Many Asian countries record new record high temperatures

India, the world's most populous country, reported on September 1 that August was its hottest and driest month since records began more than a century ago, despite the monsoon season bringing 80 percent of the country's annual rainfall. But despite deadly floods in the north earlier this month, India's total rainfall was still well below average.

Specifically, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the average rainfall in August in this country was only 161.7 mm, 30.1 mm lower than the record low recorded in August 2005. IMD said that the lack of heavy rains and weak monsoons are the main reasons why India has been continuously suffering from heat waves.

On the same day, Japan also announced that it had experienced its hottest summer since records began in 1898. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, temperatures from June to August were "significantly higher" than average in the north, east and west of the country. Many areas in Japan recorded not only the highest temperatures but also the lowest temperatures.

Meanwhile, Australia is experiencing its warmest winter on record, with the average temperature from June to August reaching 16.75 degrees Celsius. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said this was higher than the record set in 1996 and also the highest average winter temperature since the country began tracking data in 1910.

In 2023, the Earth will be significantly affected by climate change, leading to rising global temperatures, with July being the hottest month on record. Scientists have long warned that climate change will lead to more extreme, longer and more frequent heat waves, and that El Nino could exacerbate this.

Heat waves are responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. Japanese authorities said at least 53 people died in July and nearly 50,000 were hospitalized. Experts warn that the elderly, children and outdoor workers are particularly vulnerable to heat stress. Even a healthy young person can die if exposed to temperatures of up to 35 degrees Celsius for six hours at 100 percent humidity.

Last month, John Nairn, a senior adviser on extreme heat at the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said heatwaves were “becoming much more dangerous and this is the most obvious and rapid consequence of global warming.” He said people needed to be more aware of the “warning signs” as they became more frequent and severe.

High temperatures have also hit European and American countries, from Greece to Canada, leading to devastating wildfires.