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Overview
Extreme weather events are rare occurrences at specific places and times of the year, characterized by unusual magnitudes, locations, timings, or extents. The characteristics defining what is considered extreme can vary significantly across different regions.
80 of Europe's weather-related deaths in the period from 1970 to 2019 were attributed to two heatwaves - those in 2003 and 2010.
The rise in temperatures, including occurrences above 40°C and even reaching 50°C extremes, is becoming increasingly common worldwide.
Limiting global warming to 1.5°C instead of 2°C could significantly reduce the number of people affected by extreme weather events by approximately 420 million annually.
Every additional degree of global warming is projected to result in a rise of about 7 in severe dly rnfall volumes.
Fling to limit global warming at 1.5°C versus 2°C could lead to around 390,000 hectares approx. 39 square kilometers being burnt annually as witnessed during the devastating Dixie fire in California in recent years.
Impact
Natural climate variability can give rise to extreme weather and climate impacts like heatwaves, cold waves, heavy precipitation events, droughts, tornadoes, and tropical cyclones. However, -induced climate change beyond natural fluctuations is causing more frequent and intense extreme weather phenomena across the globe.
The adverse effects of extreme weather and climate are exacerbated by their increased intensity, duration, spatial extent, and timing. Sequential extreme events can result in compounded impacts that exceed what would typically be expected from an isolated extreme event.
Number of Disasters
Over the past 50 years, the number of disasters has almost quintupled, driven largely by climate change, more intense weather patterns, and enhanced reporting capabilities. The implementation of Early Warning Systems EWS has significantly reduced death tolls by nearly three times, highlighting their effectiveness.
WMO's Response
The World Meteorological Organization WMO, in collaboration with its member states and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, collects and shares official weather observations, forecasts, and climatological data. This information enables the development of early warning systems that provide crucial alerts on extreme events.
Key initiatives include:
World Weather Climate Extremes Archive - A comprehensive repository for historical weather and climate data, facilitating research and monitoring.
World Weather Research Programme WWRP - An international effort med at advancing understanding of atmospheric processes and improving forecasting capabilities globally.
Integrated Processing and Prediction System WIPPS - Enhances the prediction accuracy of severe weather conditions by integrating advancedwith real-time data.
Services for Aviation - Ensures safe r travel by providing accurate forecasts on weather conditions crucial to aviation operations.
The WMO Coordination Mechanism WCM further supports collaborative efforts among member states in addressing meteorological challenges collectively.
These activities underscore the WMO's commitment to enhancing global preparedness and response strategies agnst extreme weather events through robust data sharing, advanced forecasting capabilities, and coordinated international efforts.
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Extreme Weather Events Impact and Solutions Global Warming and Heatwave Risks Increased Rainfall with Higher Temperatures Climate Changes Effect on Disasters WMOs Role in Early Warning Systems Collecting Data for Better Forecast Accuracy