Delhiites can relish&nbsp;today's weather as light rains and thunderstorm are likely to occur in parts of Delhi and NCR, the Indian Metrological Department said on Sunday.&nbsp;

Thunderstorm and strong wind warning have been issued for 7 and 8 May in Shimla, Solan, Hamirpur, Mandi, Kangra and Una districts, Manmohan Singh, director of&nbsp;IMD added.

Thunderstorm and rain would also occur over some places in Delhi and adjoining NCR, including Faridabad, Ballabhgarh, Khurja, Greater Noida, and Bulandshahr. Thunderstorm with rain are will occur over and adjoining areas of Meerut, Hapur, Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor during next two hours.

Moreover, light rain and thundershowers are likely at isolated places during next 48-72 hours in Punjab. They are likely to increase in intensity and spread between 7-8 May.&nbsp;

Also, thunderstorm accompanied with Squall is also likely at isolated places during this period, the IMD reported.&nbsp;

The temperature will be at a maximum of 41 degrees Celcius with a lowest 28 at&nbsp;degrees Celcius on Sunday.&nbsp;

These pre-Monsoon weather activities have been instrumental in dropping the maximum temperatures. This has paved way for comfortable weather conditions across the city and adjoining areas of Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad.

&nbsp;

The temperature will be at a maximum of 41 degrees Celcius with a lowest 28 at degrees Celcius on Sunday

Delhiites can relish today's weather as light rains and thunderstorm are likely to occur in parts of Delhi and NCR, the Indian Metrological Department said on Sunday. Thunderstorm and strong wind warning have been issued for 7 and 8 May in Shimla, Solan, Hamirpur, Mandi, Kangra and Una districts, Manmohan Singh, director of IMD added. Thunderstorm and rain would also occur over some places in Delhi and adjoining NCR, including Faridabad, Ballabhgarh, Khurja, Greater Noida, and Bulandshahr. Thunderstorm with rain are will occur over and adjoining areas of Meerut, Hapur, Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor during next two hours. Moreover, light rain and thundershowers are likely at isolated places during next 48-72 hours in Punjab. They are likely to increase in intensity and spread between 7-8 May. Also, thunderstorm accompanied with Squall is also likely at isolated places during this period, the IMD reported. The temperature will be at a maximum of 41 degrees Celcius with a lowest 28 at degrees Celcius on Sunday. These pre-Monsoon weather activities have been instrumental in dropping the maximum temperatures. This has paved way for comfortable weather conditions across the city and adjoining areas of Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad.

Delhiites to witness rain, thunderstorm today

People in Delhi can look forward to the possibility of a dust storm as well as rains during the late evening or night hours today, Skymet weather reported.&nbsp;

A Western Disturbance is persisting in the Western Himalayas along with which an induced cyclonic circulation is also seen over Northwest Pakistan and adjoining areas.

Due to this, some weather is expected over the national capital and its adjoining areas of Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad. However, the activity will only occur in parts and some areas may remain dry.

The temperature in the national capital will be at a minimum of 22.4 degrees Celcius with a maximum of around 38.6 degrees Celsius, two notches above the season's average.

Sunday's maximum temperature was recorded at 36 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 20.5 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;

The temperature in the national capital will be at a minimum of 22.4 degrees Celcius with a maximum of around 38.6 degrees Celsius

People in Delhi can look forward to the possibility of a dust storm as well as rains during the late evening or night hours today, Skymet weather reported. A Western Disturbance is persisting in the Western Himalayas along with which an induced cyclonic circulation is also seen over Northwest Pakistan and adjoining areas. Due to this, some weather is expected over the national capital and its adjoining areas of Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad. However, the activity will only occur in parts and some areas may remain dry. The temperature in the national capital will be at a minimum of 22.4 degrees Celcius with a maximum of around 38.6 degrees Celsius, two notches above the season's average. Sunday's maximum temperature was recorded at 36 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 20.5 degrees Celsius.

Thunderstorm expected to hit Delhi today

Delhiites can look forward to some light rain&nbsp;later in the day today, continuing the streak of pleasent weather since the last couple of days.

According to Skymet Weather, parts of Delhi and NCR will witness rains around noon for a few hours with the temparature hovering at 32 degree Celcius during that time with mild wind at about 23 kms per hour.&nbsp;

The temperature recorded on Tuesday will be at a low of 21 degrees Celcius going on a high with 33 degrees Celcius.&nbsp;

On<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-wakes-up-to-mild-rains-lower-temperature--129250"> Monday</a>, thunderstorm, accompanied by light rain, occurred in Delhi, bringing down the temperature. The thunderstorm was preceded by a dust storm that dimmed visibility. The wind speed was 12 knots. Safdarjung weather station recorded 2.2 mm of rainfall, said a MeT department officer.&nbsp;

The temperature recorded on Monday dropped to 28.4 degrees Celcius from 33 degrees Celcius on Sunday.

The temperature recorded on Tuesday will be a low of 21 degrees Celcius with the high of 33 degrees Celcius

Delhiites can look forward to some light rain later in the day today, continuing the streak of pleasent weather since the last couple of days. According to Skymet Weather, parts of Delhi and NCR will witness rains around noon for a few hours with the temparature hovering at 32 degree Celcius during that time with mild wind at about 23 kms per hour. The temperature recorded on Tuesday will be at a low of 21 degrees Celcius going on a high with 33 degrees Celcius. On Monday, thunderstorm, accompanied by light rain, occurred in Delhi, bringing down the temperature. The thunderstorm was preceded by a dust storm that dimmed visibility. The wind speed was 12 knots. Safdarjung weather station recorded 2.2 mm of rainfall, said a MeT department officer. The temperature recorded on Monday dropped to 28.4 degrees Celcius from 33 degrees Celcius on Sunday.

Delhi weather: Look forward to pleasant weather followed by mild rains today

The increasing temperature across parts of Asia have made records for the month of March&nbsp;already.&nbsp;

At least seven countries set monthly high-temperature records at the end of March, according to national weather authorities and tracking by Etienne Kapikian, a meteorologist with MeteoFrance, along with climatologist Maximiliano Herrera.&nbsp;

However, Pakistan made the highest record with the hottest weather in March end.&nbsp;

On March 30, the temperature Nawabshah, in Sindh Province peaked at 45.5 degrees Celsius beating its old record of 45 degrees Celsius in March 1991.&nbsp;

Moenjo Daro, southwest of Nawabshah, also saw a temperature of 45.5 degrees Celsius on March 31. That is noteworthy since that community holds the all-time high-temperature record for the country, of 53.3 degrees Celsius, set in 2010.

Iraq and Qatar also saw record high temperatures during last March at 43.8 and 40 degrees Celsius respectively. Iraq beat its old record of 42.4 degrees Celsius in 2010 and Qatar last saw its highest temperature of March in 1998 at 39 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;

These types of heat events are expected to become more frequent and severe as the world continues to warm due to human emissions of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels.&nbsp;

As the overall climate gets warmer, it becomes easier to set warm temperature extremes, even in months that didn't use to see such hot and potentially deadly weather.&nbsp;

As parts of Asia roast in springtime heat, the eastern US&nbsp;is in a very cold pattern. At the very least, these new records are a reminder that - global warming is on the rise- when one part of the world is exceptionally cool, another part must be exceptionally hot. Cerveny says these pronounced variations suggest the weather pattern will remain interesting for potential all-time records.

On March 30, the temperature Nawabshah, in Sindh Province peaked at 45.5 degrees Celsius beating its old record of 45 degrees Celcius of March 1991

The increasing temperature across parts of Asia have made records for the month of March already. At least seven countries set monthly high-temperature records at the end of March, according to national weather authorities and tracking by Etienne Kapikian, a meteorologist with MeteoFrance, along with climatologist Maximiliano Herrera. However, Pakistan made the highest record with the hottest weather in March end. On March 30, the temperature Nawabshah, in Sindh Province peaked at 45.5 degrees Celsius beating its old record of 45 degrees Celsius in March 1991. Moenjo Daro, southwest of Nawabshah, also saw a temperature of 45.5 degrees Celsius on March 31. That is noteworthy since that community holds the all-time high-temperature record for the country, of 53.3 degrees Celsius, set in 2010. Iraq and Qatar also saw record high temperatures during last March at 43.8 and 40 degrees Celsius respectively. Iraq beat its old record of 42.4 degrees Celsius in 2010 and Qatar last saw its highest temperature of March in 1998 at 39 degrees Celsius. These types of heat events are expected to become more frequent and severe as the world continues to warm due to human emissions of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels. As the overall climate gets warmer, it becomes easier to set warm temperature extremes, even in months that didn't use to see such hot and potentially deadly weather. As parts of Asia roast in springtime heat, the eastern US is in a very cold pattern. At the very least, these new records are a reminder that - global warming is on the rise- when one part of the world is exceptionally cool, another part must be exceptionally hot. Cerveny says these pronounced variations suggest the weather pattern will remain interesting for potential all-time records.

Heatwave sweeps South Asia, Pakistan hottest at 45.5 degrees

Low temperature and intense fog continue to affect rail operations in north, northwest and eastern India due to low visibility.

Several parts of North India, including Delhi and the adjoining National Capital Region, were covered with dense fog on Friday morning.&nbsp;

According to the Meteorological Department, the maximum temperature will be 27 degree Celsius, with lows of eight degrees. The lowest temperature recorded at the weather station in Delhi&#39;s Safdarjung was 7 degrees Celsius on Friday.

Also, the weather department has informed that Delhi will witness a clear sky with moderate fog during the day.&nbsp;

The lowest visibility was recorded in UP&#39;s Bahraich and Gorakhpur at 25 meters following 50 meters in Amritsar, Hisar and Patna while visibility in Delhi was lower than 200 metres.

About 80 trains were delayed and four were cancelled&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Charbagh" pg="AS1_InlineMedia#AS1_https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/dense-fog-delays-80-trains-4-cancelled/articleshow/62563082.cms~Charbagh-https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Charbagh">Charbagh</a>&nbsp;station on Thursday.

According to the Meteorological Department, the maximum temperature will be 27 degree Celsius, with lows of eight degrees. The lowest temperature recorded at the weather station in Delhi's Safdarjung was 7 degrees Celsius

Low temperature and intense fog continue to affect rail operations in north, northwest and eastern India due to low visibility. Several parts of North India, including Delhi and the adjoining National Capital Region, were covered with dense fog on Friday morning. According to the Meteorological Department, the maximum temperature will be 27 degree Celsius, with lows of eight degrees. The lowest temperature recorded at the weather station in Delhi's Safdarjung was 7 degrees Celsius on Friday. Also, the weather department has informed that Delhi will witness a clear sky with moderate fog during the day. The lowest visibility was recorded in UP's Bahraich and Gorakhpur at 25 meters following 50 meters in Amritsar, Hisar and Patna while visibility in Delhi was lower than 200 metres. About 80 trains were delayed and four were cancelled at Charbagh station on Thursday.

Low temperature and dense fog continue to affect rail operations

The last three years were the hottest on record, the United Nations weather agency said today, citing fresh global data underscoring the dramatic warming of the planet.

Consolidated data from five leading international weather agencies shows that &quot;2015, 2016 and 2017 have been confirmed as the three warmest years on record&quot;, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said.

It added that 2016 remains the hottest year ever measured, due to the warming effect of El Nino, while 2017 was the warmest non-El Nino year beating out 2015 by less than one hundredth of a degree.

&quot;The long-term temperature trend is far more important than the ranking of individual years, and that trend is an upward one,&quot; WMO secretary-general Petteri Taalas said in a statement.

The 21st century has so far been a period of the hottest weather, accounting for 17 of the 18 warmest years on record.

&quot;And the degree of warming during the past three years has been exceptional,&quot; Taalas added.

The WMO also highlighted the intensification of weather and climate related disasters, which hit record levels in the United States last year, while multiple countries were devastated by cyclones, floods and drought.

The WMO findings were based on data provided by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US space agency NASA, Britain&#39;s Met office, the European Centre for medium range weather forecasts and the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Using those inputs, the UN said that the average global surface temperature last year was 1.1 degrees Celsius (1.98 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

&quot;Basically, all of the warming in the last 60 years is attributable to human activities,&quot; said Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA&#39;s Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York.

Reacting to the results, experts warned that the planet is moving closer to a set of red lines laid out in the historic 2015 Paris climate agreement.

That treaty calls for capping global warming at &quot;well under&quot; two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

&quot;When even &#39;colder&#39; (non-El Nino) years are rewriting the warmest year record books we know we have a problem,&quot; said Dave Reay, the Carbon Management chair at the University of Edinburgh. 
&quot;Global temperatures will continue to bob up and down from year to year, but the climate tide beneath them is rising fast.&quot;

There is mounting global consensus on the need to slash CO2 and methane emissions, improve energy efficiency, and develop technologies to remove CO2 from the air.

But US President Donald Trump&#39;s decision to withdraw from the Paris accord has rattled the international community and complicated efforts at forging joint action -- even though many US state governments insist they remain committed to cut emissions.

Since industrialisation took off in the early 19th century, CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere have increased by nearly half, from 280 parts per million to 407 parts per million.

Trump will head to the World Economic Forum in Davos next week, an annual gathering of global elite, where he will confront some of the political and civil society leaders who fought hard for the Paris deal.

&quot;Collaborative efforts&quot; to combat unprecedented shared challenges will be a major theme of meeting, WEF boss Klaus Schwab said this week.

&quot;The record temperature should focus the minds of world leaders, including President Trump, on the scale and urgency of the risks that people, rich and poor, face around the world from climate change,&quot; said Bob Ward, policy director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the London School of Economics.&nbsp;

Consolidated data from five leading international weather agencies shows that "2015, 2016 and 2017 have been confirmed as the three warmest years on record", the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said

The last three years were the hottest on record, the United Nations weather agency said today, citing fresh global data underscoring the dramatic warming of the planet. Consolidated data from five leading international weather agencies shows that "2015, 2016 and 2017 have been confirmed as the three warmest years on record", the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said. It added that 2016 remains the hottest year ever measured, due to the warming effect of El Nino, while 2017 was the warmest non-El Nino year beating out 2015 by less than one hundredth of a degree. "The long-term temperature trend is far more important than the ranking of individual years, and that trend is an upward one," WMO secretary-general Petteri Taalas said in a statement. The 21st century has so far been a period of the hottest weather, accounting for 17 of the 18 warmest years on record. "And the degree of warming during the past three years has been exceptional," Taalas added. The WMO also highlighted the intensification of weather and climate related disasters, which hit record levels in the United States last year, while multiple countries were devastated by cyclones, floods and drought. The WMO findings were based on data provided by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US space agency NASA, Britain's Met office, the European Centre for medium range weather forecasts and the Japan Meteorological Agency. Using those inputs, the UN said that the average global surface temperature last year was 1.1 degrees Celsius (1.98 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. "Basically, all of the warming in the last 60 years is attributable to human activities," said Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York. Reacting to the results, experts warned that the planet is moving closer to a set of red lines laid out in the historic 2015 Paris climate agreement. That treaty calls for capping global warming at "well under" two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). "When even 'colder' (non-El Nino) years are rewriting the warmest year record books we know we have a problem," said Dave Reay, the Carbon Management chair at the University of Edinburgh. "Global temperatures will continue to bob up and down from year to year, but the climate tide beneath them is rising fast." There is mounting global consensus on the need to slash CO2 and methane emissions, improve energy efficiency, and develop technologies to remove CO2 from the air. But US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris accord has rattled the international community and complicated efforts at forging joint action -- even though many US state governments insist they remain committed to cut emissions. Since industrialisation took off in the early 19th century, CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere have increased by nearly half, from 280 parts per million to 407 parts per million. Trump will head to the World Economic Forum in Davos next week, an annual gathering of global elite, where he will confront some of the political and civil society leaders who fought hard for the Paris deal. "Collaborative efforts" to combat unprecedented shared challenges will be a major theme of meeting, WEF boss Klaus Schwab said this week. "The record temperature should focus the minds of world leaders, including President Trump, on the scale and urgency of the risks that people, rich and poor, face around the world from climate change," said Bob Ward, policy director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the London School of Economics.

Last three years hottest on record: UN

Mumbaikars woke up to a densely foggy Saturday morning, leaving many wondering whether it was weather&nbsp;play or pollution enveloping the Maximum city.

Many trains ran behind schedule as the &#39;city of dreams&#39; struggled to see its usual balmy sunshine and grappled with low visibility during the early morning hours.

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Mumbai: Visuals of fog from Sion and Wadala <a href="https://t.co/DqBSvxYPxq">pic.twitter.com/DqBSvxYPxq</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/939341129262055424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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For a city known to bear the brunt of torrential downpours, a smog-like situation emerged out of the blue and shocked many.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Air?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Air</a>-quality Index in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mumbai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mumbai</a> 220 and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gurugram?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gurugram</a> 178. Tables have turned. <a href="https://t.co/Hepi9cmgOY">pic.twitter.com/Hepi9cmgOY</a>
&mdash; Sunil Jhaveri (@IamMisterBond) <a href="https://twitter.com/IamMisterBond/status/939457519620993024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Indian Meteorological Department&#39;s regional centre in Mumbai predicted &quot;mainly clear&quot; skies for Mumbai on its official website, calling the fog a passing phenomenon.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mumbai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mumbai</a> has a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SMOG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SMOG</a> problem.. at 10 am and 28deg Centigrade! This is not fog for sure. Heading the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a> way?? <a href="https://t.co/VRpWvVLVNO">pic.twitter.com/VRpWvVLVNO</a>
&mdash; Kshama (@KshamaKothari) <a href="https://twitter.com/KshamaKothari/status/939353595199176704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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In the meanwhile, Twitter was flooded with reactions, trying to figure out if what was seen was fog or smog.&nbsp;

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Today its Delhi in Mumbai<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MumbaiSmog?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MumbaiSmog</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DelhiSmog?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DelhiSmog</a> <a href="https://t.co/5Klrwp6L7F">pic.twitter.com/5Klrwp6L7F</a>
&mdash; Shrenik Shah (@shre_nik) <a href="https://twitter.com/shre_nik/status/939469335608754176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Many shared that the situation&nbsp;persisted until later in the day.

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I can actually see the pollution from my apartment today and that too at 2.45 pm ! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MumbaiSmog?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MumbaiSmog</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mumbai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mumbai</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pollution?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pollution</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PreventOrRepent?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PreventOrRepent</a> <a href="https://t.co/jjlVLKl3Q5">pic.twitter.com/jjlVLKl3Q5</a>
&mdash; Naved Jafri (@NavedJafri_BOO) <a href="https://twitter.com/NavedJafri_BOO/status/939425372113747969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Shot from Haji Ali. Poor visibility since morning. Racecourse and Wellington golf course covered in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smog?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#smog</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MumbaiSmog?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MumbaiSmog</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pollution?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pollution</a> ??????&zwj;?? <a href="https://t.co/ZE3amSGd2K">pic.twitter.com/ZE3amSGd2K</a>
&mdash; Kunal Jhaveri (@kunaljhaveri) <a href="https://twitter.com/kunaljhaveri/status/939465171264708608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Mumbaikars wondered whether the weather was to blame or pollution

Mumbaikars woke up to a densely foggy Saturday morning, leaving many wondering whether it was weather play or pollution enveloping the Maximum city. Many trains ran behind schedule as the 'city of dreams' struggled to see its usual balmy sunshine and grappled with low visibility during the early morning hours. Mumbai: Visuals of fog from Sion and Wadala pic.twitter.com/DqBSvxYPxq — ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017 × For a city known to bear the brunt of torrential downpours, a smog-like situation emerged out of the blue and shocked many. #Air-quality Index in #Mumbai 220 and #Gurugram 178. Tables have turned. pic.twitter.com/Hepi9cmgOY — Sunil Jhaveri (@IamMisterBond) December 9, 2017 × Indian Meteorological Department's regional centre in Mumbai predicted "mainly clear" skies for Mumbai on its official website, calling the fog a passing phenomenon. #Mumbai has a #SMOG problem.. at 10 am and 28deg Centigrade! This is not fog for sure. Heading the #Delhi way?? pic.twitter.com/VRpWvVLVNO — Kshama (@KshamaKothari) December 9, 2017 × In the meanwhile, Twitter was flooded with reactions, trying to figure out if what was seen was fog or smog. Today its Delhi in Mumbai#MumbaiSmog #DelhiSmog pic.twitter.com/5Klrwp6L7F — Shrenik Shah (@shre_nik) December 9, 2017 × Many shared that the situation persisted until later in the day. I can actually see the pollution from my apartment today and that too at 2.45 pm ! #MumbaiSmog #mumbai #pollution #PreventOrRepent pic.twitter.com/jjlVLKl3Q5 — Naved Jafri (@NavedJafri_BOO) December 9, 2017 × Shot from Haji Ali. Poor visibility since morning. Racecourse and Wellington golf course covered in #smog #MumbaiSmog #pollution ??????‍?? pic.twitter.com/ZE3amSGd2K — Kunal Jhaveri (@kunaljhaveri) December 9, 2017 ×

Dense fog hits Mumbai, Twitterati wonder why

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rains to hit Odisha starting today evening. A depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify further into a deep depression in the next 24 hours and triggering heavy rains in various parts of the state.

As many as 11 districts in Odisha are likely to get affected by the torrential downpour. While the rains will continue till December 11, the associated weather impacts will persist till December 13, noted a release issued by the Regional Met Department.&nbsp;

&quot;Depression is likely to reach South Odisha and North Andhra Pradesh coast by around December 9. Rainfall may start tonight and will continue till December 10. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea from December 7 to December 10&quot;, said Sarat Chandra Sahu, an IMD official.

According to a Skymet&nbsp;weather report, &quot;the depression persisting over the southeast Bay of Bengal has moved northwards in the past six hours. Presently the speed of squally winds is 50 to 55 kmph. The cloud formation is showing signs of intensification and hence this system is likely to concentrate into a deep depression in the next 12 hours&quot;. &quot;It will move northwards inching close to the coast. Wind shear and sea surface temperatures will continue to favour its growth. In wake of this weather system, light rainfall is likely to commence over North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal from the night of December 7,&quot; it further noted.&nbsp;

Moderate rains may also to hit the Gangetic West Bengal and states like Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura by December 9 or 10. Heavy to very heavy rains may not occur. &quot;Tamil Nadu will be spared by the weather system,&quot; noted Skymet.&nbsp;

A depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify further into a deep depression in the next 24 hours

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rains to hit Odisha starting today evening. A depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify further into a deep depression in the next 24 hours and triggering heavy rains in various parts of the state. As many as 11 districts in Odisha are likely to get affected by the torrential downpour. While the rains will continue till December 11, the associated weather impacts will persist till December 13, noted a release issued by the Regional Met Department. "Depression is likely to reach South Odisha and North Andhra Pradesh coast by around December 9. Rainfall may start tonight and will continue till December 10. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea from December 7 to December 10", said Sarat Chandra Sahu, an IMD official. According to a Skymet weather report, "the depression persisting over the southeast Bay of Bengal has moved northwards in the past six hours. Presently the speed of squally winds is 50 to 55 kmph. The cloud formation is showing signs of intensification and hence this system is likely to concentrate into a deep depression in the next 12 hours". "It will move northwards inching close to the coast. Wind shear and sea surface temperatures will continue to favour its growth. In wake of this weather system, light rainfall is likely to commence over North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal from the night of December 7," it further noted. Moderate rains may also to hit the Gangetic West Bengal and states like Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura by December 9 or 10. Heavy to very heavy rains may not occur. "Tamil Nadu will be spared by the weather system," noted Skymet.

Heavy rains to hit Odisha today evening, Indian Meteorological Department warns

A depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal will bring heavy rains to south Tamil Nadu, the regional weather office said on Thursday (November 29).

The system lay centered at around 500 km south-south east of Kanniyakumari, the Regional Meteorological Centre said in a release here.

It was likely to move northwestwards in the next two days and under its influence, heavy to very heavy rains were likely in one or two places in South Tamil Nadu such as Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and Viruthunagar, it said.

Heavy rains were also likely in parts of Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and Tiruvarur, it added.

Further, squally winds reaching 45-55 kmph was very likely along and off South Tamil Nadu during the next 48 hours, and the sea would be rough, it said.

&quot;Fishermen are advised not to venture&quot; into the sea for their vocation, it added.

According to RMC weather data at 1730 hrs of today, Pamban in Ramanathapuram district recorded 2.9 cm of rainfall, followed by Karaikal at 2.6 cm.

Heavy to very heavy rains were likely in one or two places in South Tamil Nadu such as Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and Viruthunagar

A depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal will bring heavy rains to south Tamil Nadu, the regional weather office said on Thursday (November 29). The system lay centered at around 500 km south-south east of Kanniyakumari, the Regional Meteorological Centre said in a release here. It was likely to move northwestwards in the next two days and under its influence, heavy to very heavy rains were likely in one or two places in South Tamil Nadu such as Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and Viruthunagar, it said. Heavy rains were also likely in parts of Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and Tiruvarur, it added. Further, squally winds reaching 45-55 kmph was very likely along and off South Tamil Nadu during the next 48 hours, and the sea would be rough, it said. "Fishermen are advised not to venture" into the sea for their vocation, it added. According to RMC weather data at 1730 hrs of today, Pamban in Ramanathapuram district recorded 2.9 cm of rainfall, followed by Karaikal at 2.6 cm.

Tamil Nadu to get heavy rain from Bay of Bengal depression

Want to breathe long and deep? Longing for that whiff of fresh air, so elusive in Delhi-NCR?

Just head to the Oxygen Chamber that offers you oodles of clean air, and it&#39;s free.

That the Oxygen Chamber is next to the Huda City Metro station, crowded and chaotic with lots of people inside and lots of traffic outside, makes the contrast starker.

Built by Nurturing Green, the Oxygen Chamber is a welcome break in a city where masks and air purifiers are increasingly the norm as air pollution levels fluctuate between severe, very poor and poor.

Equipped with an air purifier and NASA approved air purifying plants such as areca palm, peace lily and sansevieria trifasciata (also known as mother-in-law&#39;s tongue or snake plant), the place, spread over 13,000 sq ft, is a treat for the eyes, and, more important, for the lungs.

&quot;The NASA approved air purifying plants available in the Oxygen Chamber absorb harmful gases like xylene, benzene, formaldehyde and CO2 to bring freshness indoors,&quot; Nurture Green Founder Annu Grover told PTI. &quot;We are practically breathing poison,&quot; she said.

So, enter the chamber and levels of PM (particulate matter) 2.5 and 10 - microscopic particles that can enter and embed deep into the lungs and subsequently the bloodstream, get into a free-fall, making a safe and pollution-free landing at 8-10 from the hazardous 300-400.

There&#39;s&nbsp;a catch, however. The chamber also has an electronic air purifier.

&#39;&#39;These air purifying plants are not there to replace the air purifiers. No. We are saying that both complement each other. It works like this. The air purifying plants absorb the harmful gases, while the electronic air purifier takes care of your PM level,&#39;&#39; said Nikhil Grover, senior marketing manager of the company.

Using medical analogy, he said an electronic air purifier works like &#39;allopathy&#39; and the air purifying plants are somewhat close to &#39;homoeopathy&#39;.

According to him, it would cost Rs 15,000-20,000 to build an oxygen chamber in a home.

The place also sells all kinds of green plants, indoor and outdoor, as well as theme-based garden and balcony furniture, among a host of other things.

Built by Nurturing Green, the Oxygen Chamber next to the Huda City Metro station is equipped with an air purifier and NASA approved air purifying plants such as areca palm, peace lily and sansevieria trifasciata

Want to breathe long and deep? Longing for that whiff of fresh air, so elusive in Delhi-NCR? Just head to the Oxygen Chamber that offers you oodles of clean air, and it's free. That the Oxygen Chamber is next to the Huda City Metro station, crowded and chaotic with lots of people inside and lots of traffic outside, makes the contrast starker. Built by Nurturing Green, the Oxygen Chamber is a welcome break in a city where masks and air purifiers are increasingly the norm as air pollution levels fluctuate between severe, very poor and poor. Equipped with an air purifier and NASA approved air purifying plants such as areca palm, peace lily and sansevieria trifasciata (also known as mother-in-law's tongue or snake plant), the place, spread over 13,000 sq ft, is a treat for the eyes, and, more important, for the lungs. "The NASA approved air purifying plants available in the Oxygen Chamber absorb harmful gases like xylene, benzene, formaldehyde and CO2 to bring freshness indoors," Nurture Green Founder Annu Grover told PTI. "We are practically breathing poison," she said. So, enter the chamber and levels of PM (particulate matter) 2.5 and 10 - microscopic particles that can enter and embed deep into the lungs and subsequently the bloodstream, get into a free-fall, making a safe and pollution-free landing at 8-10 from the hazardous 300-400. There's a catch, however. The chamber also has an electronic air purifier. ''These air purifying plants are not there to replace the air purifiers. No. We are saying that both complement each other. It works like this. The air purifying plants absorb the harmful gases, while the electronic air purifier takes care of your PM level,'' said Nikhil Grover, senior marketing manager of the company. Using medical analogy, he said an electronic air purifier works like 'allopathy' and the air purifying plants are somewhat close to 'homoeopathy'. According to him, it would cost Rs 15,000-20,000 to build an oxygen chamber in a home. The place also sells all kinds of green plants, indoor and outdoor, as well as theme-based garden and balcony furniture, among a host of other things.

Oxygen Chamber in Gurugram; much-needed respite from pollution

A thick cloud of toxic smog 10 times the recommended limit enveloped India&rsquo;s capital New Delhi on Monday, as government officials struggled to tackle a public health crisis that is well into its second week.

A U.S. embassy measure showed levels of poisonous airborne particles, known as PM 2.5, had reached 495 on Monday morning, compared with the upper limit of &ldquo;good&rdquo; quality air at 50.

India&rsquo;s weather office said forecast rain over the next three days could help clear the smog.

&ldquo;Light rainfall is likely in states surrounding Delhi and in Delhi over the next three days, and this could result in a change in wind pattern in the region,&rdquo; Charan Singh, a scientist at India Meteorological Department, told Reuters. &ldquo;Smog will start to abate starting tomorrow.&rdquo;

The Delhi state government declared a public health emergency last week after pollution levels in the city spiked, a yearly phenomenon blamed on a combination of illegal crop burning in northern states, vehicle exhausts, and dust.

Over the weekend, the government said it planned to use fire trucks to spray water in parts of the capital, but the moves have had little effect.

A senior central government official said there was little more the government could do.

&ldquo;We can only do this much, and now we will have to wait for rains to clean the atmosphere,&rdquo; said Prashant Gargava, an official at the Central Pollution Control Board, a central body.

Gargava, who is in-charge of monitoring air quality, said Delhi&rsquo;s air has been consistently in the &ldquo;hazardous&rdquo; zone, despite measures such as a halt to construction and increasing car parking charges four-fold to encourage people to use public transportation.

The PM 2.5 airborne particles are about 30 times finer than a human hair. The particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs, causing respiratory diseases and other ailments. Hospitals in the capital have seen a spike in the number of patients coming in with respiratory complaints, according to media reports.

&ldquo;Every second we are damaging our lungs, but we cannot stop breathing,&rdquo; said Arvind Kumar, the head of the chest and lung surgery department at the Sir Ganga Ram hospital in the city.

United Airlines said it had resumed flights from Newark, New Jersey to New Delhi, India on Sunday, after suspending the service temporarily over concerns about poor air quality in the Indian capital.

State and central governments decided to reopen schools on Monday after closing them temporarily for a few days last week. The move, however, is likely to add more vehicles on the road.

Enforcement agencies said they were also unable to impose a blanket ban on movement of commercial trucks.

Aarti Menon, a teacher at a primary school in New Delhi, said her family was wearing a mask even when they were indoors during the weekend.

&ldquo;Not everyone can afford an air purifier or air-conditioned car. We are all living in hell,&rdquo; said Menon, a mother of two teenage daughters.

The National Green Tribunal, an environment court, has directed the Delhi government and neighbouring states to stop farmers from burning crop residue. But the federal and state governments have not been able to do so yet.

A New Delhi-based non-governmental organization, TARA Homes for Children, which supports 60 poor children, said it was seeking donations to buy at least five air purifiers. &ldquo;Some of the children have breathing issues and couldn&rsquo;t go to school,&rdquo; said a volunteer at the NGO.

Hospitals in the capital have seen a spike in the number of patients coming in with respiratory complaints, according to media reports

A thick cloud of toxic smog 10 times the recommended limit enveloped India’s capital New Delhi on Monday, as government officials struggled to tackle a public health crisis that is well into its second week. A U.S. embassy measure showed levels of poisonous airborne particles, known as PM 2.5, had reached 495 on Monday morning, compared with the upper limit of “good” quality air at 50. India’s weather office said forecast rain over the next three days could help clear the smog. “Light rainfall is likely in states surrounding Delhi and in Delhi over the next three days, and this could result in a change in wind pattern in the region,” Charan Singh, a scientist at India Meteorological Department, told Reuters. “Smog will start to abate starting tomorrow.” The Delhi state government declared a public health emergency last week after pollution levels in the city spiked, a yearly phenomenon blamed on a combination of illegal crop burning in northern states, vehicle exhausts, and dust. Over the weekend, the government said it planned to use fire trucks to spray water in parts of the capital, but the moves have had little effect. A senior central government official said there was little more the government could do. “We can only do this much, and now we will have to wait for rains to clean the atmosphere,” said Prashant Gargava, an official at the Central Pollution Control Board, a central body. Gargava, who is in-charge of monitoring air quality, said Delhi’s air has been consistently in the “hazardous” zone, despite measures such as a halt to construction and increasing car parking charges four-fold to encourage people to use public transportation. The PM 2.5 airborne particles are about 30 times finer than a human hair. The particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs, causing respiratory diseases and other ailments. Hospitals in the capital have seen a spike in the number of patients coming in with respiratory complaints, according to media reports. “Every second we are damaging our lungs, but we cannot stop breathing,” said Arvind Kumar, the head of the chest and lung surgery department at the Sir Ganga Ram hospital in the city. United Airlines said it had resumed flights from Newark, New Jersey to New Delhi, India on Sunday, after suspending the service temporarily over concerns about poor air quality in the Indian capital. State and central governments decided to reopen schools on Monday after closing them temporarily for a few days last week. The move, however, is likely to add more vehicles on the road. Enforcement agencies said they were also unable to impose a blanket ban on movement of commercial trucks. Aarti Menon, a teacher at a primary school in New Delhi, said her family was wearing a mask even when they were indoors during the weekend. “Not everyone can afford an air purifier or air-conditioned car. We are all living in hell,” said Menon, a mother of two teenage daughters. The National Green Tribunal, an environment court, has directed the Delhi government and neighbouring states to stop farmers from burning crop residue. But the federal and state governments have not been able to do so yet. A New Delhi-based non-governmental organization, TARA Homes for Children, which supports 60 poor children, said it was seeking donations to buy at least five air purifiers. “Some of the children have breathing issues and couldn’t go to school,” said a volunteer at the NGO.

Delhi bears the brunt of smog despite emergency measures

Oil&nbsp;prices steadied on Thursday, holding on to most of their recent gains after another fall in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-jumps-to-near-8-week-high-after-big-draw-in-us-crude-stocks-18831">US&nbsp;crude</a> inventories indicated a tighter market, and as a tropical storm headed towards&nbsp;oil&nbsp;producing facilities in the Gulf of Mexico.

Benchmark Brent crude was down 5 cents a barrel at $52.52 by 0925 GMT. US&nbsp;light, sweet crude was 10 cents lower at $48.31 a barrel.

Both contracts rose more than 1 percent on Wednesday, buoyed by potential output disruptions from the Gulf of Mexico storm Tropical Depression Harvey.

&quot;For the next few days, the US&nbsp;market is going to be focused on Texas as Tropical Depression Harvey is expected to strengthen into a Category I hurricane by Friday,&quot; said Sukrit Vijayakar, director of energy consultancy Trifecta.

&quot;Operators in the area are already closing down platforms and evacuating workers as a precaution,&quot; he added.

Harvey strengthened into a tropical storm late on Wednesday night with winds of about 40 miles per hour (65 km per hour) and was located about 440 miles (705 km) southeast of Port Mansfield, Texas, the U.S. National Hurricane Center reported.

Royal Dutch Shell, Anadarko Petroleum and Exxon Mobil have all taken steps to curb some&nbsp;oiland gas output at platforms in the Gulf.

Beyond the weather, traders said declines in US&nbsp;commercial crude storage levels were a sign of a gradually tightening market, although another rise in output held the market back.

US&nbsp;crude&nbsp;oil&nbsp;production hit 9.53 million barrels per day (bpd) last week, its highest since July 2015 and up over 13 percent from their most recent low in mid-2016.

Despite this, U.S. crude stocks fell last week and gasoline stocks were down as well, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.

Crude inventories fell by 3.3 million barrels in the week ending Aug. 18 to 463.17 million barrels, down 13.5 percent from record levels last March.

US crude oil production hit 9.53 million barrels per day (bpd) last week, its highest since July 2015 and up over 13 percent from their most recent low in mid-2016

Oil prices steadied on Thursday, holding on to most of their recent gains after another fall in US crude inventories indicated a tighter market, and as a tropical storm headed towards oil producing facilities in the Gulf of Mexico. Benchmark Brent crude was down 5 cents a barrel at $52.52 by 0925 GMT. US light, sweet crude was 10 cents lower at $48.31 a barrel. Both contracts rose more than 1 percent on Wednesday, buoyed by potential output disruptions from the Gulf of Mexico storm Tropical Depression Harvey. "For the next few days, the US market is going to be focused on Texas as Tropical Depression Harvey is expected to strengthen into a Category I hurricane by Friday," said Sukrit Vijayakar, director of energy consultancy Trifecta. "Operators in the area are already closing down platforms and evacuating workers as a precaution," he added. Harvey strengthened into a tropical storm late on Wednesday night with winds of about 40 miles per hour (65 km per hour) and was located about 440 miles (705 km) southeast of Port Mansfield, Texas, the U.S. National Hurricane Center reported. Royal Dutch Shell, Anadarko Petroleum and Exxon Mobil have all taken steps to curb some oiland gas output at platforms in the Gulf. Beyond the weather, traders said declines in US commercial crude storage levels were a sign of a gradually tightening market, although another rise in output held the market back. US crude oil production hit 9.53 million barrels per day (bpd) last week, its highest since July 2015 and up over 13 percent from their most recent low in mid-2016. Despite this, U.S. crude stocks fell last week and gasoline stocks were down as well, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday. Crude inventories fell by 3.3 million barrels in the week ending Aug. 18 to 463.17 million barrels, down 13.5 percent from record levels last March.

Oil prices steady as US crude inventories indicate tighter market

It was a cold morning in the national capital today with minimum temperature settling at 11.5 degrees Celsius.

&quot;The maximum temperature hovered at 25.6 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity oscillated between 68 and 98 per cent,&quot; a MeT department official said.

According to the Safdarjung Observatory, the visibility was recorded at 300 metres at 8.30 AM, and foggy condition will continue.

&quot;Forecast for next 24 hours is clear sky with fog at most places and dense fog at isolated places in the morning,&quot; he said.

The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover at 25 and 10 degrees Celsius respectively, the weatherman said.

Yesterday, dense fog had reduced visibility to zero in many parts of the city, severely affecting air and rail traffic.

The maximum temperature was recorded at 25.8 degrees Celsius while the minimum settled at 11.9 degrees Celsius.

(PTI)

Yesterday dense fog had reduced visibility to zero in many parts of the city, severely affecting air and rail traffic. The fog will continue

It was a cold morning in the national capital today with minimum temperature settling at 11.5 degrees Celsius. "The maximum temperature hovered at 25.6 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity oscillated between 68 and 98 per cent," a MeT department official said. According to the Safdarjung Observatory, the visibility was recorded at 300 metres at 8.30 AM, and foggy condition will continue. "Forecast for next 24 hours is clear sky with fog at most places and dense fog at isolated places in the morning," he said. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover at 25 and 10 degrees Celsius respectively, the weatherman said. Yesterday, dense fog had reduced visibility to zero in many parts of the city, severely affecting air and rail traffic. The maximum temperature was recorded at 25.8 degrees Celsius while the minimum settled at 11.9 degrees Celsius. (PTI)

Cold, foggy winter morning in Delhi

Eleven people have died in flooding in Niger and 30,000 have been rendered homeless after vast swathes of the country, &nbsp;including arid desert locations, were deluged with heavy rain, the United Nations (UN) said today. 
 
The worst affected regions are both desert areas: Tahoua in the west, where seven people died and 5,321 people were left homeless, and Agadez in the north where three people were killed and 18,448 lost their homes, according to the UN`s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). 
 
In the two areas, the freak weather claimed the lives of 19,536 cows, goats, sheep and camels while also devastating hundreds of acres of land, according to local authorities.&nbsp; 
 
Images broadcast by public television showed roads cut off by streams and land littered with rotting animal corpses. 
 
In the Agadez region, annual rainfall seldom exceeds 130 millimetres and floods like those seen in recent days are rare.&nbsp; 
 
But since June, as much as 115 millimetres has regularly been falling in a matter of hours, according to weather reports. 
 
Nigerien authorities and the UN have been distributing food aid to help families displaced by the flooding.&nbsp; 
 
Niger is in the midst of its annual rainy season, having struggled to overcome a severe food crisis caused by drought. 
 
The rains are unlikely to ease the pressure on the country&#39;s food supply, &nbsp;given the damage flooding caused by climate change has wrought on crops.&nbsp; 
 
In early June, &nbsp;the UN warned that flooding could affect 100,000 people in the poor desert country by the end of the year. 
 
In 2015 as many as 103,000 people were left homeless by floods that claimed the lives of tens of victims. 
 
(AFP) 
 
&nbsp;

The worst affected regions are both desert areas: Tahoua in the west and Agadez in the north

Eleven people have died in flooding in Niger and 30,000 have been rendered homeless after vast swathes of the country, including arid desert locations, were deluged with heavy rain, the United Nations (UN) said today. The worst affected regions are both desert areas: Tahoua in the west, where seven people died and 5,321 people were left homeless, and Agadez in the north where three people were killed and 18,448 lost their homes, according to the UN`s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). In the two areas, the freak weather claimed the lives of 19,536 cows, goats, sheep and camels while also devastating hundreds of acres of land, according to local authorities. Images broadcast by public television showed roads cut off by streams and land littered with rotting animal corpses. In the Agadez region, annual rainfall seldom exceeds 130 millimetres and floods like those seen in recent days are rare. But since June, as much as 115 millimetres has regularly been falling in a matter of hours, according to weather reports. Nigerien authorities and the UN have been distributing food aid to help families displaced by the flooding. Niger is in the midst of its annual rainy season, having struggled to overcome a severe food crisis caused by drought. The rains are unlikely to ease the pressure on the country's food supply, given the damage flooding caused by climate change has wrought on crops. In early June, the UN warned that flooding could affect 100,000 people in the poor desert country by the end of the year. In 2015 as many as 103,000 people were left homeless by floods that claimed the lives of tens of victims. (AFP)

Niger floods kill 11, 30,000 rendered homeless

As they struggle to deal with more extreme weather, a range of food crops are generating more of chemical compounds that can cause&nbsp;healthproblems for people and livestock who eat them, scientists have warned.

A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says that crops such as wheat and maize are generating more potential toxins as a reaction to protect themselves from extreme weather.

But these chemical compounds are harmful to people and animals if consumed for a prolonged period of time, according to a report released during a United Nations Environment Assembly meeting in Nairobi.

&quot;Crops are responding to drought conditions and increases in temperature just like humans do when faced with a stressful situation,&rdquo; explained Jacqueline McGlade, chief scientist and director of the Division of Early Warning and Assessment at UNEP.

Under normal conditions, for instance, plants convert nitrates they absorb into nutritious amino acids and proteins. But prolonged drought slows or prevents this conversion, leading to more potentially problematic nitrate accumulating in the plant, the report said.

If people eat too much nitrate in their diets, it can interfere with the ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen in the body, the report said.

Crops susceptible to accumulating too much nitrate in times of stress include maize, wheat, barley, soybeans, millet and sorghum, it said.

&nbsp;

DROUGHT, THEN RAIN

Some drought-stressed crops, when then exposed to sudden large amounts of rain that lead to rapid growth, in turn accumulate hydrogen cyanide, more commonly known as prussic acid, the report said.

Prussic acid &ndash; one of the ingredients used in some types of chemical warfare - interferes with oxygen flow in humans. Even short-term exposure can be debilitating for people, McGlade said.

Plants such as cassava, flax, maize and sorghum are most vulnerable to dangerous prussic acid accumulation, the report said.

Cases of nitrate or hydrogen cyanide poisoning in humans were reported in Kenya in 2013 and in the Philippines in 2005, McGlade said. In Kenya, two children died in coastal Kilifi after eating cassava that had raised levels of prussic acid in it following extreme rainfall, according to local media reports.

Aflatoxins, molds that can affect plant crops and raise the risk of liver damage, cancer and blindness, as well as stunting foetuses and infants, also are spreading to more areas as a result of shifting weather patterns as a result of climate change, scientists said.

McGlade said about 4.5 billion people in developing countries are exposed to aflatoxins each year, though the amounts are largely unmonitored, and the numbers are rising.

&quot;We are just beginning to recognise the magnitude of toxin- related issues confronting farmers in developing countries of the tropics and sub-tropics,&quot; the report noted.

&quot;As warmer climate zones expand towards the poles, countries in more temperate regions are facing new threats,&quot; it added.

In 2004, Kenya suffered severe outbreaks of aflatoxin poisoning, which affected more than 300 people and killed more than 100 following a prolonged drought, according to the International Livestock Research Institute.

&nbsp;

EUROPE AT RISK

The UNEP report said Europe will be at growing risk from aflatoxins in locally grown crops if global temperatures rise by at least 2 degrees Celsius. The world is currently on a path to a more than 3 degree Celsius temperature rise, scientists believe.

An increase in toxic compounds in crops is likely to impact heavily on the world&rsquo;s&nbsp;health&nbsp;system, which are already struggling with the effects of food insecurity, Dorota Jarosinska of the WorldHealth&nbsp;Organization&rsquo;s European Center for Environment and&nbsp;Health&nbsp;said in an interview with the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Alex Ezeh, executive director of the African Population&nbsp;Health&nbsp;and Research Center, said the increase in toxins in crops was a big concern.

&quot;Toxic crops can lead to neurological diseases among humans but the greatest challenge is the incidence of cancer,&rdquo; he said in an interview.

The report proposes a list of eight ideas farmers and agricultural experts can adopt to try to limit damage from more crop toxins, such as mapping contamination hotspots and building better evidence about what is happening now with the toxins in their area.

Scientists also suggest that developing crop varieties designed to cope with extreme weather could help reduce the levels of toxic chemicals in food.

&quot;Research centers with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research are developing seeds that are suitable in various regions that have been hit by climate change,&rdquo; McGlade said.

As they struggle to deal with more extreme weather, a range of food crops are generating more of chemical compounds that can cause?healthproblems for people and livestock who eat them, scientists have warned

As they struggle to deal with more extreme weather, a range of food crops are generating more of chemical compounds that can cause healthproblems for people and livestock who eat them, scientists have warned. A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says that crops such as wheat and maize are generating more potential toxins as a reaction to protect themselves from extreme weather. But these chemical compounds are harmful to people and animals if consumed for a prolonged period of time, according to a report released during a United Nations Environment Assembly meeting in Nairobi. "Crops are responding to drought conditions and increases in temperature just like humans do when faced with a stressful situation,” explained Jacqueline McGlade, chief scientist and director of the Division of Early Warning and Assessment at UNEP. Under normal conditions, for instance, plants convert nitrates they absorb into nutritious amino acids and proteins. But prolonged drought slows or prevents this conversion, leading to more potentially problematic nitrate accumulating in the plant, the report said. If people eat too much nitrate in their diets, it can interfere with the ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen in the body, the report said. Crops susceptible to accumulating too much nitrate in times of stress include maize, wheat, barley, soybeans, millet and sorghum, it said. DROUGHT, THEN RAIN Some drought-stressed crops, when then exposed to sudden large amounts of rain that lead to rapid growth, in turn accumulate hydrogen cyanide, more commonly known as prussic acid, the report said. Prussic acid – one of the ingredients used in some types of chemical warfare - interferes with oxygen flow in humans. Even short-term exposure can be debilitating for people, McGlade said. Plants such as cassava, flax, maize and sorghum are most vulnerable to dangerous prussic acid accumulation, the report said. Cases of nitrate or hydrogen cyanide poisoning in humans were reported in Kenya in 2013 and in the Philippines in 2005, McGlade said. In Kenya, two children died in coastal Kilifi after eating cassava that had raised levels of prussic acid in it following extreme rainfall, according to local media reports. Aflatoxins, molds that can affect plant crops and raise the risk of liver damage, cancer and blindness, as well as stunting foetuses and infants, also are spreading to more areas as a result of shifting weather patterns as a result of climate change, scientists said. McGlade said about 4.5 billion people in developing countries are exposed to aflatoxins each year, though the amounts are largely unmonitored, and the numbers are rising. "We are just beginning to recognise the magnitude of toxin- related issues confronting farmers in developing countries of the tropics and sub-tropics," the report noted. "As warmer climate zones expand towards the poles, countries in more temperate regions are facing new threats," it added. In 2004, Kenya suffered severe outbreaks of aflatoxin poisoning, which affected more than 300 people and killed more than 100 following a prolonged drought, according to the International Livestock Research Institute. EUROPE AT RISK The UNEP report said Europe will be at growing risk from aflatoxins in locally grown crops if global temperatures rise by at least 2 degrees Celsius. The world is currently on a path to a more than 3 degree Celsius temperature rise, scientists believe. An increase in toxic compounds in crops is likely to impact heavily on the world’s health system, which are already struggling with the effects of food insecurity, Dorota Jarosinska of the WorldHealth Organization’s European Center for Environment and Health said in an interview with the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Alex Ezeh, executive director of the African Population Health and Research Center, said the increase in toxins in crops was a big concern. "Toxic crops can lead to neurological diseases among humans but the greatest challenge is the incidence of cancer,” he said in an interview. The report proposes a list of eight ideas farmers and agricultural experts can adopt to try to limit damage from more crop toxins, such as mapping contamination hotspots and building better evidence about what is happening now with the toxins in their area. Scientists also suggest that developing crop varieties designed to cope with extreme weather could help reduce the levels of toxic chemicals in food. "Research centers with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research are developing seeds that are suitable in various regions that have been hit by climate change,” McGlade said.

Extreme weather increasing level of toxins in food, scientists warn

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