Recently, several European countries have been hit by a heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius in many areas. Both France and the United Kingdom have issued high-temperature alerts, urging citizens to take precautions against the heat. In response to the high temperatures, some people have been reducing their outdoor activities while others are finding various ways to stay cool.
On Thursday, June 19th, the temperature in London, the capital of the United Kingdom, reached 32 degrees Celsius, with Heathrow Airport recording a high of 32.2 degrees Celsius. This marked the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures exceeding the seasonal average by 10 degrees. As of Thursday, Suffolk County has experienced temperatures above 27 degrees Celsius for the third consecutive day, making it the first region in the UK to officially enter a heatwave alert.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber heat health warnings for all regions of England, effective from noon on the 19th to the morning of the 23rd. Amber is a middle level of heat health warning in England, falling between yellow and red. This level indicates that the entire healthcare system could be impacted by the weather, and there is an increased health risk for individuals over 65 or those with underlying health conditions.
Due to the heatwave, unusually high temperatures have been reported in the southwest region of France since Thursday. The temperature in Paris reached 31 degrees Celsius, and it is expected that temperatures in some areas will reach 38 degrees Celsius in the coming days, with nighttime temperatures remaining above 20 degrees Celsius.
Since Thursday noon, Météo France has issued yellow heat warnings for 39 provinces in the western and southwestern regions of France, as well as the Brittany region. Many cities are set to experience a rare heatwave not seen since 1947.
Meanwhile, in some regions of Spain and Portugal, temperatures are around 15 degrees Celsius higher than normal.