In July, a wave of polar cold hit South America, severely affecting several countries. In Argentina, record temperatures were recorded, with a red level of danger declared in 11 provinces. In Buenos Aires, the temperature dropped below 0°C, resulting in the death of at least three people. Agriculture was severely affected by the extreme cold, and a waterfall froze in the province of Córdoba.
In Uruguay, on July 11, the temperature in Carmelo reached -6°C, while in the capital Montevideo it was -1.5°C. The abnormal cold lasted for seven consecutive days, setting a historical record.
In Chile, the temperature in Santiago dropped below 0°C, which was one of the lowest in the last 20 years.
At the same time, Europe faced destructive storms. In Slovakia, due to strong winds and thunderstorms, 135,000 households were left without electricity. In the south of the country, railway lines were damaged, and the music festival "Pohoda" was interrupted and then canceled due to a powerful storm.
Germany also suffered greatly from the storms. In Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Lower Saxony, basements and streets were flooded, and tornadoes were observed in some areas. In Baden-Württemberg, hail damaged roofs, and strong winds broke trees and caused flooding.
In Austria, 190,000 lightning strikes were recorded, and heavy rains and hail caused damage to agriculture. In Switzerland, wind gusts reached 106 km/h, and heavy rains led to the destruction of boat docks and greenhouses.
Severe storms also affected Slovenia. In the municipalities of Slovenska Bistrica and Oplotnica, hail damaged buildings and vehicles.
In Belarus, destructive thunderstorms after abnormal heat led to power line breaks and pole damage. The wind broke trees, causing widespread power outages. In the Brest region, large hail up to 7 cm in diameter fell, six people died, and 15 were injured.
On July 15, historical bad weather hit the Midwest of the USA, bringing thunderstorms with hurricane-force winds, tornadoes, and severe flooding. More than 30 tornado warnings were issued across Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. Destructive tornadoes and strong winds caused significant damage.
In Afghanistan, eastern regions, including the provinces of Nangarhar, Laghman, and Kunar, suffered from severe floods. Many people died, and many homes and roads were destroyed.
Abnormal temperatures, storms, floods, and other disasters are destroying infrastructure and leading to a shortage of essential resources. In the context of a climate crisis, humanity needs new technologies to provide energy anywhere on the planet and help us survive. Learn more about these technologies in the documentary "Water From Air: The Path to Saving Humanity | Popular Science Film."
Humanity now stands at a crossroads. What we choose — implementing new technologies and advancing civilization or chaos and suffering — depends on each of us.