Climate crisis everywhere, all at once: Record-breaking temperature in 10 countries across 4 continents

Almost every day over the last nine months, Indonesia has broken national records. The record-breaking temperatures continued on March 19, 2024, when many stations reported their warmest March night on record.

At the same time, temperature in Putussibau, one of the towns in West Kalimantan Province, surpassed its previous March heat record.

Africa experienced the second warmest February and the trends so far indicate that the temperature records across several countries in the region may be breached in March too. Between March 18-19, 2024, at least five African nations — South Africa, Gabon, Kenya and South Sudan — reported record-breaking temperatures.

In South Sudan, extreme temperatures exceeding 43°C are usually experienced in the summer months. But extreme heat days arrived earlier this time and a temperature of around 41°C was reported on March 19, 2024 in a few stations, which included the capital Juba. 

Incidences of deaths related to excessive heat have also been reported in the country. The fortnight is expected to be even worse, when temperatures could be as high as 45°C. In fact, all schools have been forced to close ahead of a heatwave

South Africa is experiencing a heatwave and temperatures in at least three stations broke records on March 18, 2024. These include Twee Rivieren (43.7°C), Upington (42.3°C) and Postmasburg (38.8°C).

In Kenya, Garissa with 27.9°C, experienced the hottest night on record. At 35.9°C, Franceville, one of the four largest cities in Gabon, had set the record in March. 

Algeria and Tunisia too are exceptionally hot for this time of the year and temperatures will continue to rise during the week.

Latin America also continues to face the brunt of extreme heat, with record-shattering temperatures reported from several countries in the region. Lethem in Guyana recorded the hottest March day on March 19, 2024. At 37.4 °C, the station has experienced two of the hottest March days within a few days. 

Since the middle of 2023, Colombia has broken hundreds of records almost daily. On March 18, 2024, record-setting day and night temperatures were recorded across three stations.

These include Neiva (39.7°C) and Arauca (39.1°C). At 35.4°C, Ibague, surpassed its record for the hottest night in history by extreme margin.

Rio in Brazil has experienced a record-setting heatwave since March 17, 2024, the highest in a decade. On March 18, 2024, the city continued to sizzle with a maximum temperature of 42ºC.

On Jan 25, 2024, the heatwave in Spain broke the European records for January. The country will be facing an unseasonable heatwave in March too, as per the meteorological authorities.

Last month was the warmest February on record globally, making it the ninth month in a row with record temperatures, showed European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. Two regions — the US and Europe — had recorded their warmest February, followed by Africa (second-warmest February), and Oceania (fourth-warmest February).

These record-breaking temperatures between March 18-19, 2024 indicate that, as warned, extreme heat attributed to both climate change and the naturally occurring El Nino continues in 2024. 

Meanwhile, parts of Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana saw hailstorms in India on March 18, 2024. 

There are major forest fires currently being reported in many countries, according to National Aeronautics and Space Administration data. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (16,349), Myanmar (9,813), Venezuela (7,459), India (5,209) and Thailand (3,788) are the top five countries with the most counts of wildfires.

Forest fires have also been raging in the Coonoor forest range in the Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu for nearly a week now. Data from Forest Survey of India showed that Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh both have over 20 large fires active for over five days.  

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