Switzerland has recorded the freezing point way above its highest summits, smashing a record set 27 years ago, meteorologists have said. Scientists say human-induced climate change is amplifying the record heatwaves in several parts of the world in recent weeks. Weather balloons rose to 5,184 metres (17,008 feet) above the Alpine country overnight before they found freezing point (0C, 32F), MeteoSwiss said in a tweet on Monday. That was nearly 70 metres higher than the previous Swiss record of 5,117 metres, measured on 20 July 1995, and 375 metres above the summit of Europe’s highest peak, Mont Blanc in the French Alps. Sign up to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every weekday morning at 7am BSTIt is extremely rare for the freezing point to be measured above 5,000 metres in Europe.

Source: The Guardian July 26, 2022 07:23 UTC