Heatwave Shocks Northern Hemisphere

The longest day of the year is also the hottest, with temperatures skyrocketing up to 37C degrees in Paris, 38C in Madrid, and 34C in London. Even Ireland is expected to get toasty with a predicted 28C high.

While Dubliners might be taking advantage of the excuse for some 99 ice creams, others have taken to twitter to share their complaints with the rest of the (overheating) world.

BAN CLOTHES AND WORK. #heatwaveuk pic.twitter.com/AuxeMMMqCE

— Dr Fern Riddell (@FernRiddell) June 19, 2017

it's so warm my nose just started bleeding, ama

— Mollie Goodfellow (@hansmollman) June 20, 2017

just poured a bucket of ice cold water over me IT'S SO WARM ?

— Nina Nesbitt (@ninanesbitt) June 18, 2017

Our goats have been struggling in the heatwave so I made hazel & comfrey ice lollies for extra chill ?? #FoodYouCanForage #30DaysWild pic.twitter.com/wraIY2Cxof

— Tiffany Francis (@tiffins11) June 20, 2017

However, while the heatwave may just seem like a one weekend anomaly, the abnormal weather is part of a pattern of concerning temperature increases, with the average global monthly temperatures reaching a peak that has not been recorded since data collection began in 1880.

The extreme weather has left its mark, damaging tarmac roads in Britain, crops in China, and even causing American Airlines to cancel more than 40 flights from Phoenix, Arizona where daytime highs are around 49C.

We've been informed the extreme heat is melting Tarmac on the A31 Guildford to Puttenham. Please drive/ride carefully. Local authority aware

— RPU - Surrey Police (@SurreyRoadCops) June 19, 2017

A recent study in the Nature Climate Change journal revealed that about 30% of the world’s population is exposed to deadly heatwaves, and by 2100 that percentage will rise to ~74% if greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow.

The heatwave shocking the Northern Hemisphere is a tangible reminder that the climate is changing, and that we better start paying attention.