Temperature records broken as extreme heat grips parts of Europe
11 days ago
- #wildfires
- #heatwave
- #climate change
- Extreme heat is breaking temperature records across Europe, with unprecedented temperatures in regions like south-west France and Croatia.
- Wildfires are becoming bigger and stronger due to the heat, with significant fires in Croatia and along the Balkans.
- Beyond Europe, temperature records were broken in Canada and Iraq, where heat above 50C caused a nationwide blackout.
- Southern Europe is experiencing a prolonged heatwave, while Nordic countries recover from unusually high temperatures in the Arctic Circle.
- Italy and Spain faced severe heat alerts and fatalities, highlighting the dangers of prolonged high temperatures.
- Climate scientists note the heatwave's main characteristics are its length and geographic extent rather than just intensity.
- In France, more than half of the heatwaves since 1947 have occurred in the last 15 years, signaling climate warming.
- The dry conditions have fueled wildfires, with over 400,000 hectares burned in Europe this year, 87% above the average.
- High heat kills tens of thousands annually in Europe, with projections of 8,000 to 80,000 more deaths per year by 2100.
- Public health measures are critical as heatwaves become more frequent, with significant expected mortality rates.
- The World Meteorological Organization warns that wildfires and poor air quality exacerbate the health impacts of extreme heat.
- Temperatures exceeded 42C in parts of west Asia, north Africa, and the US, with some areas surpassing 45C.
- Experts emphasize that these extreme events are clear signs of climate change, which will continue to worsen.