With Florida ocean temperatures topping 100, experts warn of damage to marine life

July 26, 202312:57 PM ET

In this image provide by NOAA, a fish swims near coral showing signs of bleaching at Cheeca Rocks off the coast of Islamorada, Fla., on July 23.

Andrew Ibarra/AP

It’s so hot in Florida right now that the ocean temperature in one area just crossed into the triple digits.

On Monday, a water temperature sensor in Manatee Bay near Everglades National Park recorded a temperature of 101.1 degrees, according to a park spokesperson.

The startling data matched high water temperatures observed elsewhere in the Florida Bay recently, and the scorching conditions could pose a major risk to coral and other marine life, experts warn.

https://www.npr.org/2023/07/26/1190218132/florida-ocean-temperatures-101-marine-life-damage

Widespread forest fires wreak havoc in Algeria, 34 confirmed dead
Destructive forest fires have been burning along Algeria’s Mediterranean coast over the past couple of days, leading to at least 34 fatalities. The fires, which were fueled by strong winds and intense heatwave, spread across multiple provinces and even extended to neighboring Tunisia.

Italy

Storms and wildfires kill seven in Italy as extreme weather continues

Three people killed in Sicily fires and four in northern storms as hundreds forced to flee homes

Lorenzo Tondo in Palermo and Angela Giuffrida in Rome

Tue 25 Jul 2023 13.58 EDT

Seven people have died in the past 24 hours as two extreme weather events split Italybetween wildfires in the south and violent storms in the north.

Fires in Sicily caused the temporary closure of Palermo airport after temperatures in the city climbed to 47C on Monday.

An 88-year-old woman was reported to have died on Tuesday in San Martino delle Scale, a few miles from the Sicilian capital, after disruption caused by the fires prevented emergency services from reaching her in time. In the afternoon, the bodies of two people, aged around 75 and 77, were found in a house hit by a wildfire in Cinisi, near the airport.

Authorities closed part of the motorway as more than 55 wildfires were reported on the island. Hundreds of firefighters from other regions in Italy were due to arrive to help battle the flames.

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/25/italy-wildfires-palermo-temperatures-sicily-airport-heatwave

https://www.the-sun.com/news/8691106/gran-canaria-wildfires-flights-risk/

Revelation 21 And there fell upon men a great ^ahail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

New European hail record set as Italy witnesses second record-breaking hailstone in less than a week
Europe’s record for the largest hailstone has been broken again within a mere five days as a massive 19 cm (7.48 inches) hailstone was confirmed in Azzano Decimo, Italy, just 1.3 cm (0.52 inches) smaller than the world record.

Violent thunderstorms spawn unprecedented tornadoes, produce giant hail in Italy
Italy confronts contrasting weather extremes as violent thunderstorms, accompanied by giant hailstones, struck northern parts of the country on July 24, 2023, leaving two people dead and causing widespread destruction. In contrast, southern Italy grapples with persistent heatwaves, causing wildfires and the temporary closure of Palermo airport. Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci described the current conditions as some of the most complicated Italy has faced in recent decades.

India imposes major rice export ban, triggering inflation fears
India on Thursday ordered a halt to its largest rice export category in a move that will roughly halve shipments by the world’s largest exporter of the grain, triggering fears of further inflation on global food markets.