You may not need anyone to tell you that the weather was brutal the past month or so. But what you might not realize is that people in numerous other places were experiencing the same.
So, don’t be too shocked at having to shell out still more for groceries in the months ahead.
Europe
On August 5, 2017, the MarketWatch headline read, “Deadly ‘Lucifer’ heat wave keeps grip on 10 European countries”. Southern and eastern Europe were fried while “Western and northern Europe, in contrast, were experiencing colder and wetter weather than is seasonal.”
The Los Angeles Times newspaper wrote the same day,
” No wonder its been dubbed “Lucifer.” A relentless heat wave that gripped parts of Europe this week has sent temperatures soaring to record highs for several days, causing at least two deaths …
Extreme heat in Italy, and parts of France and Spain and the Balkans, has led to dozens of wildfires, damaged crops and fueled power and water consumption.”
Also on August 5, 2017, the DW News site informed its readers that,
… the German Meteorological Service (DWD) declared July 2017 the rainiest month Germany has seen since measurements thereof began back in 1881.
North America
On June 27, 2017, American broadcaster CNBC’s website posted an article with the headline “California’s triple-digit heat slows milk production, threatens crops and livestock”. CNBC wrote,
“A stifling June heatwave with triple-digit temperatures hit agriculture producers in California, lowering dairy cow milk production and wreaking havoc on crops like citrus and nuts”.
And on July 31, 2017, the Sacramento Bee newspaper wrote,
“The heat wave that has the Sacramento Valley clenched in a sweaty grip broke a record Monday: Temperatures hit at least 90 degrees in downtown Sacramento every single day in July.
That’s never happened before in records dating back to 1877 for downtown Sacramento, according to the National Weather Service.”
Quite a few of those days were over 100° (almost 38° Celsius).
The Sacramento Bee added,
“With another month to go, and a significant blast of hot weather coming this week, 2017 could challenge 2016 for the dubious distinction of the hottest summer ever recorded in California.”
It was, indeed, quite a blast. Several daily record highs were set Tuesday, Aug. 1. “Dozens” were set Wednesday, Aug. 2, including Medford, Oregon at 112 degrees (almost 44.5° Celsius).
As in Europe, other states experienced too much rain. Flash flooding occurred in several places in the central and eastern parts of the United States in the first part of August. And weather forecasters warned that the current Atlantic hurricane season might end up the busiest since 2010.
Africa
ABC News reported, as of August 15, 2017, the “ Sierra Leone mudslide leaves more than 300 dead and at least 700 missing ”. Abdul Nasir, the program coordinator for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies commented,
“In places, entire communities seem to have been washed away and whatever is left is covered in mud … “
Asia
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies posted the following news on their website:
August 3rd, the headline read, “ Indian Red Cross steps up disease prevention following floods ”. The article said,
“Concerns over water and vector-borne diseases are mounting in northeastern India, where devastating flood waters are starting to recede, leaving behind contaminated water sources and conditions ripe for mosquitoes to breed. “
And August 7th, the headline was, ” Red Cross speeds aid to villages devastated by flash floods in Vietnam ”. That article said,
“Floods in north west Vietnam have killed 23 people and destroyed hundreds of homes.”
UPDATE September 24, 2017:
Summer 2017 did not end quietly. In the USA, Hurricane Harvey chewed up the coast of Texas including America’s 4th largest city, Houston. A major 8.1 earthquake struck Southern Mexico. And hurricanes named Irma and Maria savaged the Caribbean. Irma also caused extensive damage to the Florida keys.
The National Geographic website reported,
“Irma effectively wiped out civilization on the island of Barbuda, which had been continually inhabited for 300 years. The U.S. and British Virgin Islands have suffered horrific damage. Puerto Rico faced massive power outages in the wake of Irma—and Maria may deprive the island of power for months.”
Photo credits: Storm photo by Paul Chiorean, License: CC BY 2.0; Cows by Farm Watch, License: CC BY 2.0; Floods – AFP Photo-India Army, License: CC BY 2.0
