Latest news with #weatherforecaster
BBC News
3 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Will heatwaves become our new normal?
The world is getting hotter, and the rate of temperature rise is faster than at any point in recorded history. According to climate scientists at NASA, external, the speed of change since the mid-20th century is a weather forecaster I'm all too aware how we are already feeling the impact of higher temperatures. What would have been a 'hot' day 30 years ago, would now be considered pretty normal - during our cooler spells people often tell me they feel 'hard-done by'. Whilst it is nice to be the bearer of 'good' weather news, it is becoming harder to report on heatwaves as a good news story without talking about the bigger picture of our changing climate and addressing the impact it is having on our lives In the filming of 'Heatwaves: The New Normal' I had the chance to delve deeper into the issues facing us as a society about coping with spells of extreme heat. From the physical impacts on our bodies, to rethinking the way we build our homes, to exacerbating the spread of wildfires - this issue affects so many aspects of our lives. How often do we see extreme heat in the UK? The average global temperature has risen by just over 1.1C since the pre-industrial era. This might not sound like a lot but it is enough to drive a large increase in the frequency, intensity and duration of heatwaves. In the UK, a number of major heatwaves have occurred in recent years, including during the record-breaking summer of July 2022 in which we saw the first official recording of temperatures exceeding 40°C.I was working at the BBC Weather Centre when we hit that record temperature. A national emergency was declared and The Met Office issued the first Red Extreme Heat Warning. It was something I never thought I would experience during my heatwave of summer 2022 was described by the Met Office as "a milestone in UK climate history" and deemed "virtually impossible" without human-induced climate fact the Met Office says that heatwaves are now 30 times more likely than before the industrial revolution and are projected to potentially occur every other year by the 2050s. How do our bodies handle this heat? Like many people, I love getting outside to walk or run, and I was interested to know what effect higher temperatures would have on me doing these things I love.I visited Loughborough University and had the chance to try out their heat chambers which can simulate a range of weather conditions.I got a taste of how it felt to exercise in temperatures of up to 40C - simulating the UK's hottest ever day - whilst running on a treadmill. It was an eye opening heart rate increased rapidly and I started to feel really thirsty and exhausted as my body tried to process the extra heat. I experienced a very mild taste of how 'heat stress' can affect the body - and see just how anyone and everyone can become vulnerable very quickly. The impact of extreme heat on drought and the spread of wildfires Of course it is not just the body that extreme heat affects. Droughts and wildfires can also be associated with factors affect droughts. Scientists are still studying the links between human-induced climate change and the risk of drought events. What we do know is that extreme heat increases evaporation of moisture from the ground leading to drier ground. Drier ground heats up more quickly, which in turn pushes the temperature of the air above it even the UK's warmest and sunniest spring on record, and the driest in more than 130 years, drought has been officially declared by the Environment Agency in north-west England and Yorkshire. Much of Scotland is experiencing moderate or significant water scarcity, and Welsh Water have also declared a drought developing zone for parts of the end of April this year the area of the UK burnt by wildfires was already higher than any year for more than a decade. During filming, I saw first hand the devastation caused, fuelled by dried out vegetation. Scientists expect the UK to see an increase in weather conditions conducive to extreme wildfires as the temperature increases, even though there's variation from year to year.A study led by the Met Office, external, found that the extreme "fire weather" that helped spread the destructive blazes of July 2022 when we experienced those record breaking temperatures were made at least six times more likely by human-caused climate change.
Zawya
04-06-2025
- Climate
- Zawya
Rains expected in some parts of Oman during Eid holidays
Muscat: In some parts of Oman, cooler temperatures are expected during the Eid holidays. Starting on Wednesday and continuing till Thursday, the weather expert at the Oman Met Office said, "There is a chance of low cloud advection over the coastal areas of the Oman Sea. "The weather pattern could bring in early morning or afternoon rain on Thursday, Friday and Saturday," according to the weather forecaster. During this period, the temperature could be around 35 degrees Celsius to 36 degrees Celsius. Over Al Hajar Mountains, there could be rains during the afternoons. Low clouds or fog formations are expected over the coasts of the Arabian Sea. On Tuesday, the weather forecast stated it would be generally clear skies across all governorates, with some parts of the northern governorates of the Sultanate of Oman affected by suspended dust. Satellite images had been showing parts of the northern governorates of the Sultanate of Oman continue to be affected by suspended dust, causing a relative decrease in horizontal visibility due to the dust wave. Satellite images indicated that a dust storm was coming from the Islamic Republic of Iran toward the coastal areas of the Sea of Oman. Weather experts had been warning that this could cause reduced horizontal visibility in the coming hours. Dust storms are expected in Zamaim, Haima and Yaaloni and Marmul. There are chances of low clouds/ fog patches at late night and early morning over parts of South Al Sharqiya, Al Wusta and Dhofar governorates. Along the Arabian Sea coasts, winds will be southerly to southwesterly moderate to fresh and along Oman Sea coasts and it will be easterly to northeasterly light to moderate becoming variable light at night, while over rest of the governorates it will be westerly to southwesterly light to moderate occasionally fresh over deserts and open areas. Sea conditions are expected to be moderate to rough along the Arabian Sea coasts with maximum wave height of 3.25 meters and slight to moderate along the western part of Musandam coast with maximum wave height of 1.5 meters and slight over the rest of the coasts with maximum wave height of 1.25 meters. Visibility may be reduced during rising dust and fog formation, warned the Met Office. The highest temperature recorded is 46 in Adham and Fahud. Masirah and Al Halaniyat Islands were cooler than Saiq in Jabal Al Akhdar recording a high of 32 degrees Celsius, but Jabal Shams was the coolest place in Oman was not usual place, Jabal Shams, recording 30 degrees maximum and lowest temperature recorded being 21 degrees. The coolest place in Oman currently is Jabal Samhan in Dhofar Governorate experiencing a high of 29 degrees Celsius and a low of 23 degrees Celsius. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
RNZ News
25-05-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Weather: Rain and wind warnings, watches for southern and central parts of New Zealand
A sweeping front is set to hit southern and central New Zealand. Photo: Supplied/MetService Wild weather is sweeping in from the Tasman, bringing the possibility of flooding and thunderstorms. The front is set to hit southern and central parts of the country - the West Coast in particular. MetService Warnings and Watches are in place for heavy rain and severe gales. The weather forecaster said overnight, the highest rainfall was at Arthur's Pass, with 120 millimetres in the last 12 hours. A few places in the Canterbury High Country had rainfall in the 60-70mm range, with some lightning strikes mostly over the water. Rain is expected to hit Wellington by 7am on Monday. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- Climate
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong Observatory issues third ‘very hot weather' warning in 5 days
Hong Kong has issued its third 'very hot weather' warning in five days, as the city is about to usher in the summer season. The forecaster issued the warning at 11.45am on Wednesday, saying that very hot weather was expected in the city. 'A southerly airstream is bringing very hot weather to the coast of southern China,' the Hong Kong Observatory said. 'Locally, temperatures in many places in the New Territories rose to about 33 degrees [Celsius] around noon.' According to the Observatory, temperatures reached above 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) at 12.30pm in most places in the city. The highest was recorded in Ta Kwu Ling at 34.2 degrees. It marks the third 'very hot weather' warning issued within five days, following the previous ones on Sunday and Saturday.
