9th August 2013 - Today's News: Record High Temperatures in Europe, Taiwan, China

As the European heat wave continues this week there have been more record high temperatures in Austria whilst in Slovakia a new temperature record for Bratislava on Thursday.  And in the Mediterranean, sea temperatures hit record levels as well.

In China, Shanghai sets new all-time record (again) as heat wave bakes eastern China whilst across the water in Taiwan, Taipei bakes on hottest day in 117 years

With facts and figures from Christopher Burt as more national heat records fall, China heat intensifies

 And Siberian wildfires intensified by heatwave across Arctic Russia in July

In central USA, heavy rains kill at least two and leave path of destruction after a summer's worth of rain falls in one week in Missouri

Human activity muddies causes of Texas floods though

And hundreds flee uncontained Banning California wildfire

Atlantic hurricane season on track to be above-normal - it doesn't normally get properly underway until around mid August

Down under, Perth downpour breaks 10-year record whilst late season snow bring hope to the slopes after a poor winter for ski-ing.

NZ's 2012-13 drought one of worst on record

July in Scotland was second warmest on record, says the Met Office

A 'twister' shock for Carmarthenshire residents - but it was just a funnel cloud

In Turkey, flash flood hits Black Sea province

Floods hit China's Qingchuan

Namibia drought threatens thousands

Cloud control: salt shot in sky to boost rain in UAE, but (refreshingly) no claims of success

Rare sprite lightning caught on camera over Colorado

How do you recover from being struck by lightning? asks the BBC

Ozone hole might slightly warm planet, computer model suggests

John Muir Trust in legal challenge to SSE's Stronelairig wind farm - which is to be built on the desolate moors around the upper reservoir of the recently Glen Doe hydro scheme, for which a prolifera of tracks were built .......  can't help cynically thinking the wind farm was part of the plan all along.  And let's face it, the area is rarely visited and of no use to man or Salmond .....

And on a totally off topic note, nice to see the BBC mention Runrig holds 40th anniversary bash - just hope it's not too wet for them at the Muir of Ord on Saturday.  And when will the winter tours dates be announced!!!!