The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Record-breaking ‘pressure-cooker’ heatwave hits Canada, US northwest
A "pressure-cooker" heatwave that's broken temperature records twice in two days in the US northwest and western Canada shows no signs of abating, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Tuesday.
The scorching early summer conditions have been mirrored elsewhere in the northern hemisphere, from Eastern Europe to India, said Clare Nullis, spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
“An exceptional and dangerous heatwave is breaking in northwestern United States of America and western Canada; this is obviously a part of the world which is more accustomed to cool weather. Temperature are likely to reach as high as 45 degrees Celsius by day for perhaps five or more days; so that’s …a very long spell, with extremely warm nights in between.”
The WMO official noted that the all-time Canadian temperature record was broken on Sunday in Lytton, British Columbia, which recorded a high of 46.6 degrees Celsius.
“This smashed the previous record – normally when you break a record, it’s by a small margin – this smashed the record by a full 1.6 degrees Celsius,” Ms. Nullis said.
Less than 24 hours later, on Monday, Lytton broke the record again, this time measuring 47.9 degree Celsius. “This to be underlined, it’s in the province of British Columbia, it’s to the Rocky Mountains, the Glacier National Park, and yet we’re seeing temperatures which are more typical of the Middle East or North Africa,” Ms. Nullis added.
Such extreme temperatures pose a major threat to people's health, agriculture and the environment “because the region is not used to such heat and many people do not have air conditioning”, WMO said in a statement which highlighted how important it was for national weather centres to issue early warnings to limit the death toll.
Citing Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan, WMO noted that higher temperatures would likely peak early this week on the coast and by the middle of the week for the interior of British Columbia; afterwards, the baking heat is expected to move east towards Alberta.
“Yukon and North West Territories have recorded their all-time highest temperatures not just in June, but any point in the year. We are setting records that have no business in being set so early in the season,” said Mr. Castellan.
WMO’s Ms. Nullis explained that the extreme heat is caused by “an atmospheric blocking pattern” which has led to a “heat dome” trapped by low pressure either side.
“Normally you have the jet stream which is this vast high-moving belt of wind which …moves weather on, but it’s not happening this time...it’s almost like a pressure cooker effect and you’ve got very, very high heat.”
This heatwave follows another intensely hot period less than two weeks ago that baked the US desert Southwest and California, with hundreds of record highs.
Other parts of the northern hemisphere have also seen exceptional early hot summer conditions, including north Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, eastern Europe, Iran and the northwestern Indian continent.
Daily temperatures have exceeded 45 degrees Celsius in several locations and reached passed 50 degrees Celsius in the Sahara.
Western Russia and areas around the Caspian Sea have also seen unusually high temperatures, the result of a large area of high pressure.
Temperatures in the Moscow region are expected to reach mid-30 degrees Celsius by day and remain above 20 degrees Celsius at night, WMO said, while areas nearer the Caspian Sea are expected to experience temperatures reaching the mid-40s and remaining above 25 degrees Celsius.
“It is likely that some all-time temperature records will be set during this heatwave,” WMO said, underscoring the impact of human-induced climate change, which has resulted in global temperatures being 1.2 degrees Celsius higher than the pre-industrial levels.
ends
-
STORY: Heatwave Alert – WMO
TRT: 02 min 45s
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 29 June 2021 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST- Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations flag alley, nations’ flags flying, a bright day.
- Wide shot, TV camera on tripod, podium with speakers in a near-empty Room XIV in line with COVID-19 distancing measures, Palais des Nations.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Clare Nullis, spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “An exceptional and dangerous heatwave is breaking in northwestern United States of America and western Canada; this is obviously a part of the world which is more accustomed to cool weather. Temperature are likely to reach as high as 45 degrees Celsius by day for perhaps five or more days; so that’s you know, a very long spell, with extremely warm nights in between.”
- Medium-wide shot, TV camera on tripod, podium speakers, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Clare Nullis, spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “The all-time Canadian record was broken on Sunday with Lytton in the province of British Columbia recording 46.6 degrees Celsius. This smashed the previous record – normally when you break a record, it’s by a small margin – this smashed the record by a full 1.6 degrees Celsius.”
- Medium shot, journalist, seated and masked, typing on laptop, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Clare Nullis, spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “Less than 24 hours later, Lytton broke the record again. Yesterday, it reached 47.9 degree Celsius on Monday in Lytton. This to be underlined, it’s in the province of British Columbia, it’s to the Rocky Mountains, the Glacier National Park, and yet we’re seeing temperatures which are more typical of the Middle East or North Africa.”
- Close up, fingers typing on laptop, one of which has a plaster on, in the Swiss flag’s colours.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Clare Nullis, spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “The heat is being caused by an atmospheric blocking pattern, so it means that, you know, these very high temperatures are concentrated over one particular area, and normally you have the jet stream which is this vast high-moving belt of wind which you know, which moves weather on, but it’s not happening this time. So we’ve got, it’s almost like a pressure cooker effect and you’ve got very, very high heat.”
- Medium shot, participant sitting cross-legged and masked, in front of laptop.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Clare Nullis, spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “It’s not limited to north America; other parts of the northern hemisphere are also experiencing exceptional early hot summer conditions. Arabian peninsula, Eastern Europe, around the northwest Indian continent, just to name a few areas; western Russia has also been seeing very high temperatures.”
- Medium shot, large screen TV broadcasting image of participants with podium and speakers to rear.
- Close up, line of conference microphones in profile with participant to rear, checking mobile phone.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | UNHCR , WHO
Venezuela earthquake aftermath: ‘breakdown of basic services’, disease risks and health workers missing – UN agencies
As search and rescue operations continue in Venezuela thousands of displaced people are struggling to find shelter while infectious diseases threaten to spread, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk today addressed the 62 Human Rights Council and made the following remarks on the report on Venezuela.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The UN Human Rights Office on Friday called for action to prevent more deaths in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, as well as for investigations and accountability.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , IOM , paho , UNHCR , OHCHR , IFRC
Aid agencies on Friday highlighted massive needs across Venezuela caused by a double earthquake disaster that has killed at least 235 people so far, with search and rescue for people trapped under the rubble still the top priority.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango made the following remarks at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva, on the latest report on sexual violence in the Sudanese conflict.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , IOM , IFRC
Ebola in DRC: first month of outbreak sees record number of cases – UN humanitarians
Ebola has been spreading at unprecedented speed in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), bringing risk and fear into people’s daily lives, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
Afghanistan in Crisis: Drought, Malnutrition, and a Worsening Humanitarian Situation
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF , OCHA
After another deadly night of clashes in Lebanon, aid agencies issued a new alert for Gaza, where 265 Palestinian children have been killed since a ceasefire was announced in October 2025.
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | IAEA
The head of the UN’s atomic energy agency on Thursday welcomed the signing of an initial Iran-US memorandum aimed at ending the war, before proposing “to sit down” with both parties to assist with concrete measures including verification of Iran’s nuclear programme, a critical sticking point.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , IFRC
‘Some people question whether Ebola is real’: trust is central in fighting DRC outbreak, humanitarians say
In Ebola-stricken Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), winning the race against the disease requires earning the community’s trust first and foremost, humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Monday 15 June delivered his Global Update to the 62nd UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
2
1
1
Statements , Conferences , Edited News | HRC
As representatives of Iran and the United States reportedly prepared to sign a new peace agreement at the end of the week, the UN on Monday stressed the urgent need to open an aid corridor to transit the choked-off Strait of Hormuz and prevent a global hunger crisis.