In many countries in Europe, temperatures are rising to normal levels in July or August, the AP said. Authorities are urging people to be more careful and to warn of fires. High temperatures should prevail in the Czech Republic at the weekend.
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France has banned public outdoor events
Temperature peaks are expected in most of France on Saturday, according to the Météo-France forecast. In some areas in the south and west of the country, temperatures could climb above 40 degrees. Authorities issued a heat warning in 70 of the 101 departments.
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In one of the French departments, Gironde, open-air public events, including concerts and mass gatherings, were even banned. Events in enclosed spaces without air conditioning are also prohibited.
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Private celebrations, such as weddings, will continue to be allowed. “Everyone now faces a health risk,” local official Fabienne Buccio told France Bleu radio. The French Ministry of the Interior warned people to be extremely careful not to expose themselves to bad weather.
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The nights will be very warm at the same time. For example, the station in Tarascon in southern France tonight measured more than 26 degrees, the most since its launch in 1990. Due to high air pollution and high ozone concentrations in Paris and Lyon, the authorities have ordered restrictions on car traffic and reduced the speed limit.
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Already today, meteorologists measured the highest temperatures in June in several places. In the city of Carcassonne, for example, the temperature rose to 40.8 degrees, which would be enough for the highest temperature in July. In other cities, temperatures rose to 40 degrees, but records did not break. These were mainly areas in the southwest of France.
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The state meteorological service Meteo France stated that this is the earliest hot period that has ever hit the country. It was caused by a mass of hot air flowing from North Africa. Temperatures in Paris could reach 39 ° C and the drought has also increased the risk of fires, the forecast said.
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“I am 86 years old, I was born here, but I think this is the worst heat wave I have ever experienced,” Jacqueline Bonnaud in Toulouse told AFP.
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Spain is plagued by forest fires
The heat wave will also last on Saturday in Spain, where temperatures began to rise sharply at the beginning of the week. According to meteorologists, the warmest is to be in the east of the country. Very warm weather and drought create favorable conditions for forest fires. The largest of them is burning in the area of the city of Zamora near the Portuguese border. The fire there destroyed 9,000 hectares of vegetation and is still out of control. About 250 people had to be evacuated from the area, the EFE agency said.
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But fires are also plaguing other regions, such as Catalonia and Navarre. According to the server of the public station RTVE, 13,000 hectares of forests and stands were destroyed. Due to a forest fire, the management of the Puy du Fou Amusement Park near Toledo evacuated 3,000 visitors and staff. But no one was hurt.
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This afternoon, most Spanish territory (excluding the Canary Islands) was over 35 degrees, the Aemet meteorological service said. They measured around 40 degrees this afternoon in Madrid, Zaragoza, Toledo and Córdoba.
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The heat wave from North Africa arrived on the Iberian Peninsula on Sunday and meteorologists consider it premature. However, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the early heat waves will become more frequent and more intense due to global climate change.
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“Unfortunately, what we are experiencing now is just a taste of the future,” said Clare Nullis, a spokeswoman for the organization. The UN today also called on states to become more involved in the fight against drought. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said today that the heat waves were no accident. “Climate warming is leading to an increase in extreme weather events, such as the heat we are experiencing,” the Spanish government chief said.
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Forest fire warnings also apply in Germany. According to the DWD meteorological service in the west of the country, temperatures will rise to 38 degrees on Saturday and Sunday will be very warm.
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The heat wave is spreading around the world
Today, England has experienced the warmest day since the beginning of the year. The London-Heathrow station has measured over 32 degrees, and meteorologists expect even higher data in the south-east of the country. But temperatures are set to drop from Saturday, the BBC said.
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The water level is so low in the largest sections of Italy’s largest river, the Po, that locals can walk in the middle. According to the BBC, wreckage shipwrecks are even emerging.
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Extreme heat is not just about Europe this week. On Wednesday, authorities advised a third of the United States to stay home due to record temperatures. Delhi, India, has already recorded a temperature of 42 degrees Celsius 25 times this summer, the Indian Meteorological Department said.
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