1976 was the first year I managed to keep a diary for nearly half the year, and surprisingly we had an unusually high amount of snow early in the year - heavy snow late January, light snow early February and light snow early March - very unusual for South Wales. And snow again in December 1976! But endless, exhausting heat through the summer.
I don't remember 1976, but I vividly remember the 2003 heatwave in which a lot of people in France died - I actually had a question on it a year later as part of a GCSE Geography mock exam! Does anyone know why France seems to keep having so many heatwave-related deaths?
Seriously, a whole raft of measures have been put in place since 2003 to protect the vulnerable. Without them the death toll this year would be much higher than it is. I'm not sure it's possible to avoid heat related deaths altogether.
I remember the 2003 heatwave all right. I'd just had a baby and I was terrified she was going to die.
The only thing I remember about 1976 is the tarmac on our road melting in the heat. No, it hasn't done that this year, but that's because they don't use the same stuff now, not because it was hotter then. 🙄
Seriously, a whole raft of measures have been put in place since 2003 to protect the vulnerable. Without them the death toll this year would be much higher than it is. I'm not sure it's possible to avoid heat related deaths altogether.
Sorry if I seemed flippant, it was more that French heat-related deaths seem much more widespread than in the UK despite the UK being seemingly less prepared for/less tolerant of really hot weather and I was curious as to why. I'm sure there are also issues such as a difference in reporting deaths in the UK vs France - I'm not suggesting that the UK doesn't have issues with heat-related deaths. I also don't doubt that French infrastructure is much better.
Just back from a long weekend at the coast and it feels so much hotter in London (today will apparently be the worst for a while) - this is getting seriously scary when one thinks about the future. So many young people saying that they will not have children as they will be born to suffer (which we might argue is the common lot, but still....).
I don't remember 1976, but I vividly remember the 2003 heatwave in which a lot of people in France died - I actually had a question on it a year later as part of a GCSE Geography mock exam! Does anyone know why France seems to keep having so many heatwave-related deaths?
I would make a guess that they get it worse because they are more inland. The UK does have the sea quite near everywhere, so we lose the worse in the centre - France doesn't.
Probably also less preparedness, and a lot more open land/remote towns and villages. So more likely to have fires and less likely to get help if needed.
I've been off Googling to compare our current situation with the past because I was interested.
The temperatures we've been having this year are exceptional for the heat and also how long they've lasted. If anything this year is set to be hotter than 2003. A heatwave in France is defined in relation to nighttime as well as daytime temperatures and the danger comes when you never get cooled down ever.
Definitely the mortality rate is above normal, but it is considerably lower than in 2003 when there were 15000 excess deaths, mostly among the elderly. This year there are in excess of 5000. That's obviously too many, but it does show that many of the measures introduced since 2003 have worked at least to an extent. The hospitals also say they are under less pressure.
The other difference with 2003 is the fires.
ETA the region with the highest excess mortality is not in the countryside but around Paris. It's where the effect of urban heat islands is most pronounced and consequently people have the most prolonged overnight heat exposure.
I've been off Googling to compare our current situation with the past because I was interested.
The temperatures we've been having this year are exceptional for the heat and also how long they've lasted. If anything this year is set to be hotter than 2003. A heatwave in France is defined in relation to nighttime as well as daytime temperatures and the danger comes when you never get cooled down ever.
Definitely the mortality rate is above normal, but it is considerably lower than in 2003 when there were 15000 excess deaths, mostly among the elderly. This year there are in excess of 5000. That's obviously too many, but it does show that many of the measures introduced since 2003 have worked at least to an extent. The hospitals also say they are under less pressure.
The other difference with 2003 is the fires.
ETA the region with the highest excess mortality is not in the countryside but around Paris. It's where the effect of urban heat islands is most pronounced and consequently people have the most prolonged overnight heat exposure.
Was the 2003 heatwave not also later, coinciding with the August shutdown that meant the response was delayed? That's my recollection of the reporting at the time, but of course that may have been in error.
On our way to Great Yarmouth with a forecast of 26C. Very warm but quite balmy compared with inland East Anglia. Might even have a paddle in the sea!
I spent every childhood holiday in Great Yarmouth. My paternal grandparents lived in Norfolk so it was the only time my father got to see them (we lived in NW London and there was not the money for other visits).
I've been off Googling to compare our current situation with the past because I was interested.
The temperatures we've been having this year are exceptional for the heat and also how long they've lasted. If anything this year is set to be hotter than 2003. A heatwave in France is defined in relation to nighttime as well as daytime temperatures and the danger comes when you never get cooled down ever.
Definitely the mortality rate is above normal, but it is considerably lower than in 2003 when there were 15000 excess deaths, mostly among the elderly. This year there are in excess of 5000. That's obviously too many, but it does show that many of the measures introduced since 2003 have worked at least to an extent. The hospitals also say they are under less pressure.
The other difference with 2003 is the fires.
ETA the region with the highest excess mortality is not in the countryside but around Paris. It's where the effect of urban heat islands is most pronounced and consequently people have the most prolonged overnight heat exposure.
Was the 2003 heatwave not also later, coinciding with the August shutdown that meant the response was delayed? That's my recollection of the reporting at the time, but of course that may have been in error.
That may have been the case at the time, but I don't think it would make much difference now. The reduced mortality rate is to do with better protocols in care homes, and information campaigns that mean we all know what we are supposed to do in extreme heat (stay indoors, drink lots of water, check on vulnerable neighbours etc.).
I'm just about to don a rubber apron, armpit-length gauntlets, and a respirator to change some chemicals.
Pray for me!
Ugh. I was suited up this afternoon wrapping and disposing of asbestos and that was quite unpleasant enough in the 16°C we had here. (I do appreciate the existence of chemical protection suits and gloves, FFP3 masks and unvented goggles but as a not-very-fit man I rapidly start to drip under even the most benign conditions.)
Just back from a long weekend at the coast and it feels so much hotter in London (today will apparently be the worst for a while) - this is getting seriously scary when one thinks about the future. So many young people saying that they will not have children as they will be born to suffer (which we might argue is the common lot, but still....).
Yeah, this scares me. Like my 18 year old takes meds that make them much more susceptible to heat. And that's not even rare. But it is a little scary with climate change the way it is!
[...] Ugh. I was suited up this afternoon wrapping and disposing of asbestos and that was quite unpleasant enough in the 16°C we had here. (I do appreciate the existence of chemical protection suits and gloves, FFP3 masks and unvented goggles but as a not-very-fit man I rapidly start to drip under even the most benign conditions.)
@Isthismysweat (sorry - hope you're ok and will be done soon!)
Comments
Yes, I remember that so clearly as this was the week we got married and it definitely didn't feel as hot as it has this year!
Seriously, a whole raft of measures have been put in place since 2003 to protect the vulnerable. Without them the death toll this year would be much higher than it is. I'm not sure it's possible to avoid heat related deaths altogether.
The only thing I remember about 1976 is the tarmac on our road melting in the heat. No, it hasn't done that this year, but that's because they don't use the same stuff now, not because it was hotter then. 🙄
Sorry if I seemed flippant, it was more that French heat-related deaths seem much more widespread than in the UK despite the UK being seemingly less prepared for/less tolerant of really hot weather and I was curious as to why. I'm sure there are also issues such as a difference in reporting deaths in the UK vs France - I'm not suggesting that the UK doesn't have issues with heat-related deaths. I also don't doubt that French infrastructure is much better.
I would make a guess that they get it worse because they are more inland. The UK does have the sea quite near everywhere, so we lose the worse in the centre - France doesn't.
Probably also less preparedness, and a lot more open land/remote towns and villages. So more likely to have fires and less likely to get help if needed.
The temperatures we've been having this year are exceptional for the heat and also how long they've lasted. If anything this year is set to be hotter than 2003. A heatwave in France is defined in relation to nighttime as well as daytime temperatures and the danger comes when you never get cooled down ever.
Definitely the mortality rate is above normal, but it is considerably lower than in 2003 when there were 15000 excess deaths, mostly among the elderly. This year there are in excess of 5000. That's obviously too many, but it does show that many of the measures introduced since 2003 have worked at least to an extent. The hospitals also say they are under less pressure.
The other difference with 2003 is the fires.
ETA the region with the highest excess mortality is not in the countryside but around Paris. It's where the effect of urban heat islands is most pronounced and consequently people have the most prolonged overnight heat exposure.
Was the 2003 heatwave not also later, coinciding with the August shutdown that meant the response was delayed? That's my recollection of the reporting at the time, but of course that may have been in error.
Pray for me!
I can see through your cunning creation of an alibi for when the remains are found!
MWAHAHAHAHA!
This has been going on for a fortnight.
I spent every childhood holiday in Great Yarmouth. My paternal grandparents lived in Norfolk so it was the only time my father got to see them (we lived in NW London and there was not the money for other visits).
That may have been the case at the time, but I don't think it would make much difference now. The reduced mortality rate is to do with better protocols in care homes, and information campaigns that mean we all know what we are supposed to do in extreme heat (stay indoors, drink lots of water, check on vulnerable neighbours etc.).
Ugh. I was suited up this afternoon wrapping and disposing of asbestos and that was quite unpleasant enough in the 16°C we had here. (I do appreciate the existence of chemical protection suits and gloves, FFP3 masks and unvented goggles but as a not-very-fit man I rapidly start to drip under even the most benign conditions.)
Yeah, this scares me. Like my 18 year old takes meds that make them much more susceptible to heat. And that's not even rare. But it is a little scary with climate change the way it is!