Around the world, record rainfall, killer heatwaves, and raging wildfires are escalating. "Each of us, wherever we live, is experiencing the impacts of climate change today," said climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe in an interview with Space.com. These extreme weather events, while not unprecedented, are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity than in the past. Escalating heatwaves Temperatures soared to 125°F (52°C) during Saudi Arabia's Hajj pilgrimage, claiming nearly 1,300 lives. Recently, Las Vegas recorded temperatures as high as 120°F (49°C). Greece and India have also faced unprecedented heat waves affecting millions. From July 2023 to June 2024, each month set new records as the hottest for that period, consistently exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial norms. This trend is influenced by greenhouse gas emissions and the El Niño weather pattern, according to the European program, as reported by CBC. Heavy rainfall and floods Warmer temperatures intensify rain and snowstorms globally. In recent months, devastating floods in Afghanistan claimed over 300 lives and caused landslides and floods across Europe that killed at least seven people. Early monsoon rains led to significant flooding in South Asia, resulting in more than 40 deaths. The UAE Mission in Seoul has warned of heavy rains and potential floods for UAE nationals in South Korea, according to Khaleej Times. Hurricanes and wildfires Oceans, absorbing 90% of trapped heat from climate change, are fueling stronger storms like Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which intensified rainfall over Houston. Record ocean temperatures are leading to earlier, longer, and more potent hurricanes, challenging global disaster responses. Climate change has significantly increased the frequency and intensity of wildfires. In the first few months of 2024 alone, US wildfires destroyed nearly 1.7 million acres. Canada's 2023 wildfire season burned 45 million acres, eight times the average, primarily ignited by lightning strikes in warming northern forests. Warmer, moister air is also escalating thunderstorm and lightning risks, increasing wildfire dangers. Additionally, the Pantanal, Earth's largest tropical wetland, is experiencing unprecedented burning in 2024 due to widespread drought, with more than half its expanse dried out, according to DW. (With inputs from Space.com, Le Monde, DW, CBC, and Khaleej Times)
