The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has described extreme weather as the “new normal,” given the record high temperatures and heavy rainfall seen in many countries in July and August.
“This is the new normal and it’s no surprise,” Alvaro Silva, a WMO climate expert, told a news conference.
He stressed that experts consider human-caused climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions to be the main driver of these extreme situations, such as heat waves and heavy rains.
Several national meteorological and hydrological services in Europe have issued warnings of moderate and severe temperatures for the third week of August, including France, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Croatia, Italy, Greece, Hungary, Austria and Lithuania.
This weekend, for example, in parts of southern France, maximum temperatures are expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius, which will be the most severe heatwave of summer 2023.
He explained that this month Morocco set a new national temperature record of 50.4 degrees Celsius and Turkey 49.5 degrees Celsius, while many parts of the Middle East recorded temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius.
On the other hand, the record wildfire season continues in Canada and this Thursday more than 600 fires are out of control.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Hillary intensified to Category 4 on Friday, according to the US National Hurricane Center, the World Meteorological Organization’s specialized meteorological center.
On the forecast track, Hillary’s center will approach Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula over the weekend.
“Unapologetic tv specialist. Hardcore zombie trailblazer. Infuriatingly humble problem solver.”