Global General

Heatwaves hit northern hemisphere

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-30 20:58

BEIJING - Russia, the United States and some European and Asian countries have suffered frequent heat waves this summer. The long, hot summer in the northern hemisphere is becoming one of the most important climate issues this year.

ASIA: HEATSTROKE RAMPANT IN JAPAN, GRID WORKLOAD RECORD HIGH IN BEIJING

Japan was hit by a heatwave with an average temperature above 35 degrees Celsius from July 19 to July 25, during which 9436 people were treated for heatstroke and a record 57 died.

The prolonged hot weather was caused by an anticyclone from the Pacific Ocean, the meterologic authorities of Japan said, adding continuing hot weather was possible. Experts called on people to take measures against the heat.

Most of northern China and parts of the south have had days of high temperature. At 11:40 Thursday, Beijing's grid workload amounted to 16.66 million kilowatts, which rewrote the record set the day before and far exceeded the 15.70 million kilowatts expected in this summer.

More than 15 provinces would suffer from hot weather from Thursday, National Meteorological Center of China Meteorological Administration said in a heat wave warning Thursday.

Related readings:  China warns heatwave will continue  Heatwave, power cuts hit Cyprus  China cooks up a heatwave to suit all tastes  Moscow sweats in record high temperature

RUSSIA: AGRICULTURE SUFFERS, DROWNING ACCIDENTS INCREASE

Moscow marked a record 37.7 degrees Celsius on Thursday, making the day the hottest in the city in 130 years.

The Moscow meteorological bureau said, in some districts of Moscow, the temperature reached as high as 39 degrees Celsius.

July has already been tagged the hottest month in the history of weather observations in Russia, and central Russia has been scorched by an ongoing heatwave since mid-June, with media reporting temperature records being set almost daily.

Twenty three districts are suffering serious drought and 100,000 square kilometers or one fifth of all the crops in Russia have been destroyed.

Wildfire prompted by hot and dry weather has also increased. Frequent forest fires enveloped Moscow in smog, resulting in some residents complaining about breathing problems.

Exasperated Muscivites have crowded into ponds and reservoirs. Ice cream sales have broken all records and police officers seem to have given up preventing people from swimming in the city's fountains.

Russia's Emergencies Ministry said Monday about 350 drowned last week while swimming.

More than 70 people drowned on July 19, the biggest death toll in a single day on record.

UNITED STATES: COOLING CENTERS APPEAR, PETS STAY AT HOME

Most of the east coast of the US is also suffering from heatwaves. In Washington, according to statistics gathered from Reagan National Airport, last Saturday's temperature reached 38.3 degrees Celsius or 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the fourth day temperatures exceeded the 100 degrees Fahrenheit mark against an annual average of only 1.2 days.

Many cities and towns, including New York, Washington and Las Vegas, have set up "cooling centers", air-conditioned public spaces where people can cool off.

In Washington, the government also extended opening hours at public swimming pools. In some places nearby, pets are even not allowed to be outside.

EUROPE: HOT WEATHER HITS BOTH SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN EUROPE

In northern Europe, the mercury hit 37.2 degrees Celsius in Joensuu in eastern Finland on Thursday, the highest ever in Finland.

The previous hottest day on record in Finland was July 9, 1914, when a reading of 35.9 degrees Celsius was recorded in Turku in southwestern Finland.

In Finland, temperatures beyond 25 degrees Celsius is seen as hot summer weather. Temperatures above 30 degrees rarely occur. However, there have been readings of over 30 degrees nearly every day this July.

In southern Europe, Greece, Spain and Italy were also hit by heatwaves.From Monday, most of Portugal has been above 35 degrees Celsius. Lisbon, the capital even reached 40 degrees Celsius, becoming the hottest spot in Portugal. This was the second heatwave in Portugal in a month.

From the beginning of July, Ukraine's maximums have been between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius. In the capital city Kiev, it has been as high as 35.3 degrees Celsius, the highest since 1881.