Siberia is currently experiencing an unprecedented heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 degrees Celsius). This extreme heat has shattered numerous heat records for the region.
On Saturday, Jalturovosk recorded a temperature of 100.2 degrees Fahrenheit (37.9 degrees Celsius), marking its hottest day in history. Since then, several other stations in Siberia have broken all-time heat records. For example, Baevo reached 103.3 degrees Fahrenheit (39.6 degrees Celsius), while Barnaul hit 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit (38.5 degrees Celsius).
According to climatologist Maximiliano Herrera, who monitors extreme temperatures globally, this heatwave is the worst in Siberia’s history. Some of the recording stations in the region have decades of temperature data, making this extreme heat truly exceptional.
Furthermore, this ongoing heatwave in Siberia is consistent with the broader trend of increasing extreme temperatures due to global warming.
Epic day ! Over 40C in #Siberia, dozens of records obliterated
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) June 7, 2023
Over 45C in China and 43C in Kazakhstan north of 45 latitude.
A historic heat wave which is rewriting world climatic history which is set to get much worse.
We might see close to 50C in China, yes FIFTY you read it. pic.twitter.com/i7Jmid0oqy
While a scientific analysis will be needed to determine the specific influence of climate change on this event, it is well-known that global warming contributes to more frequent and intense heatwaves, particularly in higher latitudes.
Siberia has experienced significant warming over the past few decades, with hot extremes intensifying. Omar Baddour from the World Meteorological Organization noted that Siberia is one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth.
Samantha Burgess from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service highlighted the implications of these heatwaves for people and nature, emphasizing the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate their frequency and intensity.
The record-breaking heat has not been confined to Siberia alone; it has spread across Central Asia. Turkmenistan, for instance, witnessed temperatures of 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit (42 degrees Celsius) in early April, setting a world record for that latitude. The heat has continued in the region, with rolling heatwaves affecting countries such as China, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.
This historic heatwave has global climatic significance and underscores the ongoing impact of climate change on extreme weather events worldwide.
