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Scorching killers
Heatwaves are silent killers. In the US, they cause The World Meteorological Organization,
more deaths than hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods with its headquarters in Geneva, keeps a
combined! The World Meteorological Organization record of all weather-related issues.
estimates that the number of heat-related deaths
could double in less than twenty years. A heatwave
depends on the average temperature of an area.
What is considered a heatwave in Europe may not
be so in India.
Europe, 2003 … 38.5°C
Europe experienced one 41°C
of its hottest summers in
August 2003. Temperatures
in France were as high as
40 degrees Celsius. The
heat spell also hit Germany,
Italy, Spain, Belgium, and
the UK with record high
temperatures. The UK
recorded 38.5 degrees
Celsius for the first time
ever during this heatwave.
The 2003 Impact …
European
heatwave, More than fifty thousand Europeans died due to the
also known heat—about fifteen thousand died in France alone.
as ‘The Great Hospitals and funeral homes found it hard to cope
Drought’, with the burden. Crops failed and rivers dried up.
triggered one Major fires broke out in Portugal, burning large
of the hottest areas in the countryside and forests.
summers in
European
history.
TICKER Marble Bar in western Australia holds the world record for the longest duration of days with
Heatwaves are silent killers. In the US, they cause The World Meteorological Organization,
more deaths than hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods with its headquarters in Geneva, keeps a
combined! The World Meteorological Organization record of all weather-related issues.
estimates that the number of heat-related deaths
could double in less than twenty years. A heatwave
depends on the average temperature of an area.
What is considered a heatwave in Europe may not
be so in India.
Europe, 2003 … 38.5°C
Europe experienced one 41°C
of its hottest summers in
August 2003. Temperatures
in France were as high as
40 degrees Celsius. The
heat spell also hit Germany,
Italy, Spain, Belgium, and
the UK with record high
temperatures. The UK
recorded 38.5 degrees
Celsius for the first time
ever during this heatwave.
The 2003 Impact …
European
heatwave, More than fifty thousand Europeans died due to the
also known heat—about fifteen thousand died in France alone.
as ‘The Great Hospitals and funeral homes found it hard to cope
Drought’, with the burden. Crops failed and rivers dried up.
triggered one Major fires broke out in Portugal, burning large
of the hottest areas in the countryside and forests.
summers in
European
history.
TICKER Marble Bar in western Australia holds the world record for the longest duration of days with
