THE HEAT IS ON

The world is witnessing intense heatwaves on a global scale. Even cooler countries have reported heatrelated deaths and wildfires by the hundreds, and temperatures have broken all records. Scientists suspect the jet streams that control day-to-day weather have gone astray. An analysis by Down To Earth

HAVE YOU ever wondered what it feels like to be inside a pressure cooker? For the past month and a half, millions across the northern hemisphere have found themselves trapped in such an environment for days, with many struggling for their lives.

The conditions persisted for nearly three weeks in the northwestern US and western Canada, which the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) termed “exceptional and dangerous”. These are the planet’s colder geographies where people have designed their dwellings to ensure warming. As temperatures rapidly soared and reached dangerous highs of more than 45oC on consecutive days and overnight lows stayed higher than the average daytime highs offering little recovery time from the heat, several regions reported a sudden increase in deaths, particularly among the elderly; incidences of wildfire; melted train cables and buckled roads; breakdown of public utilities; and collapse of power grids.

In Canada’s British Columbia province, known for its Pacific coastline, snowcapped mountain peaks, and glacial fields, heat records kept tumbling for three consecutive days in the village of Lytton until June 29, when it became one of the hottest places on Earth. Temperatures reached an astounding 49.6oC that day. Before people could make sense of the situation in this picturesque mountain village on the confluence of two rivers, a wildfire destroyed almost every house and building. With two reported deaths, the village of 250 residents is now deserted. “It’s in the province of British Columbia, it’s home to the Rocky Mountains, Glacier National Park and yet we are seeing temperatures more typical of the Middle East [West Asia] or North Africa,” said Clare Nullis, spokesperson, WMO.