Heat watch

[adam2]

In Pakistan, hundreds have reportedly perished of the heat in the current heatwave.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn05rz3w4x1o

[adam2]

And in Saudi Arabia, well over 1,000 pilgrims have died, of heat or dehydration.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8000dgk9gzo

[Default0ptions]

And in Saudi Arabia, well over 1,000 pilgrims have died, of heat or dehydration.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8000dgk9gzo

It is a desert country. What are the usual deaths from heat or dehydration?

It’s pretty much your own responsibility to look after yourself surely? Wherever you are.

More fools them then.

[kenneal - lagger]

That's a very flippant comment DO, when large numbers of people have died in their religious fervour! The Hadj happens every year and usually doesn't cause hundreds of deaths from heat stroke. Adam was quoting just one example of an extreme weather event this year.

This year was always likely to be hotter than usual as it is an El Nino year. Next year will more than likely be cooler than this year but not as cool as the year before. This happened in 1998-9, I think it was, the last major El Nino event, and all the climate deniers came out of the wood work claiming that global warming was a myth because this year was cooler than last, and by quite a way. But if you looked at the graph of temperature the warming just carried on the long term trend if you ignored the El Nino blip. So, DO, please don't repeat that false simpleton's argument. The temperature drop is to be expected after an El Nino.

[BritDownUnder]

I think there is an 'official' Hadj where you get access to air-conditioned tents and iced water and an 'unofficial' Hadj where you are on your own and you know which one had the most deaths.

I recall reading the memoirs of one Richard Burton (not the actor but a Victorian traveller) who made the Hadj in disguise as a Muslim in the 1850s and had to fight off bandits with flintlocks in the passes leading to Mecca. And how he nearly got rumbled when looking at the Kaaba stone. So religious duty, or early travel blogging ha ha ha, has always come with a bit of risk attached.

[adam2]

It looks inevitable that the 1.5 degree limit proposed on global warming will be bust this year.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1dpnxnvv2go

Excuses to follow !

"That was a short term peak, it wont stay that hot"
"In fact, 2.5 degrees wont be that bad"
"it is due to natural weather cycles and sunspots and will soon return to normal"