"Ominous sign": Southeast Asia groans under heat wave – experts warn of consequences for Europe

Temperatures in Vietnam are around 44 degrees. Experts warn of the consequences of the extreme heat wave – and predict extreme weather in parts of Europe as well.

Bangkok – Southeast Asia is suffering from an unusually severe heat wave. Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines are particularly affected by the high temperatures above 40 degrees. According to meteorologists, this is an "ominous sign" – also for the rest of the world.

Impact of the heat wave on Europe: "worrying record"

The reason for the extreme weather is the emerging climate phenomenon El Niño. In the Vietnamese province of Thanh Hoa, temperatures have already risen to 44.1 degrees in recent days – the highest temperature ever measured in the country, according to the national weather service. The previous record from 2019 was 43.4 degrees.

"This is a worrying record related to climate change and global warming," climate expert Nguyen Ngoc Huy told AFP. Across the country, weather experts and authorities had urged the population to stay indoors during the hottest times of the day. They also warned of power outages caused by overloaded grids.

What exactly is El Niño?

El Niño is the name given to the occurrence of unusual ocean currents in the Pacific. The phenomenon occurs at irregular intervals of an average of four years and affects the climate.

Heat wave in Southeast Asia: Temperatures are expected to rise even further in the coming months

In Thailand, too, people have to contend with high temperatures of around 40 degrees in addition to the dangerous smog. In the case of longer stays outdoors, health damage must be expected, warn the authorities. Locals as well as holidaymakers try to protect themselves with umbrellas and sun hats. "It's almost unbearable in the sun. It's really intense," said a German tourist in Bangkok.

"We observe that the heat has started early this year and is worse than in previous years," the head of the weather office, Nguyen Van Huong, told the Voice of Vietnam. The scorching heat is expected to last until August and become even more violent until then. A drought that could last for several years is also to be feared.

Passers-by in Thailand try to protect themselves from the blazing sun with umbrellas.

© Valeria Mongelli/imago

Impact of the heat wave on Europe: Weather in Southeast Asia is "warning for the world"

Not only Southeast Asia is affected by the consequences of the emerging El Niño phenomenon – Europe could also suffer from a heat wave in the coming months. The "brutal heat" is "a warning to the world," the Bangkok Post quotes the weather experts as saying. German experts also see an increased likelihood that 2023 will be an El Niño year. "All models point to this," said Dr. Kristina Fröhlich of the German Weather Service (DWD) at the request of merkur.de of IPPEN. MEDIA.

Meteorologist Dominik Jung von wetter.net fears an even hotter summer than last year: "Next summer could once again be one of the warmest since weather records began". According to the DWD, Germany already experienced one of the warmest years and an "exceptional weather year" in 2022. (tt/dpa)

Category list image: © Valeria Mongelli/imago