Bad weather weighs on airlines. U.S airlines cancel over 700 flights, and Delta airlines had over 200 cancelations. Unprecedented surges in summer travels.

Travel turmoil: Bad weather weighs on airlines

The India Meteorological Department predicted that the maximum temperature in Delhi NCR and other parts of northwest India will drop a few degrees over the weekend, but no significant relief is expected until June 15.&nbsp;The temperature might fluctuate between 40 and 43 degrees Celsius. However, as per the forecast, from 16 June onwards, easterly breezes will bring major relief to the region. Due to an onslaught of hot and dry westerly winds, northwest and central India has been experiencing a heatwave since June 2, as reported by PTI.

Senior IMD scientist R K Jenamani said, “The ongoing heatwave spell is less intense as compared to those recorded in April-end and May, but the area of impact is almost equal," he said. He further said that the current heatwave is less severe than the one recorded in late April and early May, but is nearly equivalent.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/imd-issues-orange-alert-in-delhi-north-east-warned-for-heavy-rainfall-485981">IMD issues ‘orange alert’ in Delhi, north east warned for heavy rainfall</a>

The IMD officials said, the pre-monsoon activity is expected to begin on June 12 in east Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha although temperatures in north Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and North Madhya Pradesh will remain above average until June 15.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;South Asia Diary | Heatwave hits Pakistan’s mango output

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Last year, the department predicted that the monsoon would arrive roughly two weeks earlier than typical in Delhi (June 27).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-rebuts-epi-2022-findings-says-indicators-are-extrapolated-486212">India rebuts Environment Performance Index 2022 findings, says indicators are 'extrapolated'</a>

As per R K Jenamani, the monsoon hit the Kerala coast on May 29 and covered the south and central Arabian sea, Kerala, parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and the entire northeast between May 31 and June 7.&nbsp;

The weather department also said that&nbsp;the monsoon is moving normally and is expected to reach Maharashtra in the next two days. The office had also issued a warning for Arunachal Pradesh, Assam as well as Meghalaya for the following five days.&nbsp;

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(With inputs from agencies)

The India Meteorological Department predicted that the maximum temperature in Delhi NCR and other parts of northwest India will drop a few degrees over the weekend, but no significant relief is expected until June 15.

The India Meteorological Department predicted that the maximum temperature in Delhi NCR and other parts of northwest India will drop a few degrees over the weekend, but no significant relief is expected until June 15. The temperature might fluctuate between 40 and 43 degrees Celsius. However, as per the forecast, from 16 June onwards, easterly breezes will bring major relief to the region. Due to an onslaught of hot and dry westerly winds, northwest and central India has been experiencing a heatwave since June 2, as reported by PTI. Senior IMD scientist R K Jenamani said, “The ongoing heatwave spell is less intense as compared to those recorded in April-end and May, but the area of impact is almost equal," he said. He further said that the current heatwave is less severe than the one recorded in late April and early May, but is nearly equivalent. Also read | IMD issues ‘orange alert’ in Delhi, north east warned for heavy rainfall The IMD officials said, the pre-monsoon activity is expected to begin on June 12 in east Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha although temperatures in north Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and North Madhya Pradesh will remain above average until June 15. Watch | South Asia Diary | Heatwave hits Pakistan’s mango output Last year, the department predicted that the monsoon would arrive roughly two weeks earlier than typical in Delhi (June 27). Also read | India rebuts Environment Performance Index 2022 findings, says indicators are 'extrapolated' As per R K Jenamani, the monsoon hit the Kerala coast on May 29 and covered the south and central Arabian sea, Kerala, parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and the entire northeast between May 31 and June 7. The weather department also said that the monsoon is moving normally and is expected to reach Maharashtra in the next two days. The office had also issued a warning for Arunachal Pradesh, Assam as well as Meghalaya for the following five days. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. (With inputs from agencies)

IMD predicts no major relief from heatwave till June 15 in North, warns East of heavy rainfall

The India Meteorological Department has issued an ‘orange alert’ in Delhi and other neighbouring locations for severe heatwave conditions with temperatures ranging from 44 to 47 degrees Celsius, reported by ANI.

The national capital has been experiencing severe heatwaves in recent days. On Saturday (June 4), Delhi saw searing summer heat, with the temperatures exceeding 47 degrees Celsius. Mungeshpur saw a temperature reaching 47.1 degrees Celsius, while Pitampura recorded 46.5 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/northern-india-experiences-heatwave-as-temperature-rises-485653">&nbsp;Yellow alert issued as Northern India continues to blaze under heatwave, rising temperature</a>

RK Jenamani, a senior scientist at IMD said, “Orange alert in Delhi. Severe heatwave from June 4 in Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, UP and parts of MP, Rajasthan. Temp varying b/w 44°-47°. Shall continue for four more days. We advise people to venture out carefully as heat spells are very severe.”

Watch |&nbsp;Alarming report on South Asia Heatwave: 'Extreme weather due to climate change'

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The hottest temperature recorded in Ganganagar, Rajasthan and Hisar, Haryana recorded 47.5 and 46.8 degrees Celsius respectively.

The senior scientist further added that heavy rainfall is expected in east India and warnings for the same has been issued for Meghalaya, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. However, the monsoon has nowhere started in the North.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-is-fourth-worst-hit-when-it-comes-to-climate-change-induced-migration-report-485604">India is fourth worst-hit when it comes to climate change-induced migration: Report</a>

The weather agency tweeted expecting no substantial changes in maximum temperatures in most regions of Northwest India for the next few days but it's hopeful for a drop in the temperature in Central India after two days.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
No significant change in maximum temperatures very likely over most parts of Northwest India during next 4-5 days. 
No significant change in maximum temperatures very likely over most parts of Central India during next 2 days and fall by 2-3°C thereafter.
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) <a href="https://twitter.com/Indiametdept/status/1533343532710531072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

(with inputs from agencies)

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The India Meteorological Department has issued an ‘orange alert’ in Delhi and other neighbouring locations for severe heatwave conditions with temperatures ranging from 44 to 47 degrees Celsius, reported by ANI.

The India Meteorological Department has issued an ‘orange alert’ in Delhi and other neighbouring locations for severe heatwave conditions with temperatures ranging from 44 to 47 degrees Celsius, reported by ANI. The national capital has been experiencing severe heatwaves in recent days. On Saturday (June 4), Delhi saw searing summer heat, with the temperatures exceeding 47 degrees Celsius. Mungeshpur saw a temperature reaching 47.1 degrees Celsius, while Pitampura recorded 46.5 degrees Celsius. Also read | Yellow alert issued as Northern India continues to blaze under heatwave, rising temperature RK Jenamani, a senior scientist at IMD said, “Orange alert in Delhi. Severe heatwave from June 4 in Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, UP and parts of MP, Rajasthan. Temp varying b/w 44°-47°. Shall continue for four more days. We advise people to venture out carefully as heat spells are very severe.” Watch | Alarming report on South Asia Heatwave: 'Extreme weather due to climate change' The hottest temperature recorded in Ganganagar, Rajasthan and Hisar, Haryana recorded 47.5 and 46.8 degrees Celsius respectively. The senior scientist further added that heavy rainfall is expected in east India and warnings for the same has been issued for Meghalaya, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. However, the monsoon has nowhere started in the North. Also read | India is fourth worst-hit when it comes to climate change-induced migration: Report The weather agency tweeted expecting no substantial changes in maximum temperatures in most regions of Northwest India for the next few days but it's hopeful for a drop in the temperature in Central India after two days. No significant change in maximum temperatures very likely over most parts of Northwest India during next 4-5 days. No significant change in maximum temperatures very likely over most parts of Central India during next 2 days and fall by 2-3°C thereafter. — India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) June 5, 2022 × (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IMD issues ‘orange alert’ in Delhi, north east warned for heavy rainfall

Climate change has made the record breaking heat waves in India and Pakistan over 100 times more likely, and also increased the chances that such events will occur more frequently in the future, according to a study by the UK Met Office.

The analysis released on Wednesday means extreme temperature events once expected every three centuries are now likely to happen every three years.

The study estimated the chances of exceeding the record temperature witnessed in April and May in 2010, which saw the highest combined average April and May temperature since 1900.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/heatwave-hit-monsoons-arrive-in-andaman-and-nicobar-islands-temperatures-to-drop-in-northern-india-479837">Monsoon arrives in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, temperatures to drop in northern India</a>

The attribution study, which determines the influence of climate change on a particular weather event, shows that the natural probability of a heat wave exceeding the average temperature in 2010 was once in 312 years.

However, in the current climate scenario that accounts for climate change, the probabilities increase to once in every 3.1 years.

The scientists estimated that by the end of the century, the probability of heat wave will increase to once every 1.15 years.

"With temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius in recent days, it is clear the current heat wave is an extreme weather event affecting communities and livelihoods," Professor Peter Stott, Met Office Science Fellow in Climate Attribution, said in a statement.

Watch |&nbsp;Severe heatwave grips South Asia: People struggle under scorching sun

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Although a new record is thought likely, climate scientists will have to wait until after the end of the month, when all the temperature records for the April-May period have been collated to see whether the current heat wave will exceed the levels experienced in 2010.

"Spells of heat have always been a feature of the region's pre-monsoon climate during April and May," said Nikos Christidis, who produced the study.

"Our study shows that climate change is driving the heat intensity of these spells making record-breaking temperatures 100 times more likely. By the end of the century increasing climate change is likely to drive temperatures of these values on average every year, Christidis said.

The scientists adopted the peer-reviewed risk-based methodology that infers probabilities of extreme events with and without the effect of human influence from large multi-model ensembles of climate model simulations.

They noted that extreme pre-monsoon heatwave has eased a little after peak temperatures reached 51 degrees Celsius in Pakistan on Sunday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/heatwave-hit-delhi-grapples-with-water-shortage-no-response-from-haryana-478935">Delhi grapples with water shortage amid heatwave</a>

"However, the heat looks likely to build again from mid-week, peaking later in the week or into the weekend, with maximum temperatures again likely to reach 50 degrees Celsius in some spots, with continued very high overnight temperatures," said Paul Hutcheon, of the UK Met Office's Global Guidance Unit.

"Through the weekend temperatures are likely to lower again closer to average. There is also a continued enhanced risk of fires (largely from planned agricultural burning) in the region which would further add to the poor air quality. Some strong winds will lift dust plumes at times too, Hutcheon added.&nbsp;

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Climate change has made the record breaking heat waves in India and Pakistan over 100 times more likely, and also increased the chances that such events will occur more frequently in the future, according to a study by the UK Met Office.

Climate change has made the record breaking heat waves in India and Pakistan over 100 times more likely, and also increased the chances that such events will occur more frequently in the future, according to a study by the UK Met Office. The analysis released on Wednesday means extreme temperature events once expected every three centuries are now likely to happen every three years. The study estimated the chances of exceeding the record temperature witnessed in April and May in 2010, which saw the highest combined average April and May temperature since 1900. Also read | Monsoon arrives in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, temperatures to drop in northern India The attribution study, which determines the influence of climate change on a particular weather event, shows that the natural probability of a heat wave exceeding the average temperature in 2010 was once in 312 years. However, in the current climate scenario that accounts for climate change, the probabilities increase to once in every 3.1 years. The scientists estimated that by the end of the century, the probability of heat wave will increase to once every 1.15 years. "With temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius in recent days, it is clear the current heat wave is an extreme weather event affecting communities and livelihoods," Professor Peter Stott, Met Office Science Fellow in Climate Attribution, said in a statement. Watch | Severe heatwave grips South Asia: People struggle under scorching sun Although a new record is thought likely, climate scientists will have to wait until after the end of the month, when all the temperature records for the April-May period have been collated to see whether the current heat wave will exceed the levels experienced in 2010. "Spells of heat have always been a feature of the region's pre-monsoon climate during April and May," said Nikos Christidis, who produced the study. "Our study shows that climate change is driving the heat intensity of these spells making record-breaking temperatures 100 times more likely. By the end of the century increasing climate change is likely to drive temperatures of these values on average every year, Christidis said. The scientists adopted the peer-reviewed risk-based methodology that infers probabilities of extreme events with and without the effect of human influence from large multi-model ensembles of climate model simulations. They noted that extreme pre-monsoon heatwave has eased a little after peak temperatures reached 51 degrees Celsius in Pakistan on Sunday. Also read | Delhi grapples with water shortage amid heatwave "However, the heat looks likely to build again from mid-week, peaking later in the week or into the weekend, with maximum temperatures again likely to reach 50 degrees Celsius in some spots, with continued very high overnight temperatures," said Paul Hutcheon, of the UK Met Office's Global Guidance Unit. "Through the weekend temperatures are likely to lower again closer to average. There is also a continued enhanced risk of fires (largely from planned agricultural burning) in the region which would further add to the poor air quality. Some strong winds will lift dust plumes at times too, Hutcheon added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Climate change making extreme heat waves in India 100 times more likely: Study

Officials in Delhi on Saturday (May 14)&nbsp;said that they are barely meeting the demand for drinking water in multiple regions&nbsp;as the Yamuna river is drying up under the scorching weather while Haryana failed to respond to SOS calls, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

Haryana provides 610 million gallons of water per day to Delhi via the Yamuna and two canals (CLC and DSB).&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-deadly-heat-wave-govt-issues-guidelines-for-schools-asks-to-modify-timings-478327">India's deadly heat wave: Govt issues guidelines for schools,&nbsp;asks to modify timings</a>

The Wazirabad pond level has decreased to 670.70 feet, the lowest elevation earlier was at 671.80 feet. Last year in July, the pond level had decreased to 667 feet, forcing the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to petition the Supreme Court and request&nbsp;Haryana to release additional water into the river. The DJB earlier has already written to Haryana Irrigation Department thrice: April 30, May 3 and May 12.

The heatwave has been scorching Delhi for the past two days, IMD issued an ‘orange’ warning in many sections of the city and predicted that the temperatures could reach 46-47 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Earth could heat up at alarming levels in 5 years

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The DJB department sent water tanks to areas facing water shortages as a part of its Summer Action Plan and is attempting to supplement water suppliers through water tubes.&nbsp;

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-india-reels-under-deadly-heat-wave-report-makes-glaring-revelations-478557">&nbsp;Heatwave Alert! If CO2 levels double by 2050, Delhi to turn 5 degrees warmer from 2080 to 2099, says report</a>

To accommodate the water demand the Delhi government said last month that it will provide nearly 1,000 million gallons of water per day during the summer season, up from 935 MGD previously. During the peak season of April to July, 1,198 water tankers will be deployed across the national capital to prevent water shortages.&nbsp;

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(With inputs from agencies)

Officials in Delhi on Saturday (May 14) said that they are barely meeting the demand for drinking water in multiple regions as the Yamuna river is drying up under the scorching weather while Haryana failed to respond to SOS calls, news agency PTI reported.

Officials in Delhi on Saturday (May 14) said that they are barely meeting the demand for drinking water in multiple regions as the Yamuna river is drying up under the scorching weather while Haryana failed to respond to SOS calls, news agency PTI reported. Haryana provides 610 million gallons of water per day to Delhi via the Yamuna and two canals (CLC and DSB). Also read | India's deadly heat wave: Govt issues guidelines for schools, asks to modify timings The Wazirabad pond level has decreased to 670.70 feet, the lowest elevation earlier was at 671.80 feet. Last year in July, the pond level had decreased to 667 feet, forcing the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to petition the Supreme Court and request Haryana to release additional water into the river. The DJB earlier has already written to Haryana Irrigation Department thrice: April 30, May 3 and May 12. The heatwave has been scorching Delhi for the past two days, IMD issued an ‘orange’ warning in many sections of the city and predicted that the temperatures could reach 46-47 degrees Celsius. Watch | Gravitas: Earth could heat up at alarming levels in 5 years The DJB department sent water tanks to areas facing water shortages as a part of its Summer Action Plan and is attempting to supplement water suppliers through water tubes. Also read | Heatwave Alert! If CO2 levels double by 2050, Delhi to turn 5 degrees warmer from 2080 to 2099, says report To accommodate the water demand the Delhi government said last month that it will provide nearly 1,000 million gallons of water per day during the summer season, up from 935 MGD previously. During the peak season of April to July, 1,198 water tankers will be deployed across the national capital to prevent water shortages. WATCH WION LIVE HERE: (With inputs from agencies)

Delhi grapples with water shortage amid heatwave

Indian Government's Union Ministry of Education has encouraged schools to start courses early in the morning and decrease work hours to enable children cope with the heatwave sweeping throughout the country.

The announcement comes as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts another heat wave in Delhi starting on Friday. High temperatures are causing problems in most sections of north, central, northwest, and east India.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/heatwave-hit-indian-states-ready-with-plans-says-official-476886">&nbsp;India: 23 states, hundreds of cities, districts at risk due to heatwave, says official</a>

According to the Ministry's guidelines, school hours may begin early and end before noon. It stated that the start time might be as early as 7:00 a.m., and the amount of school hours per day could be reduced.&nbsp;

According to the Ministry, sports or other outside activities that expose students to direct sunlight should be altered in the early morning. It was suggested that school assemblies be held in a covered location or in classrooms with shorter intervals.&nbsp;

According to the Ministry, comparable precautions may be used during dispersal after school has ended.

In an advisory the ministry, urged school officials to limit outside activities and ensure that student stay hydrated during the school hours. It further stated that teaching and non-teaching staffs to be trained to administer first aid in case a student suffers of mild heat-stroke.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Earth could heat up at alarming levels in 5 years

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The guidelines also recommended&nbsp;schools to relax its uniform policies like neck ties and allow students to wear light coloured cotton clothes and allow students to wear Canvas shoes instead of leather.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-india-reels-under-heat-wave-kashmir-temperatures-at-below-20-degrees-476926">As India reels under heat wave, Kashmir temperatures at below 20 degrees</a>

The guidelines even&nbsp;had&nbsp;specified instructions related to food, advising teachers to check quality of the mid-day meals before serving it to students. It said, “Heat can spoil food therefore hot-cooked meals under PM POSHAN must be served hot and fresh. Children carrying tiffins may be advised not to carry food that can turn stale quickly… in every period, teachers should remind students to sip water from their water bottles.”

Schools are told to prepare strong first-aid facilities and ensure proper availability of oral rehydration solutions and plan for a speedy access to health centres nearby in emergency. &nbsp;

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Indian Government's Union Ministry of Education has encouraged schools to start courses early in the morning and decrease work hours to enable children cope with the heatwave sweeping throughout the country.

Indian Government's Union Ministry of Education has encouraged schools to start courses early in the morning and decrease work hours to enable children cope with the heatwave sweeping throughout the country. The announcement comes as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts another heat wave in Delhi starting on Friday. High temperatures are causing problems in most sections of north, central, northwest, and east India. Also read | India: 23 states, hundreds of cities, districts at risk due to heatwave, says official According to the Ministry's guidelines, school hours may begin early and end before noon. It stated that the start time might be as early as 7:00 a.m., and the amount of school hours per day could be reduced. According to the Ministry, sports or other outside activities that expose students to direct sunlight should be altered in the early morning. It was suggested that school assemblies be held in a covered location or in classrooms with shorter intervals. According to the Ministry, comparable precautions may be used during dispersal after school has ended. In an advisory the ministry, urged school officials to limit outside activities and ensure that student stay hydrated during the school hours. It further stated that teaching and non-teaching staffs to be trained to administer first aid in case a student suffers of mild heat-stroke. Watch | Gravitas: Earth could heat up at alarming levels in 5 years The guidelines also recommended schools to relax its uniform policies like neck ties and allow students to wear light coloured cotton clothes and allow students to wear Canvas shoes instead of leather. Also read | As India reels under heat wave, Kashmir temperatures at below 20 degrees The guidelines even had specified instructions related to food, advising teachers to check quality of the mid-day meals before serving it to students. It said, “Heat can spoil food therefore hot-cooked meals under PM POSHAN must be served hot and fresh. Children carrying tiffins may be advised not to carry food that can turn stale quickly… in every period, teachers should remind students to sip water from their water bottles.” Schools are told to prepare strong first-aid facilities and ensure proper availability of oral rehydration solutions and plan for a speedy access to health centres nearby in emergency. WATCH WION LIVE HERE: (With inputs from agencies)

India's deadly heat wave: Govt issues guidelines for schools, asks to modify timings

Nearly 80 per cent of Indian states are prone to heatwaves, according to a Indian government official. Speaking to Reuters, the official said that most of them have strategies in place to adjust school, office, and labour hours to avoid the hottest time of day when necessary.

India saw its hottest March in over a century, and many cities like the national capital Delhi experienced temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius on most days of April. Power demand has also reached multi-year highs and more than two dozen people have died of suspected heat strokes.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-is-a-heatwave-how-is-it-declared-and-what-are-the-many-types-of-alerts-in-india-475448">What is a heatwave, how is it declared, and what are the many types of alerts in India?</a>

In light of the heat, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a meeting with other government officials on Tuesday (May 3) that hospitals should review their safety protocols on a regular basis.

Watch |&nbsp;Extreme heatwave grips Pakistan as it records the hottest March since 1961

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The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has identified 23 out of the 28 Indian states and more than a hundred cities and districts as being at high risk of heat. &nbsp;

Nineteen states have already developed heat-action plans and others are in the process of doing so, said Kunal Satyarthi, NDMA’s policy and planning adviser.

He went on to say that there were only nine states identified as heatwave-prone just a few years ago, but today there are 23. According to him, the preparation includes decreasing people’s exposure to heat by providing drinking water in public places and others measures as well.

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According to the NDMA website, the western part of Maharashtra, which includes Mumbai, plans to change the market hours, provide public shelters, sprinkle mist in public spaces, and keep ice bags at the public health centres.&nbsp;

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/extreme-heat-waves-here-is-how-to-keep-yourself-protected-474914">&nbsp;Extreme heat waves: Here is how to keep yourself protected</a>

Long-term solutions include planting more trees, rainwater harvesting, providing cover for traffic officers, and installing green netting for shade in market areas, according to the website.

(With inputs from agencies)

Nearly 80 per cent of Indian states are prone to heatwaves, according to a Indian government official. Speaking to Reuters, the official said that most of them have strategies in place to adjust school, office, and labour hours to avoid the hottest time of day when necessary.

Nearly 80 per cent of Indian states are prone to heatwaves, according to a Indian government official. Speaking to Reuters, the official said that most of them have strategies in place to adjust school, office, and labour hours to avoid the hottest time of day when necessary. India saw its hottest March in over a century, and many cities like the national capital Delhi experienced temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius on most days of April. Power demand has also reached multi-year highs and more than two dozen people have died of suspected heat strokes. Also read | What is a heatwave, how is it declared, and what are the many types of alerts in India? In light of the heat, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a meeting with other government officials on Tuesday (May 3) that hospitals should review their safety protocols on a regular basis. Watch | Extreme heatwave grips Pakistan as it records the hottest March since 1961 The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has identified 23 out of the 28 Indian states and more than a hundred cities and districts as being at high risk of heat. Nineteen states have already developed heat-action plans and others are in the process of doing so, said Kunal Satyarthi, NDMA’s policy and planning adviser. He went on to say that there were only nine states identified as heatwave-prone just a few years ago, but today there are 23. According to him, the preparation includes decreasing people’s exposure to heat by providing drinking water in public places and others measures as well. WATCH WION LIVE HERE: According to the NDMA website, the western part of Maharashtra, which includes Mumbai, plans to change the market hours, provide public shelters, sprinkle mist in public spaces, and keep ice bags at the public health centres. Also read | Extreme heat waves: Here is how to keep yourself protected Long-term solutions include planting more trees, rainwater harvesting, providing cover for traffic officers, and installing green netting for shade in market areas, according to the website. (With inputs from agencies)

India: 23 states, hundreds of cities, districts at risk due to heatwave, says official

In pics: One dead, 5000 suffer breathing problems as thick sandstorm hits Iraq

A dust storm that has swept through much of Iraq has left&nbsp;dozens&nbsp;of people in hospital with &nbsp;respiratory problems, a health ministry spokesman said Saturday.

The storm erupted in the north of the country on Thursday, prompting the cancellation of flights serving Arbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdistan region.

As the storm swept south, it shrouded Baghdad and cities as far south as Nasiriyah in a ghostly orange.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraq-presidential-vote-delayed-again-over-lack-of-quorum-465780">&nbsp;Iraq presidential vote delayed again over lack of quorum</a>

In the capital, buildings and vehicles were covered in ochre-coloured dust, AFP journalists reported.

The storm has caused "dozens&nbsp;of hospitalisations across Iraq due to respiratory problems", health ministry spokesman Saif al-Badr told AFP.

The director of Iraq's meteorological office, Amer al-Jabri, said that while dust storms were not uncommon in Iraq, they are becoming more frequent "due to drought, desertification and declining rainfall".

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: 12 Iranian Missiles land in Iraq

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-12-iranian-missiles-land-in-iraq-462331/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Iraq is particularly vulnerable to climate change, having already witnessed record low rainfall and high temperatures in recent years.

Experts have said these factors threaten social and economic disaster in the war-scarred country.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tehran-warned-iraq-often-about-threats-posed-to-iran-foreign-ministry-462111">Tehran warned Iraq often about threats posed to Iran: Foreign ministry</a>

In November, the World Bank warned that Iraq could suffer a 20 percent drop in water resources by 2050 due to climate change.

A dust storm that has swept through much of Iraq has left dozens of people in hospital with respiratory problems, a health ministry spokesman said Saturday. The storm erupted in the north of the country on Thursday, prompting the cancellation of flights serving Arbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdistan region.

A dust storm that has swept through much of Iraq has left dozens of people in hospital with respiratory problems, a health ministry spokesman said Saturday. The storm erupted in the north of the country on Thursday, prompting the cancellation of flights serving Arbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdistan region. As the storm swept south, it shrouded Baghdad and cities as far south as Nasiriyah in a ghostly orange. Also read | Iraq presidential vote delayed again over lack of quorum In the capital, buildings and vehicles were covered in ochre-coloured dust, AFP journalists reported. The storm has caused "dozens of hospitalisations across Iraq due to respiratory problems", health ministry spokesman Saif al-Badr told AFP. The director of Iraq's meteorological office, Amer al-Jabri, said that while dust storms were not uncommon in Iraq, they are becoming more frequent "due to drought, desertification and declining rainfall". Watch | Gravitas: 12 Iranian Missiles land in Iraq Iraq is particularly vulnerable to climate change, having already witnessed record low rainfall and high temperatures in recent years. Experts have said these factors threaten social and economic disaster in the war-scarred country. Also read | Tehran warned Iraq often about threats posed to Iran: Foreign ministry In November, the World Bank warned that Iraq could suffer a 20 percent drop in water resources by 2050 due to climate change.

Dozens hospitalised as Iraq gripped by dust storm

Team India and Sri Lanka will face each other in the second and penultimate T20I on Saturday evening (February 26). The match is set to take place in the picturesque&nbsp;Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala.&nbsp;

After an emphatic performance in the series opener, the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team will be eager to close the series in the second game itself with an unassailable lead. This will help the home team to test their benched players in the third and final encounter, also to be played at the same venue on Sunday (February 27).

Talking about the 1st T20I, Rohit-led India were asked to bat first. Riding on a century stand between Rohit- Ishan Kishan (89) and Shreyas Iyer's late fireworks 28-ball 57*, India posted a mammoth 199-2. In reply, Dasun Shanaka's Islanders were never in the hunt and managed only 137-6 courtesy Charith Asalanka's unbeaten 53. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Venkatesh Iyer's two wickets apiece helped India restrict the visitors in the tall run-chase.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/they-were-standing-there-for-me-ishan-kishan-credits-rohit-dravid-for-backing-him-despite-poor-form-456502">They were standing there for me: Ishan Kishan credits Rohit, Dravid for backing him despite poor form</a>

Ahead of the second and penultimate T20I, here's a look at the weather forecast for the encounter:

As per a report in News18, the weather is expected to&nbsp;play spoilsport in patches -- if not a complete washout. Much to the dismay of the fans,&nbsp;rain is predicted on Saturday evening whereas the precipitation chances are&nbsp;90 percent.

On the other hand, the humidity can be around 87 percent whereas the&nbsp;wind speed can be recorded at 10 km/h. The forecast further reveals&nbsp;that the temperature can&nbsp;range from 7 degrees celsius to 10 degrees celsius.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ishan-kishan-surpasses-ms-dhoni-rishabh-pant-to-create-new-record-for-team-india-in-t20is-456402">Ishan Kishan surpasses MS Dhoni, Rishabh Pant to create new record for Team India in T20Is</a>

India are enjoying their best-ever unbeaten streak in the format (10). Thus, the Rohit-led side will be eager to continue with their dream run and seal another series post the disastrous 2021 T20 World Cup campaign, in the UAE. Will their plans be spoiled due to rain? Only time will tell...

Team India and Sri Lanka will face each other in the second and penultimate T20I on Saturday evening (February 26). The match is set to take place in the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala.

Team India and Sri Lanka will face each other in the second and penultimate T20I on Saturday evening (February 26). The match is set to take place in the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala. After an emphatic performance in the series opener, the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team will be eager to close the series in the second game itself with an unassailable lead. This will help the home team to test their benched players in the third and final encounter, also to be played at the same venue on Sunday (February 27). Talking about the 1st T20I, Rohit-led India were asked to bat first. Riding on a century stand between Rohit- Ishan Kishan (89) and Shreyas Iyer's late fireworks 28-ball 57*, India posted a mammoth 199-2. In reply, Dasun Shanaka's Islanders were never in the hunt and managed only 137-6 courtesy Charith Asalanka's unbeaten 53. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Venkatesh Iyer's two wickets apiece helped India restrict the visitors in the tall run-chase. ALSO READ | They were standing there for me: Ishan Kishan credits Rohit, Dravid for backing him despite poor form Ahead of the second and penultimate T20I, here's a look at the weather forecast for the encounter: As per a report in News18, the weather is expected to play spoilsport in patches -- if not a complete washout. Much to the dismay of the fans, rain is predicted on Saturday evening whereas the precipitation chances are 90 percent. On the other hand, the humidity can be around 87 percent whereas the wind speed can be recorded at 10 km/h. The forecast further reveals that the temperature can range from 7 degrees celsius to 10 degrees celsius. ALSO READ | Ishan Kishan surpasses MS Dhoni, Rishabh Pant to create new record for Team India in T20Is India are enjoying their best-ever unbeaten streak in the format (10). Thus, the Rohit-led side will be eager to continue with their dream run and seal another series post the disastrous 2021 T20 World Cup campaign, in the UAE. Will their plans be spoiled due to rain? Only time will tell...

Ind vs SL, 2nd T20I weather report: Will rain play spoilsport in second and penultimate tie in Dharamshala?

As a money management professional, Eric Diton helps his clients manage complex personal finance issues. But he’s finding that more of them are frustrated by a surprisingly mundane budget item: homeowners’ insurance.

“I can definitely say that for my Florida clients, it’s a topic of conversation and it’s on their radar,” said Diton, president of the Wealth Alliance, an investment advisory firm. “They’re seeing that their cost of insurance is rising.”

Diton, who splits his time between Boca Raton, Florida, and Long Island, said he found himself in the same boat. “Personally, my insurance company increased my premiums quite a bit,” he said of his home in Florida. “It was pretty challenging to find a lot of choice, and that has resonated with a lot of people in this state.”

While Florida residents are not the only ones wrestling with this issue, the state’s popularity with retirees means that it is a problem a growing number will confront, experts say. When drawing up a budget for living on a fixed income, most would-be retirees think about services and goods, such as doctor visits or prescription drugs, that are likely to cost more in the future. Almost no one thinks of home insurance — an omission insurance professionals warn will be an increasingly costly mistake.

Many Americans’ plans to retire in a coastal Sun Belt state or a scenic mountain hamlet are on a collision course with extreme weather — and the property damage that follows.

“In some regions, we already see changing weather patterns, most likely driven by climate change, already having an impact,” said Ernst Rauch, chief climate and geoscientist at the reinsurance company Munich Re.

After absorbing punishing losses from floods, hurricanes and wildfires in recent years, many insurers are reevaluating their risk modeling practices. The upshot for many homeowners is higher property insurance bills. Others can find themselves struggling to get a policy at any price.

“In certain parts of the country, the insurance situation has really been difficult — in particular, Florida and that area, including Louisiana and the Gulf states,” said Nancy Albanese, vice president of personal insurance at BMT Insurance Advisors. “The other market which is very difficult is California, and some of the Western states that are exposed to wildfire.”

She added: “When we encounter a client who needs coverage in Florida, we know that’s going to be a huge challenge.”

Karen Collins, assistant vice president of personal lines for the trade group American Property Casualty Insurance Association, said she and her colleagues were seeing “a very significant increase in losses recently.”

“Natural disasters in particular have been very, very elevated the past couple of years,” she said.

This trend is driving up premiums. According to AM Best, an insurance industry ratings and analytics firm, the total amount of homeowners’ insurance premiums Americans paid rose by 8.4% between the third quarter of 2020 and the third quarter of last year. (An AM Best spokesperson noted that this aggregate snapshot did not reflect what any individual policyholder paid.)

Albanese said that recently an insurer dropped one of her clients, who was already paying $22,000 a year to insure a coastal Florida property. After some scrambling, Albanese was able to find the client coverage through a “surplus lines” provider — an insurer of last resort for the highest-risk policies — but at double the cost.

“It’s been back-to-back years of these rate increases, and I can think of at least one client who says they’re planning to sell their Florida property just because it’s just getting to be outrageous to insure,” Albanese said. “I’ve also had clients purchase properties in Florida recently, unaware of what the insurance market was like down there and really having them be just shocked — they just did not realize how high their premiums would be.”

Diton said that rising property insurance costs — particularly when combined with higher property taxes in areas where home values have risen significantly — were especially relevant for clients considering buying investment real estate for passive income generation. This strategy is popular among retirees and even some younger investors.

When a client is interested in a property, Diton said that he will lay out a spreadsheet and analyze the expenses. In some cases, prospective buyers decide against the purchase. “The homeowners’ insurance increase is definitely contributing to the issue for those people,” he said.

Insurance experts who work farther up the East Coast report similar market conditions. “What we are seeing is the companies that specialized in writing homeowners’ insurance along the coasts are shutting down, so we don’t have as many options,” said Robin Jaekel, vice president of personal lines at Glenn Insurance, a New Jersey insurance agency that does significant business along the Jersey Shore. “The homeowner costs along the coasts are definitely impacted.”

Hurricanes and nor’easters are the primary reasons insurers are fleeing the market, Jaekel said. The recent overhaul of the federally subsidized National Flood Insurance Program compounds the headache — and expenses — for property owners who are required by their mortgage holder to carry flood as well as homeowners’ insurance.

In many cases, the only policy a homeowner can get is one that limits the amount of compensation someone can expect after the most severe storms. “We now have the ‘named hurricane deductible’ on all policies around here,” Jaekel said. “If it’s a named hurricane, they have a separate deductible just for that.”

Experts in extreme weather say that stories like these are likely to become much more common in a rapidly warming future. “Hurricanes along the East Coast of the U.S. are also moving north,” Rauch said. “The probability has increased in northern U.S. regions as the water has warmed up.”

“This is a huge, long-term issue for every developed area of the United States,” said Jim Blackburn, professor of environmental law and co-director of the Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation From Disasters Center at Rice University, via email.

He added that while coastal regions would probably face some of the greatest challenges because of more intense storms, increasing rainfall means that even homes situated near — rather than within — floodplains could become more vulnerable, too. “We have not begun to understand the impacts of climate change on settlement patterns,” he said.

The rising cost of damage from extreme weather comes on top of a confluence of other factors that are driving the cost of homeowners’ insurance higher. Supply-chain bottlenecks and a labor shortage make it more expensive to repair or rebuild homes after a disaster, while home construction and design trends are to blame as well, insurance professionals say. In neighborhoods with older housing stock, rebuilding after a natural disaster might be more expensive because of measures to bring the property up to current building code standards.

“Building materials themselves are lending them to more catastrophic losses,” said Jared Carillo, director of foundation accounts at SmithBrothers, an insurance brokerage in Connecticut. Materials used in construction today include more synthetics that burn faster and hotter, such as particleboard, spray foam and wire insulation, he said.

Open floor plans are another culprit, Carillo said: “A fire that starts in the kitchen is going to generate more loss across the first floor.”

Some of the weather changes being monitored by the insurance industry, such as the northerly drift of “Hurricane Alley,” are gradual shifts. Others — like the droughts that have exacerbated enormous wildfires in the Western United States — have hit an inflection point much more rapidly. Rauch said that in the 1980s, the average annual insured losses in the United States from wildfires ranged from $1 billion to $3 billion.

“This was the expectation going forward,” he said.

That changed in a heartbeat. “In 2017, for the first time, insured losses were somewhere in the $16 billion region,” Rauch said. “It was a massive jump, and 2018 was basically the same.” After a moderate Western fire season in 2019, 2020 brought another round of eye-watering losses, roughly in the neighborhood of $11 billion.

It is evidence that even the nimblest of companies can be caught by surprise at how fast conditions can change. In just the last four to five years, Rauch said, wildfires have brought significant changes. “The loss situation was totally different from the decades before,” he said.

Insurance and real estate professionals say this is especially problematic for people who put roots down decades ago with the expectation of growing old in those homes and neighborhoods, only to find that the ground beneath their feet has shifted.

“I do have people that retired here,” said Patrick Brownfield, personal risk adviser for the insurance broker Hub International in Jackson, Wyoming. “They’ve had astronomical increases in their insurance in the last two years,” he said, adding that this leaves those homeowners with few options. “It’s going to cost them $20,000 a year on their fixed income, and now they can’t pay the insurance because all their equity is in their home,” Brownfield said.

Deciding to sell, though, can present even more difficult decisions.

“Real estate contracts are now contingent on the ability to get that insurance,” said Ed Liebzeit, a real estate broker with Sotheby’s International Realty in Jackson.

“People at retirement age are facing two things,” he said. “If they’re on a fixed income, their insurance is going up, but so are their property taxes.” This is a drawback of the area’s rapidly appreciating housing market, he said. The result for retirees, increasingly, is displacement.

“The problem is, they have to leave town because there’s not another opportunity to buy low and stay here unless they go to a very small condo,” Liebzeit said. “So most of them are leaving.”

As a money management professional, Eric Diton helps his clients manage complex personal finance issues. But he’s finding that more of them are frustrated by a surprisingly mundane budget item: homeowners’ insurance.

As a money management professional, Eric Diton helps his clients manage complex personal finance issues. But he’s finding that more of them are frustrated by a surprisingly mundane budget item: homeowners’ insurance. “I can definitely say that for my Florida clients, it’s a topic of conversation and it’s on their radar,” said Diton, president of the Wealth Alliance, an investment advisory firm. “They’re seeing that their cost of insurance is rising.” Diton, who splits his time between Boca Raton, Florida, and Long Island, said he found himself in the same boat. “Personally, my insurance company increased my premiums quite a bit,” he said of his home in Florida. “It was pretty challenging to find a lot of choice, and that has resonated with a lot of people in this state.” While Florida residents are not the only ones wrestling with this issue, the state’s popularity with retirees means that it is a problem a growing number will confront, experts say. When drawing up a budget for living on a fixed income, most would-be retirees think about services and goods, such as doctor visits or prescription drugs, that are likely to cost more in the future. Almost no one thinks of home insurance — an omission insurance professionals warn will be an increasingly costly mistake. Many Americans’ plans to retire in a coastal Sun Belt state or a scenic mountain hamlet are on a collision course with extreme weather — and the property damage that follows. “In some regions, we already see changing weather patterns, most likely driven by climate change, already having an impact,” said Ernst Rauch, chief climate and geoscientist at the reinsurance company Munich Re. After absorbing punishing losses from floods, hurricanes and wildfires in recent years, many insurers are reevaluating their risk modeling practices. The upshot for many homeowners is higher property insurance bills. Others can find themselves struggling to get a policy at any price. “In certain parts of the country, the insurance situation has really been difficult — in particular, Florida and that area, including Louisiana and the Gulf states,” said Nancy Albanese, vice president of personal insurance at BMT Insurance Advisors. “The other market which is very difficult is California, and some of the Western states that are exposed to wildfire.” She added: “When we encounter a client who needs coverage in Florida, we know that’s going to be a huge challenge.” Karen Collins, assistant vice president of personal lines for the trade group American Property Casualty Insurance Association, said she and her colleagues were seeing “a very significant increase in losses recently.” “Natural disasters in particular have been very, very elevated the past couple of years,” she said. This trend is driving up premiums. According to AM Best, an insurance industry ratings and analytics firm, the total amount of homeowners’ insurance premiums Americans paid rose by 8.4% between the third quarter of 2020 and the third quarter of last year. (An AM Best spokesperson noted that this aggregate snapshot did not reflect what any individual policyholder paid.) Albanese said that recently an insurer dropped one of her clients, who was already paying $22,000 a year to insure a coastal Florida property. After some scrambling, Albanese was able to find the client coverage through a “surplus lines” provider — an insurer of last resort for the highest-risk policies — but at double the cost. “It’s been back-to-back years of these rate increases, and I can think of at least one client who says they’re planning to sell their Florida property just because it’s just getting to be outrageous to insure,” Albanese said. “I’ve also had clients purchase properties in Florida recently, unaware of what the insurance market was like down there and really having them be just shocked — they just did not realize how high their premiums would be.” Diton said that rising property insurance costs — particularly when combined with higher property taxes in areas where home values have risen significantly — were especially relevant for clients considering buying investment real estate for passive income generation. This strategy is popular among retirees and even some younger investors. When a client is interested in a property, Diton said that he will lay out a spreadsheet and analyze the expenses. In some cases, prospective buyers decide against the purchase. “The homeowners’ insurance increase is definitely contributing to the issue for those people,” he said. Insurance experts who work farther up the East Coast report similar market conditions. “What we are seeing is the companies that specialized in writing homeowners’ insurance along the coasts are shutting down, so we don’t have as many options,” said Robin Jaekel, vice president of personal lines at Glenn Insurance, a New Jersey insurance agency that does significant business along the Jersey Shore. “The homeowner costs along the coasts are definitely impacted.” Hurricanes and nor’easters are the primary reasons insurers are fleeing the market, Jaekel said. The recent overhaul of the federally subsidized National Flood Insurance Program compounds the headache — and expenses — for property owners who are required by their mortgage holder to carry flood as well as homeowners’ insurance. In many cases, the only policy a homeowner can get is one that limits the amount of compensation someone can expect after the most severe storms. “We now have the ‘named hurricane deductible’ on all policies around here,” Jaekel said. “If it’s a named hurricane, they have a separate deductible just for that.” Experts in extreme weather say that stories like these are likely to become much more common in a rapidly warming future. “Hurricanes along the East Coast of the U.S. are also moving north,” Rauch said. “The probability has increased in northern U.S. regions as the water has warmed up.” “This is a huge, long-term issue for every developed area of the United States,” said Jim Blackburn, professor of environmental law and co-director of the Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation From Disasters Center at Rice University, via email. He added that while coastal regions would probably face some of the greatest challenges because of more intense storms, increasing rainfall means that even homes situated near — rather than within — floodplains could become more vulnerable, too. “We have not begun to understand the impacts of climate change on settlement patterns,” he said. The rising cost of damage from extreme weather comes on top of a confluence of other factors that are driving the cost of homeowners’ insurance higher. Supply-chain bottlenecks and a labor shortage make it more expensive to repair or rebuild homes after a disaster, while home construction and design trends are to blame as well, insurance professionals say. In neighborhoods with older housing stock, rebuilding after a natural disaster might be more expensive because of measures to bring the property up to current building code standards. “Building materials themselves are lending them to more catastrophic losses,” said Jared Carillo, director of foundation accounts at SmithBrothers, an insurance brokerage in Connecticut. Materials used in construction today include more synthetics that burn faster and hotter, such as particleboard, spray foam and wire insulation, he said. Open floor plans are another culprit, Carillo said: “A fire that starts in the kitchen is going to generate more loss across the first floor.” Some of the weather changes being monitored by the insurance industry, such as the northerly drift of “Hurricane Alley,” are gradual shifts. Others — like the droughts that have exacerbated enormous wildfires in the Western United States — have hit an inflection point much more rapidly. Rauch said that in the 1980s, the average annual insured losses in the United States from wildfires ranged from $1 billion to $3 billion. “This was the expectation going forward,” he said. That changed in a heartbeat. “In 2017, for the first time, insured losses were somewhere in the $16 billion region,” Rauch said. “It was a massive jump, and 2018 was basically the same.” After a moderate Western fire season in 2019, 2020 brought another round of eye-watering losses, roughly in the neighborhood of $11 billion. It is evidence that even the nimblest of companies can be caught by surprise at how fast conditions can change. In just the last four to five years, Rauch said, wildfires have brought significant changes. “The loss situation was totally different from the decades before,” he said. Insurance and real estate professionals say this is especially problematic for people who put roots down decades ago with the expectation of growing old in those homes and neighborhoods, only to find that the ground beneath their feet has shifted. “I do have people that retired here,” said Patrick Brownfield, personal risk adviser for the insurance broker Hub International in Jackson, Wyoming. “They’ve had astronomical increases in their insurance in the last two years,” he said, adding that this leaves those homeowners with few options. “It’s going to cost them $20,000 a year on their fixed income, and now they can’t pay the insurance because all their equity is in their home,” Brownfield said. Deciding to sell, though, can present even more difficult decisions. “Real estate contracts are now contingent on the ability to get that insurance,” said Ed Liebzeit, a real estate broker with Sotheby’s International Realty in Jackson. “People at retirement age are facing two things,” he said. “If they’re on a fixed income, their insurance is going up, but so are their property taxes.” This is a drawback of the area’s rapidly appreciating housing market, he said. The result for retirees, increasingly, is displacement. “The problem is, they have to leave town because there’s not another opportunity to buy low and stay here unless they go to a very small condo,” Liebzeit said. “So most of them are leaving.”

Extreme weather and rising insurance rates squeeze retirees

In the last 40 years extreme weather events have cost Europe almost 510 billion euros and around 142, 000 lives, this is according to a new report published by the European environment agency only three percent of all these extreme weather events in the continent were alone responsible for around 60% of the total financial damages.

Massive economic damage caused by extreme weather

Several European regions witnessed unusual warm temperatures in the last week of December, with weather officials predicting milder winters at the start of 2022.

Northern Spain’s Bilbao region recorded 24.7 degrees Celsius, a high not witnessed since record-keeping began in 1947.

In Segovia near Madrid, 22.7 degrees Celsius was recorded, the highest since 1920, and nearby Avila reached 20.2 degrees Celsius, its highest since 1983.

“These high temperatures are not normal… These are temperatures that you would normally see in the month of April,” Rubén del Campo, a spokesperson for the state meteorological agency AEMET, told the Guardian.

He attributed the year-end heat to a mass of hot air over Spain combined with high pressure. “It’s a normal phenomenon that we do see, but what’s strange this time is the high temperatures we are seeing.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ending-2021-on-a-warm-note-uk-records-warmest-new-years-eve-441534">Ending 2021 on a warm note: UK records warmest New Year’s Eve</a>

Weather officials said that the high-pressure anticyclone has passed over to France and Italy and have warned of avalanches in the Alps.

Temperatures in some of Italy’s best-known ski resorts, including Cortina d’Ampezzo and Courmayeur, are forecast to be hovering around 13-15 degrees Celsius above the seasonal norm on New Year’s Day, and the balmy weather is expected to linger until January 3.

Luca Mercalli, a meteorologist, told the Guardian, “At the moment it is about 15 degrees Celsius in areas of the Alps at an altitude of 1,600 metres and is not hitting zero beneath 4,000 metres. It hasn’t even been freezing at night – the temperature has not dropped below 10 degrees, and this is very unusual.”

The rest of Italy is also experiencing abnormally warm conditions, with a high of 18 degrees Celsius expected in Rome on Saturday and 22 degrees Celsius in the Sicilian city of Catania by the middle of next week.

Apart from that, UK also witnessed warm winters on New Year’s Eve, with some regions reporting 15 degrees Celsius.

The UK’s Met Office linked the unusual weather phenomena to climate change.

(With inputs from agencies)

Several European regions witnessed unusual warm temperatures in the last week of December, with weather officials predicting milder winters at the start of 2022.

Several European regions witnessed unusual warm temperatures in the last week of December, with weather officials predicting milder winters at the start of 2022. Northern Spain’s Bilbao region recorded 24.7 degrees Celsius, a high not witnessed since record-keeping began in 1947. In Segovia near Madrid, 22.7 degrees Celsius was recorded, the highest since 1920, and nearby Avila reached 20.2 degrees Celsius, its highest since 1983. “These high temperatures are not normal… These are temperatures that you would normally see in the month of April,” Rubén del Campo, a spokesperson for the state meteorological agency AEMET, told the Guardian. He attributed the year-end heat to a mass of hot air over Spain combined with high pressure. “It’s a normal phenomenon that we do see, but what’s strange this time is the high temperatures we are seeing.” Also read | Ending 2021 on a warm note: UK records warmest New Year’s Eve Weather officials said that the high-pressure anticyclone has passed over to France and Italy and have warned of avalanches in the Alps. Temperatures in some of Italy’s best-known ski resorts, including Cortina d’Ampezzo and Courmayeur, are forecast to be hovering around 13-15 degrees Celsius above the seasonal norm on New Year’s Day, and the balmy weather is expected to linger until January 3. Luca Mercalli, a meteorologist, told the Guardian, “At the moment it is about 15 degrees Celsius in areas of the Alps at an altitude of 1,600 metres and is not hitting zero beneath 4,000 metres. It hasn’t even been freezing at night – the temperature has not dropped below 10 degrees, and this is very unusual.” The rest of Italy is also experiencing abnormally warm conditions, with a high of 18 degrees Celsius expected in Rome on Saturday and 22 degrees Celsius in the Sicilian city of Catania by the middle of next week. Apart from that, UK also witnessed warm winters on New Year’s Eve, with some regions reporting 15 degrees Celsius. The UK’s Met Office linked the unusual weather phenomena to climate change. (With inputs from agencies)

Spain, Italy record ‘unusual’ warm temperatures on cold New Year’s Eve

Extreme cold weather has gripped Western Canada, with the temperature falling below -51° Celsius. The experts warn that low temperatures will last for a few days.

Extreme cold weather hits Western Canada with the temperature falling below -51° Celsius

The ten most expensive weather disasters this year caused more than $170 billion (150 billion euros) in damage, $20 billion more than in 2020, a British aid group said Monday.

Each year, UK charity Christian Aid calculates the cost of weather incidents like flooding, fires, and heat waves according to insurance claims and reports the results.

In 2020, it found the world's ten costliest weather disasters caused $150 billion in damage, making this year's total an increase of 13 percent.

Christian Aid said the upward trend reflects the effects of man-made climate change and added that the ten disasters in question also killed at least 1,075 people and displaced 1.3 million.

The most expensive disaster in 2021 was hurricane Ida, which lashed the eastern United States and caused around $65 billion in damages. After crashing into Louisiana at the end of August, it made its way northward and caused extensive flooding in New York City and the surrounding area.

Spectacular and deadly flooding in Germany and Belgium in July was next on the list at $43 billion in losses.

A cold snap and winter storm in Texas that took out the vast state's power grid cost $23 billion, followed by flooding in China's Henan province in July that cost an estimated $17.6 billion.

Other disasters costing several billion dollars include flooding in Canada, a late spring freeze in France that damaged vineyards, and a cyclone in India and Bangladesh in May.

The report acknowledged its evaluation mainly covers disasters in rich countries where infrastructure is better insured and that the financial toll of disasters on poor countries is often incalculable.

It gave the example of South Sudan where flooding affected around 800,000 people.

"Some of the most devastating extreme weather events in 2021 hit poorer nations, which have contributed little to causing climate change," the report's press release noted.

In mid-December, the world's biggest reinsurer, Swiss Re, estimated natural catastrophes and extreme weather events caused around $250 billion in damage this year.

It said the total represented a 24 percent increase over last year and that the cost to the insurance industry alone was the fourth highest since 1970.

The ten most expensive weather disasters this year caused more than $170 billion (150 billion euros) in damage, $20 billion more than in 2020, a British aid group said Monday.

The ten most expensive weather disasters this year caused more than $170 billion (150 billion euros) in damage, $20 billion more than in 2020, a British aid group said Monday. Each year, UK charity Christian Aid calculates the cost of weather incidents like flooding, fires, and heat waves according to insurance claims and reports the results. In 2020, it found the world's ten costliest weather disasters caused $150 billion in damage, making this year's total an increase of 13 percent. Christian Aid said the upward trend reflects the effects of man-made climate change and added that the ten disasters in question also killed at least 1,075 people and displaced 1.3 million. The most expensive disaster in 2021 was hurricane Ida, which lashed the eastern United States and caused around $65 billion in damages. After crashing into Louisiana at the end of August, it made its way northward and caused extensive flooding in New York City and the surrounding area. Spectacular and deadly flooding in Germany and Belgium in July was next on the list at $43 billion in losses. A cold snap and winter storm in Texas that took out the vast state's power grid cost $23 billion, followed by flooding in China's Henan province in July that cost an estimated $17.6 billion. Other disasters costing several billion dollars include flooding in Canada, a late spring freeze in France that damaged vineyards, and a cyclone in India and Bangladesh in May. The report acknowledged its evaluation mainly covers disasters in rich countries where infrastructure is better insured and that the financial toll of disasters on poor countries is often incalculable. It gave the example of South Sudan where flooding affected around 800,000 people. "Some of the most devastating extreme weather events in 2021 hit poorer nations, which have contributed little to causing climate change," the report's press release noted. In mid-December, the world's biggest reinsurer, Swiss Re, estimated natural catastrophes and extreme weather events caused around $250 billion in damage this year. It said the total represented a 24 percent increase over last year and that the cost to the insurance industry alone was the fourth highest since 1970.

Weather disasters cost $20 bn more than last year: NGO

Extreme weather became the new normal this year. There was hardly any country left from the impact of climate change. Take a look at this report.

Extreme weather becomes new normal this year

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What impact does extreme weather conditions have on a human body or how the body interacts with the environment in freezing cold conditions, take a look!

What impact does extreme weather conditions have on a human body?

Hurricane&nbsp;Ida&nbsp;made&nbsp;landfall&nbsp;Friday as a Category 1&nbsp;hurricane&nbsp;on the southwestern coast of&nbsp;Cuba, the local meteorological&nbsp;service&nbsp;reported.

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This afternoon, I held a call with the head of FEMA and governors ahead of Hurricane Ida to discuss preparations for what is expected to be a dangerous storm. If you are in the storm’s path, please comply with local evacuation instructions. <a href="https://t.co/YzKw9B4utY">pic.twitter.com/YzKw9B4utY</a>
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Ida&nbsp;struck the town of La Coloma, in the province of Pinar del Rio, around 0030 GMT, with sustained winds of 80 miles per hour,&nbsp;Cuba's meteorology institute Insmet.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kill-list-biden-says-us-troops-may-have-handed-a-list-of-american-citizens-to-taliban-408871">Also read |&nbsp;Kill list? Biden says US troops 'may' have handed a list of American citizens to Taliban</a>

It is expected to reach the United States Sunday as an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm, according to the US National&nbsp;Hurricane&nbsp;Center.

Hurricane Ida made landfall Friday as a Category 1 hurricane on the southwestern coast of Cuba, the local meteorological service reported. This afternoon, I held a call with the head of FEMA and governors ahead of Hurricane Ida to discuss preparations for what is expected to be a dangerous storm.

Hurricane Ida made landfall Friday as a Category 1 hurricane on the southwestern coast of Cuba, the local meteorological service reported. This afternoon, I held a call with the head of FEMA and governors ahead of Hurricane Ida to discuss preparations for what is expected to be a dangerous storm. If you are in the storm’s path, please comply with local evacuation instructions. pic.twitter.com/YzKw9B4utY — President Biden (@POTUS) August 27, 2021 × Ida struck the town of La Coloma, in the province of Pinar del Rio, around 0030 GMT, with sustained winds of 80 miles per hour, Cuba's meteorology institute Insmet. Also read | Kill list? Biden says US troops 'may' have handed a list of American citizens to Taliban It is expected to reach the United States Sunday as an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Ida makes landfall in southwest Cuba: Weather service

Tropical Storm Henri was set to make landfall on the US east coast Sunday, with millions in New England and New York's Long Island preparing for flash flooding, violent winds and power outages. The US National Hurricane Center said in its 11:00 am (1500 GMT) advisory that Henri was 15 miles (25 kilometers) southeast of Montauk Point in New York state.

The storm, earlier downgraded from a hurricane, was heading east towards Rhode Island where it was due to hit land early afternoon, the center said. Forecasters warned of heavy rainfall and the risk of surging seas as the storm churned in the Atlantic, packing maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour, down from 75 mph earlier.

"There's still a lot to worry about. We're not out of harm's way," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters Sunday morning. As the surface layer of oceans warms due to climate change, cyclones are becoming more powerful and carry more water, posing an increasing threat to the world's coastal communities, scientists say. Storm surges amplified by rising seas can be especially devastating and forecasters warned Henri could bring surges of up to five feet in coastal areas.

A swath of the northeastern coastline, including New York City, was under alert as the storm approached. If Henri is upgraded again then it would be the first hurricane to hit New England in 30 years. On Long Island, home to the plush Hamptons villages where wealthy New Yorkers retreat in summer, some residents made last-minute rushes to boarded-up convenience stores to stock up on water and other supplies. But roads were generally quiet as residents prepared to ride out the storm at home.

"We know we're going to get tail-whipped by this thing," said Amy Pedatella, a 46-year-old property manager who spent Saturday securing seaside homes in the Hamptons. Nasty weather that preceded Henri late Saturday forced New York City to halt a star-studded Central Park concert billed as a "homecoming" for a metropolis hard hit by the pandemic.

The approaching then-hurricane had prompted Cuomo to announce a state of emergency and the deployment of 500 National Guard soldiers in anticipation of response efforts. Henri was anticipated to miss New York City by several miles, but still caused tropical storm conditions overnight. The National Weather Service said 1.94 inches of rain fell on Central Park between 10 pm and 11 pm Saturday, the wettest hour on record in New York City. An announcer cut off pop legend Barry Manilow mid-song to urge revelers to proceed swiftly but calmly to the nearest exit.

"I guess for safety it makes sense. I mean I can hear the thunder," said attendee Maria Fuentes.

'Dangerous'

The NHC warned of "a dangerous storm surge, hurricane conditions and flooding" in areas of southern New England and Long Island. Henri is expected to produce three to six inches of rain (7.5 to 15 centimeters) across the region, with isolated maximum totals near 10 inches, the NHC warned.

The heavy rainfall "may result in considerable flash, urban, and small stream flooding" as well as river flooding. High winds are expected to knock out electricity for hundreds of thousands of people across the region and delay countless flights. Officials in New England -- which includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont -- have warned people to get ready.

The last hurricane to make landfall onto New England was Hurricane Bob in 1991. That storm killed at least 17 people. It has been almost a decade since such severe weather threatened the region. "The last time we had hurricane watches issued for the area was for Hurricane Irene, back in late August of 2011," tweeted the National Weather Service in New York City. The last hurricane to make landfall in Long Island was Gloria in 1985. The warnings have reignited memories of Hurricane Sandy, a more powerful storm that knocked out power for much of Manhattan and flooded subways in 2012. The US PGA Tour postponed the final round of the Northern Trust tournament in suburban New York to Monday because of Henri.

Tropical Storm Henri was set to make landfall on the US east coast Sunday, with millions in New England and New York's Long Island preparing for flash flooding, violent winds and power outages.

Tropical Storm Henri was set to make landfall on the US east coast Sunday, with millions in New England and New York's Long Island preparing for flash flooding, violent winds and power outages. The US National Hurricane Center said in its 11:00 am (1500 GMT) advisory that Henri was 15 miles (25 kilometers) southeast of Montauk Point in New York state. The storm, earlier downgraded from a hurricane, was heading east towards Rhode Island where it was due to hit land early afternoon, the center said. Forecasters warned of heavy rainfall and the risk of surging seas as the storm churned in the Atlantic, packing maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour, down from 75 mph earlier. "There's still a lot to worry about. We're not out of harm's way," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters Sunday morning. As the surface layer of oceans warms due to climate change, cyclones are becoming more powerful and carry more water, posing an increasing threat to the world's coastal communities, scientists say. Storm surges amplified by rising seas can be especially devastating and forecasters warned Henri could bring surges of up to five feet in coastal areas. A swath of the northeastern coastline, including New York City, was under alert as the storm approached. If Henri is upgraded again then it would be the first hurricane to hit New England in 30 years. On Long Island, home to the plush Hamptons villages where wealthy New Yorkers retreat in summer, some residents made last-minute rushes to boarded-up convenience stores to stock up on water and other supplies. But roads were generally quiet as residents prepared to ride out the storm at home. "We know we're going to get tail-whipped by this thing," said Amy Pedatella, a 46-year-old property manager who spent Saturday securing seaside homes in the Hamptons. Nasty weather that preceded Henri late Saturday forced New York City to halt a star-studded Central Park concert billed as a "homecoming" for a metropolis hard hit by the pandemic. The approaching then-hurricane had prompted Cuomo to announce a state of emergency and the deployment of 500 National Guard soldiers in anticipation of response efforts. Henri was anticipated to miss New York City by several miles, but still caused tropical storm conditions overnight. The National Weather Service said 1.94 inches of rain fell on Central Park between 10 pm and 11 pm Saturday, the wettest hour on record in New York City. An announcer cut off pop legend Barry Manilow mid-song to urge revelers to proceed swiftly but calmly to the nearest exit. "I guess for safety it makes sense. I mean I can hear the thunder," said attendee Maria Fuentes. 'Dangerous' The NHC warned of "a dangerous storm surge, hurricane conditions and flooding" in areas of southern New England and Long Island. Henri is expected to produce three to six inches of rain (7.5 to 15 centimeters) across the region, with isolated maximum totals near 10 inches, the NHC warned. The heavy rainfall "may result in considerable flash, urban, and small stream flooding" as well as river flooding. High winds are expected to knock out electricity for hundreds of thousands of people across the region and delay countless flights. Officials in New England -- which includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont -- have warned people to get ready. The last hurricane to make landfall onto New England was Hurricane Bob in 1991. That storm killed at least 17 people. It has been almost a decade since such severe weather threatened the region. "The last time we had hurricane watches issued for the area was for Hurricane Irene, back in late August of 2011," tweeted the National Weather Service in New York City. The last hurricane to make landfall in Long Island was Gloria in 1985. The warnings have reignited memories of Hurricane Sandy, a more powerful storm that knocked out power for much of Manhattan and flooded subways in 2012. The US PGA Tour postponed the final round of the Northern Trust tournament in suburban New York to Monday because of Henri.

Tropical Storm Henri bears down on US east coast

The impact of global warming across the world is increasingly evident over these passing years. In India's Jammu & Kashmir, Srinagar has witnessed extremes of cold and heat in a span of less than a month time. WION brings you a report.

WION Fineprint: Jammu & Kashmir feel the effects of extreme climate change

Extreme weather events due to climate change have cost the world billions in damages in 2020, says a new report, including the terrible floods that struck India cost $10 billion.

As many as 2,067 lives were lost during the June-October floods, the highest number of fatalities due to climate change-induced weather events this year, said global NGO Christian Aid in its report The Cost: A Year of Climate Breakdown, where 15 of the most damaging extreme weather events globally in 2020 were studied.&nbsp;

According to the report 10 of those events cost $1.5 billion or more.&nbsp;

The US was hit by the highest costs due to the record-breaking hurricane season and fires.

Most of these estimates are based only on insured losses, meaning the true financial costs are likely to be higher.

While the report focuses on financial costs, which are usually higher in richer countries because they have more valuable property, some extreme weather events in 2020 were devastating in poorer countries, even though the price tag was lower.

South Sudan, for example, experienced one of its worst floods on record, which killed 138 people and destroyed the year's crops.

Some of the disasters hit fast, like cyclone Amphan, which struck the Bay of Bengal in May and caused losses valued at $13 billion in just a few days.

Other events unfolded over months, like floods in China and India, which had an estimated cost of $32 billion and $10 billion respectively.

Six of the 10 most costly events took place in Asia, five of them associated with an unusually rainy monsoon.

And in Africa, huge locust swarms ravaged crops and vegetation across several countries, causing damages estimated at $8.5 billion.

The outbreak has been linked to wet conditions brought about by unusual rains fuelled by climate change.

But the impact of extreme weather was felt all over the world. In Europe, two extra-tropical cyclones, Ciara and Alex, had a combined cost of almost $6 billion.

The US suffered from both a record-breaking hurricane season and a record-breaking fire season adding up to more than $60 billion in damages.

Some less populated places also suffered the consequences of a warming world.

In Siberia, a heatwave during the first half of the year set a record in the city of Verkhoyansk, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius. 
A few months later, on the other side of the world, heat and drought drove the fires in Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.

While there were no human casualties reported from these events, the destruction of these areas has a great impact on biodiversity and the planet's capacity to respond to a warmer world.

While climate change may have influenced all these events, many of the countries that bear little responsibility for global warming were affected.

This includes Nicaragua, which was hit by hurricane Iota, the strongest storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, and the Philippines, where typhoons Goni and Vamco made landfall almost back-to-back.

These extreme events highlight the need for urgent climate action. 
The Paris Agreement, which set the goal of keeping temperature rise "well below" 2 degrees Celsius, and ideally 1.5 degrees, compared to pre-industrial levels, has just turned five years old.

Countries must commit to bold new targets ahead of the next climate conference, which will take place in Glasgow in November 2021.

The report's author Kat Kramer, Christian Aid's climate policy lead, told IANS: "The Covid-19 pandemic has understandably been a major worry this year. For millions of people in vulnerable parts of the world, climate breakdown has compounded this.

"The good news is that, like the vaccine for Covid-19, we do know how to fix the climate crisis. We need to keep fossil fuels in the ground, boost clean energy investment and help those who are suffering on the frontline.

"Whether it floods in Asia, locusts in Africa or storms in Europe and the Americas, climate change has continued to rage in 2020. It is vital that 2021 ushers in a new era of activity to turn this tide.

"With US President-elect Biden in the White House, social movements across the world calling for urgent action, post-Covid green recovery investment and a crucial UN climate summit hosted by the UK, there is a major opportunity for countries to put us on a path to a safe future." Roxy Mathew Koll, the climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, said: "2020 was exceptionally warm, as far as the Indian Ocean is concerned. We saw record temperatures in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, straddling between 30-33 degrees Celsius.

"These high temperatures had the characteristics of marine heatwaves that might have led to the rapid intensification of the pre-monsoon cyclones Amphan and Nisarga. Amphan was one of the strongest cyclones ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal during the pre-monsoon season."

M. Shahjahan Mondal, a climate scientist and Director of the Institute of Flood and Water Management, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, said: "Scientific evidence shows that the intensity of the tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal has been increasing over the past few years because of the temperature rise, and cyclone Amphan was one of the strongest ever recorded this year as a consequence.

"Moreover, the 2020 flood was one of the worst in history (of Bangladesh), as more than a quarter of the country was under water."

"Not only is this linked with changing climatic conditions and global warming, but also linked with changing land-use patterns and deforestation. Unfortunately, the situation might be worsening in the coming years if we fail to achieve the Paris climate goal to restrict global warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius."

(With inputs from agencies)

Extreme weather events due to climate change have cost the world billions in damages in 2020, says a new report, including the terrible floods that struck India cost $10 billion.

Extreme weather events due to climate change have cost the world billions in damages in 2020, says a new report, including the terrible floods that struck India cost $10 billion. As many as 2,067 lives were lost during the June-October floods, the highest number of fatalities due to climate change-induced weather events this year, said global NGO Christian Aid in its report The Cost: A Year of Climate Breakdown, where 15 of the most damaging extreme weather events globally in 2020 were studied. According to the report 10 of those events cost $1.5 billion or more. The US was hit by the highest costs due to the record-breaking hurricane season and fires. Most of these estimates are based only on insured losses, meaning the true financial costs are likely to be higher. While the report focuses on financial costs, which are usually higher in richer countries because they have more valuable property, some extreme weather events in 2020 were devastating in poorer countries, even though the price tag was lower. South Sudan, for example, experienced one of its worst floods on record, which killed 138 people and destroyed the year's crops. Some of the disasters hit fast, like cyclone Amphan, which struck the Bay of Bengal in May and caused losses valued at $13 billion in just a few days. Other events unfolded over months, like floods in China and India, which had an estimated cost of $32 billion and $10 billion respectively. Six of the 10 most costly events took place in Asia, five of them associated with an unusually rainy monsoon. And in Africa, huge locust swarms ravaged crops and vegetation across several countries, causing damages estimated at $8.5 billion. The outbreak has been linked to wet conditions brought about by unusual rains fuelled by climate change. But the impact of extreme weather was felt all over the world. In Europe, two extra-tropical cyclones, Ciara and Alex, had a combined cost of almost $6 billion. The US suffered from both a record-breaking hurricane season and a record-breaking fire season adding up to more than $60 billion in damages. Some less populated places also suffered the consequences of a warming world. In Siberia, a heatwave during the first half of the year set a record in the city of Verkhoyansk, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius. A few months later, on the other side of the world, heat and drought drove the fires in Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. While there were no human casualties reported from these events, the destruction of these areas has a great impact on biodiversity and the planet's capacity to respond to a warmer world. While climate change may have influenced all these events, many of the countries that bear little responsibility for global warming were affected. This includes Nicaragua, which was hit by hurricane Iota, the strongest storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, and the Philippines, where typhoons Goni and Vamco made landfall almost back-to-back. These extreme events highlight the need for urgent climate action. The Paris Agreement, which set the goal of keeping temperature rise "well below" 2 degrees Celsius, and ideally 1.5 degrees, compared to pre-industrial levels, has just turned five years old. Countries must commit to bold new targets ahead of the next climate conference, which will take place in Glasgow in November 2021. The report's author Kat Kramer, Christian Aid's climate policy lead, told IANS: "The Covid-19 pandemic has understandably been a major worry this year. For millions of people in vulnerable parts of the world, climate breakdown has compounded this. "The good news is that, like the vaccine for Covid-19, we do know how to fix the climate crisis. We need to keep fossil fuels in the ground, boost clean energy investment and help those who are suffering on the frontline. "Whether it floods in Asia, locusts in Africa or storms in Europe and the Americas, climate change has continued to rage in 2020. It is vital that 2021 ushers in a new era of activity to turn this tide. "With US President-elect Biden in the White House, social movements across the world calling for urgent action, post-Covid green recovery investment and a crucial UN climate summit hosted by the UK, there is a major opportunity for countries to put us on a path to a safe future." Roxy Mathew Koll, the climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, said: "2020 was exceptionally warm, as far as the Indian Ocean is concerned. We saw record temperatures in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, straddling between 30-33 degrees Celsius. "These high temperatures had the characteristics of marine heatwaves that might have led to the rapid intensification of the pre-monsoon cyclones Amphan and Nisarga. Amphan was one of the strongest cyclones ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal during the pre-monsoon season." M. Shahjahan Mondal, a climate scientist and Director of the Institute of Flood and Water Management, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, said: "Scientific evidence shows that the intensity of the tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal has been increasing over the past few years because of the temperature rise, and cyclone Amphan was one of the strongest ever recorded this year as a consequence. "Moreover, the 2020 flood was one of the worst in history (of Bangladesh), as more than a quarter of the country was under water." "Not only is this linked with changing climatic conditions and global warming, but also linked with changing land-use patterns and deforestation. Unfortunately, the situation might be worsening in the coming years if we fail to achieve the Paris climate goal to restrict global warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius." (With inputs from agencies)

2020’s weather disasters: India lost $10 billion, over 2000 killed

The global climate crisis could see more than 63 million people displaced from their homes within South Asian countries in the next 30 years, according to a new report.

According to a report by ActionAid International and Climate Action Network South Asia, if global warming continues on its current path then the rising seas levels and droughts will force a huge part South Asia population to migrate. 
 
The report released on Friday stated that ecological disasters drive mass migrations and greater armed conflict for this region. 
 
The projection does not include those who will be forced to flee sudden disasters such as floods and cyclones and so is likely an under-estimate, noted Harjeet Singh, global climate lead at ActionAid. 
 
He said the situation could become “catastrophic”. 
 
Many will head from rural areas to towns and cities in their own countries, in search of work, he said. 
 
There they often end up living in slum areas exposed to flooding and with very limited access to social services, doing precarious jobs such as rickshaw-pulling, construction or garment-making. 
 
“Policy makers in the Global North and the Global South are not yet waking up to this reality,” Singh told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “They are not realising the scale of the problem, and how we are going to deal with (it).” 
 
He urged rich nations with high planet-warming emissions to redouble efforts to reduce their carbon pollution and provide more funding for South Asian countries to develop cleanly and adapt to conditions on a warming planet. 
 
If governments meet a globally agreed goal to limit warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, the number of people driven to move in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal could be cut almost by half by 2050, the report said. 
 
It builds on research published in 2018 by the World Bank, which said unchecked climate change could cause more than 140 million people to move within their countries’ borders by 2050 in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America. 
 
The new report, which used an updated version of the same methodology, raises the original 2050 projection for South Asian migration by about half, adding in new data on sea level rise, as well as the effects of ecosystem losses and droughts. 
 
The new report also tracks expected migration on a finer scale.

(With inputs from agencies)

The global climate crisis could see more than 63 million people displaced from their homes within South Asian countries in the next 30 years, according to a new report.

The global climate crisis could see more than 63 million people displaced from their homes within South Asian countries in the next 30 years, according to a new report. According to a report by ActionAid International and Climate Action Network South Asia, if global warming continues on its current path then the rising seas levels and droughts will force a huge part South Asia population to migrate. The report released on Friday stated that ecological disasters drive mass migrations and greater armed conflict for this region. The projection does not include those who will be forced to flee sudden disasters such as floods and cyclones and so is likely an under-estimate, noted Harjeet Singh, global climate lead at ActionAid. He said the situation could become “catastrophic”. Many will head from rural areas to towns and cities in their own countries, in search of work, he said. There they often end up living in slum areas exposed to flooding and with very limited access to social services, doing precarious jobs such as rickshaw-pulling, construction or garment-making. “Policy makers in the Global North and the Global South are not yet waking up to this reality,” Singh told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “They are not realising the scale of the problem, and how we are going to deal with (it).” He urged rich nations with high planet-warming emissions to redouble efforts to reduce their carbon pollution and provide more funding for South Asian countries to develop cleanly and adapt to conditions on a warming planet. If governments meet a globally agreed goal to limit warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, the number of people driven to move in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal could be cut almost by half by 2050, the report said. It builds on research published in 2018 by the World Bank, which said unchecked climate change could cause more than 140 million people to move within their countries’ borders by 2050 in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America. The new report, which used an updated version of the same methodology, raises the original 2050 projection for South Asian migration by about half, adding in new data on sea level rise, as well as the effects of ecosystem losses and droughts. The new report also tracks expected migration on a finer scale. (With inputs from agencies)

Global warming could create 63 million migrants in South Asia by 2050

In the United States, the massive wildfire burning in Northern California has resulted in rare and dangerous fire tornado's Watch report.

20,000 acres of land destroyed in California fire

A thermometer at Death Valley’s Furnace Creek in the Southern California desert has soared to 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54.4 Celsius)

WION Dispatch:California shows highest global temperature in over 100 years | Climate Change

Polar bears may be gone by 2100, a new trajectory followed by scientists has revealed. They additionally found how and where the extinction will take place.

If greenhouse gas emissions are not controlled soon, all polar bears except a handful few in the Arctic will be gone over the course of time leading upto 2100.

Reproductive failure

The scientists asserted that by 2040, the bears will be unable to reproduce, which will cause sporadic local extinctions in colonies.&nbsp;The study, published in Nature Climate Change takes a look at how the animals will be affected primarily attributing it to climate change.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/should-cow-burps-be-blamed-for-global-warming-313838" hreflang="en">Should cow burps be blamed for global warming?</a>

If the emissions go on uninterrupted, by the end of the century, the bears will only survive on the Queen Elizabeth Islands, which falls in Canada’s Arctic archipelago.

However, we are already at a point of no return. Even if the effects of global warming are reversed and contained, the polar bears in the Arctic will be unable to reproduce by 2080.

<h6><img alt="This file photo taken on October 31, 2018 shows polar bears feeding at a garbage dump near the village of Belushya Guba, on the remote Russian northern Novaya Zemlya archipelago, a tightly-controlled military area where a village declared a state of emergency in February after dozens of bears were seen entering homes and public buildings. Climate change is starving polar bears into extinction, according to research published on July 20, 2020 that predicts the apex carnivores could all but disappear within the span of a human lifetime. In some regions they are already caught in a vicious downward spiral, with shrinking sea ice cutting short the time bears have for hunting seals, while dwindling body weight undermines their chances of surviving Arctic winters without food, scientists reported in Nature Climate Change. The study calculates &quot;timelines of risk&quot; for different polar bear demographics, exploring two alternative futures with different levels of greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric concentrations of CO2. If business-as-usual greenhouse gas emissions continue, it’s likely that all but a few polar bear populations will collapse by 2100. " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="48d88e10-bded-453a-8858-89ba74c23174" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-3_29.jpg" /> 
This file photo taken on October 31, 2018 shows polar bears feeding at a garbage dump near the village of Belushya Guba, on the remote Russian northern Novaya Zemlya archipelago, a tightly-controlled military area where a village declared a state of emergency in February after dozens of bears were seen entering homes and public buildings. Climate change is starving polar bears into extinction, according to research published on July 20, 2020 that predicts the apex carnivores could all but disappear within the span of a human lifetime. In some regions they are already caught in a vicious downward spiral, with shrinking sea ice cutting short the time bears have for hunting seals, while dwindling body weight undermines their chances of surviving Arctic winters without food, scientists reported in Nature Climate Change. The study calculates "timelines of risk" for different polar bear demographics, exploring two alternative futures with different levels of greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric concentrations of CO2. If business-as-usual greenhouse gas emissions continue, it’s likely that all but a few polar bear populations will collapse by 2100. | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

The world right now has less than 26,000 polar bears. These include 19 subpopulations spread across Norway to Canada to Siberia. The bears rely on ice to find food, fishing out seals from the holes in the ice. Sometimes this can take hours, or even days.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/habitat-loss-in-an-australian-state-may-drive-koalas-to-extinction-by-2050-309664" hreflang="en">Habitat loss in an Australian state may drive koalas to extinction by 2050</a>

Very recently, images of skeletal polar bears that were starving went viral on social media, highlighting the animal’s plight.&nbsp;The sea ice that they depend on is currently melting, which will in turn cause a decline in polar bear populations.

Way more than what was expected

The researchers claim that this drop in the reproduction rates was way over what they that expected. Even though the bears are used to fasting for months, after one point they will be unable to reproduce if they can’t find food for long periods of time.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/emissions-of-planet-warming-methane-have-risen-by-9-in-the-last-decade-313383" hreflang="en">Emissions of planet-warming methane have risen by 9% in the last decade</a>

As part of the study, the researchers looked at 13 out of 19 polar bear subpopulations, which account for 80 per cent of the total species population. They did, however exclude bears from the Archipelago ecoregion in the Canadian Arctic, for the geography of the region makes it difficult to offer predictions.

The bears in Hudson Bay and Davis Strait in Canada will most likely fail to reproduce by 2040, if emissions are left unchecked. By 2080, bears in Alaska and Russia will start to perish. Leading up to 2100, the whole global population might collapse and disappear.

Polar bears may be gone by 2100, a new trajectory followed by scientists has revealed. They additionally found how and where the extinction will take place. If greenhouse gas emissions are not controlled soon, all polar bears except a handful few in the Arctic will be gone over the course of time leading upto 2100.

Polar bears may be gone by 2100, a new trajectory followed by scientists has revealed. They additionally found how and where the extinction will take place. If greenhouse gas emissions are not controlled soon, all polar bears except a handful few in the Arctic will be gone over the course of time leading upto 2100. Reproductive failure The scientists asserted that by 2040, the bears will be unable to reproduce, which will cause sporadic local extinctions in colonies. The study, published in Nature Climate Change takes a look at how the animals will be affected primarily attributing it to climate change. Also read: Should cow burps be blamed for global warming? If the emissions go on uninterrupted, by the end of the century, the bears will only survive on the Queen Elizabeth Islands, which falls in Canada’s Arctic archipelago. However, we are already at a point of no return. Even if the effects of global warming are reversed and contained, the polar bears in the Arctic will be unable to reproduce by 2080. This file photo taken on October 31, 2018 shows polar bears feeding at a garbage dump near the village of Belushya Guba, on the remote Russian northern Novaya Zemlya archipelago, a tightly-controlled military area where a village declared a state of emergency in February after dozens of bears were seen entering homes and public buildings. Climate change is starving polar bears into extinction, according to research published on July 20, 2020 that predicts the apex carnivores could all but disappear within the span of a human lifetime. In some regions they are already caught in a vicious downward spiral, with shrinking sea ice cutting short the time bears have for hunting seals, while dwindling body weight undermines their chances of surviving Arctic winters without food, scientists reported in Nature Climate Change. The study calculates "timelines of risk" for different polar bear demographics, exploring two alternative futures with different levels of greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric concentrations of CO2. If business-as-usual greenhouse gas emissions continue, it’s likely that all but a few polar bear populations will collapse by 2100. | AFP The world right now has less than 26,000 polar bears. These include 19 subpopulations spread across Norway to Canada to Siberia. The bears rely on ice to find food, fishing out seals from the holes in the ice. Sometimes this can take hours, or even days. Also read: Habitat loss in an Australian state may drive koalas to extinction by 2050 Very recently, images of skeletal polar bears that were starving went viral on social media, highlighting the animal’s plight. The sea ice that they depend on is currently melting, which will in turn cause a decline in polar bear populations. Way more than what was expected The researchers claim that this drop in the reproduction rates was way over what they that expected. Even though the bears are used to fasting for months, after one point they will be unable to reproduce if they can’t find food for long periods of time. Also read: Emissions of planet-warming methane have risen by 9% in the last decade As part of the study, the researchers looked at 13 out of 19 polar bear subpopulations, which account for 80 per cent of the total species population. They did, however exclude bears from the Archipelago ecoregion in the Canadian Arctic, for the geography of the region makes it difficult to offer predictions. The bears in Hudson Bay and Davis Strait in Canada will most likely fail to reproduce by 2040, if emissions are left unchecked. By 2080, bears in Alaska and Russia will start to perish. Leading up to 2100, the whole global population might collapse and disappear.

Polar bears will be gone by 2100 if greenhouse emissions are left unchecked

China’s very own “Greta Thunberg” is facing state threats in the face of attempting to bring to light the reality of climate change.

Owing to her Thunberg inspired “Fridays For Future” climate strikes, Ou Hongyi may be barred from taking school exams, and college exams later on.

First-of-her-kind

The 17-year-old is the first youngster in China to publicly take up the cause of climate change, and has hence become a target for authorities.

In fact, Ou claims that she has been asked to stop her Thunberg style activism by the Guangxi Normal University’s high school in Guilin, where the teenager had been studying until 2018.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/italys-presena-glacier-covered-with-white-tarps-to-decelerate-melting-caused-by-climate-change-307771" hreflang="en">Italy's Presena glacier covered with white tarps to decelerate melting caused by climate change</a>

Sometimes going by the English name Howey, Ou was told that she was “not suitable” for an international education programme at the university. Instead of caving in, she took it upon herself to prepare for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the SATs

Ou told the Guardian that her parents have been called in by educational authorities asking them to prevent her from continuing her activism, and to avoid talking to international media.

She further claimed&nbsp;that her school’s principal Li Linbo has instructed her to ditch the activism if she wanted to resume her education in May.

"Stubborn"

To clip the activist’s wings, authorities forced a psychological test on her, which found that she was “stubborn”.

Her father, Ou Jun told The Guardian how he worries about her future, and whether her beliefs could “derail” it, all the while supporting her right to her beliefs and activism.

As part of its efforts to limit climate change caused by carbon emissions, China has pledged to peak its emissions on or before 2030, as part of the Paris Agreement.&nbsp;Xi Jinping also claims to have recanted his policies around “ecological civilisation”.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/curb-climate-change-protect-environment-to-prevent-more-outbreaks-united-nations-311242" hreflang="en">Curb climate change, protect environment to prevent more outbreaks: United Nations</a>

Ou has no plans to stop, and has started an initiative called Plant For Survival, encouraging young likeminded folks like herself in China to plant trees. In fact, between November 2019 and January 2020, the group is responsible for planting 300 trees around Guilin.

However, Ou has no intention of stopping. The teenager intends to tread on the path of climate activism until more people know.

China’s very own “Greta Thunberg” is facing state threats in the face of attempting to bring to light the reality of climate change. Owing to her Thunberg inspired “Fridays For Future” climate strikes, Ou Hongyi may be barred from taking school exams, and college exams later on.

China’s very own “Greta Thunberg” is facing state threats in the face of attempting to bring to light the reality of climate change. Owing to her Thunberg inspired “Fridays For Future” climate strikes, Ou Hongyi may be barred from taking school exams, and college exams later on. First-of-her-kind The 17-year-old is the first youngster in China to publicly take up the cause of climate change, and has hence become a target for authorities. In fact, Ou claims that she has been asked to stop her Thunberg style activism by the Guangxi Normal University’s high school in Guilin, where the teenager had been studying until 2018. Also read: Italy's Presena glacier covered with white tarps to decelerate melting caused by climate change Sometimes going by the English name Howey, Ou was told that she was “not suitable” for an international education programme at the university. Instead of caving in, she took it upon herself to prepare for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the SATs Ou told the Guardian that her parents have been called in by educational authorities asking them to prevent her from continuing her activism, and to avoid talking to international media. She further claimed that her school’s principal Li Linbo has instructed her to ditch the activism if she wanted to resume her education in May. "Stubborn" To clip the activist’s wings, authorities forced a psychological test on her, which found that she was “stubborn”. Her father, Ou Jun told The Guardian how he worries about her future, and whether her beliefs could “derail” it, all the while supporting her right to her beliefs and activism. As part of its efforts to limit climate change caused by carbon emissions, China has pledged to peak its emissions on or before 2030, as part of the Paris Agreement. Xi Jinping also claims to have recanted his policies around “ecological civilisation”. Also read: Curb climate change, protect environment to prevent more outbreaks: United Nations Ou has no plans to stop, and has started an initiative called Plant For Survival, encouraging young likeminded folks like herself in China to plant trees. In fact, between November 2019 and January 2020, the group is responsible for planting 300 trees around Guilin. However, Ou has no intention of stopping. The teenager intends to tread on the path of climate activism until more people know.

Educational authorities in China attempting to stifle first young climate activist's voice

In this segment of WION weather, we get you all the latest weather news from different parts of the world. Watch report.

WION Weather: Weather news of July 8, 2020 | World News

Over 50,000 homes in Western Australia have no electricity owing to the wild weather battering the country for a second day in a row.

Winds with speed of upto 100 km/h have ravaged the state’s coastline over the weekend. Described as a “rare event” and a “once-in-a-decade” storm, the storm is a product of ex-Tropical cyclone Mangga’s collision with a cold front.

Strong winds accompanied by rain and flooding are expected to keep hitting the Australian state.

Wind speeds of over 132 km/hour were recorded in Cape Leeuwin - the state’s southern spot, and recorded the wildest winds in 15 years.

<h6><img alt="pp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8633293f-f024-4c8d-810a-d771341179b0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-2_7.jpg" /> 
A man (L) walks past shops roped off after they sustained damage in the Perth suburb of Bedford on May 25, 2020, after the area was lashed by gale force winds and a tidal surge from the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Mangga | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

"Some wild weather has affected large parts of WA, causing widespread damage and large scale power outages. Please listen to the advice of emergency services and stay safe everyone," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on social media.

"New damage from the windborne debris has meant the overall number of impacted homes and businesses remains high," Western Power announced on Twitter.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services Chief Superintendent Danny Mosconi told a local news outlet that over 390 emergency calls were received on Sunday alone, mostly from Perth. As of now, the department has received 407 emergency calls.

Dust was seen speedily winding across areas like Gascoyne and Central West, while many towns were barely visible in the haze, as per the information given out by the Bureau of Meteorology.

<h6><img alt="pp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a1e42f22-f40e-4abc-ae36-9a68d530b09c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-3_5.jpg" /> 
Waves crash to shore as a dust storm blows towards the sea in Geraldton, Western&nbsp;Australia, in this still image taken from a May 24, 2020 | Reuters 
&nbsp;</h6>

Additionally, high tides swarmed the country’s west coast, with many areas recording their highest tides of the year.

On Sunday, almost 62,000 homes were out of power. But the number went down as power was slowly restored. However, the damage done in some areas is too heavy for power to resume immediately.

The government issues warnings against using electrical appliances, and to avoid using landline phones in case of lightning. They were also asked to stay away from windows.

Drivers and motorists were asked not to venture or drive over water of unknown depth and to stay indoors.

(With inputs from AFP and Reuters)

Over 50,000 homes in Western Australia have no electricity owing to the wild weather battering the country for a second day in a row. Winds with speed of upto 100 km/h have ravaged the state’s coastline over the weekend.

Over 50,000 homes in Western Australia have no electricity owing to the wild weather battering the country for a second day in a row. Winds with speed of upto 100 km/h have ravaged the state’s coastline over the weekend. Described as a “rare event” and a “once-in-a-decade” storm, the storm is a product of ex-Tropical cyclone Mangga’s collision with a cold front. Strong winds accompanied by rain and flooding are expected to keep hitting the Australian state. Wind speeds of over 132 km/hour were recorded in Cape Leeuwin - the state’s southern spot, and recorded the wildest winds in 15 years. A man (L) walks past shops roped off after they sustained damage in the Perth suburb of Bedford on May 25, 2020, after the area was lashed by gale force winds and a tidal surge from the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Mangga | AFP "Some wild weather has affected large parts of WA, causing widespread damage and large scale power outages. Please listen to the advice of emergency services and stay safe everyone," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on social media. "New damage from the windborne debris has meant the overall number of impacted homes and businesses remains high," Western Power announced on Twitter. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services Chief Superintendent Danny Mosconi told a local news outlet that over 390 emergency calls were received on Sunday alone, mostly from Perth. As of now, the department has received 407 emergency calls. Dust was seen speedily winding across areas like Gascoyne and Central West, while many towns were barely visible in the haze, as per the information given out by the Bureau of Meteorology. Waves crash to shore as a dust storm blows towards the sea in Geraldton, Western Australia, in this still image taken from a May 24, 2020 | Reuters Additionally, high tides swarmed the country’s west coast, with many areas recording their highest tides of the year. On Sunday, almost 62,000 homes were out of power. But the number went down as power was slowly restored. However, the damage done in some areas is too heavy for power to resume immediately. The government issues warnings against using electrical appliances, and to avoid using landline phones in case of lightning. They were also asked to stay away from windows. Drivers and motorists were asked not to venture or drive over water of unknown depth and to stay indoors. (With inputs from AFP and Reuters)

'Rare event': Bizarre weather leaves 50,000 Australian homes without electricity

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