Europe is facing a severe heatwave, with temperatures in some regions nearing 47 degrees Celsius, prompting widespread health alerts. France convened a heatwave crisis meeting, closed schools, and issued a red weather alert in the capital city of Paris. Italy has banned outdoor work during the hottest hours in many areas, while Portugal and Spain experienced their hottest June on record last month.
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service of the European Union, Europe is the continent experiencing the fastest rate of warming in the world, with temperatures rising at twice the global average speed.
Clare Nullis, a spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organization, stated, “On July 1, we are facing extreme high temperatures which are typically seen later in the summer.”
She mentioned that high temperatures in the Mediterranean often “exacerbate extreme temperatures in inland areas.”
Swiss Re, a reinsurance company, indicated that extreme high temperatures cause up to 480,000 deaths globally every year, exceeding the total number of deaths caused by floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes.
Health alerts have been issued across Europe – in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Germany. Even the usually moderate climate in the Netherlands has prompted warnings of high temperatures and humidity in the coming days.
Samantha Burgess, responsible for climate strategy at the Copernicus Climate Change Service, mentioned, “Many parts of Western Europe are experiencing extreme high temperatures and heatwaves that are typical of July or August rather than June.”
She noted that temperatures in some places are 5 to 10 degrees Celsius higher than normal for this time of the year.
The heatwave gripping Europe has elevated the risk of wildfires. Firefighters in Turkey and France were battling blazes on Monday, with tens of thousands of people evacuated.
In Turkey, wildfires in Izmir province continued for a second day due to strong winds. The Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority reported that over 50,000 people were evacuated from five regions, including more than 42,000 in Izmir.
In France, a wildfire in Aude in the southwest burned 400 hectares of land as temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, forcing the evacuation of a campsite and a monastery. Authorities stated on Monday that the blaze was under control but not yet contained.
Meteo France issued orange heatwave alerts for 84 out of 101 departments nationwide, which will continue until midweek.
The French government anticipates record-high temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday, with some areas reaching 40-41 degrees Celsius, and many others experiencing temperatures of 36-39 degrees Celsius. Sixteen departments in France will be under the highest vigilance level, while 68 will be at the second-highest level starting from Tuesday afternoon.
Paris and 15 other regions in France activated a red weather alert for the first time in five years.
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou attended a government meeting to address the heatwave crisis and discussed the significant challenges facing schools in dealing with the extreme weather.
The Ministry of Education reported over 1,350 schools fully or partially closed across France on Tuesday, a substantial increase from the 200 schools on Monday.
The top level of the Eiffel Tower in Paris will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, with authorities advising visitors to stay hydrated.
France, being the largest food-producing country in the EU, is witnessing farmers beginning to harvest this year’s crops amidst heightened risks of field fires. Many farmers are opting to work at night to avoid the afternoon peak temperatures.
Authorities in Spain are investigating whether the death of a street cleaner in Barcelona over the weekend is related to the heatwave. In Bologna, a 47-year-old construction worker died near the city due to the heat, according to the union attributing his death to high temperatures.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies spokesperson Tommaso Della Longa mentioned that the Red Cross set up an air-conditioned “climate shelter” in Malaga, the south of Spain, to assist residents in coping with sweltering weather.
In Portugal, the National Meteorological Office recorded the highest ever June temperature of 46.6 degrees Celsius on June 29 in the Mora area, approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Lisbon.
The heatwave in the southeast of England is poised to peak, with temperatures forecasted to hit 35 degrees Celsius, marking the hottest day so far this year.
This week, most parts of the UK received extreme heat warnings.
The UK Met Office forecasts that London temperatures could reach 34-35 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, with cooler weather expected later in the day in the north.
This marks the second heatwave in parts of the UK since last month.
In Italy, 17 cities including Milan and Rome have issued red heatwave alerts. In Sicily, a 53-year-old woman with heart problems died in Bagheria, possibly due to heatstroke.
Germany is expected to be engulfed by the heatwave until Wednesday, with temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius, except for coastal areas and the Alps being spared from such high heat.
The most populous states in Germany, like Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia, issued warnings ahead of time to the public, emphasizing vigilance against extreme high temperatures.
National meteorologists have projected that Brussels, the capital of Belgium, could reach temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.
Due to high temperatures and structural constraints, the Atomium tower in Brussels will open early at 10 a.m. and close at 2:30 p.m. from Monday to Wednesday.
Visitors across Europe have had to adjust to the heatwave’s adverse impact on travel. Susana Leivonen, a 45-year-old woman from Finland in Paris, said, “We wake up as early as possible to head out early so we can rest in the afternoon.” Leivonen’s family prepared water and sunscreen, planning to take breaks in shops or have a siesta.
(By referencing reports from The Guardian and Reuters)