Last Sunday, Monday and Tuesday marked the hottest days ever recorded on Earth, according to the European Commission's Copernicus service. This alarming trend follows the recent retirement of El Niño, yet temperatures continue to soar. UN Secretary General António Guterres warned that “billions of people are facing an epidemic of extreme heat,” with some regions experiencing temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius. He emphasized that extreme heat is no longer a temporary issue, as evidenced by the record-breaking warmth over the past 13 months. Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, noted that we are venturing into unprecedented territory regarding global temperatures. The impact of these heat waves is severe, contributing to nearly half a million deaths annually and exacerbating economic inequalities worldwide. Guterres attributed this crisis to human-induced climate change, primarily driven by fossil fuel consumption, urging immediate action to combat this escalating threat.
In South Korea, residents of Gangwon Province experienced an unusual weather phenomenon, waking up to heavy rain, thunder, and lightning, followed by a heat wave warning on the same day. An office worker described the shock of receiving a heat wave alert just after enduring torrential rain. The Korea Meteorological Administration reported significant lightning activity and extreme rainfall, with Hoengseong receiving 88.5 mm of rain in just one hour. As temperatures soared, residents shared their bewilderment at experiencing such drastic weather changes. The local weather service predicted continued heavy rain and heat waves, highlighting the growing unpredictability of weather patterns.
