The world is experiencing a sizzling summer with high temperatures, El Niño events, and cyclone threats. China's crucial flood control facility, the Three Gorges Dam, saw its water level drop to 151.9 meters on June 6, 2023, while northern China is expected to face temperatures above 35°C in the next three days. Frequent rainfall and possible heavy rainstorms are also expected along the Yangtze River. High temperatures are arriving earlier and increasing in number of days in most of China, as well as in India, Vietnam, and Singapore, with some breaking historical records.
Spring 2023 had higher-than-average national temperatures in China, ranking seventh highest in history, and precipitation has been generally less than average. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reports a 98% chance that at least one of the next five years will be the hottest on record. Guangdong has issued high-temperature subsidies to workers, and Jiangsu Province's daily power load has exceeded 100 million kilowatts, prompting State Grid Jiangsu Electric Co to launch an "electricity calendar" function for users to save electricity during peak periods.
The climate-changing trend will become more obvious unless energy usage shifts to green energy, according to Lin Boqiang, director of the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University. The Global Climate Status Report 2022 by WMO states that 2015-2022 was the warmest eight years on record, with glacial melt and sea-level rises reaching record levels in 2022. An El Niño event has started in the Pacific Ocean, likely to make 2024 the world's hottest year and potentially pushing global warming past the key 1.5°C milestone. This phenomenon affects world weather, causing drought in Australia, increased rain in southern US, and a weakened Indian monsoon. The El Niño event is expected to last until next spring.
US scientists confirmed El Niño conditions in May, with an 84% chance of exceeding moderate strength by the end of the year. Global temperatures are currently around 1.1°C above the 1850-1900 average, and the El Niño event could add up to 0.2°C to global temperatures. Researchers say a temporary breach of the 1.5°C limit is likely in the next few years. The El Nino phenomenon has arrived, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), last occurring from 2018 to 2019. It can cause heavy rainfall, droughts, and temperature records in certain locations, with climate change exacerbating or mitigating its impacts.
Increased rainfall is expected in southern South America, central Asia, and the Horn of Africa, while there is an increased risk of droughts in Australia, Indonesia, and parts of southern Asia. Australia has been warned of warmer, drier days and increased wildfire vulnerability. Japan partly blamed El Niño for its warmest spring on record. The phenomenon suppresses hurricane activity in the Atlantic and boosts typhoon activity in the central and eastern Pacific.
Tens of thousands have been evacuated in India and Pakistan due to Cyclone Biparjoy, with over 40,000 people leaving their homes as the cyclone approaches. The cyclone is expected to make landfall as a "very severe cyclonic storm," with gales up to 150 km/h (93 mph) predicted for coastlines. Rains and storms ahead of the cyclone have already killed seven people in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Scientists warn that the intensity of tropical cyclones will increase due to climate change, making preparations more vital than ever. Addressing the root causes of climate change and working towards a more sustainable future is crucial as the world faces the consequences of a sizzling summer.
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