Moist heatwave forecasts reduce health risks at major events
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 21-Jun-2026 15:15 ET (21-Jun-2026 19:15 GMT/UTC)
A new study reveals that heat uptake fluctuations in the Aegean Sea during August provide a powerful new tool for predicting Eastern Mediterranean winter rainfall. Researchers developed the Aegean Sea Heat Uptake Anomaly (AQA) index, showing that when the sea releases more heat in late summer, the following winter tends to bring more frequent and persistent “Cyprus Low” storm systems across the Eastern Mediterranean. The regional index captures a substantial share of year-to-year rainfall variability and significantly improves seasonal forecasting skill compared to traditional global climate indicators such as ENSO and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). By identifying a localized ocean signal with strong predictive power, the study marks a major advance in Mediterranean seasonal rainfall forecasting.
A new study from researchers at MIT identifies the impact of major wildfires and volcanic eruptions on global atmospheric temperatures, and underscores the importance of human activities in causing tropospheric warming.
The summer monsoon season runs from June through September and delivers roughly 80% of the rain India receives in a year. Over the last few decades, the amount of rain has increased while the concentration of rainfall has shifted west over the continent. Now, researchers at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology have found that the intensity and location of the late-season rainfall is significantly influenced by Arctic sea ice melt that occurs earlier in the summer.