Europe suffers worst heatwave: Mercury tops seasonal averages by 12°C in France, Germany, Italy, Spain | Today’s news
As Europe suffers its worst heatwave, a study published on Friday revealed that temperatures in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and southern England were between 5°C and 12°C above seasonal averages. Scientists from the World Weather Attribution said high night-time temperatures and humidity made the June heat particularly dangerous.
Researchers tracked temperature data and forecasts for an analysis of the heat wave that began on June 18 and concluded that it was the most severe heat wave ever recorded in Europe and the most severe wet heat event. According to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, Europe is the fastest warming continent in the world, with temperatures rising twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s.
It’s not El-Nino, climate change is driving the heat
Study co-author and researcher at Imperial College London, Theodore Keeping, said: “This was the most brutal heatwave of any time of the year, not just in June,” adding: “June is warming faster than any other month and now these temperatures are expected regularly,” Bloomberg reported. The researchers blamed climate change for the extremely high temperatures and dismissed the cyclical impact of the emerging El Niño.
“The increase in temperatures was so dramatic that we would expect to never see this event in the climate of 1976,” said Theodore Keeping, noting that this situation would have been very, very rare even 23 years ago in 2003.
The study revealed that a total of 45% of 854 cities in 30 European countries have already achieved or are expected to break records for wet-bulb temperatures. Notably, wet bulb temperatures measure heat stress and the body’s ability to cool itself by sweating.
Carolina Pereira, a researcher at the Red Cross Climate Center and co-author of the study, noted: “Many people still live, work and study in places that are not designed for the temperatures we are experiencing now.”
How European countries are coping with the heat wave
As people seek relief in rivers, lakes and canals, numerous drownings have been reported in Germany and France, a country where air conditioning is not widespread. Mist stations have been set up at iconic tourist sites such as the Eiffel Tower to cool the crowds and prevent heat exhaustion and life-threatening heat stroke. According to the World Health Organization, more than 200,000 people have died of heat-related causes in Europe over the past four years.
The French government has banned alcohol consumption in “red alert” zones to “preserve emergency services and allow health workers to focus on caring for the most vulnerable”. Authorities not only announced school closures amid the intense heat wave, but also mobilized emergency services and military forces to boost wildfire preparedness. In addition, the French government oversees the supply of water to many of France’s nuclear reactors.
Meanwhile, Spanish authorities have suspended outdoor sports and cultural activities, while Italy and the UK have issued heat warnings.
