Hurricane Tracker Updates Show Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings Active in New Mexico and Arizona
Hurricane tracker updates show the National Weather Service has issued multiple severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings across New Mexico and Arizona as part of ongoing severe weather activity, while a separate study reports Europe experienced a record 50,000 heat-related deaths this summer linked to extreme temperatures amplified by climate change.
Active Severe Weather Warnings in the US Southwest
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect until 6:30 PM MDT for parts of Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, and Sandoval counties in north central New Mexico. [1] A Tornado Warning is active until 5:15 PM MST for Navajo County in north central Arizona. [2] A separate Severe Thunderstorm Warning covers east central Grant County in southwestern New Mexico until 6:15 PM MDT. [5] These alerts come from radar indications of storms capable of producing damaging winds and large hail. [4]
Hurricane Tracker Storm Details and Movement
At 5:46 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Fenton Lake State Park, or 16 miles southeast of Cuba, moving northeast at 40 mph. [1] At 4:46 PM MST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 13 miles south of Linden, or 14 miles southwest of Show Low, moving north at 45 mph. [2] At 5:46 PM MDT, another severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles northwest of San Ysidro, or 26 miles northwest of Rio Rancho, moving northeast at 35 mph. [4] At 5:44 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Hurley, moving northeast at 30 mph. [5]
Impacts and Safety Messages
The storm near Fenton Lake State Park is producing 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail. [1] The thunderstorm in Navajo County is capable of producing a tornado and tennis ball-size hail. [2] The storm over Hurley features golf ball-size hail and 70 mph winds. [5] Hail damage to vehicles is expected along with wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. [4] Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter, and mobile homes will be damaged. [2] People and animals outdoors will be injured, with expected hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles along with considerable tree damage. [5]
Europe's Record Summer Heat Toll
Europe’s summer of extreme heat caused an estimated 50,000 deaths in cities across the region—the highest number on record—and wiped roughly 0.17% from European Union GDP from April through September, or close to €17 billion. [3] The estimated mortality toll comes from a study released Friday, led by scientists at Imperial College London, which determined that almost two-thirds of the deaths linked to high summer temperatures would not have happened without climate change. [3] A recent study from Bloomberg Economics measured the hit to Europe’s GDP at two-and-a-half times the average loss for the period over the previous decade. [3] The figure compares to about 29,000 heat-related deaths in cities in 2022 and about 28,000 in 2003. [3]
Temperature Extremes and Infrastructure Strain
European countries experienced extreme temperatures throughout the summer, with heat waves beginning in May and continuing into September. [3] Average temperatures in Western Europe were nearly 3C higher than the summer average between 1991 and 2020, with some days as much as 12C higher. [3] Across the continent, vital infrastructure suffered as wildfires destroyed homes, hospitals overheated, transport broke down and cooling systems in fridges and air conditioners failed. [3] French GDP was 0.2 percentage points smaller in the second quarter due to extreme heat. [3] Germany’s economy was 0.1% smaller over the same period, while Spain saw a 0.05% heat-related GDP dent. [3]
Broader Context and Outlook
The number of heat-related deaths linked to climate change has risen over time, the study found, as fossil-fuel emissions have pushed temperatures higher. [3] Climate change accounted for nearly two-thirds of this summer’s excess mortality toll, up from about 40% in 2003. [3] The Imperial study combines temperature records with previous findings that calculate the impact of heat levels on mortality. [3] Next year is expected to be even hotter than 2026. [3] Global warming is now virtually guaranteed to exceed 1.5C versus pre-industrial levels and the world must now focus on minimizing its overshoot, the United Nations said Wednesday. [3]
What to watch next: The Imperial study projects the number of heat-related deaths linked to climate change will continue rising, while the United Nations noted global warming is virtually guaranteed to exceed 1.5C versus pre-industrial levels.
