Climate researchers: series of early heat waves remarkable | Abroad

The high temperatures are in line with the predictions of the UN climate panel IPCC. In the latest assessment report, climate researchers emphasize that heat waves will be more frequent and intense.

In June, the average global temperature was 0.32 degrees Celsius higher than the 30-year average. In Europe it was even 1.6 degrees Celsius above average. This made the second-warmest June ever measured last month. Especially in Spain, France and Italy extreme temperatures above 40 degrees were measured, the researchers say in the monthly climate bulletin from Copernicus.

Drought

The heat is causing drought in southern Europe. Italy has declared a state of emergency in the north of the country. In 22 major cities, people are advised to stay out of the sun from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and avoid crowded places. Italy’s longest river, the Po, is currently largely empty and the water in other rivers is also considerably lower than normal. Water is now being rationed.

Incidentally, the warm June follows a warm May. At that time, Southwestern Europe also had to deal with a rare May heat wave in which many local records were broken.

In addition to the high temperatures in Europe, the Copernicus scientists also point to the extreme situation in the Horn of Africa and neighboring countries. There, the ongoing drought threatens the food security of millions of people.

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