More Than 2,700 Heat Related Deaths Hit UK as Europe Swelters
Europe is grappling with deadly heatwaves that have killed more than 2,700 people in the UK and over 10,000 across the continent in late June, while a forest fire rages south of Paris and flash flooding hits parts of the United States. [5] [1] [3]
Deadly Heatwaves Strike UK and Europe
More than 2,700 deaths across England and Wales have been linked to unprecedented heatwaves in the United Kingdom in May and June. [5] There were 550 heat-related deaths between May 21 and 29, and nearly 2,200 people died between June 18 and 28. [5] The UK has experienced two record heatwaves this year, with temperatures in England reaching 35.1C in May and 37.7C in June. [5] Researchers from Imperial College London, the Met Office and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine used weather data, climate models and studies on excess deaths during the extreme weather to arrive at their estimate. [5] The UK Health Security Agency said it would publish its official estimate of heat-related deaths in the coming weeks, based on death records from recent heatwaves. [5] Data showed that more than 10,000 excess deaths were recorded across Europe during the heatwaves across the west of the continent in late June. [5] EuroMOMO, a network backed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization, said most of those deaths were among people aged 65 and above, with 9,000 excess deaths reported in that age range. [5] Scientists pooled national mortality statistics from 27 European countries in June and concluded that, without other notable factors such as COVID-19 outbreaks, the heatwave is most likely to have contributed to the spike of 10,650 excess deaths between June 22 and 28. [5]
Climate Change Role in Extreme Heat
Scientists emphasised the role of climate change in making heatwaves more intense and frequent. [5] They estimated that maximum daytime temperatures were up to 4C higher than they would have been without global warming. [5] “They were extreme heatwaves for the UK, and for all parts of Western Europe, and they’re particularly exceptional for the timing and how early in the year they occurred,” said Mark McCarthy, the science manager at the Met’s climate attribution team. [5] The Climate Change Committee, the body responsible for advising the British government on climate change, warned last year that the UK was “not ready” to deal with the consequences of climate change. [5] Lea Berrang Ford at UKHSA’s Centre for Climate and Health Security says the study released on Monday would “help illustrate the scale of risk associated with extreme heat and the growing threat climate change poses to our wellbeing”. [5] In a report published in May, it estimated that 92 percent of British homes could be too hot by 2050. [5] It said the government should set maximum temperature limits in the workplace, as well as invest in air conditioning for public buildings such as hospitals and schools in preparation for extreme weather. [5]
Wildfire Burns South of Paris
Fire rages in forest south of Paris as deadly heatwave spreads across Europe. [1] Fire rages in forest south of Paris as deadly heatwave spreads across Europe. [1]
Flash Flooding in North Carolina
The National Weather Service in Blacksburg has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Eastern Alleghany NC County in northwestern North Carolina and Northwestern Surry County in northwestern North Carolina until 9 a.m. EDT. [3] At 4:55 a.m. EDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated heavy rain falling across the warned area. [3] Up to 3 inches of rain have fallen since 1 a.m. [3] The expected rainfall rate is 1 to 4 inches in 1 hour. [3] Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. [3]
Tropical Depression Develops Near Philippines
The low pressure area being monitored outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility developed into a tropical depression at 8 a.m. on Monday, July 13. [2] As of 3 p.m., the tropical depression was located 1,205 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas, still outside PAR. [2] It is moving northwest at just 10 kilometers per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 70 km/h. [2] The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said the tropical depression may enter PAR on Monday night or Tuesday morning, July 14. [2] If it enters, it would be given the local name Josie. [2] The future Josie is expected to stay near the PAR eastern boundary, moving generally north before turning north northeast in the next two days. [2] It could already exit PAR by Wednesday morning, July 15. [2] It might also strengthen into a tropical storm by Monday night, but may be downgraded back to a tropical depression and subsequently into an LPA. [2] Given the track of the tropical cyclone, it is unlikely to directly affect Philippine weather and sea conditions. [2] Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon or habagat continues to affect Luzon on Monday. [2] The Ilocos Region, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, and Tarlac are still seeing scattered rain and thunderstorms, while the rest of Luzon may have isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. [2] Flash floods and landslides remain possible. [2] The Visayas and Mindanao, no longer affected by the southwest monsoon, could just see localized thunderstorms. [2]
Broader Weather Alerts in the US
Humidities are slowly recovering as a weak cold front moves through the region. [4] Thus the Red Flag Warning has been allowed to expire. [4]
What to watch next: The tropical depression may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility as early as Monday, July 13, but it is likely to just stay near the PAR eastern boundary, and the southwest monsoon or habagat continues to affect Luzon with scattered rain and thunderstorms possible in several regions. [2]
