Climatologist told of the ill effects of winter heat waves on health

Heat waves in winter and summer lead to various negative consequences for people's health. Alexei Kokorin, a climate expert at the Nature and People Foundation, told Izvestia.

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Abnormally high temperatures in the middle zone of Russia in January were caused by several waves of warm air that came one after another, the expert noted. Due to global warming, these waves became more frequent and longer.

"According to medics, winter heat waves cause people to get sick more often, especially weather-dependent people suffer. Although medics are more concerned about summer heat waves, when people with cardiovascular diseases are seriously affected," Kokorin explained.

Another consequence he called the shift of so-called "southern" diseases to the north.

"For example, West Nile fever, malaria also go to the north, there are more ticks - carriers of encephalitis," - said the expert.

At the same time to grow heat-loving crops in more northern territories, according to him, will not be possible because of frosts, which will still return. In general, heat waves and heat waves will happen more often, the climatologist added.

Read more in Roman Kokorin's exclusive interview with Izvestia:

"It's worth getting used to winter without snow."