Tag: Extreme Heat

3 lions die at Tokyo zoo from suspected heatstroke as Japan bakes in “cruelly hot” summer

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Three lions at a Tokyo zoo have died from suspected heatstroke and others are under treatment, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday, with the big cats struggling with high humidity. Japan sweltered through its hottest summer on record last year and parts of the country have hit 40 degrees Celsius in recent weeks, qualifying for the new designation “cruelly hot day,” with thousands of people hospitalized. Ten of the 16 lions in Tama Zoological Park have suffered symptoms such as “loss of appetite and decreased activity” since mid-July, and three lionesses died, the zoo said in a statement.

One 3-year-old female named Mugi died on Tuesday. Three days later, an 11-year-old female named Ichigo died and on Sunday, a 15-year-old female named Luena died. The Tama Zoological Park said the lion enclosure, where visitors can normally be driven around in zebra-pattern “safari” buses, was closed to the public until further notice. “According to our veterinarian, the cause of the deaths is suspected to be heatstroke” because dehydration and multiple organ failure were observed, a spokeswoman told AFP. “Even though lions are thought to be resistant to heat, zookeepers have been strengthening countermeasures to cope with Japan’s summer heat in recent years. Heat here comes with high humidity; that is different from heat with dry air in Africa,” she said.

The spokeswoman said the heat “arrived suddenly” this summer after the rainy season ended in late July. The zoo said it used water sprays and industrial fans, and delivered intravenous fluids and medication to the affected lions. “We are strengthening measures against the heat (further), sprinkling water, improving ventilation and installing spot air conditioners,” she said. Several lions are still being treated, she added. “Born, lived, and died in confinement” Animal rights group PETA said the lions “were born, lived, and died in confinement, deprived of everything that makes life worth living for a wild animal.” “Zoos are not rescues or sanctuaries; they exist to display animals for profit, not to put animals’ needs first,” PETA said in a statement. Park Close to 18,600 people were taken to hospitals for heatstroke between July 20 and 26, with 45 of them pronounced dead on arrival, according to the fire and disaster management agency. A  woman in her 70s died of suspected heatstroke as she sheltered in her car, officials said Monday, public broadcaster NHK reported, and the temperature in Kumamoto City hit a record 40.3 degrees Celsius.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, 34 locations nationwide have hit temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or higher this summer, the Asahi Shimbun reported, breaking the record set last year. Average temperatures in western Japan during mid-to-late July were also the highest since recordkeeping began in 1946, the newspaper reported. Japan experiences about 1,300 heat-related deaths annually and is aiming to halve that number by 2030.

Source: 3 lions die at Tokyo zoo from suspected heatstroke as Japan bakes in “cruelly hot” summer – CBS News

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
1 Peter 3:14

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Extreme heat prompts safety measures at international soccer tournament in Blaine

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Youth soccer players competing on field with crowd and scoreboard

North America’s largest youth soccer tournament kicks off Tuesday in Blaine, Minnesota, bringing more than 1,100 teams from 24 states and 13 countries to the National Sports Center.  About 17,000 athletes from around the globe have arrived, all hoping to make a championship run. But they’ll have to face an added opponent — the sweltering sun. Minnesota is facing extreme heat for a long stretch, forcing organizers to change their game plan.  “We have a medical department here on campus that is a walk-in clinic for players, and we work with the medical team to monitor what we call the wet ball,” said Sara Soli, chief marketing and communications officer of the National Sports Center. Soli said several heat safety measures are in place, including mandatory hydration breaks during games, additional hydration stations and medical staff on every field who will monitor conditions and shorten games by five to ten minutes a half.

For Twin Cities Rush, a local club that won the competition in 2025, the heat is making them rethink strategy.  “Letting the ball do the work, passing it around to people rather than dribbling,” said athlete Leah Schmitt. “The longer you’re holding possession of the ball, the more tired you’re going to get, so passing.” Soli says safety is the number one priority throughout the week and will continue monitoring weather conditions and adjust schedules if needed. No matter the temperature, the goal is still the same for athletes. “Getting to see all the new faces, all the excitement and then playing the sport that we love the most,” smiled Maddie Peterson.  The first match of the eight-day tournament kicks off Tuesday at 7 a.m. Officials say the Target USA Cup brought in over $42 million to the state in 2025. 

Source: Extreme heat prompts safety measures at international soccer tournament in Blaine – CBS Minnesota

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
Matthew 17:5

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Saharan dust to bring drier, hotter conditions to South Florida by midweek

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Another heat advisory will be in effect for Broward and Miami-Dade counties as “feels like” temperatures soar to around 105 Tuesday afternoon. The advisory will be in effect from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Tuesday as these areas could experience these elevated heat index values for at least two hours. This graphic shows the heat advisories in effect in Broward and Miami-Dade counties on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. CBS News Miami Scattered showers and storms will move across the area late morning through the early afternoon, but the rain isn’t expected to be as widespread across our metro areas like it was on Monday. The CBS News Miami NEXT Weather team will be monitoring a 40% chance through Tuesday afternoon with drier conditions just around the corner for midweek as the next wave of Saharan dust arrives in South Florida.

This graphic shows the arrival of Saharan dust in South Florida by Wednesday, July 8, 2026. CBS News Miami The dust will bring drier, hazier, and hotter conditions for Wednesday and Thursday as highs climb closer to the mid-90s on the thermometer. “Feels like” temperatures will continue to stay in the triple digits for the rest of the workweek and weekend, bringing major heat risk concerns for Broward and Miami-Dade. This graphic shows the “feels-like” temperatures in South Florida on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. CBS News Miami Some forecast models show the potential for a weak disturbance to bring scattered rain chances to South Florida late Friday into early Saturday. There is a lot of uncertainty around these particular rain chances at this time, so our team will continue to monitor the forecast and provide updates throughout the week. This graphic shows the hour-by-hour forecast in South Florida on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. CBS News Miami The weekend forecast will trend drier and hotter by Sunday with highs in the mid-90s and heat index values climbing closer to 110. Unfortunately, no heat relief is in sight as temperatures will continue to climb heading into the upcoming workweek.

Source: Saharan dust to bring drier, hotter conditions to South Florida by midweek – CBS Miami

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Matthew 6:26

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I’m a hot sleeper with no AC; 3 tools helping me beat the heat

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Bedroom with wooden bed and nightstands, left side with orange bedding and warm lighting, right side with blue bedding and cool lighting

Fireworks won’t be the only thing keeping people awake this Fourth of July weekend. As temperatures across the Big Apple soar into the triple digits, a staggering 850,000 New Yorkers are expected to sweat through America’s 250th birthday without air conditioning — and this Postie is one of them. To be fair, I’m a terrible hot sleeper year-round. I toss, I turn, I flip my pillow to the “cool side” 37 times a night, and I still wake up with my blankets tangled at the foot of the bed and my pajamas drenched in sweat. I’m not alone. About 14% of American adults say they’re too hot while sleeping “always” or “most of the time,” according to a 2023 Casper and Gallup survey of nearly 4,000 people.

Compared with people who sleep cooler, these overheated snoozers take longer to fall asleep, get poorer-quality rest and are nearly twice as likely to have been diagnosed with anxiety or depression. They also report having less energy and lower productivity during the day. And when summer rolls around, everything gets worse. In my Astoria apartment, that means sticky, sleepless nights followed by cranky mornings spent asking myself the same question: Is it finally time to surrender and buy a window unit? Roughly 11% of New York City residents live without air conditioning, whether because of environmental concerns, old buildings or cooling bills that have skyrocketed more than 50% over the past decade.

Unfortunately, the forecast isn’t exactly encouraging. Research suggests that by 2028, the concrete jungle could see as many as 10 heat waves every summer and six times as many days topping 90 degrees. Staring down a future of sweat-soaked nights, I started wondering whether anything besides AC could keep me cool enough to actually sleep. My fans certainly weren’t cutting it. So I went hunting for alternatives. Here are the three cooling gadgets that have helped me survive the summer so far. The Embr Wave 2 I’ll admit it: I was skeptical this would work. Of all the gadgets I tested, this wrist-worn device felt like the biggest gamble.

But I was genuinely surprised by the results — and the fact that it’s based on Nobel prize winning science. Marketed as the “world’s first personal thermostat,” the Embr Wave 2 looks like a minimalist smartwatch without a screen. Instead of telling time, it sits on the inside of your wrist and delivers carefully controlled bursts of heat or cold. Third-party research at UC Berkeley found it can make users feel as though the temperature has changed by 5 to 7 degrees Fahrenheit. “The Embr Wave uses thermal stimulation as a unique and powerful pathway to the brain to produce a body response,” Liz Gazda, CEO of Embr Labs, told The Post. Inside the device is a tiny thermoelectric heat pump that either pulls heat away from your skin or pushes warmth toward it.

Those temperature changes stimulate heat-sensitive nerves on the inside of your wrist, sending signals to the brain’s temperature-control center that can make your whole body feel cooler or warmer. And it works — just not in a big, sweeping wave of relief. Instead, the cold is delivered in subtle pulses that are enough to feel, but not enough to make your body think it’s suddenly freezing out. I wore the Embr Wave 2 on and off for a month and found it helped ease that familiar feeling of overheating while trying to fall asleep. The wristband comes in rose gold and black, and it’s battery can last more than nine hours on a single charge.

It pairs with a free smartphone app, unlocking six temperature modes and more than 30 customizable thermal sessions. But it’s not just for hot sleepers trying to survive summer nights. “We have customers using the product for menopausal hot flashes, sleep, stress, panic attacks, hot flashes caused by breast and prostate cancer treatment, symptoms of multiple sclerosis and even motion sickness,” Gazda said. Buy it: The Embr Wave 2 costs $239 to buy outright or $20 a month to rent.

Dagsmejan Stay Cool sleepwear In the summertime, my pajamas are usually workout shorts and an oversized T-shirt — which wind up damp and abandoned somewhere on the bedroom floor by morning. That changed with Dagsmejan’s Stay Cool sleepwear. Slipping into the Swiss-Swedish brand’s short-sleeve shirt and pants, I felt like I’d wandered into the iconic slumber party scene from “The Princess Diaries 2.” They’re unbelievably soft and look like luxury loungewear. Dagsmejan says its eucalyptus-derived “Nattcool” fabric is up to eight times more breathable than cotton and dries in about a third of the time. Its open-knit construction also releases water vapor 60% more effectively.

“When sweat evaporates efficiently, it naturally cools the skin,” said Andreas Lenzhofer, the company’s co-founder and CEO. “If moisture remains trapped — as it often does in less breathable fabrics — it can create a cycle of overheating, sweating and waking up,” he explained. “Our goal is to support the body’s own cooling mechanisms rather than artificially cooling the body.” After several weeks of testing, I noticed I was waking up far less clammy than usual. The set stayed light, breathable and genuinely cool against my skin throughout the night. The only catch is the price tag, which is steep for pajamas and makes it more of a splurge than an everyday buy. Buy it: Prices for Dagsmejan sleepwear vary by item. The collection includes everything from sleep shirts and slip dresses to shorts, pants and boxers. My set cost $248.

Coop Cool+ bedding By this point, you’ve probably heard enough about my nightly battle against sweat-soaked sheets — but Coop’s Cool+ bedding finally gave me a win. Made from a cooling nylon-spandex blend, the sheets absorb less heat than traditional cotton while pulling moisture away from your body. The fabric feels almost like silky athletic wear — soft, stretchy and consistently cool to the touch. There is one small downside. They’re a bit slippery. It took a couple nights to adjust, but once I did, I didn’t want to sleep on anything else. I found myself falling asleep faster, and when I woke during the night, I drifted back off much more easily. Hot tip: Pair the sheets with a fan, and they feel even cooler. The biggest standout, though, was the brand’s adjustable pillow.

I’ve tested plenty of so-called cooling pillows over the years. Most start out refreshingly cold before turning into something that traps heat within an hour. This one was different. It combines cooling gel-infused memory foam with microfiber to improve airflow. One side offers plush cushioning, while the other features a firmer cooling surface made with materials that absorb and disperse heat, helping it stay cooler longer. Better yet, it’s adjustable. You can add or remove the gel-infused filling to customize both the height and firmness of the pillow until it feels just right.

I also tried their mattress topper, which uses a similar memory foam blend the company says increases airflow by 50%. “While cooling bedding isn’t a replacement for air conditioning during extreme heat, it can help reduce heat buildup around your body, improve airflow and create a more comfortable sleep surface,” said Debbie Liu, director of product development and merchandising at Coop. Buy it: Coop Cool+ bedding prices vary by item. The adjustable pillow costs $149, the sheet set $129 and the mattress topper $399. None of these products magically turned my apartment into an icebox. But together, they made sleeping through a sweltering New York summer a whole lot more bearable. And until I finally cave and buy that window AC unit, I’ll take every degree I can get.

Source: Exclusive | I’m a hot sleeper with no AC — 3 tools helping me beat the heat By Emmey Park

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36

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America 250: Full List of Events Canceled or Postponed Due to Heat Wave

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U.S. map showing heatwave intensity with temperatures and heat warning from 85°F to over 105°F on July 18, 2024

A dangerous heat wave gripping large parts of the United States has forced officials to cancel, postpone or modify dozens of events planned to mark America’s 250th anniversary and the Fourth of July, with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees Fahrenheit across parts of the Northeast. From Pennsylvania and New York to New Jersey and Delaware, parades, concerts, community celebrations and fireworks displays have either been called off or rescheduled as authorities prioritize public safety amid the extreme weather.

“The parade is one of our community’s most beloved traditions, and we share in the disappointment of its cancellation, especially as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday,” Jayne Musonye, interim municipal administrator of Norristown, Pennsylvania, said after the city’s Independence Day parade was canceled. “With dangerous heat in the forecast, the safety of our families, our marchers, and our first responders must come first,” she added. Washington braces for dangerous temperatures Meteorologists have warned that Washington, D.C., could be among the hottest places on Earth on Friday.

According to Washington Post meteorologist Ben Noll, only parts of the Sahara Desert, the Middle East, China’s Gobi Desert and sections of the US Southwest are expected to record higher temperatures. Despite the heat, organizers of the America 250 celebrations on the National Mall are proceeding with enhanced safety measures.

Officials have installed misting stations, hydration points and free water stations throughout the Great American State Fair. Complimentary bottled water will also be distributed to visitors attending Fourth of July fireworks, while climate-controlled tents have been set up to offer relief from the heat. Authorities are urging attendees to stay hydrated, seek shade whenever possible and make use of designated cooling areas. Colorado cancels fireworks over wildfire fears The heat wave has also raised wildfire concerns in the western United States. In Colorado, at least eight cities have canceled Independence Day fireworks displays due to the elevated risk of fires sparked by pyrotechnics.

Full list of canceled and postponed events

Delaware

  • Bethany Beach: Independence Day Parade (July 3) – Canceled

New Jersey

  • Haddon Township: Independence Day Parade (July 4) – Canceled
  • Franklin Township: Independence Day celebration and fireworks – Postponed from July 2 to July 10
  • Monmouth County (Freehold): MonmouthNJ 250 Concert – Postponed from July 3 to July 17
  • Howell Township: Independence Day celebration – Postponed

New York

  • Port Jervis: Food truck portion of the Food Truck and Fireworks Festival – Canceled; fireworks will proceed as planned
  • Town of Wallkill: Fireworks display – Canceled, with postponement under consideration
  • Town of Newburgh: Community Day festivities – Canceled and expected to be rescheduled

Pennsylvania

  • West York Borough: America250 celebration at Freedom Park – Canceled, with officials considering an August date
  • Lower Windsor Township: America’s 250th Anniversary celebration – Rescheduled to July 8
  • Philadelphia: All-American Block Party (July 2) – Canceled
  • Norristown: Fourth of July Parade – Canceled

Colorado

The following cities have canceled Fourth of July fireworks displays due to wildfire concerns:

  • Cripple Creek
  • Cañon City
  • Colorado Springs
  • Palmer Lake
  • Pueblo
  • Silver Cliff
  • Trinidad
  • Woodland Park

Officials across the affected states continue to monitor weather conditions and have advised residents to limit outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day as dangerous heat persists heading into the Independence Day holiday weekend.

Source: America 250: Full List of Events Canceled or Postponed Due to Heat Wave | Times Now

Heat wave begins Tuesday in Philadelphia region. Here’s the weather forecast.

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On Tuesday, the heat wave begins in the Philadelphia region with a more manageable high temperature of 92 degrees. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the dangerously hot days. Highs range from 99 to 104. The high humidity will make it feel like 105-110-plus. The record highs each day are 100 or above, and we may tie or break some of them. These are very old records dating back 125 years (see below for more detailed record information). An extreme heat warning has been issued from noon Wednesday to 8 p.m. Sunday, and cooling centers will be opened.

Pop-up afternoon and evening thunderstorms are possible each day due to the heat and humidity.  Any rain could keep some locations in the upper 90s rather than the 100s. There may be more widespread thunderstorm activity by the Fourth of July, which could, of course, impact the 2026 Men’s World Cup match in Philadelphia, and America 250 celebrations. Plan and prepare for the heat

Have somewhere cool to rest, special care for pets, check on neighbors and family, limit time outdoors and check fluid in cars.

Buildings without air conditioning will retain the heat. That cumulative effect of the heat after two to five days days could be deadly for some. Travel delays are possible.

Swimming pools, movie theaters and shopping malls are places to stay cool.

Cars become death traps in the heat. No people or pets should ever be left in the car. The heat can reach 125 degrees in minutes and cause death. Check your back seat before leaving a car.

Our heat records since 1894

  • Records we are chasing: July 1 record is 102 from 1901, July 2 is 103 from 1901, July 3 is 104 from 1966.
  • There have only been 64 100-degree days in Philly since 1894 (per the NWS).
  • We’ve had only one 100+ day in 14 years. That was last June 24, 2025.
  • The hottest day on record for Philly is 106 on Aug. 7, 1918.
  • The hottest July temperature on record is 104 on July 3, 1966.
  • Back-to-back 100-degree days have only occurred 14 times. The last back-to-back 100-degree days were in July 2011.

Three consecutive 100-degree days have only happened twice in Philly history, during July of 1993 and July of 1966. We have never had four consecutive 100-degree days.

Tuesday: Heat wave starts. High 92, low 69.

Wednesday: NEXT Weather Alert: Heat. High 100, low 74.

Thursday: NEXT Weather Alert: Heat. High 104, low 79.

Friday: NEXT Weather Alert: Heat. High 104, low 83.

Saturday: NEXT Weather Alert: Hot and humid. High 99, low 81.  

Sunday: Few storms. High 94, low 77.

Monday: Few storms. High 89, low 75.

Source: Heat wave begins Tuesday in Philadelphia region. Here’s the weather forecast. – CBS Philadelphia

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Galatians 6:7

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Some 1,000 additional heat deaths recorded in France

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Lightning striking dramatic dark clouds over a city street with people holding umbrellas and walking.

France saw around 1,000 additional deaths last week at the height of its record-smashing heat wave, the country’s public health agency said Sunday, as the head of the World Health Organization warned that Europe is now the fastest-warming continent and needs to do more to protect its citizens. Temperature records were toppled in several countries on the weekend, wildfires were sparked in Germany and Berlin police used water cannons to cool down the crowds. Meanwhile, the heat wave slowly moved toward eastern parts of the continent. Germany marked a new record for the third day in a row with 41.7 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit) in Neißemünde, near the border with Poland, which baked under its new all-time high of 40.5 C (104.9 F). The Czech Republic also experienced its hottest day ever with 41.9 C (107.4 F), up from the previous record of 40.9 degrees Celsius (105.6 F) on Saturday.

A new study from the World Weather Attribution, a Europe-based collaboration of scientists, reported Friday that the record-breaking heat and humidity in Europe this past week would not have been possible without climate change. The rapid study found that the heat would have been virtually impossible just five decades ago, and is 200 times more likely today than it would have been 20 years ago. France records surge in deaths during heat wave France reported a surge in deaths last week, including a sharp increase at private homes, especially in the Paris region, the national public health agency said Sunday. There were more than 1,200 deaths on Wednesday, when France was sweltering under its hottest temperatures, increasing to more than 1,400 deaths on each of the two following days, Public Health France said. In April and May, before the heat wave, France’s rate of deaths was about 900 to 1,000 per day. The agency concluded that France experienced a total of at least 1,000 additional deaths during those three days alone, an estimate it cautioned is likely to increase as more data is collected, including for deaths at home.

The increase was sharpest in areas under red warnings of extreme heat, it said. Those warnings blanketed about three-quarters of the country at the peak of the heat wave. The agency said that 85% of the deaths involved people aged 65 and above. Europe is the fastest-warming continent, WHO warns “Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Sunday on X. “Right now 150 million people are living under extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are shut, grids are buckling.” Driven by climate change and global warming, the “once-in-a-generation” heat wave is now occurring nearly every year, Tedros said, adding that more than 1,300 excess deaths have been recorded since June 21 linked to high temperatures in Europe. “Heat stress is often called the ‘silent killer’ — and European homes, workplaces and schools were not built for these temperatures,” Tedros warned as he called on European countries to implement action plans. He said they should focus on preparedness, prevention and stronger health system responses.

Lightning strikes Swedish theme park In Sweden, several people were injured when they were hit by lightning at an amusement park, the country’s TT news agency reported. Three adults were taken to the hospital, among them a woman with serious injuries, after the lightning struck the Tosselilla Sommarland park in Tomelilla in the south of the country. Across Europe, the extreme heat has been followed by severe thunderstorms. Denmark, which marked new temperature records on Saturday, recorded 1,156 lighting strikes by Sunday morning, according to public broadcaster DR. Heat sparks wildfires in forests contaminated with WWII ammunition In Gohrischheide, in eastern Germany, a fire broke out in a large forest that’s still contaminated with ammunition from World War II, complicating efforts by firefighters. Similarly, a major firefighting operation was underway in southwest Germany near the village of Traisen, where the heat sparked a forest fire in an area that also contained unexploded ordnance.

Firefighters had to stop work temporarily after explosions took place and an ordnance disposal unit was brought in to continuously assess the situation, German news agency dpa reported. Some 650 people in Traisen had to leave their homes Sunday afternoon because the fire continued to spread. Fire departments in the big cities were busy sending out ambulances to people suffering from heat-related illnesses. In Berlin, an additional 500 ambulance dispatches were reported on Saturday, most of them heat-related. Berlin police use water cannons to cool down locals and tourists The German capital’s police found a way to help suffering Berliners and tourists alike. They put up two huge water cannons — usually used to disperse unruly protesters — in front of the iconic Brandenburg Gate and sprayed the cool water across the cheering crowd. The heat also worsened damage to infrastructure, with the concrete surface on countless highways breaking up, and a weekend warning by national rail operator Deutsche Bahn to avoid all unnecessary train travel.

More than 600 passengers had to be evacuated from an overheated train in Brandenburg after a tree fell onto an overhead power line during a storm on Saturday evening. The train, which was on its way from Hamburg to Prague, lost power. The air conditioners stopped working and the doors were locked until emergency responders forced them open. Two people were hospitalized with heat-related problems, dpa reported. In the eastern city of Leipzig, no trams will be running until early Monday morning due to heat damage to tracks and switches. The Leipzig Public Transportation Authority said that the high temperatures had caused the joint sealant for asphalt and concrete in switches and tracks to run and clump together in many places throughout the city’s network.

Source: Some 1,000 additional heat deaths recorded in France | AP News

That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9

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Fourth toddler dies in France as Europe’s brutal heatwave forecast to shift east

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The number of deaths in France linked to the heatwave has climbed to four toddlers and more than 55 drownings, as the brutally hot conditions sweeping Europe were forecast to shift east, choking 150 million people under 35C (95F) temperatures. Scientists said the heatwave was the most severe and widespread ever, leaving nearly half of the region’s 850 largest cities grappling with unprecedented heat stress. They said the extreme temperatures had been made possible by the climate crisis driven by fossil fuel burning. On Friday, a hospital in Marseille said an 18-month-old child had died in emergency care earlier in the week after he was found in a car in a state of hyperthermia.

A police source told the newspaper Le Figaro it was believed that the father, who works in the area, may have forgotten his son in the car when he was supposed to drop him off at daycare. Paris bans drinking alcohol in public as hospitals hit heatwave breaking point Read more Earlier this week, a three-year-old boy in a Paris suburb was found dead after climbing into a car and becoming trapped when the child lock was activated. Separately, the bodies of two children aged two and four were found in their family’s car in a residential car park. France’s sports minister, Marina Ferrari, said on Friday that at least 55 people across the country had drowned, up from the 40 reported earlier in the week. “By yesterday night we were at 55, but we fear that the situation may worsen,” she told the broadcaster Franceinfo.

View image in fullscreen France’s health minister, Stéphanie Rist, visits an emergency shelter during the heatwave in Paris. Photograph: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images In the UK, the Met Office said the record for the hottest June day had been broken for the third day running. Provisional figures showed a temperature of 37.3C in Santon Downham, Suffolk, on Friday, beating the previous record of 36.7C set on Thursday. “And temperatures are still rising,” the forecaster added. As a Met Office red alert for heat remained in place for an unprecedented third day running for London and south-east England, while an amber alert covered most of central and eastern England, calls on the government to take more action grew louder. The UK Health Security Agency’s red heat-health alert was extended until 11pm on Friday and covered all of southern and central England, while an amber heat-health alert was in place for all of England until 9am on Sunday.

A red alert means there is a significant risk to life even for healthy people. Several hospitals have declared critical incidents and health experts warned emergency services were struggling to cope with the impacts of the heatwave. More than 1,000 schools in the UK have been closed or partially shut this week as poorly insulated buildings, many without air conditioning, overheated. Train passengers were urged to avoid non-essential travel on Friday, with many railway operators running reduced or slower services. Firefighters continued to tackle a wildfire in Derbyshire affecting an area of about 200 hectares (494 acres). View image in fullscreen A commuter tries to keep cool on the tube in London. Photograph: Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock A hosepipe ban in Kent came into effect on Friday morning as South East Water said demand had increased in response to the heat, while late on Thursday Britain’s energy operator raised the alarm over power supplies needed to meet the extra demand for air conditioning and fans.

London ambulance service said it had responded to its highest number of life-threatening emergencies ever on Wednesday, and its chief operating officer, Craig Harman, said he expected “demand to grow day on day over the next couple of days”. Officials in Paris, where temperatures hit a June record of 40.9C on Wednesday, expressed similar concerns. “We are reaching a saturation point in hospital facilities,” the Paris police chief, Patrice Faure, told BFM TV as he announced a ban on drinking takeaway alcohol in the street. The head of the Association of French Emergency Doctors said there had been 55 deaths in the care of emergency health services in Paris in 24 hours. “Fifty-five is enormous,” Patrick Pelloux told Reuters. “Normally it’s three or four over 24 hours.”

Organisers of Paris Pride said they would postpone the event, probably until September, after police expressed concerns that the gathering of thousands of people could increase pressure on emergency services. The Pride march in Lyon as well as the Solidays music festival – aimed at raising funds to support programmes for people affected by HIV – were also called off. View image in fullscreen A man showers horses in Vienna. Photograph: Elisabeth Mandl/Reuters While the extreme temperatures were forecast to peak in France and Britain on Friday, the heat was expected to intensify in central and eastern Europe. In Belgium, a planned re-enactment of the 1815 Battle of Waterloo, which regularly draws thousands of people, was cancelled, while in the Netherlands – where officials this week issued their first-ever red alert for heat – organisers cancelled the four-day techno music festival Defqon 1.

Source: Fourth toddler dies in France as Europe’s brutal heatwave forecast to shift east | Extreme heat | The Guardian

Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:5

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Extreme heat expected to cover Southeast Michigan next week. What to know.

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Extreme temperatures are on the horizon in Southeast Michigan, setting the stage for a prolonged and dangerous heat wave next week. High temperatures beginning Monday will reach 90 degrees, and starting Tuesday will exceed this level.  From Tuesday through Friday, highs will be in the mid- to upper 90s each day, with dew points in the 70s. At levels like this, the heat index reached dangerous levels for those of us in southeast Michigan. We simply do not see heat like this often, and a heat wave of this level is quite rare. The heat index from Tuesday through Friday will be well above 100 degrees, potentially reaching 110 on Wednesday and Thursday. 

As a matter of fact, both Wednesday and Thursday could potentially reach near 100 degrees for the air temperature. If they both make it, this would be the first consecutive 100-degree days since the 1980s. The heat risk from the National Weather Service is classified as “extreme” due to its rarity, prolonged nature, and the difficulty of recovering from heat without air conditioning. That is the biggest issue: the continuous nature of the excessive heat and humidity. Your body cannot cool itself off without some external cooling source in temperatures and heat indices like we will see next week. This is where breaks in the air conditioning are extremely important; fans alone will not work. Because there is so much moisture in the air, your sweat will not evaporate fast enough to naturally cool your body. At this point, both heat exhaustion and heat stroke become a concern.

In a heat wave like the one we should see next week, heat exhaustion can occur in as little as 15 minutes with direct, continuous heat and work. To recover from that much exposure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 45 minutes of air conditioning time. Staying hydrated is also key, so make sure to drink plenty of water. The NEXT Weather Team has labeled Tuesday through Friday as NEXT Weather Alert Days due to the hazards. Stay with the weather team for updates as we continue to monitor the heat and associated risks.

Source: Extreme heat expected to cover Southeast Michigan next week. What to know. – CBS Detroit

But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Matthew 19:30

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