Summer in the Northern Hemisphere Covid-19 did not flee from the heat as promised: A hurricane and probably another 2 on the way, 2 tropical cyclones forming in the Pacific, ongoing Floods in Asia, Africa and temperatures humans shouldn't have to endure: Welcome to August

Southern States Sandwich, Earthwindmap

As we enter high summer in the Northern Hemisphere we were told earlier in the year by our illustrious leaders that the coronavirus, would not like the heat and by now would have crawled away, possibly never to be seen again well that never happened and suddenly the crazy temperatures are upon us once again.

Covid-19

They promised it would die-off in the summer heat. Well, yesterday was the 2nd highest number of new cases in a day with a grand total of 286,000. 17 million people have been infected worldwide with a nearly 700,000 poor souls dead.

A few stories which you might have missed on the telly this week.

Heat

A life-threatening heatwave is happening right now in the Southwest of the US. Temperatures human beings should not have to endure will hit Southern California today. According to The National Weather Service (NWS) temperatures could reach 50C (122F). The BBC reported,  parts of Utah, Arizona and Nevada, including the city of Las Vegas, may also be hit with a heatwave of up to 50C (122F). It comes after a day of record temperatures in the region on Friday. The NWS has urged people to take safety precautions like limiting the amount of time spent outdoors. Forecasters said a high-pressure system was moving through the south-west and causing temperatures to rise. A record-beating 46C (115F) was reported on Friday in Phoenix, Arizona and records were also beaten in four cities in California. The NWS said in a tweet that "rare, dangerous and deadly" temperatures were expected in large areas of Arizona until Monday.

But even those temperatures pale into insignificance when compared to temperatures across most of the Middle East this week. Baghdad recorded one of its highest temperatures ever when the mercury touched 52C (126F)

Here in Europe, many of us suffered our hottest day of the year although nothing like the extremes above. Parts of Spain and France produced temperatures of 42C+ (around 110F). Here in North Holland temperatures reached around 37C (99F).

London, England, had its hottest day in recorded history on Friday when the mercury topped at 37.8 C (100 F) at Heathrow Airport. The previous all-time record high temperature was 36.7 C (98F) set on 1 July 2015.

Hurricane Isaias

Hurricane Isaias has strengthened and is likely to make landfall along the Florida Eastcoast later today. A hurricane warning is in effect. Isaias will produce torrential rains and potentially life-threatening flash-flooding across South to East Central Florida and across the Carolinas to the mid-Atlantic.

As the month of July bows out to August, the record-breaking 2020 hurricane season is ramping up. Less than one week after record-setting Hanna strengthened into a hurricane and crashed into the Texas coast, Isaias is the earliest "I-storm" on record in the Tropical Atlantic, breaking the record previously held by Irene, which formed on Aug. 7, 2005. 

2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season continues to break records. Earlier this month Gonzalo was the earliest “G” storm on record. This year has already featured the earliest C, E and F storms on record—Cristobal, Edouard and Fay: The average date of an Atlantic hurricane season’s seventh named storm is Sept. 16.”

Last weekend two hurricanes, Gonzalo and Hanna became the earliest G and H-named storms on record in the Atlantic basin when they reached tropical-storm strength last week. Five of the first eight named storms this season are new record holders for the earliest-named storm for their letter. This trend looks like it may continue in the Atlantic basin, perhaps even before the calendar closes in August. With Hanna burying itself in the mountains of Mexico.

As Isaias makes landfall on the Eastern Coast of Florida later today two more systems are forming in the Atlantic, see below.

This image shows the Atlantic Ocean on July 31, 2020, around 5 p.m. EDT. The arrows indicate the location of Tropical Depression Ten near Africa and a disturbance in the middle of the ocean that could strengthen. (NOAA). Accu Weather

Western Pacific ramping up

Two tropical cyclones are developing in the Western Pacific, Tropical Storm Sinlaku and Tropical depression 03W will likely strengthen in the next 24 hours.

Ongoing Floods in Asia, Africa.

Floods triggered by heavy seasonal rains and onrush of water from hills have continued unabated in parts of Bangladesh, leaving a trail of death, misery and destruction in their wake. The ongoing floods caused widespread damage to habitation, crops, roads and highways across vast swathes of the country. According to the daily disaster situation report by the country's National Disaster Response Coordination Center (NDRCC) under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, 5,097,424 people were affected due to floods in 31 out of the country's total 64 districts as of Thursday. In the meantime, the daily flood situation report of the country's disaster response coordination centre said that the floods have killed 129 people in 31 out of 64 districts since June 30.

In Niger, 9 people have died, 20,174 people have been affected and 2,244 houses have been destroyed. The worst-hit areas are the regions of Maradi and Tahoua, with respectively 13,667 and 4,173 people affected. According to a flood preparedness plan from the Ministry of Humanitarian Action and Disaster Management, an estimated 220,000 people could be affected by floods during the current rainy season. In 2019, at least 57 people lost their lives in flooding that affected over 200,000 people. Meanwhile, in neighbouring Mali, floods have affected 7,648 people, including 5,406 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Mopti Region. Flooding was also reported in Gao and assessments are ongoing.

Flash flooding in eastern Afghanistan killed at least 16 people after heavy rains swept parts of a mountainous area, an Afghan official said Saturday. Heavy floods hit the Khewa district, said Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor of Nangarharn province. He added that four others were wounded in the incident. The majority of the victims are children, said Khogyani, He added that a team has been sent to the area to help with emergency services following the foul weather. The flash floods damaged dozens of homes, the spokesman added. Summer often brings heavy rainfalls in eastern Afghanistan. Flash floods in the region often leave hundreds of people dead and many more injured every year.

Extreme Weather 2020

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