Record heat is forecast worldwide, from the U.S. to Europe and Japan, as a clear manifestation of the escalating threat from global warming.

 

Record heat is forecast worldwide, from the U.S. to Europe and Japan, as a clear manifestation of the escalating threat from global warming.  Parts of eastern Japan are expected to reach 38 to 39C (100 to 102F), potentially breaking previous records. Italy is preparing for "the most intense heat wave of the summer and also one of the most intense of all time," with temperatures likely to hit 40C (104F) in Rome and even 43C (109F) on Tuesday, breaking the record 40.5C (104.9F) set in August 2007. The islands of Sicily and Sardinia could experience temperatures as high as 48C (118F), potentially the hottest ever recorded in Europe. Regions of France, Germany, Spain, and Poland are also experiencing extreme temperatures. In the U.S., a powerful heat wave stretches from California to Texas, with Arizona, one of the hardest-hit states, recording its 15th straight day above 43C (109F). In the Middle East, water-scarce Jordan was forced to dump 214 tonnes of water on a wildfire that broke out in the Ajloun forest in the north amid a heat wave. A study published in Nature Climate Change suggests that without major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, heat waves could increase dramatically, affecting billions worldwide.