Both countries expect to see temperatures soar into Wednesday, which could cause the blazes to spread.
From massive typhoons and severe floods to scorching heat, China is being hit by a barrage of extreme weather events. Behind this surge in volatility lies a brewing “super” El Nino, according to researchers. Scientists warn that we are only seeing the prelude, and with the current event already rivalling historic climate disasters, it signals a potentially perilous future for the nation and the globe. Jiang Hua, chief El Nino forecaster at the National Marine Environmental Forecasting Centre,...
Japanese cities are experiencing “cruelly hot days”, a new meteorological term devised this year to warn people of intense heat above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), with emergency officials describing the soaring temperatures on Wednesday as “a disaster”. Heatstroke alerts were issued across almost the whole country and emergency officials said at least 14 people had died from heat-related causes in the past week. Three central cities logged scorching temperatures on Tuesday above the new...
Fire breaks out amid Spain's third heatwave of the summer, with temperatures forecast to rise above 40C.
Water cascaded into subway stations and flooded streets, with people seen wading through water.
Hundreds of rescuers are racing against incoming thunderstorms in southwestern China after a landslide struck Chongqing’s Pengshui county on Friday morning, destroying buildings and leaving residents trapped under mud and debris. The disaster is among several brought about by heavy rainfall and extreme weather to hit parts of China in recent weeks, and has resulted in senior rescue officials being sent to the scene from Beijing. Local community officials in Hanjia subdistrict of Chongqing’s...
Across the US this week, different disasters – from Canadian wildfire smoke darkening the skies in the Midwest and northeast to extreme heat along the east coast to catastrophic flooding in Texas – are disrupting daily life and putting people’s health at risk. When multiple weather catastrophes play out like this at the same time, or in quick succession, experts refer to them as compound events. As climate change makes compound events more likely, experts warned that grappling with them is...
The same area devastated by floods last year - causing more than 130 deaths, including those at Camp Mystic - is once again being hit.
Severe weather conditions are likely to get worse due to climate change.
It was the first time firefighting planes had been sent up from the normally drier and hotter south of the country to tackle fires in the Paris region.
South Korea issued its first-ever emergency heatwave alert on Sunday under a new warning system launched this year, advising people to halt outdoor activities and keep cool. The new warning system was introduced to better deal with a rising number of heatwaves in South Korea, which have become longer and more intense, officials said. An emergency alert is issued when areas experiencing a heatwave are forecast to hit perceived temperatures of 38°C or an actual temperature of 39°C for one...
Typhoon Bavi made landfall in eastern China on Saturday night, the second major storm to hit the country in a week, causing thousands of flight and train cancellations while more than 2.4 million people were evacuated from areas in the path of the storm. More than 2,800 flights were likely to be cancelled by Chinese airlines as of 8pm on Saturday, the state news agency Xinhua reported. Shanghai’s Pudong and Hongqiao airports were set to cancel over 650 flights, about 30 per cent of their...
Super Typhoon Bavi has been downgraded but is still dangerous, meteorologists say.
Authorities across eastern China have stepped up their emergency preparations and cancelled hundreds of flights as Typhoon Bavi, the ninth storm of the season, intensified overnight and barrelled towards the coast on Saturday. The storm is forecast to make landfall between Taizhou in Zhejiang province and Fuding in Fujian province in the early hours of Sunday, packing winds of up to 45 metres per second (148 feet per second), according to the National Meteorological Centre (NMC). In its 6am...
As Super Typhoon Bavi approaches, residents in Taiwan, Japan and China have been stockpiling supplies.
Typhoon Bavi is intensifying seasonal monsoon rains across the region as it moves towards Taiwan and China.
Bodies found in cars as deadly Spain wildfire kills at least 12
A large and powerful typhoon approached a remote chain of islands in Japan’s southwest on Friday, prompting authorities to warn of violent winds, torrential rain, landslides and flooding in what could be the region’s most destructive storm in years. Super Typhoon Bavi is expected to pass very close to Japan’s Sakishima Islands, a remote island chain that is part of Okinawa prefecture, early on Saturday morning, according to meteorological authorities. Maximum sustained winds were topping out at...
Thousands of deaths across Europe, mostly in France, Spain and Belgium, have been linked to a June heatwave.
Villagers whose families have been stranded told the BBC they are struggling to get food and help.
Severe rain and winds lash southern Guangxi and central Hubei provinces, with President Xi urging an 'all out' response.
Eight people have died and one remains missing after rainstorms and tornadoes hit central China, while rescue parties in the south are continuing to evacuate residents amid flood warnings. Meteorologists warn that China faces “complex” flood prevention challenges this year, with heavy rain, typhoons, flooding and other geological disasters happening across the country. Parts of the central province of Hubei were hit with strong winds and rain on Monday night, according to the provincial...
The storm system is expected to reach landfall on Monday morning.
Extreme weather disrupted the US’s 250th anniversary celebrations, forcing evacuations, cancellations and delays.
The United States of America marked its 250th birthday with fireworks, flyovers, some intense weather across the country.
US President Donald Trump's speech included some of his political agenda but also honoured war veterans and American history.
A dangerous heatwave upended Fourth of July celebrations across swathes of the central and eastern United States on Friday, forcing officials in the nation’s capital and elsewhere to cancel or postpone dozens of parades, concerts and fireworks displays. Among the events disrupted by the sweltering heat was the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, a centrepiece of President Donald Trump’s efforts to mark the nation’s 250th birthday. The fair, designed to showcase all 50...
More than 165 million people are enduring dangerous heat and humidity, with temperatures expected to stay at 38C (100F) for several days.
More than 165 million people were sweltering on Friday under record temperatures along the US East Coast and Midwest, according to the US National Weather Service.
The average temperatures on June 24 and 25 this year were the highest ever recorded in the country.
Forecasters are warning of further extreme temperatures on the continent in the next few days.
World Meteorological Organization forecasts more likelihood of heatwaves, droughts and heavy rainfall due to El Nino.
China’s Politburo called for “forceful” countermeasures against floods and droughts as El Nino effects exacerbate the impact of extreme weather events in the country. Local authorities should strengthen flood controls on major rivers, improve rescue capabilities and bolster management of water sources, the top decision-making body said after a monthly meeting on Tuesday chaired by President Xi Jinping. Other steps include greater protection for agricultural infrastructure, according to...