extraordinarily high temperatures for the time of year,” according to the country’s weather agency, AEMET. In southern Spain, temperatures are forecast to climb to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) in the latter half of the week.

In Valladolid, outdoor tables that would typically be full sat largely empty as people avoided the sun, while Madrid residents braced for weather that felt more like midsummer than late spring.

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Behind the extreme heat is a powerful heat dome sitting over the continent. A heat dome is a long-lasting high-pressure system that acts like a lid on a pot, trapping hot air and pushing it downward. These systems can linger for days or weeks, intensifying heat and making it harder for cooler air to move in.

Scientists say these kinds of events are becoming more frequent and intense due to human-caused climate change. The burning of fossil fuels releases planet-heating gases that wrap around the Earth, raising global temperatures and supercharging heat waves.

Richard Betts, head of climate impacts research at the Met Office and a professor at the University of Exeter, told BBC News today’s heat waves are landing on top of an already hotter baseline.

“When we have a heatwave, it’s happening more severely, because it’s on top of a warming climate. I’ve been a climate scientist for 33 years, and we’re seeing exactly the kinds of things that we were warning back then… [although] these records are perhaps more extreme and coming sooner than we had expected.”

Heat is one of the clearest signals of the climate crisis, and Europe is warming faster than any other continent on the planet.

“We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that heat wave events such as this have been made more likely and more severe due to climate change,” said Peter Thorne, director of ICARUS Climate Research Centre at Maynooth University, Ireland. “But nevertheless, many of the records being set, particularly in the UK and France, are mind-bogglingly crazy,” he added.

The danger is not hypothetical. During 2024, the hottest year ever recorded globally, more than 62,000 people in Europe died from heat-related causes.

Parts of Asia have also been enduring dangerous temperatures, with daytime readings above 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius) across central and northern India in recent weeks. In Pakistan, temperatures were forecast to remain up to 10.8 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius) above seasonal averages.

Scientists are warning that even more extreme heat is likely in the years and decades ahead. The emerging El Niño, a natural climate pattern that can push global temperatures higher than usual, could make 2026 and 2027 even hotter.

Experts say the broader pattern is part of a new level of weather volatility, with deadly extremes increasingly occurring at unusual times of year and in places not accustomed to them.

weather

Brace for a Dramatic Forecast Shift: Record Heat in the West, Winter’s Return in the East

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A sharp and unusual shift in weather patterns is set to sweep across the United States, bringing a striking split of an intense, record-breaking heat in the West and a renewed blast of winter in the East.

The change is being driven by a powerful atmospheric setup that will likely persist for up to two weeks. A strong ridge of high pressure, often called a “heat dome,” is expected to settle over the western half of the country, allowing temperatures to surge well above seasonal norms. At the same time, the jet stream will dip southward on the eastern side of that ridge, funneling cold Canadian air into the Midwest and East.

The result will be a pronounced case of weather whiplash. Areas that recently experienced springlike warmth will soon return to much colder conditions, with the possibility of additional snowfall through mid-to-late March.

Cities that climbed into the 70s and 80s earlier this week are expected to cool dramatically, with highs dropping into the 30s and 40s. Washington, DC, for example, reached 84 degrees on Tuesday but is forecast to fall into the 50s over the weekend and into the 40s early next week. Parts of the Northeast, which also saw temperatures in the 70s, could face multiple chances for snow over the next five to seven days.

The chill may extend as far south as Florida, where some areas could see overnight lows in the 50s this weekend, with a further drop into the 40s early next week. While the East braces for a late-season cold snap, the situation in the West is expected to be far more extreme and potentially dangerous.

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Forecasters say the heat wave will dominate headlines beginning Thursday and could persist for at least two weeks. Numerous locations across the region are likely to challenge or break all-time March temperature records.

The National Weather Service has issued warnings, particularly for the Southwest, urging residents to prepare for unusually intense and long-lasting heat. In Phoenix, temperatures could reach 100 degrees, the earliest ever recorded, more than 10 days ahead of the current record.

“Given the unprecedented length and magnitude of this extreme heat wave, heat stress will be increasing each day.”

Extreme heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the contiguous United States each year, underscoring the risks posed by early-season temperature spikes.

Beyond the immediate dangers, the heat wave is expected to worsen already concerning environmental conditions. Snowpack across the West is significantly below average, and the surge in temperatures will accelerate melting, raising alarms about water availability later in the year and the potential for an intense wildfire season.

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Speaking about the West, University of California climate scientist Daniel Swain stated the outlook for snowpack is especially dire in states like Colorado and Utah, which are on track to set record lows.

“We’re going to get to April first, and we’re going to see some very scary snowpack numbers essentially everywhere.”

Southern California, in particular, could see temperatures soaring 20 to 30 degrees above average during the next two weeks, according to the National Weather Service.

This event comes on the heels of an already exceptional season. The West just experienced its warmest meteorological winter on record, with several states setting all-time highs for winter temperatures.

Scientists note that climate change is increasing the likelihood, duration, and intensity of heat waves and is likely contributing to the region’s record-breaking winter warmth.

Seasonal patterns themselves are also shifting. Winter is warming faster than any other season across much of the United States, and spring is arriving earlier in many regions, with the final freeze occurring sooner than in the past.

For now, however, the immediate story is of a country divided between early-summer heat and a lingering grip of winter, all unfolding at once.

shipping

Expedited Shipping Is Increasing Gas Emissions In The US 

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In today’s modern world of online shopping, consumers have the option to get their goods delivered within days, and even hours now. With that increased convenience comes consequences, however, as drivers are making multiple trips in the same areas daily in the US, increasing gas emissions and further driving the devastating impact of climate change.

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