Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A RECORD-BREAKING HEAT wave stretching across the southern United States is expected to expand in the coming days and weeks, as scientists warn July will likely be the hottest month ever recorded.
Approximately 80 million Americans will swelter in temperatures of 105 degree Fahrenheit (41C) and above this weekend, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.
The worst heat of up to 115F (46C) is forecast in Phoenix, Arizona, which has seen a record-breaking three weeks in a row of highs above 110F (43C).
There were hellish scenes in the city yesterday when a fierce blaze erupted at a propane business near the international airport, sending tanks exploding into the air.
“Unfortunately, on a hot day like this, these propane tanks with that expansion of heat, they literally become missiles…They can travel upwards of 500 yards (457 metres),” fire captain Rob McDade told KPHO television station.
Tourists meanwhile have been flocking to the Death Valley National Park, which straddles the border between California and Nevada, in order to post selfies with a temperature display outside the visitor centre.
Many are hoping to see it break a world record of 134F (56.6C), which was set in July 1913 but was likely the result of a faulty measurement, according to several meteorologists.
But this type of tourism carries inherent risks. A 71-year-old man from Los Angeles died earlier this week after collapsing outside the restroom of a trailhead, the National Park Service (NPS) said.
Hours earlier, he had been interviewed by a reporter with the Los Angeles Times, and was photographed slathered in sunscreen, huddled beneath a metal sign that afforded a small amount of shade.
“The Inyo County Coroner’s Office has not yet determined the man’s cause of death. However, park rangers suspect heat was a factor,” the NPS said, adding it was likely the second heat-related death at the park this year.
Looking ahead to later in the month, the heat is expected to push northwards into the Midwest, Great Plains and Central Rockies, Matt Rosencrans of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center said in a briefing call.
July 2023 is on track to be the hottest absolute month – not only since records began, but also in “hundreds, if not thousands, of years,” leading NASA climatologist Gavin Schmidt told reporters.
What’s more, the effects cannot be attributed solely to the El Nino weather pattern, which “has really only just emerged” and isn’t expected to strengthen until later on in the year.
El Nino is associated with warming of the ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
Schmidt said the trend of extreme heat is expected to persist, “and the reason why we think that’s going to continue, is because we continue to put greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.”
Scientists say it is vital to hold long-term warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels to avert a future in which half the global population could be exposed to periods of life-threatening extreme heat and humidity.
- AFP 2023
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
In before all the lads who failed science in the junior cert come on to share their expertise in climatology.
@Seán Ó Briain: Says Professor Ó Briain himself, Doctor of Gullibleology. The great Guillibleologist himself – unquestioning Junior Certificate-passing Scientist extraordinaire. “I don’t need to do my own research, I’m a professor of Gullibleology – so if the media says the temperature is 50 degrees, but the thermometer says it’s 33 degrees – well… I’m going to believe the media, because I’m Professor Sean Ó Briain, Doctor of Gullibleology – a *qualified* GULLIBLEOLOGIST.”
@LoughC: Will you just spouting this absolute gibberish in every single thread? Get a life seriously
@Byron Hawkfeld: he reminds me of the jehovah’s that used to call to the door every Sunday
All around the world countries are getting heatwaves and we are here freezing at 13C in July.
It’s not fair..
@Peter McCormack: tourists will be flocking to this damp Isle of ours in 10 years to escape the heatwaves around the world. They will lay in the fields soaking up the rain, We won’t need hotels….just fields and tents!
@Paul Furey: Wet fields and tents with soggy sleeping bags. Sounds like Electric Picnic has a bright future so
Jeez we’re really getting battered these last few weeks with the climate hoax, the covid scam didn’t work, monkey pox just never caught wind and putins war wasn’t as fast so what’s next?
@retro sun: Joy to behold so many ordinary people seeing through it despite (or maybe because of?) the endless propaganda.
@Tony Murphy: Don’t think a few anonymous nobodies commenting on the journal could be called many tbh
All pushed by bough and paid for sicentes, there the ones that come up with the answers they are paid for. Like imperial college and their convid predictions.
@Dave Mercedes3: belt up you absolute helmet
@Byron Hawkfeld: what would you expect from someone with a username with Mercedes in it..tuh..not a helmet head, more a dick.
@Byron Hawkfeld: Looks Like The Truth hurts.
@Dave Mercedes3: Yup. Tell us the outcome you want and we’ll contrive a mathematical model to give it to you. For a hefty fee of course.
Phoenix – Highest Temperature for Each Year
Max °F Date Max °C
118 July 21, 2006 48
116 July 17, 2005 47
112 August 08, 2004 + 44
117 July 16, 2003 47
@BL Music:
“Phoenix, Arizona, which has seen a record-breaking THREE WEEKS IN A ROW of highs above 110F (43C).”
Are you seriously that dense that I had to explain that?
@BL Music: lived there for a while a few years ago. Got bored with the same weather each day but we could drift down the river there with a few beers to cool off. Was a really nice friendly City back then not sure what it’s like now.
@BL Music: you forgot Thursday July 20 2023 119 °F.
@BL Music: Far-right, racist hate-facts.
@did you every wonder: intel assignment?
Was this article about a nuclear armageddon or some hot weather in Phoenix Arizona, a desert city and the second hottest city in America at the hottest time of the year experiencing some slightly above average highs for the time of the year, meanwhile other southern major cities like Dallas and Houston are experiencing normal 30s daytime highs for the time of year, so there is no “baking heatwave in southern US that’s set to expand” so maybe do one of your beloved fact checks on these constant alarmist and agenda driven articles you’re posting instead of spreading blatant disinformation to your (as evidenced by the equally alarmist comments on these articles) credulous readers.
@Ken O’Neill: what are you talking about, Texas just came out of the hottest June on record in some parts of the state! I met 2 texan ladies on the Luas recently who said as much, talking of moving away as its the 3rd Summer in a row they’ve been dealing with prolonged droughts in their town!
Supposing you’re right and what you’re saying is important.
It still begs the question : what difference does it make ?
Really ?
@offside again: The hundreds of millions of climate refugees in the near future will make an awful lot of difference.
So do ya want people in Ireland to pay more carbon taxes without question, give up their petrol/diesel cars and put themselves into further debt by going ev or hope that the usual public transport is accessible for them, depending where they live. Because nobody is denying climate change, it is very real and people are taking it seriously. What nobody is taking seriously is muppets like the stop the oil crowd or the green party in this country in general where its main folk like eamo and Martin practice green ideology but then are caught flying business class, but have the nerve to tell everyone else to play by the green rules. The message about climate change is lost cos the people who flapping their gums have no respect from the ordinary joe soap
MAGA cop is deadly serious. You need to believe it. That’s all you need to do
My comment was for LoughC
have your say