A new heat wave was set to affect large parts of Europe on Wednesday, with around 92 million people in France, Italy and Spain expected to experience temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius, and more than 300 million people across the continent forecast to see temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius.
Heat wave brings extreme temperatures to much of Europe, affecting hundreds of millions
A new heat wave was set to affect large parts of Europe on Wednesday, with around 92 million people in France, Italy and Spain expected to experience temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius, and more than 300 million people across the continent forecast to see temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius.
The heat wave follows what the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) described on Monday as Western Europe's warmest ever June-July period. C3S data indicates that temperatures in Europe are rising at twice the rate of other continents.
Germany's national meteorology agency, the German Weather Service, forecast highs of 34°C on Wednesday, rising to 37°C on Thursday and potentially 39°C by Friday across much of western and southern Germany. The agency described the event as the third period of extreme heat Germany has experienced this summer.
Prolonged heat has caused water levels on the Rhine River to fall to record lows in some areas. The Rhine is described as one of Europe's main waterways for transporting grain, minerals, fuel and other goods, and the drought conditions have led to supply shortfalls for companies reliant on river transport.
In Spain, where several wildfires remain active, the national weather agency AEMET warned of temperatures exceeding 35°C. Separately, millions of people were reported to be traveling to Spain to observe a total solar eclipse on Wednesday. Spanish authorities deployed more than 33,000 law enforcement personnel to eclipse observation areas and access points, many of which are affected by drought conditions.
Spanish officials urged visitors not to light fires, litter, or park vehicles in areas with dry vegetation, citing the risk of new wildfires breaking out amid the gatherings.
The heat wave was also forecast to extend to parts of southeastern Europe, including Greece, Albania and Croatia, as well as to the United Kingdom, where tens of millions of people were expected to experience temperatures above 30°C. The UK's Met Office said on Tuesday that the country is on course to record its hottest-ever summer.
Several European countries, including Germany, France and Spain, have set new temperature records this summer, according to the article.
- The source does not specify the precise geographic scope or date of the total solar eclipse mentioned in connection with Spain.
- No casualty figures, health warnings, or public health authority statements are included for any of the affected countries.
- The source does not detail what specific relief or emergency measures, beyond wildfire prevention, governments are implementing in response to the heat wave.
- No independent scientific commentary on the causes or long-term trend of the heat waves is provided beyond the C3S figures cited.
Read the original at Deutsche Welle