Extreme heat hits countries around the world

Temperatures are currently above average in many parts of the world, and meteorologists say this is primarily due to global warming.

While some areas have seen temperatures drop, far more areas are experiencing temperatures that are described as significantly warmer than normal, and BBC Weather’s Chris Foulkes says these heatwaves are a “signature of climate change”.

Extreme heat can be deadly – a European heat wave in 2003 killed 30,000 people – but such high temperatures over long periods could also increase the risk of wildfires, as already occurring in parts of California.

Extreme temperatures are currently being observed across large areas of the globe, including North America, South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Europe.

About one in five Americans, or more than 70 million people, are currently under heat warnings as high pressure creates a “heat dome” that traps warm air below.

Warnings have also been issued in four Canadian provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec.

Three people were killed off the Mexican coast and the US National Hurricane Center warned of “life-threatening” flooding and landslides in northeastern Mexico and southern Texas.

The lingering heat has shattered electricity consumption records as Indians cranked up electric fans and air conditioners, causing power outages in Delhi on Monday and affecting the city’s water supply.

Dozens of people have died from the heat in India since summer began in March, including 50 deaths in three days in Uttar Pradesh and Odisha states earlier this month.

Summers in India are usually hot and humid, but this year has been unusually hot, with heat waves that are longer, more intense and more frequent.

AFP reported, without confirmation from the BBC, that more than 1,000 people were killed during the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

There have been previous deaths from crashes and fires at the Hajj, and earlier this week the Saudi Arabian National Meteorological Center said temperatures reached a record high of 52 degrees Celsius (125 F) at Mecca’s Grand Mosque, according to AFP.

Saudi Arabian authorities are distributing water to pilgrims and advising them to avoid being outdoors during the hottest hours, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Dozens of deaths have been reported in Greece due to the country’s earliest recorded heatwave.

Greek authorities have closed the Acropolis in Athens and closed schools in recent days, while firefighters are also battling wildfires on the island of Lesbos.

While scorching heat is not uncommon in Greece during the summer, meteorologists say winds from North Africa are pushing up temperatures.