What was the temperature when dinosaurs were here huh? Just curious.Ilhan Omar roasted for claiming Earth broke heat record set 120,000 years ago
Author of the articleostmedia News
Published Jul 19, 2023 • Last updated 1 day ago • 1 minute read
U.S. Democratic politician Ilhan Omar is feeling the heat after claiming the planet “broke the record for the hottest day in 120,000 years.”
On Monday, the Minnesota Congresswoman also called for the U.S. government to declare a “climate emergency now” in a Twitter post.
The first week of July saw the Earth set heat records three times, according to the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer, which analyzes historical weather data and “should NOT be taken as ‘official’ observational records.”
Critics pointed out the absurdity of Omar’s claim, as daily weather records were not kept until the 1800s.
“If you believe that we have precise daily temperature records dating back 120 thousand years, then this claim may seem credible,” Daily Wire host Matt Walsh said on Twitter. “But if you are approximately smarter than a sea sponge then you know that this is hysterical bullsh—.”
Conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza also cast doubt on her claim.
“OK, let’s test this claim,” he wrote. “What was the Earth’s temperature in July 20,000 years ago? Or 60,000 years ago? Or 119,000 years ago? Please provide evidence to substantiate your answers.”
Former White House adviser Stephen Miller under President Donald Trump also asked what the temperature was “at 12 p.m. GMT on July 1st, 116,539 BC?”
Benji Backer, founder of the American Conservation Coalition, didn’t think her calls for a national climate emergency wouldn’t do much if anything.
“Declaring a ‘national emergency’, especially for an international problem, doesn’t solve a thing,” he wrote on Twitter. “Just look at COVID. It might do well on Twitter, but it sure isn’t a solution.”
Ilhan Omar roasted for claiming Earth broke heat record set 120,000 years ago
U.S. Democratic politician Ilhan Omar is feeling the heat after claiming the planet "broke the record for the hottest day in 120,000 years."torontosun.com
It's Climate Change I tell'ya!! IT'S CLIMATE CHANGE!!
- Thread starter B00Mer
- Start date
I think the earth was warmer. The prevailing theory is that the temperature drop caused by the meteor/comet impact with the earth killed them.
Why go that far back? It wasnt that long when there were grassland in the arctic capable of supporting pachyderms and grazing herds of bison.
Water at tip of Florida hits hot tub level, may have set world record
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Seth Borenstein
Published Jul 26, 2023 • 3 minute read
Scientists have seen devastating effects from prolonged hot water
This combination of images provided by NOAA and University of Miami shows experimentally outplanted corals on January 2023, left, and the same coral on July 2023 after suffering from bleaching near Miami. PHOTO BY ALLYSON DEMERLIS /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The water temperature on the tip of Florida hit hot tub levels, exceeding 100 degrees (37.8 degrees Celsius) two days in a row.
And meteorologists say that could potentially be the hottest seawater ever measured, although there are some issues with the reading.
Just 26 miles (40 kilometers) away, scientists saw devastating effects from prolonged hot water surrounding Florida — devastating coral bleaching and even some death in what had been one of the Florida Keys’ most resilient reefs. Climate change has been setting temperature records across the globe this month.
Weather records for sea water temperature are unofficial, and there are certain conditions in this reading that could disqualify it for a top mark, meteorologists said. But the initial reading on a buoy at Manatee Bay hit 101.1 degrees (38.4 Celsius) Monday evening, according to National Weather Service meteorologist George Rizzuto. On Sunday night the same buoy showed an online reading of 100.2 (37.9 Celsius) degrees.
“It seems plausible,” Rizzuto said. “That is a potential record.”
While there aren’t official water temperature records, a 2020 study listed a 99.7 degree (37.6 Celsius) mark in Kuwait Bay in July 2020 as the world’s highest recorded sea surface temperature. Rizzuto said a new record from Florida is plausible because nearby buoys measured in the 98 and 99 (36.7 and 37.2 Celsius) degree range.
“This is a hot tub. I like my hot tub around 100, 101, (37.8, 38.3 Celsius). That’s what was recorded yesterday,” said Yale Climate Connections meteorologist Jeff Masters. Hot tub maker Jacuzzi recommends water between 100 and 102 degrees (37.8 and 38.9 Celsius).
“We’ve never seen a record-breaking event like this before,” Masters said.
But he and University of Miami tropical meteorologist Brian McNoldy said while the hot temperatures fit with what’s happening around Florida, it may not be accepted as a record because the area is shallow, has sea grasses in it and may be influenced by warm land in the nearby Everglades National Park.
Still, McNoldy said, “it’s amazing.”
The fact that two 100 degree measurements were taken in consecutive days gives credence to the readings, McNoldy said. Water temperatures have been in the upper 90s in the area for more than two weeks.
There aren’t many coral reefs in Manatee Bay, but elsewhere in the Florida Keys, scientists diving at Cheeca Rocks found bleaching and even death in some of the Keys most resilient corals, said Ian Enochs, lead of the coral program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory.
NOAA researcher Andrew Ibarra, who took his kayak to the area because of the hot water, said, “I found that the entire reef was bleached out. Every single coral colony was exhibiting some form of paling, partial bleaching or full out bleaching.”
Some coral even had died, he said. This is on top of bleaching seen last week by the University of Miami as NOAA increased the level of alert for coral problems earlier this month.
Until the 1980s coral bleaching was mostly unheard of around the globe yet “now we’ve reached the point where it’s become routine,” Enochs said. Bleaching, which doesn’t kill coral but weakens it and could lead to death, occurs when water temperatures pass the upper 80s (low 30s Celsius), Enochs said.
“This is more, earlier than we have ever seen,” Enochs said. “I’m nervous by how early this is occurring.”
This all comes as sea surface temperatures worldwide have broken monthly records for heat in April, May and June, according to NOAA. And temperatures in the North Atlantic are off the charts — as much as 9 to 11 degrees (5 to 6 degrees Celsius) warmer than normal in some spots near Newfoundland, McNoldy said.
![hot-ocean-record[1].jpg](https://forums.canadiancontent.net/data/attachments/17/17109-925310e3c7970574869c385f55d48fe4.jpg "hot-ocean-record[1].jpg")
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Seth Borenstein
Published Jul 26, 2023 • 3 minute read
Scientists have seen devastating effects from prolonged hot water
This combination of images provided by NOAA and University of Miami shows experimentally outplanted corals on January 2023, left, and the same coral on July 2023 after suffering from bleaching near Miami. PHOTO BY ALLYSON DEMERLIS /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The water temperature on the tip of Florida hit hot tub levels, exceeding 100 degrees (37.8 degrees Celsius) two days in a row.
And meteorologists say that could potentially be the hottest seawater ever measured, although there are some issues with the reading.
Just 26 miles (40 kilometers) away, scientists saw devastating effects from prolonged hot water surrounding Florida — devastating coral bleaching and even some death in what had been one of the Florida Keys’ most resilient reefs. Climate change has been setting temperature records across the globe this month.
Weather records for sea water temperature are unofficial, and there are certain conditions in this reading that could disqualify it for a top mark, meteorologists said. But the initial reading on a buoy at Manatee Bay hit 101.1 degrees (38.4 Celsius) Monday evening, according to National Weather Service meteorologist George Rizzuto. On Sunday night the same buoy showed an online reading of 100.2 (37.9 Celsius) degrees.
“It seems plausible,” Rizzuto said. “That is a potential record.”
While there aren’t official water temperature records, a 2020 study listed a 99.7 degree (37.6 Celsius) mark in Kuwait Bay in July 2020 as the world’s highest recorded sea surface temperature. Rizzuto said a new record from Florida is plausible because nearby buoys measured in the 98 and 99 (36.7 and 37.2 Celsius) degree range.
“This is a hot tub. I like my hot tub around 100, 101, (37.8, 38.3 Celsius). That’s what was recorded yesterday,” said Yale Climate Connections meteorologist Jeff Masters. Hot tub maker Jacuzzi recommends water between 100 and 102 degrees (37.8 and 38.9 Celsius).
“We’ve never seen a record-breaking event like this before,” Masters said.
But he and University of Miami tropical meteorologist Brian McNoldy said while the hot temperatures fit with what’s happening around Florida, it may not be accepted as a record because the area is shallow, has sea grasses in it and may be influenced by warm land in the nearby Everglades National Park.
Still, McNoldy said, “it’s amazing.”
The fact that two 100 degree measurements were taken in consecutive days gives credence to the readings, McNoldy said. Water temperatures have been in the upper 90s in the area for more than two weeks.
There aren’t many coral reefs in Manatee Bay, but elsewhere in the Florida Keys, scientists diving at Cheeca Rocks found bleaching and even death in some of the Keys most resilient corals, said Ian Enochs, lead of the coral program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory.
NOAA researcher Andrew Ibarra, who took his kayak to the area because of the hot water, said, “I found that the entire reef was bleached out. Every single coral colony was exhibiting some form of paling, partial bleaching or full out bleaching.”
Some coral even had died, he said. This is on top of bleaching seen last week by the University of Miami as NOAA increased the level of alert for coral problems earlier this month.
Until the 1980s coral bleaching was mostly unheard of around the globe yet “now we’ve reached the point where it’s become routine,” Enochs said. Bleaching, which doesn’t kill coral but weakens it and could lead to death, occurs when water temperatures pass the upper 80s (low 30s Celsius), Enochs said.
“This is more, earlier than we have ever seen,” Enochs said. “I’m nervous by how early this is occurring.”
This all comes as sea surface temperatures worldwide have broken monthly records for heat in April, May and June, according to NOAA. And temperatures in the North Atlantic are off the charts — as much as 9 to 11 degrees (5 to 6 degrees Celsius) warmer than normal in some spots near Newfoundland, McNoldy said.
Water at tip of Florida hits hot tub level, may have set world record
The water temperature on the tip of Florida hit hot tub levels, exceeding 100 degrees (37.8 degrees Celsius) two days in a row.
He isn't a God so why he'd be blamed is irrational but it seems everything being done about climate change is as well.
Extreme heat moves east where many will see hottest days of year
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
By Drew Costley
Published Jul 28, 2023 • 3 minute read
Dangerous heat is forecast to “engulf” much of the eastern half of the United States as extreme temperatures spread from the Midwest into the Northeast and mid-Atlantic where some residents will see their hottest temperatures of the year, according to the National Weather Service.
Althouth much of the country does not cool much on normal summer nights, night temperatures are forecast to stay hotter than usual, prompting excessive heat warnings from the Plains to the East Coast.
On Thursday nearly 200 million people in the United States, or 60% of the U.S. population, were under a heat advisory or flood warning or watch, but moisture moving into the Southwest has reduced the area of excessive heat warnings to the southernmost counties of California and parts of southern Arizona.
On top of the heat, severe thunderstorms are forecast for parts of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, west to the Middle Missouri Valley through Saturday morning.
The prediction for continued excessive heat comes a day after the World Meteorological Organization and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service declared July 2023 the hottest month on record.
Scientists have long warned that climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, will lead to more and prolonged bouts of extreme weather.
On Thursday, heat and humidity in major cities along the East Coast, including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City, created a real feel above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius). Forecasters expect several records may break Friday with temperatures 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 to 8 degrees Celsius) above average.
In the Southwest and southern Plains, oppressive temperatures have been a blanket for weeks. One meteorologist based in New Mexico called the prolonged period of temperatures over 100 degrees (37.8 C) unprecedented.
“They probably aren’t going to have a lot of sympathy for the rest of the country,” said Bob Oravec, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.
Due to the extreme heat, some of the nation’s large power grids and utilities are under stress, which could affect Americans’ ability to cool off.
In New York City, utility Con Edison sent out a text blast asking residents to be frugal with air conditioning to conserve electricity. Overtaxing an electrical grid can mean blackouts, which are not just an inconvenience, but can lead to equipment failures and major pollution as equipment restarts. The country’s largest power grid, PJM Interconnection, declared a level one energy emergency alert for its 13-state grid on Wednesday, meaning the company had concerns about ability to provide enough electricity.
“PJM currently has enough generation to meet forecast demand, but operators continue to monitor the grid conditions for any changes,” said spokesperson Jeffrey Shields on Thursday.
PJM isn’t the only electrical grid to issue such an alert. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which mostly covers states in the Midwest and Northern Plains, issued a similar one Thursday.
The California Independent System Operator also issued an energy emergency alert for the evening on Wednesday, in part due to excess heat in Southern California, but that expired the same day. Anne Gonzales, a CAISO spokesperson, said they expect to be able to meet demand the next few days.
A spokesperson for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which covers most of Texas, said they expect their grid will operate per usual during this latest blast of extreme weather across the country.
The dangerous heat peaks in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest Friday and Saturday before a cold front is expected to bring some relief Sunday and into next week.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
By Drew Costley
Published Jul 28, 2023 • 3 minute read
Dangerous heat is forecast to “engulf” much of the eastern half of the United States as extreme temperatures spread from the Midwest into the Northeast and mid-Atlantic where some residents will see their hottest temperatures of the year, according to the National Weather Service.
Althouth much of the country does not cool much on normal summer nights, night temperatures are forecast to stay hotter than usual, prompting excessive heat warnings from the Plains to the East Coast.
On Thursday nearly 200 million people in the United States, or 60% of the U.S. population, were under a heat advisory or flood warning or watch, but moisture moving into the Southwest has reduced the area of excessive heat warnings to the southernmost counties of California and parts of southern Arizona.
On top of the heat, severe thunderstorms are forecast for parts of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, west to the Middle Missouri Valley through Saturday morning.
The prediction for continued excessive heat comes a day after the World Meteorological Organization and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service declared July 2023 the hottest month on record.
Scientists have long warned that climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, will lead to more and prolonged bouts of extreme weather.
On Thursday, heat and humidity in major cities along the East Coast, including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City, created a real feel above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius). Forecasters expect several records may break Friday with temperatures 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 to 8 degrees Celsius) above average.
In the Southwest and southern Plains, oppressive temperatures have been a blanket for weeks. One meteorologist based in New Mexico called the prolonged period of temperatures over 100 degrees (37.8 C) unprecedented.
“They probably aren’t going to have a lot of sympathy for the rest of the country,” said Bob Oravec, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.
Due to the extreme heat, some of the nation’s large power grids and utilities are under stress, which could affect Americans’ ability to cool off.
In New York City, utility Con Edison sent out a text blast asking residents to be frugal with air conditioning to conserve electricity. Overtaxing an electrical grid can mean blackouts, which are not just an inconvenience, but can lead to equipment failures and major pollution as equipment restarts. The country’s largest power grid, PJM Interconnection, declared a level one energy emergency alert for its 13-state grid on Wednesday, meaning the company had concerns about ability to provide enough electricity.
“PJM currently has enough generation to meet forecast demand, but operators continue to monitor the grid conditions for any changes,” said spokesperson Jeffrey Shields on Thursday.
PJM isn’t the only electrical grid to issue such an alert. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which mostly covers states in the Midwest and Northern Plains, issued a similar one Thursday.
The California Independent System Operator also issued an energy emergency alert for the evening on Wednesday, in part due to excess heat in Southern California, but that expired the same day. Anne Gonzales, a CAISO spokesperson, said they expect to be able to meet demand the next few days.
A spokesperson for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which covers most of Texas, said they expect their grid will operate per usual during this latest blast of extreme weather across the country.
The dangerous heat peaks in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest Friday and Saturday before a cold front is expected to bring some relief Sunday and into next week.
Extreme heat moves east where many will see hottest days of year
Dangerous heat is forecast to "engulf" much of the eastern half of the United States as extreme temperatures spread from the Midwest
Head for the hills , but no camp fires .Extreme heat moves east where many will see hottest days of year
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
By Drew Costley
Published Jul 28, 2023 • 3 minute read
Dangerous heat is forecast to “engulf” much of the eastern half of the United States as extreme temperatures spread from the Midwest into the Northeast and mid-Atlantic where some residents will see their hottest temperatures of the year, according to the National Weather Service.
Althouth much of the country does not cool much on normal summer nights, night temperatures are forecast to stay hotter than usual, prompting excessive heat warnings from the Plains to the East Coast.
On Thursday nearly 200 million people in the United States, or 60% of the U.S. population, were under a heat advisory or flood warning or watch, but moisture moving into the Southwest has reduced the area of excessive heat warnings to the southernmost counties of California and parts of southern Arizona.
On top of the heat, severe thunderstorms are forecast for parts of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, west to the Middle Missouri Valley through Saturday morning.
The prediction for continued excessive heat comes a day after the World Meteorological Organization and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service declared July 2023 the hottest month on record.
Scientists have long warned that climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, will lead to more and prolonged bouts of extreme weather.
On Thursday, heat and humidity in major cities along the East Coast, including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City, created a real feel above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius). Forecasters expect several records may break Friday with temperatures 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 to 8 degrees Celsius) above average.
In the Southwest and southern Plains, oppressive temperatures have been a blanket for weeks. One meteorologist based in New Mexico called the prolonged period of temperatures over 100 degrees (37.8 C) unprecedented.
“They probably aren’t going to have a lot of sympathy for the rest of the country,” said Bob Oravec, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.
Due to the extreme heat, some of the nation’s large power grids and utilities are under stress, which could affect Americans’ ability to cool off.
In New York City, utility Con Edison sent out a text blast asking residents to be frugal with air conditioning to conserve electricity. Overtaxing an electrical grid can mean blackouts, which are not just an inconvenience, but can lead to equipment failures and major pollution as equipment restarts. The country’s largest power grid, PJM Interconnection, declared a level one energy emergency alert for its 13-state grid on Wednesday, meaning the company had concerns about ability to provide enough electricity.
“PJM currently has enough generation to meet forecast demand, but operators continue to monitor the grid conditions for any changes,” said spokesperson Jeffrey Shields on Thursday.
PJM isn’t the only electrical grid to issue such an alert. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which mostly covers states in the Midwest and Northern Plains, issued a similar one Thursday.
The California Independent System Operator also issued an energy emergency alert for the evening on Wednesday, in part due to excess heat in Southern California, but that expired the same day. Anne Gonzales, a CAISO spokesperson, said they expect to be able to meet demand the next few days.
A spokesperson for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which covers most of Texas, said they expect their grid will operate per usual during this latest blast of extreme weather across the country.
The dangerous heat peaks in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest Friday and Saturday before a cold front is expected to bring some relief Sunday and into next week.
Extreme heat moves east where many will see hottest days of year
Dangerous heat is forecast to "engulf" much of the eastern half of the United States as extreme temperatures spread from the Midwest
Summer 2023 is screaming climate change, scientists say
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Bob Weber
Published Aug 05, 2023 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read
Climate experts say this summer of fires, floods and drought is far beyond the normal swings of Canadian weather.
Climate experts say this summer of fires, floods and drought is far beyond the normal swings of Canadian weather.
Earlier this summer, two Canadians walked into a party in rural Germany.
“Canadians?” joked the host. “I thought you’d smell more like smoke.”
It’s been that kind of season. Floods, drought, warm waters lapping three coasts — but mostly wildfire smoke from sea to sea and overseas. Yes, this is climate change, scientists say, and expect more weather weirdness to come.
“It’s been a wild ride,” said Danny Blair, co-director of the Prairie Climate Centre at the University of Winnipeg. “It’s been a season and a year of extremes.”
Drought is one example. Canada’s a big place and it’s always dry somewhere, but not like this.
Agriculture Canada’s June 30 drought map shows most of the country was abnormally dry. Large stretches of the Prairies were under at least a moderate drought, pushing to extreme in southern Alberta.
In British Columbia, once the “wet coast,” 28 out of 34 river basins were at the province’s top two drought levels. Ranchers were selling cattle that they couldn’t grow enough hay to feed, and low streamflows were threatening salmon runs.
And it’s been hot. Although the east was generally normal, the west wasn’t.
From May through July, Kelowna, B.C., experienced 36 days of weather more than 30 C. The normal count is 16 C. Norman Wells, not far from the Arctic Circle in the Northwest Territories, set a new record of 38 C on July 8.
Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips toted up the number of warm temperature records set this summer versus the number of cold records.
“If the climate was balanced, you’d have as many cold records as warm records,” he said.
Nope. There were 372 new hot-temperature marks and 55 cold ones.
Nor is the heat restricted to the land. Phillips said waters off all three Canadian coasts have never been warmer.
Hudson Bay is up to 3 C warmer. The Pacific coast is between 2 C and 4 C warmer. Both the Atlantic and Arctic coasts are up 5 C from average.
Then there were the floods — “so many floods,” said Phillips.
On July 21, Halifax got three months worth of rain in 24 hours. At least three people died in the floods, up to 600 had to evacuate their homes, and power cuts affected 80,000. Roads washed away and at least seven bridges were left needing major repair or replacement.
There were also fires that spread smoke across the continent and into Europe, where “Canadian wildfires” made headlines from the New York Times to Germany’s nightly news.
With more than 13 million blackened hectares, it has been the worst wildfire season in North American history. All 13 provinces and territories have been affected, often at the same time. Tens of thousands of people were forced from their homes, hundreds of houses were destroyed and four firefighters have been killed.
Over the years, cities such as Calgary and Edmonton have grown used to “smoke days.” This year, that unhappy club grew to include Ottawa (171 smoke hours), Montreal (100 smoke hours) and Toronto, which, on June 30, had the second-worst air quality in the world.
Wikipedia already has an entry for “2023 Canadian Wildfires.” The fire season is barely half over.
It’s not just a year of particularly wild natural variability, Blair said.
“Canada experiences a remarkable amount of variability from year to year,” he said. “It’s not unusual for us to have dry weather or hot weather.
“But the frequency of it and the severity of it and the coinciding of it with enormous extremes of weather in the U.S. and across the world is suggesting to a lot of people that something’s changed.”
World Weather Attribution, a group in the United Kingdom that estimates the contribution of climate change to individual weather events, has already said the U.S. and European heat waves this summer would have been “virtually impossible” without it. Its analysis of Canada’s wildfires is expected later this fall.
“I have no doubt the conclusion is going to be that these events are way outside the line of natural variability,” Blair said.
“This is screaming climate change. It’s the very thing we’ve been talking about for years.”
Get used to it, at least for the next few months.
“Our models for August are showing no areas of Canada that are cooler than normal,” said Phillips.
If cooler is what you want, you’ll have to go to the east coast of Baffin Island. Everywhere else is showing at least normal heat, which is expected to stick around.
It’ll last well into September, for better or worse, Phillips said.
“What you see is what you’re going to continue to get.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2023.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Bob Weber
Published Aug 05, 2023 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read
Climate experts say this summer of fires, floods and drought is far beyond the normal swings of Canadian weather.
Climate experts say this summer of fires, floods and drought is far beyond the normal swings of Canadian weather.
Earlier this summer, two Canadians walked into a party in rural Germany.
“Canadians?” joked the host. “I thought you’d smell more like smoke.”
It’s been that kind of season. Floods, drought, warm waters lapping three coasts — but mostly wildfire smoke from sea to sea and overseas. Yes, this is climate change, scientists say, and expect more weather weirdness to come.
“It’s been a wild ride,” said Danny Blair, co-director of the Prairie Climate Centre at the University of Winnipeg. “It’s been a season and a year of extremes.”
Drought is one example. Canada’s a big place and it’s always dry somewhere, but not like this.
Agriculture Canada’s June 30 drought map shows most of the country was abnormally dry. Large stretches of the Prairies were under at least a moderate drought, pushing to extreme in southern Alberta.
In British Columbia, once the “wet coast,” 28 out of 34 river basins were at the province’s top two drought levels. Ranchers were selling cattle that they couldn’t grow enough hay to feed, and low streamflows were threatening salmon runs.
And it’s been hot. Although the east was generally normal, the west wasn’t.
From May through July, Kelowna, B.C., experienced 36 days of weather more than 30 C. The normal count is 16 C. Norman Wells, not far from the Arctic Circle in the Northwest Territories, set a new record of 38 C on July 8.
Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips toted up the number of warm temperature records set this summer versus the number of cold records.
“If the climate was balanced, you’d have as many cold records as warm records,” he said.
Nope. There were 372 new hot-temperature marks and 55 cold ones.
Nor is the heat restricted to the land. Phillips said waters off all three Canadian coasts have never been warmer.
Hudson Bay is up to 3 C warmer. The Pacific coast is between 2 C and 4 C warmer. Both the Atlantic and Arctic coasts are up 5 C from average.
Then there were the floods — “so many floods,” said Phillips.
On July 21, Halifax got three months worth of rain in 24 hours. At least three people died in the floods, up to 600 had to evacuate their homes, and power cuts affected 80,000. Roads washed away and at least seven bridges were left needing major repair or replacement.
There were also fires that spread smoke across the continent and into Europe, where “Canadian wildfires” made headlines from the New York Times to Germany’s nightly news.
With more than 13 million blackened hectares, it has been the worst wildfire season in North American history. All 13 provinces and territories have been affected, often at the same time. Tens of thousands of people were forced from their homes, hundreds of houses were destroyed and four firefighters have been killed.
Over the years, cities such as Calgary and Edmonton have grown used to “smoke days.” This year, that unhappy club grew to include Ottawa (171 smoke hours), Montreal (100 smoke hours) and Toronto, which, on June 30, had the second-worst air quality in the world.
Wikipedia already has an entry for “2023 Canadian Wildfires.” The fire season is barely half over.
It’s not just a year of particularly wild natural variability, Blair said.
“Canada experiences a remarkable amount of variability from year to year,” he said. “It’s not unusual for us to have dry weather or hot weather.
“But the frequency of it and the severity of it and the coinciding of it with enormous extremes of weather in the U.S. and across the world is suggesting to a lot of people that something’s changed.”
World Weather Attribution, a group in the United Kingdom that estimates the contribution of climate change to individual weather events, has already said the U.S. and European heat waves this summer would have been “virtually impossible” without it. Its analysis of Canada’s wildfires is expected later this fall.
“I have no doubt the conclusion is going to be that these events are way outside the line of natural variability,” Blair said.
“This is screaming climate change. It’s the very thing we’ve been talking about for years.”
Get used to it, at least for the next few months.
“Our models for August are showing no areas of Canada that are cooler than normal,” said Phillips.
If cooler is what you want, you’ll have to go to the east coast of Baffin Island. Everywhere else is showing at least normal heat, which is expected to stick around.
It’ll last well into September, for better or worse, Phillips said.
“What you see is what you’re going to continue to get.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2023.
’Something’s changed’: Summer 2023 is screaming climate change, scientists say
Drought is one example. Canada's a big place and it's always dry somewhere, but not like this.
Believe it or not , it is summer .Summer 2023 is screaming climate change, scientists say
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Bob Weber
Published Aug 05, 2023 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read
Climate experts say this summer of fires, floods and drought is far beyond the normal swings of Canadian weather.
Climate experts say this summer of fires, floods and drought is far beyond the normal swings of Canadian weather.
Earlier this summer, two Canadians walked into a party in rural Germany.
“Canadians?” joked the host. “I thought you’d smell more like smoke.”
It’s been that kind of season. Floods, drought, warm waters lapping three coasts — but mostly wildfire smoke from sea to sea and overseas. Yes, this is climate change, scientists say, and expect more weather weirdness to come.
“It’s been a wild ride,” said Danny Blair, co-director of the Prairie Climate Centre at the University of Winnipeg. “It’s been a season and a year of extremes.”
Drought is one example. Canada’s a big place and it’s always dry somewhere, but not like this.
Agriculture Canada’s June 30 drought map shows most of the country was abnormally dry. Large stretches of the Prairies were under at least a moderate drought, pushing to extreme in southern Alberta.
In British Columbia, once the “wet coast,” 28 out of 34 river basins were at the province’s top two drought levels. Ranchers were selling cattle that they couldn’t grow enough hay to feed, and low streamflows were threatening salmon runs.
And it’s been hot. Although the east was generally normal, the west wasn’t.
From May through July, Kelowna, B.C., experienced 36 days of weather more than 30 C. The normal count is 16 C. Norman Wells, not far from the Arctic Circle in the Northwest Territories, set a new record of 38 C on July 8.
Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips toted up the number of warm temperature records set this summer versus the number of cold records.
“If the climate was balanced, you’d have as many cold records as warm records,” he said.
Nope. There were 372 new hot-temperature marks and 55 cold ones.
Nor is the heat restricted to the land. Phillips said waters off all three Canadian coasts have never been warmer.
Hudson Bay is up to 3 C warmer. The Pacific coast is between 2 C and 4 C warmer. Both the Atlantic and Arctic coasts are up 5 C from average.
Then there were the floods — “so many floods,” said Phillips.
On July 21, Halifax got three months worth of rain in 24 hours. At least three people died in the floods, up to 600 had to evacuate their homes, and power cuts affected 80,000. Roads washed away and at least seven bridges were left needing major repair or replacement.
There were also fires that spread smoke across the continent and into Europe, where “Canadian wildfires” made headlines from the New York Times to Germany’s nightly news.
With more than 13 million blackened hectares, it has been the worst wildfire season in North American history. All 13 provinces and territories have been affected, often at the same time. Tens of thousands of people were forced from their homes, hundreds of houses were destroyed and four firefighters have been killed.
Over the years, cities such as Calgary and Edmonton have grown used to “smoke days.” This year, that unhappy club grew to include Ottawa (171 smoke hours), Montreal (100 smoke hours) and Toronto, which, on June 30, had the second-worst air quality in the world.
Wikipedia already has an entry for “2023 Canadian Wildfires.” The fire season is barely half over.
It’s not just a year of particularly wild natural variability, Blair said.
“Canada experiences a remarkable amount of variability from year to year,” he said. “It’s not unusual for us to have dry weather or hot weather.
“But the frequency of it and the severity of it and the coinciding of it with enormous extremes of weather in the U.S. and across the world is suggesting to a lot of people that something’s changed.”
World Weather Attribution, a group in the United Kingdom that estimates the contribution of climate change to individual weather events, has already said the U.S. and European heat waves this summer would have been “virtually impossible” without it. Its analysis of Canada’s wildfires is expected later this fall.
“I have no doubt the conclusion is going to be that these events are way outside the line of natural variability,” Blair said.
“This is screaming climate change. It’s the very thing we’ve been talking about for years.”
Get used to it, at least for the next few months.
“Our models for August are showing no areas of Canada that are cooler than normal,” said Phillips.
If cooler is what you want, you’ll have to go to the east coast of Baffin Island. Everywhere else is showing at least normal heat, which is expected to stick around.
It’ll last well into September, for better or worse, Phillips said.
“What you see is what you’re going to continue to get.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2023.
’Something’s changed’: Summer 2023 is screaming climate change, scientists say
Drought is one example. Canada's a big place and it's always dry somewhere, but not like this.
Rewind to 2012 and the last Solar Maximum or to 2001 or 1990 or 1979 the year Global Warming began and miraculously the same weather patterns appear.