Latin America experienced record heat, 'climatic hazards' in 2023

NEWS WIRES

8 May 2024 at 2:01 pm·1-min read

Latin America and the Caribbean had their warmest year on record in 2023 as a "double-whammy" of El Nino and climate change caused major weather calamities, the World Meteorological Organization said Wednesday.

Droughts, heatwaves, extreme rainfall and a record-breaking hurricane had major impacts on health, food and energy security, and economic development, the UN body said in a new report.

"Unfortunately, 2023 was a year of record climatic hazards in Latin America and the Caribbean," WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said in a statement.

"El Nino conditions during the second half of 2023 contributed to a record warm year and exacerbated many extreme events. This combined with rising temperatures and more frequent and extreme hazards due to human-induced climate change," she added.

The report said the mean temperature for 2023 was the highest on record, with Mexico experiencing the fastest warming rate in the region.

Severe drought – exacerbated by heatwaves – affected large areas of Latin America, including much of Central America, forcing a reduction in shipping through the Panama Canal.

Further south, parts of Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina were stricken by wildfires amid record temperatures. Uruguay saw its drinking water supply pushed to the brink.

The report also listed Hurricane Otis, which caused 51 deaths and more than $3 billion in damages when it struck the Mexican resort city of Acapulco in October.

'Acute food crisis'

Wales Online
'Get out of the sea' tannoy warning sounded at Welsh beach as children and adults enjoy gorgeous sunshine
The announcement was said to have been made at a packed Barry Island
The Independent
Northern Lights: Will you be able to see Aurora Borealis tonight in the UK?
Meteorologists say the lights could be seen again in the UK sky
Dorset Echo
Warning in place for thunderstorms and 'intense' downpours
Thunderstorms and ‘intense downpours’ could lead to disruption across the county, according to the Met Office
Birmingham Live
UK set for 'three months' of 'heatwave after heatwave' this summer
Weather forecasters and meteorologists have delivered their verdicts for the summer months ahead of the sixth month of the year, June, arriving next week.
euronews Videos
Europe hit by severe floods in the north and heatwaves in the south
Heavy rainfall and storms wreak havoc across northern Italy, France and Germany, whilst southern Italy endures an unseasonal heatwave.View on euronews
The Independent
‘Red alert’ in Delhi after temperature soars to 47C as heatwave grips India’s north
For second consecutive day on Sunday, parts of Delhi met heatwave conditions
Manchester Evening News
'Biblical rain' sparks floods in parts of UK amid Met Office storm warning
The yellow weather warning is in place until 8pm tonight
Sky News
Bear alert in Japan after man found dead and police officers mauled
People in northeastern Japan have been warned to stay vigilant after a man was found dead with gash wounds and police officers were left with serious injuries. Two officers were attacked on Saturday in Kazuno city, Akita prefecture, while recovering the missing man's body, Japanese media said. A police helicopter and cars are involved in the search for the bears.
Storyful
Black Bear Falls From Tree After Being Tranquilized
A bear fell from a tree onto a tarp after it was tranquilized in Lakewood, Washington, on Wednesday, May 15, footage posted to Facebook shows.The Lakewood Police Department said that the black bear had been spotted “cruising the neighborhoods” in the area. They said that a local elementary school was put on lockdown while the bear roamed the area.This footage by Amy Mayster shows the bear falling from the tree onto a tarp being held open by officers with the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The bear is then seen being carried away in the tarp and placed in a cage to be transported away.The City of Lakewood Municipal Government confirmed that the bear was captured by officers with the Department of Fish and Wildlife.The bear was assumed to have started wandering around Lakewood while it was looking for food after having been “kicked out” by its mother, the Lakewood Municipal Government said, citing wildlife officials. Credit: Amy Mayster via Storyful
Birmingham Live
UK told to prepare for 'three months' of sunshine ahead of June and July scorcher
This summer has a 35-per cent, 1.8 times the norm, chance of being hot, and a mere five per cent chance of being cool, according to the Met Office meteorologists and forecasters.
Wales Online
Flash floods hit parts of Wales amid weather warning for thundery downpours
'All of a sudden the water started coming through the doors. It happened within a few minutes'
Evening Standard
Bear alert after man dies in Japan and police officers mauled while rescuing body
Police officers in serious condition but should pull through
Yorkshire Live
Fed-up businessman comes up with 'quackers' idea to get Yorkshire Water to fix leak
Dean Majors left the Yorkshire company in shock with his idea
Business Insider
Extreme weather blunts the US military's technological edge
More extreme weather due to climate change is scrambling the high-tech systems that have given the US military its edge.
Birmingham Live
UK faces 600 mile heatwave within days and hottest day of year 'under threat'
The UK faces a staggering 600-mile heatwave as the next blast of hot weather hitting the country is confirmed before the end of May, the fifth month of the year.
Evening Standard
Weather: London to be battered by heavy rain as thunderstorm warning issued for southwest England
Met Office issue yellow warnings for thunderstorms in parts of UK
The Guardian
‘Embrace the bog’: Chelsea flower show expert champions flood-proof garden
As the prestige flower event begins, horticulturalists are shown how a waterlogged patch can help counter climate crisis
CNN
Hundreds of thousands still without power amid high temperatures after deadly storms in Houston area
As officials assess the damage from destructive storms in the Houston area that killed at least seven people and knocked out power amid rising temperatures, residents in the Southeast and Gulf Coast face a severe weather threat through Saturday that could bring another round of excessive rainfall and severe thunderstorms.
France 24 Videos
Floods in parts of northern Europe after heavy rains
Heavy rains caused flooding in parts of Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands overnight into Saturday (May 18), swamping streets and buildings and sparking evacuations.
Sky News
Public told to report Asian hornet sightings amid warning of surge in invasive species
People are being urged to report sightings of Asian hornets this summer as nature groups warn of a potential surge in damaging invasive non-native species. The UK's chief plant health officer Nicola Spence has called for beekeepers and the wider public to report sightings of the hornet after a record number were spotted in the country last year. Asian hornets pose no greater risk to human health than native hornets but threaten honey bees and insect pollinators.

'Acute food crisis'

Latest stories